Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur starting forecast, 4141 again! Casemiro single back, pull 10 single arrows
The second round of the 2023-24 Premier League season is a highlight game as United head off to Tottenham. In the first round of the league, United narrowly beat Wolves 1-0 at home, while Tottenham drew 1-1 away at Brentford. The match was a rebound battle for both teams, with United winning the first round but lacking convincing and criticism after the game. Tottenham's new boss Postcoglu needs to clear doubts with a win at his first home game. The media predicted Manchester United's starting line-up as usual before the game, so let's take a look at it together.
Formation: 4141
Goalkeeper: Onana
Backline: Luke Shaw, Lindelof, Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Back: Casemiro
Avant-garde: Garner, Mount, B Faye, Anthony
Centre: Marcus Rashford
In the first round against Wolves, Ten Hag sacrificed the 4141 formation, but the effect was quite average. Thanks to Onana's bravery, the opponent's forgetting to wear his shooting boots and the referee's miscalculation, it would have been difficult for United to get three points. The most questioned is the midfield, which can be described as nothing. Casemiro at his peak was also difficult to play at the back of the Premier League, let alone the 32-year-old Fat Tiger. B Fei and Mount form a double front back, which has failed to produce the desired effect in terms of offensive organization and is also average on the defensive end.
Mount's attitude is beyond words, but the effect is quite average, with 0 steals throughout the game. Once Wolves counterattacked, the midfield had no presence, and the opponent could easily carry the ball to directly impact Manchester United's back, and Casemiro could only exhaust. In the end, Wolves had 23 shots on goal and 6 on target, all of which were saved by Onana to keep the goal intact.
Given that the game is away and against a strong Tottenham Hotspur, it is unlikely that Ten Hag will continue to use the first-round formation. It is likely to return to the solid 4231 of last season, with Casemiro and Eriksen forming a double back.
In addition, Garnacho, who started last time, was very bad, basically unable to pass people, and shot without a crosshair. For now, Garnacho is still more suitable for the role of a surprise soldier on the bench, and his ability is not yet up to the starter. There is speed but lack of change, and the physical confrontation ability is average, and the shooting link also needs to be polished. Therefore, the possibility of continuing to start this game is very low, and the probability of choosing Sancho is high.
Lima was substituted midway through the last game with an injury, but Ten Hag confirmed his injury was fine and he is expected to start. So, expect the back line to be the same as it was the starter in the last game against Wolves.
Marcus Rashford served as a single arrow in the first round but was equally average, with four shots on target and one on target. However, Ten Hag is also currently unavailable, and although Martial has returned, he has certainly failed to meet the requirements of the starter, he has basically not played in the pre-season, and Hheilund is still recovering from injury. So, if there is a change of formation, it is possible for Ten Hag to switch places between Sancho and Marcus Rashford in the game, after all, Sancho has played as a guest center in many pre-season games.
In short, Ten Hag will definitely change formations in this game, and it is impossible to experiment with double forward tactics in such a strong dialogue. Tottenham players are more capable than Wolves, and having Casemiro play at the back is playing with fire. Judging from the record of the last six meetings between the two teams, Manchester United have an overwhelming advantage of 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. Therefore, as long as Manchester United play steadily and steadily in the way they are good at, the odds of winning are not small.