Tottenham Hotspur

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There were lots of positives to take from our game against Manchester United on Sunday - not least the result. At this stage of a hugely disappointing league campaign, it is all about getting as many points as possible until the end of the season.

The positive performance of James Maddison in particular, however, inadvertently highlighted something that has been a negative for Spurs for a while now. All the focus on our injuries in defence and the need for an additional striker has led to a blind spot in our midfield.

After a series of productive displays from Pape Matar Sarr earlier in the season, he has been inconsistent and poor by the standards he had previously set. Watching him play, it does seem as though fatigue is a factor here.

Perhaps tiredness is also to blame for Yves Bissouma's offerings - or lack of. He has looked like something of a passenger in his role, unable to get a handle on his responsibilities - particularly his defensive ones.

It is slightly trickier to analyse Rodrigo Bentancur as his season has been a bit stop-start - partly because of concussion injuries, and also Ange Postecoglou rotating him with Bissouma.

Whatever the explanations or excuses, there has been a distinct lack of efficiency from our defensive midfielders. Ironic then, that it took an attacking midfielder in the shape of Maddison to help us out defensively on Sunday.

Maddison's movement on and off the ball caused a headache for United's midfield and, in occupying their attention, he also nullified their threat.

Hopefully Maddison and others can stay fit. With the return of key players and everyone having more of a rest, progress is being made.

There can be no break in focus though if we want to finish our season on the up.

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Borussia Dortmund want £85m for Jamie Gittens, with Premier League clubs Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea among the England Under-21 winger's suitors. (Bild - subscription required - in German), external

Spurs tried to sign Mexico striker Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord late in the January transfer window, but the 23-year-old decided to join AC Milan instead. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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Former Tottenham midfielder Michael Brown has urged Ange Postecoglou's side to not "get carried away" after they recorded their first league home win since November and their first double over Manchester United in the Premier League.

"That's where we've got to be a little bit cautious," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Normally Spurs doing the double over Manchester United would be great news [but] you can only play what's in front of you.

"Ange has come out fighting. The squad is a lot healthier, they've had a good few days off, a bit of rest. But, Manchester United are that poor that we can only say it's a good result and don't get carried away.

"You've got to do it for a longer period of time. It will give them some confidence, some belief. But, they are going to be judged after a few more weeks.

"It's a big result. It wasn't attractive and they didn't play with quality but they hung in there."

Former Premier League striker Glen Murray added: "It's not pretty and they will be banking on trying to win some silverware in Europe.

"But, as far as Spurs fans are concerned, this season is still a write-off."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans:

Stephen: Nervy, but we played quite well. United will always come forward against us; we play an open game so other teams get chances. Not great but better than it has been for a while and three points are precious these days.

Atty: The clean sheet and the three points will help for the players, Ange Postecoglou and the fans. Some 105 days without a home win was not good enough from a Spurs point of view, but to get this one will definitely help. Scrappy win, but it was always not going to be the best match of the season because both of these teams haven't been good.

Peter: Rode our luck against a weak United. However, plenty of positives - Guglielmo Vicario was outstanding on his return and kept our lead on three separate occasions. Djed Spence is increasingly showing why we signed him. Mathys Tel is eager to impress. Hoping we can now kick on. COYS.

Noah: I saw lots of positives in that game. Kevin Danso looked solid, Tel was unlucky not to score and when Wilson Oderbert came on there was a glimpse of the damage he and Spence could do. With a few players back, suddenly we have a squad.

Man Utd fans:

Pete: When will the new owners wake up and smell the coffee? Ruben Amorim is not the manager they expected. Surely the players they have are better than the league position they are in? They have to swallow their pride and admit they were wrong to appoint him, but I'm not holding my breath.

Paul: Totally disjointed performance with no real pattern of play. Rasmus Hojland is out of his depth and we should be giving the youngsters a chance. Joshua Zirkzee has improved and did some good link-up play but, once again, Bruno Fernandes was very poor and I'm just not convinced that he should be captain. Amorim has shown very little in the way of tactics and he might be right about relegation with lacklustre performances like this.

Sam: These players are not, as some people say, 'rubbish' and yet they often look like they have never met before. I don't know if it is the current coach, the system or team selection, but something is and has been deeply wrong within the club for a very long time. I do not like to single out individuals, but we have a centre-forward who is currently unable to score. Why is he chosen week in, week out? And why are our players injured in training?

Peter: No vision, no ambition, no effort. United thoroughly deserve their 15th place, and should be getting worried about the next few months. Their performances are so poor, they would look very vulnerable in a relegation battle. The manager has brought nothing to the team whatsoever. They are far worse under his tenure than they were already, which is saying something. Embarrassing display.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

James Maddison says he is doing his "talking on the pitch" in response to the critics who questioned him before he scored the winner as Tottenham beat Manchester United on Sunday.

Without naming any individual critics, he told Sky Sports post-match: "There was a little bit of outside noise this week.

"I hope there is a certain few that enjoyed me being the match-winner today."

This week, former United midfielder Roy Keane said on The Overlap podcast that Maddison "got relegated with Leicester and he'll get relegated with Spurs".

Keane also stressed that Maddison was a "talented player", but said those who thought his return would help Tottenham break into the top six "were in cuckoo land".

Keane added: "People say Maddison's the man. When is he going to step up to the plate?"

The 28-year-old had been out of action since picking up a calf injury against Hoffenheim in the Europa League on 23 January.

His goal against United was his first in the Premier League since December and his 10th this season.

Read more on match-winner Maddison here

Aston Villa, Brighton, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been closely monitoring Middlesbrough's 16-year-old midfield twins Anton and Bailey Palmer. (TBR Football), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton

• Liverpool 2-1 Wolves

• Tottenham 1-0 Man Utd

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

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Tottenham have been on a poor run, but a large part of their form can be attributed to a string of first-team injuries.

Manager Ange Postecoglou will be thankful he was able to start playmaker James Maddison as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, with both impressing on their returns.

Long-term absentees Brennan Johnson, Destiny Udogie and Wilson Odobert were also all fit enough to make the bench.

Spurs looked good going forward, with new signing Mathys Tel lively on his first league start since joining on loan from Bayern Munich. The 19-year-old Frenchman forced Onana into a low save after Son Heung-min's first-half cutback.

Dejan Kulusevski also went close with a similar effort midway through the second period.

But in midfield, Spurs struggled to assert control - and United regularly created opportunities to equalise which they could not take.

Tottenham and Postecoglou, though, will take a narrow win however it was earned, having picked up just four points from their previous eight league games.

Boosted by Maddison and Vicario they are now 12th in the table, moving above United.

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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports after today's win: "It was important we won today."

On the importance of the return of James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario: "They're quality players. We have had to do it pretty tough in the past two months. Great to get those guys back and the guys who came on and contributed.

"We can play better definitely, but when we got some boys up to speed and start growing into it."

On the game: "I did think our press was better. We made it hard for United to get out and that certainly helped to get a grounding in the game. We looked sharp. Front third movements were missing a bit.

"We lacked a bit of fluency in the front third. We will improve and we need to, but it was a decent effort. They're all keen to get out there but game rhythm comes with playing games.

"As much as you train, playing a game of football is different. Vicario and Mads handled it well. Was great to get some time into Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert. We are going to need them. We still feel we have a big back half of the year."

On facing criticism: "Everyone likes an impeding car crash. I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario on. I know how hard these players have worked.

"Our training was better and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better, but were not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

"We have had a few players who have not got injured at all."

On if there is light at the end of the tunnel: "Who knows? We feel, and I certainly feel there's a massive opportunity in the back half of the year."

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Tottenham goalscorer James Maddison has been speaking to Sky Sports after today's victory: "It's always difficult being out injured. You miss one game or 10, you are always champing at the bit to get back. I went into the game today knowing I can be the difference.

"I'm really proud of the boys, obviously it has been an up and down season, we are not where we want to be in the league table. I'm really happy for the lads and for the fans, we're sending them home happy."

On scoring: "I've always been a goalscoring midfielder. That's why Spurs brought me to the club. I'm there to be that creative outlet and score goals.

"There was a little bit of outside noise this week. People will have their opinions. Nobody is more critical of me than myself. The gaffer prefers when we are in our own bubble but it's difficult with social media, you see this stuff.

"To be fair to the boys who have been fit all season, we don't want to make excuses, but the last few months have been really difficult. The lads who have relentlessly been going every three days, it's nice to be an injured player coming back to take the pressure off them.

"It's about us being present now and leading like they did during the bad run."

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Tottenham are the first side to win three separate games against Manchester United in a single season in all competitions since Chelsea in 2012-13. Spurs have also completed a league double over the Red Devils for the first time since 1989-90 under Terry Venables.

Manchester United have lost 12 of their 25 Premier League games this season, their most defeats from their first 25 matches of a league campaign since 1973-74 (13) – when they were last relegated from the top-flight.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Two matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Liverpool v Wolves (14:00) - follow the action here

• Tottenham v Manchester United (16:30) - follow the action here

Listen to full commentary of both games on BBC Radio 5 Live

Trying to call this is a bit like a game I used to play with my kids, poker dice, where you roll five dice and it is completely random what you end up with.

This is the first time I have so little idea of what to expect from both sides that I actually think I need to make two predictions, rather than one.

I can guarantee you this, though. Whatever result I go for, it will end up being the opposite of what actually happens.

Tottenham demolished Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in September but that does not really have any bearing here.

Spurs are getting players back from injury and Timo Werner, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario are among those training again, but how fit are they going to be for this game?

Ange Postecoglou says his players are out on their feet and we could see that in their FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa, so a lot depends on how much they have left in the tank.

As for Manchester United, well I've been reading reports this week that some of their players are unhappy with Ruben Amorim's style of play.

There is lots going on off the pitch too, with stories that more redundancies are planned at the club, following controversy over a rise in ticket prices.

Who would have thought when Ineos completed their deal to take a stake in United 12 months ago that, within a year, they could possibly be as unpopular with fans as co-owners the Glazers are.

In regards to Amorim, I just think he needs time. He arrived in mid-season, he has his way of playing and United will have to give him the players who fit that system, so it might take a window or two before we see him with the team he wants.

There needs to be patience there, but we also know football fans are impatient. They want to see some improvement in the short-term, and it is hard to argue they have made any progress since Amorim took charge.

I still have a sneaky feeling they might edge this game but I cannot really tell you what I am basing that on.

This is a big game for Ange too, now his side are out of both domestic cups, but I am going with United, just.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2 or 4-0 [only 1-2 will count as Chris's score]

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Sitting 14th and 13th in the Premier League in February is not where either Tottenham or Manchester United would have expected to be at this stage of the season.

But inconsistent form and injuries means the two clubs meet at Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday with few being able to say with any certainty who might come out on top.

While the two sides go head-to-head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head-to-head off it.

Each got to ask three questions of the other. Tottenham fan Anna Howells from Spurs XY, external was asked the following by our United supporter:

• Ange Postecoglou is under intense pressure at the moment. Are you backing him or is it time for Tottenham to hire yet another manager?

• After crashing out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, what are your objectives for the rest of the season?

• What scoreline are you predicting against Manchester United on Sunday?

Manchester United fan contributor Dale O'Donnell from United In Focus, external was given the following questions:

• Ruben Amorim is having a tough time, so are you convinced he is the manager to restore past glories?

• Do the fans want Amorim to prioritise the FA Cup over the Premier League and Europe?

• Given the search for a striker and the aging midfield, which area or areas of the pitch is the priority for United in the summer ?