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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- Manchester United
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 10 3 2 5 17 -17 11
Away 10 0 1 9 4 -22 1
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Total (Prem) 20 4 3 14 21 -39 12
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 51 20 19 12 89 -64 63
Away (Div 1) 51 9 9 33 55 -101 28
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Total(Div 1) 102 29 28 45 144 -165 91
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 4 2 1 1 10 - 3 5
Away (Div 2) 4 1 2 1 3 - 3 4
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Total(Div 2) 8 3 3 2 13 - 6 9
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Total (Prem) 20 4 3 14 21 -39 12
Total (Div 1) 102 29 28 45 144 -165 91
Total (Div 2) 8 3 3 2 13 - 6 9
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Grand Total 130 35 34 61 178 -210 112
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Could we be on the verge of witnessing the beginning of the end of the
Glory, Glory Years for Manchester United? Their performance so far this
season has been disappointing to their fans. They languish in mid-table,
something they have not experienced for many years. It is true they have a
long injury list but which club can honestly say they have no one under
treatment or recovering from an injury these days now that football is
effectively an all the year round sport.
It may be that some of Manchester United's players are no longer as hungry
for success as they once were. Once that desire for more evaporates it is
hard to recapture until a new team emerges from the shadows. Even Ferguson
may have recognised this by publicly announcing what ultimately became a
premature desire for retirement. He could regret deciding to stay on if
the Old Trafford side were to go a second consecutive season without
silverware. He does not need to look very far for a precedent. Liverpool
dominated the proceedings in the 1970s and 1980s but lost the plot
completely when Kenny Dalglish walked away a year after the Hillsborough
tragedy. The Anfield side have not won the League title since though they
look likely to achieve that during Gerard Houllier's stewardship.
For those of us who saw Busby's great sides, few of us are willing to
recognise the current crop of players could be better than Best, Law,
Charlton and Herd. Giggs, to my mind, is not worthy to clean Best's boots
let alone be compared with him as a player. George, at his best, was
better than Pele or Puskas, never mind the dope junky Maradona. Law was
one of Scotland's greatest players and Charlton was a World Cup winner.
There was no finer sight than watching Law leaping like a salmon, unless
Spurs were the victims!!
Spurs have a poor record at Old Trafford. I think I am right in saying
that only our record at Liverpool is worse. Wins at Old Trafford are
scarce : only 10 out of 65 visits! And none in the Premiership! We have to
go all the way back to 16th December 1989 to see when we last won there.
That season was also the last time we recorded a double over them, so a
Ferguson managed side can be beaten! (We have, of course, beaten them 3-1
en route to our 1999 League Cup victory!)
Our previous victory at Old Trafford had been on 4th September 1976 when
Coates, Pratt and Moores somehow pulled off one of only three away
victories that season. We won at Norwich City and Birmingham City but
crashed at Derby County (2-8), Everton (0-4) and Manchester City (0-5).
The last win before that game occurred on 28th October 1972 when Martin
Peters scored our four goals in a 4-1 victory. Peters exposed their
defensive problems comprehensively that day because, as I recall, nobody
seemed to pick him up as he made his blind side runs. I remember MATCH OF
THE DAY drooling over the goals ........
Prior to the 1989-90 season, the last occasion we had beaten Manchester
United twice in the League was back in 1962-63. We had thrashed them 6-2
at Tottenham in October 1962 and Frank Saul and Cliff Jones scored the two
that ensured our 2-0 victory the following March.
Not even the Double side achieved that feat but we did do so in 1959-60,
thrashing them 5-1 at Old Trafford, in September 1959 and winning the
return, in February 1960, 2-1. Our five goals at Old Trafford were scored
by Bobby Smith 2, Mackay, Harmer and Dunmore.
Our 4-3 win at Old Trafford on 30th November 1957 was the first win there
by any London club for 19 years. Bobby Smith scored a hat-trick and Jackie
Blanchflower conceded an own goal.
Spurs were, in fact, the last side from London to win at Old Trafford,
when Fred Sargent scored the only goal of the match there in February
1938. That was when both clubs were languishing in Division 2.
We then have to go all the way back to season 1920-21 to record the last
time Spurs had achieved a home and away victory over Manchester United.
Arthur Grimsdell scored the only goal at Old Trafford one week in
September 1920. The following Saturday, 'Fanny' Walden and Jimmy Seed
scored two apiece in a 4-1 win. That was the first time we achieved the
League double over Manchester United.
But our first ever League victory at Old Trafford was as long ago as
November 1911 when Billy Minter and Bert Middlemiss scored the goals that
snatched our first win there.
Transfers between the clubs have been rare. The last deals, as far as I
can remember, involved the departures of Chris McGrath and Alan Brazil.Ed:- What about Edward Sheringham?
McGrath had made some fairly good, if unspectacular displays with
Tottenham but seemed to be overawed by Old Trafford and quickly dropped
out of sight. Brazil had scored some brilliant goals with Ipswich before
moving to Tottenham but that deal never worked out and the Tottenham fans
never accepted Brazil. He left for Manchester United but I believe injury
ended his career. Garth Crooks also spent time with Manchester United at a
time when he was trying to resurrect his injury ravaged career. I may be
wrong but I don't think we have signed anyone from Old Trafford since
signing John Hall before the war. Hall was a goalkeeper who appeared for
us in our Division 2 days.
And Saturday's outcome? There will never be a better occasion to improve
our record at Old Trafford! They are playing after a strenuous game in
Europe and usually do not fare well after such games. On the other hand,
they will want to improve their League position. It is time we had some
breaks at Old Trafford so if we get a rub of the green for a change, I
hope we can win. I will be satisfied with a draw. One thing for sure is
that if we win, we will have to defend for much of the game!
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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