Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspurs player ratings

A tale of two halves. This ain’t another 2001 for Man Utd, but they gave one heck of a performance in the 2nd half. Pity their 1st half performance was League Oneish.

Running Rampant!

Manchester United

Lindegaard – 6: Got a feeling De Gea may have saved the last two. His reach is better and doesn’t spill direct shots as much. Unlucky with the first goal though.

Rafael Da Silva – 7: Poor 1st half like the rest of his team but came back strong in the 2nd half. He pushed Bale to play almost left back and that is some feat.

Ferdinand – 5: Ragged and humiliated in the 1st half. May be also in the 2nd for the Dempsey goal. Better late on, but Spurs rarely went forward to test him in the 2nd half.

Evans – 7: Unlucky to deflect the 1st goal into his net, but was the most consistent of all of the back four. No nasty tackles and pressed hard in the 2nd half.

Evra – 7: Ditto Rafael. Average 1st half, but was a thorn in the flesh for Spurs in the 2nd. Should’ve done better with his header that went straight to Friedel.

Nani – 6: Poor tracking back led to the first two goals for Spurs. Tried to inspire a come back, but still far short of his best.

Scholes – 8: Ran the show in the 2nd half. A younger player would’ve tracked back Bale for his goal. Comfortably over ran by Spurs midfield in the first period.

Carrick – 7: Typical Carrick performance. Good when the team plays well, head down when the rest of the team is down. Ah how I miss Roy Keane who’d single handedly inspire the whole unit back in such games.

Giggs – 3: Flop of the match. I wince when I type “flop” and “Giggs” together, but alas this man’s time is up. Fans knew it a couple of years back. The gaffer, hopefully, will now.

Kagawa – 6: Over ran in the first period. Took a really good goal, but still lacks sparkle to inspire the team.

Robin Van Persie – 5: Missed a glorious chance to put United on level. Nice touches and link up but not as effective as you’d expect him to be.

Substitutes:

Rooney – 8 (sub Giggs 45′): Started a one-man-mission to rescue United. Shame he didnt start the game, else the result would’ve been very different. Extermely unlucky with a great free-kick that hit the post.

Welbeck – 5 (sub Kagawa 78′): Was brought on to provide more goal threat, but United looked better off with Kagawa in.

Hernandez – 5 (sub Ferdinand 92′): Not much time to offer a Solkjaerish goal.

Tottenham Hotspurs

Fridel – 6: No non-sense goal keeping, but could’ve been better with his distribution in the 2nd half to offer some relief to his team from the United onslaught.

Walker – 6: A tale of two halfs again. Good going forward in the 1st but tied to his box for the second. Defending as solid as ever.

Gallas – 7: Won most of the headers that came his way but could’ve conceded a penalty for his challenge on RVP.

Caulker – 7: More composed of the two centre backs. Did well to keep Spurs in the game.

Vertonghen – 8: Wonderful goal after a great run from almost his own half. Solid defending to keep Nani at bay. Should’ve reacted faster to block Rooney’s cross though.

Lennon – 7: Part of the pacy Spurs unit that terrorised United in the 1st half. Faded in the 2nd as United dominated.

Dembele – 7: Countered fast, out muscled and out played United’s midfield in the first half. Can’t believe Fergie didn’t bid for this 15m pound man. A player of his style would’ve saved United at Everton and made it far more comfortable in the Fulham, Southampton and Liverpool games.

Sandro – 5: Weakest of all in the Spurs midfield. Decent first period but was completely anonymous in the second.

Dempsey – 6: Right place at the right time for the winner. Solid outing with decent touches.

Bale – 8: Man of the match. Everytime he took the ball, he terrorised United’s defence. Embarassed Ferdinand for pace for the second goal and contriubted well for the third.

Defoe – 7: Did exceedingly well to put Bale through for Spurs’ third. Was a constant threat at goal whenever Spurs went forward.

Substitutes:

Huddlestone – 6 (sub Dembele): Came on late for Dembele to offer defensive solidity. Did well to help Spurs hang on for the victory.

Sigurdsson – 6 (sub Dempsey): Was brought on to provide calmness to midfield. Nice touches but Scholes continued to run the show.