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Key events
Justin Kavanagh is in: “In the week before Christmas, United play a team with a Portuguese ham, Fernandes, and a Turkey goalkeeper, Bayindir. Meanwhile, the supposed wise men have knocked the stuffing out of the club by sacking about 250 employees. “He’s behind you!” And he’s carrying your P45. Season’s greetings from Manchester, one and all.”
Wrote this piece a year ago, hmm.
Being United manager surely more difficult than Spurs, right? No Rashford tonight.
Rick Harris weighs in: “What is being lost sight of in the case of Marcus Rashford is that his numbers are actually pretty good for a winger. Not as good as Mo Salah obviously, but streets ahead of Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, and better than Bukayo Saka.”
Even Keir Starmer’s bagman has weighed in: “It’s always difficult for Spurs, isn’t it? I think the Prime Minister’s focus every day is on getting up, delivering the plan for change, delivering on the priorities of the British people, and delivering on the mandate that he was elected to deliver.”
Some quotes via the BBC, that show a backlash to Ange’s comments on his job being harder than anyone’s.
Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “When we have members working 12-hour shifts of back-breaking labour who struggle to put food on the table, the idea that managing a football team for millions a year is somehow more difficult just underlines how out of touch these people are. They need to understand the world in which their fans who pay their wages actually live in.”
Unison head of social care Gavin Edwards: “Managing a Premier League team is an exceptionally stressful job. But the salary is massive and managers know what they’re letting themselves in for. Health workers and care staff do equally stressful work, but without the huge wages, bonuses or pay-offs associated with Premier League football. That’s why both sectors are struggling to keep hold of their staff and vacancy rates remain stubbornly high, to the detriment of us all and the wider economy.”
The teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Maddison, Son, Solanke. Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Reguilon, Dorrington, Hardy, Bergvall, Olusesi, Johnson, Lankshear.
Man Utd: Bayindir, Yoro, Lindelof, Martinez, Mazraoui, Eriksen, Ugarte, Dalot, Antony, Fernandes, Hojlund. Subs: Onana, Evans, Maguire, Malacia, Casemiro, Mainoo, Diallo, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Last time out for these two:
The pre-match press conferences are here.
Preamble
Both clubs need a trophy. Ange Postecoglou always wins one in his second season, Ruben Amorim is looking to make an early mark. Though as Postecoglou pointed out on Wednesday, and as Erik ten Hag discovered, a trophy is not nearly enough in isolation.
What else to consider? There’s the Marcus Rashford factor. Will he? Won’t he? Does anyone care anymore? Ange has asked for a big atmosphere, and judging by Southampton last weekend, that will involve Spurs fans taking Daniel Levy’s name in vain. As for United, there’s the win over City to rejoice in, and new hero Amad Diallo.
They’re up for the cup. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT. Join me.