Do Not Sell My Personal Information
The second of my battle by battles includes Peter Crouch and Nemanja Vidic. This was highlighted as a key match-up before the game but it was all one sided, hence the final score.
Harry Redknapp opted with Crouch due to his aerial threat and he played with Rafael Van der Vaart just off him to reach the knock downs as it’s worked so well throughout the campaign.
You could tell this was Tottenham’s game plan throughout as the service Crouch had was all played in the air, either by a cross from out wide or a long ball and the supporting players got round him.
This never really worked as he couldn’t win a single header or even hold the ball up. Both Vidic and Rio Ferdinand had an easy evening. They were too strong for the England man who also received a couple of crunching tackles by Vidic along the way too. The Serb was probably United’s best player on the day, his reading of the Tottenham play was outstanding and how he is fearless in the tackle showed Spurs were never going to score.
He played a true captains role and even with the introduction of Jermain Defoe he looked solid and untroubled by his pace. He made a terrific block on the edge of the box from a goalbound strike and now with himself and Ferdinand 100% fit, Manchester United you feel are only going to get stronger this season.
They are easily the best partnership in the Premier League and it showed yesterday.
My verdict: Nemanja Vidic
