RADIO
The 2015-2016 Barclay’s Premier League season starts with a doozy, a battle between two upper-echelon squads aiming to finish in the top four. Manchester United has been through a metamorphosis since the arrival of Louis Van Gaal. Once built around homegrown and domestic players, United has evolved into a budding ‘Galacticos’, sparing no expense in recent years to assemble as much talent as possible.
Tottenham, still finding its way in the post-Bale era, unlike their opponents, have been relatively quiet this summer transfer season. Instead of pricey signings, the Spurs will rely on new English hero - and huge transfer target - Harry Kane and his mostly intact supporting cast from last season to ascend from their sixth place finish.
Projected Staring Lineups
Spurs (4-2-3-1)
GK – Hugo Lloris
To everybody’s surprise the Frenchman stepped onto the field as a second half sub during Tottenham’s 2-0 victory against AC Milan in the Audi Super Cup consolation game. The 35-minute cameo was Lloris’ first appearance of the summer, after a wrist injury was rumored to keep him out well into September. Tottenham fans should be excited to have one of the best keepers in the league fit for a challenging season opener.
LB – Danny Rose
Coming off of a strong season in ‘14 –’15, Rose is the Spurs’ best option on the left side. He will, however, need to continue his strong run of form in order to fend off last season’s buy, Ben Davies.
LCB – Toby Alderweireld
The Belgian international joins several of his countrymen at White Hart Lane after a successful loan last season at Southampton. After sending 11.5 million pounds to his mother-club Atletico Madrid, the Spurs hope Alderweireld can be an impactful regular in the starting XI.
RCB – Jan Vertonghen
Arguably the top performer in what was a beleaguered defensive unit last season. Vertonghen should see his worth improve with the addition of his Belgian counterpart in the center of the defense.
RB – Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker has looked like, well Kyle Walker during the preseason. Fully recovered from the injury that kept him out of most of ’14-’15, the Englishman continues to prove why he is the most promising, albeit frustrating, domestic-born player manning his position. His lightening speed and ability to provide offensive pressure continue to be the saving grace for his repeated displays of lapses in concentration and defensive ineptitudes.
LCDM – Eric Dier
“Do it All Dier” couldn’t seem to find a regular place in Tottenham’s first XI last season. After stints at center back, left back, right back and holding midfield, Dier seems to have found a home at the latter. Dier has started the Spurs’ last three exhibition matches as a defensive mid, looking sharp in both his distribution and defensive disruption.
RCDM – Ryan Mason
Mason has become the forgotten man at White Hart Lane. Due to a lower-body injury, the center-mid has not seen any preseason action. Now fit, Mason should return to the starting XI. Nabil Bentaleb has logged most of the minutes at the position during the preseason, but with a similar skillset to that of Dier, Pochettino should give the nod to the more offensively talented Mason.
LM – Mousa Dembele
After finding himself in his manager’s doghouse for the majority of last season, the Belgian midfielder has worked his way into becoming a regular inclusion into the starting XI. Dembele has played all over the midfield but has found a home on the left side of Pochettino’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
CAM – Christian Eriksen
If there were any doubters questioning Eriksen’s ability to succeed in the Premier League they’ve most certainly been quietened after the Dane’s superb performance in the ’14-’15 campaign. Eriksen has proved to be one of the top playmaking midfielders in all of the BPL and his growing chemistry with Harry Kane should be making fantasy owners salivate.
RM – Nacer Chadli
Bought with the ‘Bale-money’ Tottenham received from Real Madrid, Chadli initially had a rough go of it during his adaptation to the Premier League. He has since matured nicely, tallying 10 league goals during the last campaign. His splendid preseason form suggests that the Belgian international will pick up right where he left off.
ST – Harry Kane
“Harry, Harry, Harry, he’s one of us!” What a revelation the young Englishman has been. Formerly on the fringes of the first team, Kane has developed into one of the top strikers in the world. Recently, rumors have resurfaced that Manchester United have put in a generous bid for the player. Unless we see a Kane-less starting XI on Saturday, there is no reason to give this rumor any legs.
Manchester United (4-1-4-1)
GK – David De Gea
Unless De Gea is sold to Real Madrid in the next 48-hours (which would be about time) it’s a virtual guarantee that he’ll be between the posts on Saturday, and continue to be the world’s best.
LB – Luke Shaw
Last season’s wunderkind from Southampton is finally healthy and looking to be worth every pound he cost. The highly athletic fullback does just what his manager loves, gets forward like a winger and traces back like a pure defender. If Shaw stays healthy he should regularly anchor the left-side for the Man U defense.
LCB – Daley Blind
After following his former national team manager to United last summer, Blind had a myriad of injuries that kept him on the sidelines for several spells of the Premier League season. Now healthy, Blind should anchor the center defense and hold off Phil Jones, Johnny Evans, or Marcos Rojo from usurping his role.
RCB – Chris Smalling
Smalling provides a good foil for Blind and should partner with him well. Unlike his Dutch partner, Smalling has the frame to compete with the sizable Harry Kane during aerial attacks.
RB – Antonio Valencia
Most projections are positioning new signee Matteo Darmian as the starting right-back to begin the season. This decision comes down to the formation Van Gaal will employ. Darmian never started a game in a four-man defense while at Torino. If Manchester United chooses to go with the four-man back line, Valencia should get the nod.
CDM – Michael Carrick
Too often is Michael Carrick overlooked. He may not be a spring chicken anymore, but the Englishman can still play ball. The one-time skipper repeatedly makes up for his lack of fitness with well-timed aggressive tackles and efficient passing.
LM – Ashley Young
Once viewed as a pricey transfer bust under Sir Alex and David Moyes has found rebirth under Louis Van Gaal. With Thursday’s news that Angel Di Maria will indeed be sold to Paris St. Germaine, Young is the best, and maybe the only real option to man the left-wing.
LCM – Morgan Schneiderlin
Yet another Southampton coup. Morgan Schneiderlin was signed for his superb defensive vision, never-ending motor and his tackling prowess, which very well may be the best in the league. Pairing Schneiderlin with Carrick may prove to be a bit superfluous but limiting the Spurs’ offensive chances up the middle will put the emphasis on the perimeter, giving Manchester United the advantage.
RCM – Bastian Schweinsteiger
He wasn’t signed to sit on the bench. The addition of the German veteran will add a sense of leadership, stability, and creativity from the midfield position. All the aforementioned were lacking during Manchester United’s previous campaign.
RM – Juan Mata
The Spanish international could easily shift into the middle in a 4-3-3 but is better suited on the wing. Louis Van Gaal has already stated that newcomer Memphis will be eased into the starting XI. With this in mind, the squad is better suited allowing Mata, a creative runner, to burden the offensive responsibilities. When Memphis become a regular fixture, look for Mata to shift to the inside.
ST – Wayne Rooney
Time to prove the haters wrong. Rooney’s form certainly dipped in recent years as he continued his relocation to the midfield. As soon as LVG moved Rooney back up front to his natural position last season the Red Devils got hot, performing their best during the final few months of the campaign. As long as Rooney stays healthy, he should face no trouble in finding the net.
Fantasy Outlook
Fantasy players should not expect a barn-burner to kick off the new campaign. With the two best keepers in the league in action and two improved, and healthy, defenses fully intact, goals should come as a premium. Tottenham struggled when visiting top-four clubs last season, getting outscored 11-2, including a 3-0 thrashing at Old Trafford in March. While David De Gea should put on a good showing, his 5.5 price tag is high, a cheaper option facing a more desirable matchup should get the GK nod over the Spaniard. If fantasy owners foresee an offensive ineptitude for the Spurs, they may, however, find difficulty deciding which United defender to include in the starting XI. None of the aforementioned players above are locks to be included in the starting backline.
Juan Mata may be the best buy among the Red Devils. Regardless of his position, the offensive attack will most certainly flow through the former Chelsea man. While his 8.5 price tag is steep, Mata should deliver on a trusted owner’s confidence.
Based on last season’s road performances against the top teams, fantasy owners should be wary to include any Spurs players in their lineups this weekend. If a need to include a Tottenham player persists, Nacer Chadli is a solid purchase. At just 7.0, the Belgian is a safe bet to start and should see a large amount of the offensive attack flow through him. With Harry Kane likely to be very tightly marked, players like Chadli will have more space to operate more creatively.
Prediction: Manchester United win 1-0, Juan Mata MOTM
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