Manchester United 1 Tottenham 0: Memphis Depay stars on debut, Eric Dier a concern for Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino

ANALYSIS: The view from the bench and the moment of the match

Agency
Saturday 08 August 2015 11:11 EDT
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STAR PLAYER

Memphis Depay: A joy to watch, particularly in the first half. United have wasted so much money over the last couple of years, but at £25million, Depay looks a shrewd investment. The pacy forward, playing as a number 10, always looked for the ball and was not scared of attempting a trick or running at defenders - exactly the kind of player the home fans at Old Trafford like to see.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Kyle Walker's own goal: Unfortunate for the right-back, who until that point was playing well. The Spurs defender raced back to try to cut out a United counter and put his foot in to block Wayne Rooney, but instead stabbed the ball past Michel Vorm. Harsh on the player, who has endured a difficult time recently due to injuries.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

United manager Louis van Gaal has an embarrassment of riches to choose from compared to his opposite number Mauricio Pochettino and it showed. Adnan Januzaj and three-time Champions League winner Victor Valdes did not even make the bench. United looked more organised than Spurs in all departments. There was no way Pochettino could out-master Van Gaal on Saturday - he is three or four players short of a good team and Tottenham need to act fast in the transfer window.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Mauricio Pochettino: For his team selection, principally regarding Eric Dier. The Argentinian played Dier as one of two holding midfielders even though Ryan Mason was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench. Dier has played in that role for Spurs in the last five games now and he is clearly not comfortable there. He spent last year filling in at right-back and now he has been shoved into midfield.

WHO'S UP NEXT

Aston Villa v Manchester United (Premier League, Friday 14 August)

Tottenham v Stoke (Premier League, Saturday 15 August)

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