Tottenham 2015/16 vs Man Utd 1995/96

[mil1lion]

OK so now that we've got the current day fixture against Manchester 'bigger than Spurs' United out of the way

I remember a little while back Kane mentioned how the players looked to the young Man Utd team under Sir Alex for inspiration. There was much to admire about Fergies Fledglings back then. Like the Spurs of today Sir Alex put faith in his youngsters after replacing several experienced players from the season before. They did have some more established players but it was the fearlessness of the young lions that caught a lot of attention.

I wonder how well we compare to that double winning side now. They finished on 82 points that season, whereas the best we can finish on now is 80 points. I'm sure some of our more experienced (old people) posters will have better memories of that Man Utd team than I do. Are we building that same winning mentality that Utd had now at Spurs? It's still early days for us and we don't have the expectations that Utd had back then. I imagine the expectation will be set very highly next season now. However yesterday was a very rare occassion where we were the favourites against Utd.

What I remember of that Utd team was they had that core of experience and the excellence of Cantona and Cole in attack, while the young hopefuls played with no fear. Similar to Utd our more experienced stars in Lloris (Schmeichel), Alderweireld (Bruce) and Vertonghen (Pallister) in defence. The young English fullbacks Rose (P.Neville) and Walker (G.Neville). The duo of Dier (Keane) and Butt (Dembele) at the heart of midfield. A young fearless attacking midfielder supporting the centre forward in Alli (Scholes). A set piece master with vision in Erikson (Beckham) and the trickery of Lamela (Giggs). A special striker in Kane who will hold up play and score 20+ goals a season (Cantona/Cole).

Aside from the difference in formation and playing style I can see the similarities. The never say die attitude and togetherness in particular and the confidence of the youngsters. I make no apologies for starting another positive thread and I appreciate those who don't want to draw comparisons because we still have a way to go to achieve the sucess Utd had. However every era has to start somewhere so why not take a look at one of the very best English sides for comparison? Afterall this could be the measuring stick for success.

Lets take a look at the 2 teams' starting 11

Man Utd - 95/96

Schmeichel
G.Neville----Bruce----Pallister----Irwin
Beckham----Butt----Keane----Giggs
Cantona
Cole​

Tottenham - 15/16

Lloris
Walker----Alderweireld----Vertonghen----Rose
Lamela----Dier----Dembele----Eriksen
Alli
Kane
​

Played at a neutral stadium who wins and how? And no I don't mean against the Utd players as they are now

 

[Riandor]

Lets take a look at the 2 teams' starting 11

Man Utd - 95/96

Schmeichel
G.Neville----Bruce----Pallister----Irwin
Beckham----Butt----Keane----Giggs
Cantona
Cole​

Tottenham - 15/16

Lloris
Walker----Alderweireld----Vertonghen----Rose
Lamela----Dier----Dembele----Eriksen
Alli
Kane
​

Played at a neutral stadium who wins and how? And no I don't mean against the Utd players as they are now

Tough one s my memory of that team is clouded somewhat by their overall careers, so I find it hard to remember how good they were in that season, not just vs who they beat, but in terms of physicality, fitness and skill.

I believe United edge it, possibly just the genius of Cantona alone, but perhaps also because the experience of that back 2 coupled with the nut job in midfield means that they might prove too canny for still fledgling stars. Schmeichel was also an absolute monster in goal.

Frankly Man United had youth in positions were they could hurt, but rarely cost them and played alongside some far more experienced players. Our whole team, one or two aside are all really young and as such I think ours is much more worthy a league performance, all be it one that might yet prove Alan Hansen right!

 

[mark87]

United definitely wins that one.

 

[mil1lion]

Tough one s my memory of that team is clouded somewhat by their overall careers, so I find it hard to remember how good they were in that season, not just vs who they beat, but in terms of physicality, fitness and skill.

I believe United edge it, possibly just the genius of Cantona alone, but perhaps also because the experience of that back 2 coupled with the nut job in midfield means that they might prove too canny for still fledgling stars. Schmeichel was also an absolute monster in goal.

Frankly Man United had youth in positions were they could hurt, but rarely cost them and played alongside some far more experienced players. Our whole team, one or two aside are all really young and as such I think ours is much more worthy a league performance, all be it one that might yet prove Alan Hansen right!

Interestingly the average age of Utd was 24 back then and I think ours is 25.

There's no doubt football in general has changed a lot in 20 years. I do find it interesting the similiarities 20 years later, not just for Spurs but the England national team. It's also funny that Sir Alex could have even joined Spurs back then.

I imagine the advances in physical fitness have improved a lot since then. But comparing Utd in that generation vs Spurs in this generation I think we fair pretty well.

 

[mil1lion]

United definitely wins that one.

There's no definite about it

Utd goals for = 73
Utd goals against = 35

Spurs with 5 games remaining
Goals for - 60
Goals against - 25

Utd back then were going through transition. Blackburn won the Title the season before and then finished 7th the following season (Chelsea?). United didn't sign many players and put faith into those young up and comers. They were still a few years away from the incredible treble winners of 98-99. They fell 10 points adrift of leaders Newcastle at one time (albeit with a lot more time to turn it around).

 

[Grapo2001]

United would win hands down.

 

[Trix]

Cantona, Keane and Schmeicel were all world class, and arguably the best in the world in their respective positions. We are getting there but that Yanited side was better.

 

[Trix]

Cantina, Keane and schmeicel were all world class, and arguably the best in the world in thir their respective positions. We are getting there but that Yanited side was better.

I'd also add Irwin was massively under rated when people talk about that team. He was the absolute epitome of consistency.

 

[Lighty64]

unfortunately Man Utd take the win, I would add Giggs to being class along with the 3 Trix named, and Beckham just had that more accuracy compared to Eriksen

 

[Khilari]

Nice comparisons
Would be great if we could create a culture at Tottenham and not just a winning team, a legacy if you like.

However back when United started to dominate, there was no-one within earshot of the sort of spending power they accumulated. When the likes of Blackburn and Newcastle started to spend the money, they did feel the heat.

Now with the TV money, oil money and bugger stadia and foreign investment it seems unlikely that one team will dominate the way United did but I hope we can be there or there abouts at the top end competing for honours for some time.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Interestingly the average age of Utd was 24 back then and I think ours is 25.

There's no doubt football in general has changed a lot in 20 years. I do find it interesting the similiarities 20 years later, not just for Spurs but the England national team. It's also funny that Sir Alex could have even joined Spurs back then.

I imagine the advances in physical fitness have improved a lot since then. But comparing Utd in that generation vs Spurs in this generation I think we fair pretty well.

I'm sorry but are you sure about that? I recall thinking about this a few months ago and we came out about two years younger on average. Bruce was 34/35! Schmeichel 31/32, Pallister 30, Irwin 29/30, Cantona 29. All older than a single one of our players this season.

 

[JerryGarcia]

How would they stand up to the Poch press though? That's not something they would have come up against before.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

How would they stand up to the Poch press though? That's not something they would have come up against before.

They did when they got spanked in the CL by Real when Ronaldo (real one) got his hat trick. They pressed Hard in that game, very hard.

 

[Spurs 1961]

The key for them is that they won things early! This is my only fear and perhaps the negative side of not taking the Dortmund game seriously. What would have happened if they had not had that early taste of trophies? We need to win something this next year ... maybe the title now ... or the team might not kick on to the next level

 

[Flashspur]

Interestingly the average age of Utd was 24 back then and I think ours is 25.

There's no doubt football in general has changed a lot in 20 years. I do find it interesting the similiarities 20 years later, not just for Spurs but the England national team. It's also funny that Sir Alex could have even joined Spurs back then.

I imagine the advances in physical fitness have improved a lot since then. But comparing Utd in that generation vs Spurs in this generation I think we fair pretty well.

I think our team is younger

 

[DanielCHillier]

There's no definite about it

Utd goals for = 73
Utd goals against = 35

Spurs with 5 games remaining
Goals for - 60
Goals against - 25

Utd back then were going through transition. Blackburn won the Title the season before and then finished 7th the following season (Chelsea?). United didn't sign many players and put faith into those young up and comers. They were still a few years away from the incredible treble winners of 98-99. They fell 10 points adrift of leaders Newcastle at one time (albeit with a lot more time to turn it around).

So score 13 and concede less than 10 in our last 5 and we compare pretty well. Also shows how brilliant we have been defensively this season.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

It wasn't/isn't so much about player for player comparison, but about a team unit and team mentality. Which would be the stronger unit on the whole? I think it would be very close, and probably our present Spurs would have a huge chance at beating those guys. Our season on a whole is not quite as good, but our very best this season is truly at a high level indeed.

 

[garryparkerschest]

I'd also add Irwin was massively under rated when people talk about that team. He was the absolute epitome of consistency.

During his time I would argue he was the best full back in the league, maybe even in the history of the Premier League, he was never dominated defensively and offered so much as an attacking force.

A consistently excellent player.

 

[faymantaray]

Anyone else think the term 'Fergie's Fledglings' sounds a bit disgusting?

 

[philip]

I'm sorry but are you sure about that? I recall thinking about this a few months ago and we came out about two years younger on average. Bruce was 34/35! Schmeichel 31/32, Pallister 30, Irwin 29/30, Cantona 29. All older than a single one of our players this season.

Correct. Which is why the ManU team would definitely win. You can't buy that sort of experience.