Van der Sar on red alert for Sunday
Edwin van der Sar will be hoping hes done his homework correctly
when Tottenham Hotspur come to Old Trafford on
Sunday.
Uniteds hopes of continuing their FA Cup run may rest on van der
Sars knowledge of opponents like Robbie Keane, who scored his
101st goal for Spurs in their 5-1 Carling Cup thrashing of Arsenal
last night (Tuesday).
Van der Sar told ManUtd.com: You need a lot of information and we
watch DVDs that help us prepare.
For example, you need to learn whether a player is left footed or
right footed? What does he do in a one-against-one situation -
stand me up or go around me?
Van der Sar came a cropper in a one-on-one against Keane last
season, fracturing his nose in a collision with the Spurs striker
at White Hart Lane. The clash was accidental but still a painful
reminder of the hazards facing goalkeepers in the English
game.
Every league has its own characteristics and in England you get
bullied at the corners a lot, van der Sar told us.
Forwards try to bang into you or stop you from going to get the
ball. You have to protect yourself and use your whole body. You
also need to learn when to go and when to stay.
Van der Sar is staying at United at least until the end of 2008/09
- heres to Ed winning the FA Cup before he goes, after narrowly
missing out last term.
