Match report/ Preview: Mura (embarrassment) Burnley (hope?)

Match report/ Preview: Mura (embarrassment) Burnley (hope?)

Mura 2 Hapless Spurs 1

What can one say? To call that result an embarrassment would be giving us some sort of credit. We were awful, especially the first half… a total joke!

To be honest, I don't blame Conte as he inherited this shit. Our problems go back to Pochettino when he went to ask Levy for money to strengthen the squad and got sacked for his troubles, and our problems continued under Mourinho and Nuno.

After the Champions League final, we should have invested in the team but didn't. There are currently 9 players in the current squad that played in that final in Madrid. Any other top team would have replenished their squad by now.

So, what happens next? First of all, Conte needs to nip into the transfer window in January and have a total whitewash of the squad and bring in some top talent.

I was supposed to go to this match – I had the ticket – but we couldn't get a flight and we were forced to abort our plans to travel to see that piece of shit. But it was never just about seeing our team play, but also seeing another European team (no matter how poorly they are) and their country. On the good side, I saved a few hundred pounds but lost £25 on the ticket. So, I ended up watching it on an app on iPlayer.

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte said the "situation is not simple" at the club after his much-changed side were embarrassed by NS Mura to leave their Europa Conference League last-16 hopes hanging by a thread.

The Match

After the game, a very pissed off Conte wouldn't talk to the players but did ringside interviews.

Amadej Marosa's injury-time goal sealed the unlikely victory after Harry Kane looked to have salvaged a point for 10-man Spurs. Kane chipped in after Tommy Horvat opened the scoring, and Ryan Sessegnon's red card reduced us to 10 players. But Marosa exposed some slack late defending by Davinson Sanchez to stun us.

Our former midfielder Jermaine Jenas told BT Sport the defeat was "shocking and embarrassing", while Glenn Hoddle said our first-half performance was "dreadful". Which sums it all up.

As for Conte, he said, "I did not like what happened tonight, I must be honest and tell you that after three-and-a-half weeks, I am starting to understand the situation. I am happy to stay here, but at the same time, I must be honest and tell you we need to work a lot to improve the quality of the squad. We are Tottenham, and in this moment, there is an important gap [to the top teams in England]. If someone thinks that a new coach arrives and Conte won in the past, and then I am a magician... But the only magic I can do is to work. To bring work and work to improve, to bring my methods, my ideas of football. But we have to understand that we need time. It is not simple because, in this moment for sure, the level of Tottenham is not so high. The situation now is starting to be very clear in my mind. I like to win, and I play to win in every competition. This must be the same for my players. This road could be one metre or 100m. I am not scared, I am ready to go and do this path. But at the same time, I want to be very honest - we have to work a lot and improve in many, many aspects. The club is outstanding outside - to create a stadium - but now we start from behind. I have found players that want to work and have great commitment, but sometimes it is not enough. We need time, but we have to do better in everything, everything, everything."

Asked about what he had said to his players after the defeat, he replied: "Usually, I prefer to not speak to them after the game, especially when the game is not good because you are too involved emotionally. We will do it tomorrow."

Defeat means second place in Group G is the best we can hope to achieve. In our final group game, we host unbeaten Rennes, who are already guaranteed the top spot.

I think we shall leave that match report there; there is no point in continuing sticking needles into our eyes to see how worse the pain can get.

Match Preview: Burnley v Spurs (more of the same or better luck this time?)

At Turf Moor 2 pm.

I am – well, we all are – hoping this game goes a lot better than the Mura game… but then again, can it go any worse?

TEAM NEWS

Burnley

Ashley Barnes faces a spell on the sidelines after tearing a muscle in his thigh. James Tarkowski and Ashley Westwood are suspended

Tottenham

Oliver Skipp has returned from suspension, and Cristian Romero remains out. Giovani Lo Celso remains a doubt about the issue that he picked up on international duty.

My thoughts and prediction

Conte has made a strong start for us in the league, with four points from his first two games in charge, so he will know precisely what to expect at Turf Moor.

As for Burnley, they have just started building an unbeaten run, with a win and three draws. However, and even after our disastrous Thursday night game, I can't see them getting one over on us.

Prediction: 1-3

Burnley Premier League form:

DLDWDD

Burnley form (all competitions):

LDLWDD

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

WLWDWL

My possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Tanganga, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Son, Kane, Lucas

As I said above, there are many people we can blame for Thursday's fiasco (players, Levy etc.), but we can't point the finger at Conte.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Burnley have won just one of the last 12 league meetings (D3, L8).

We have scored in all but one of their 14 Premier League games versus the Clarets.

Burnley

They have only managed one victory in 15 Premier League fixtures (D6, L8).

However, they are on a four-match unbeaten league run (W1, D3).

The Clarets have scored nine goals in those four games - one more than they managed in their previous 13 combined.

They have scored a league-high six headed goals this season, while Tottenham are yet to achieve from a header.

Burnley's last six goals against Spurs have been shared between Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, scoring three each.

Tottenham Hotspur

Our six league victories this season have all been by a single-goal margin.

Norwich has had fewer shots in the Premier League this season than the 124 by us before the weekend.

They could go three successive away league matches without scoring for the first time since 2014.

Harry Kane has eight goals in his 10 previous Premier League appearances against Burnley.

Kane has either scored or assisted in each of his last six league games against the Clarets.

That is is, folks. I will be travelling up tomorrow morning at 7 am, and Mel is picking me. It is going to be a long day.

COYS!

Mike Donovan, an award-winning author, has written numerous books on Tottenham Hotspur. Mike has also been following Spurs since the 60s, so he is well qualified to put pen to paper about one of his (our) heroes. So, he has written a book on Dave Mackay and to read my review please kick on the link "HERE"

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