Match Preview: Burnley v Spurs – Back on track?

Match Preview: Burnley v Spurs – Back on track?

After our disastrous 9-player team change against Premier League Fulham in the League Cup, where we lost on penalties, we are now back in the Premier League where – I hope – Postecoglou isn't planning any more risqué changes.

I agree that he needs to experiment, but there are times, ways, means and places for that… say against weaker opposition… not a top-challenging Premier League team. Once we had seen the changes, you felt that the evening would end in disaster… But we are now back on firmer ground (hopefully!).

Now to my prediction, team news, lineups, etc.

Burnley and Spurs are Two teams separated by 15 places in the Premier League table. Both have fairly new managers; ex-City player Vincent Kompany makes his season's first visit to the Premier League, as does Postecoglou.

While Burnley brushed off their top-flight opponents (Nottingham Forest) in the Cup, our trophyless run will continue for at least another few months, at the very least, courtesy of our loss at Craven Cottage.

Match preview

Burnley…

Despite taking the Championship by storm last season, Vincent Kompany's Burnley are yet to make their mark in the Premier League since earning an immediate promotion.

At one time, Kompany was considered a possible manager for us.

Spurs…

Our EFL Cup second-round encounter with Fulham on Tuesday night saw Postecoglou's much-changed team go into the break facing a 1-0 deficit from Micky van de Ven's own goal before a rare effort from Richarlison drew us level. Ironically, the two players that weren't changed were the two players that scored… for both sides.

After 90 minutes, all was level in the Competition, then the dreaded penalties…

Sanchez missed, and the rest is in the dustbin of history.

Still, we are in a good position in the League, and may it long continue… no more surprises, Ange… our hearts can't take it. Saying that, we should be used to it since Daniel Levy has dominated proceedings at our/ his stadium.

Yes, we are in third place thanks to our successive wins over Manchester United and Bournemouth.

To recap…

Goals either side of the break from James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski propelled us to victory at the Vitality Stadium last weekend, thereby keeping up our characteristic of scoring at least twice in all of our Premier League games while Postecoglou has been pulling the team's strings.

Our game against Fulham didn't see us lose through the proper channels, as we ended the game after 90 minutes, all even… no, Russian roulette decided who would take home the spoils. And penalty shootouts are exactly that… the luck of the draw…

Now, we aim to go four away games unbeaten for the first time since August 2022. Mel and I have had some good memories of our trips to Turf Moor. Most of our recent showdowns with Burnley have been positive, winning four of the last five contests, although our previous trip to Turf Moor ended in a 1-0 loss. I remember, after that game, Conte memorably questioned his ability to get his side some gumption. Eventually, he was pushed out by Levy and replaced by his assistant… who then took us to humiliation against Newcastle United… he was gone, only to be replaced by a child star (Ryan Mason), who managed to take us further down, to 8^th place and no European football—well done to those who pull the strings at Tottenham. Wisdom can be a dangerous commodity while in the hands of wannabe amateurs.

Burnley Premier League form:

LL

Burnley form (all competitions):

LLW

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

DWW

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

DWWL

 

Spurs Team News

Richarlison could be out as he received a knock on his ankle at the Fulham game. However, some comments from the Spurs ground have said that he might be fit, but Ange will wait until Friday or Saturday to see how things develop.

Bryan Gil (groin), Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) and Alfie Whiteman (ankle).

After making changes for the EFL Cup, Postecoglou will revert to type at Turf Moor as Maddison rejoins Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma in the midfield.

My possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Maddison, Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, **Richarlison, Son

**Although there is a question mark over Richarlison, I've decided to take a gamble and put him into my lineup.

My prediction…

Burnley 0-2 Spurs

After my four-nil victory prediction over Bournemouth last weekend, I decided to simmer down and go for just two goals and nothing in return.…. saying that, we might score a few goals more as my predictions haven't been spot on of late… Whichever way we look at it, I'll be happy if we just win. We are a work in progress… after all!

I will also predict that Richarlison will score… that is, if he gets over his knock and plays. Of course, if he doesn't play, he won't score… the bleeding bloody obvious!!!! (Ha, ha!!).

Even though Kompany is a rising star in football management, I can't see him getting one over on our more experienced manager (that is, in years - as in world trotting - not Premier League experience, which Kompany has had with City as a player, but just as a player). On top of that, with fresh injuries to deal with, an injured Clarets team are destined to fall short against a fired-up-moulded Postecoglou team, even if Richarlison finds himself watching from an out-of-the-way position.

Ange Postecoglou is still learning his way around the Premier League and English football… he won't have it as easy as he did while managing one of two-team bloated fish in a pool of minnow wannabee tadpoles that is in Scotland. But I am sure he is a quick learner and will return from the Fulham game much wiser.

If you are going on Saturday, see you there… if just watching or listening… enjoy! Combined, we stand as one!

Up the Spurs!

COYS!

Glenn

Comedian Paul Whitehouse and me

Comedian Paul Whitehouse and Mel
Both pictures were taken at the Tottenham Stadium