Burnley v Spurs Match Preview

[outwoodclaret]

Every time we play Spurs these days we seem to welcome them to Burnley with a new manager in the visitors dugout. A month ago Nuno Esperito Santo brought his Tottenham team here in the Carabao Cup. Now it is the turn of his replacement Antonio Conte. The Italian maestro will be very familiar with the set up at Turf Moor from his Chelsea days. Conte was of course a Premier League winner with Chelsea in 2016-17. He also won Serie A three times in a row with Juventus in 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 and most recently took Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2020/21. This was Inter Milan’s first title in 11 years and it came as something of a surprise that Conte and Inter then parted company.

Conte now has charge of a Tottenham side that are struggling to recreate past glories. They have not won the League since their famous double season of 1960/61 and their last trophy was the League Cup in 2007/08. A resurgence under current PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino saw Spurs finish as runners up in the PL in 2016/17 before reaching the Champions League final in 2019. However disappointing 6th and 7th place finishes were to follow in the 2019/20 & 2020/21 PL seasons.

Conte a hard worker par excellence clearly has a sizeable task on his hands at his new club. In last weekend’s fixture v Leeds at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a lacklustre first half performance saw Spurs go in a goal down at the break. In the second half a much more intense attacking display was rewarded with goals from Hojbjerg and Sergio Reguilon and a much needed 2-1 victory. Of the eleven who started against Leeds only Harry Kane and Japhet Tanganga retained their places for Thursday night’s visit to Slovenian side Mura in the Europa Conference League. A very poor showing in which Spurs slumped to a 2-1 defeat and had Ryan Sessegnon sent off for two bookable offences will have incensed Conte.

We can expect Spurs to revert to much the same line up that faced Leeds for their visit to Turf Moor on Sunday. Cristian Romero has a long term injury while Giovani Lo Celso is rated doubtful. Few of those who featured against Mura are likely to have played their way into Conte’s plans. For Burnley Ashley Westwood and James Tarkowski who both picked up yellow cards against Crystal Palace must sit out a one match ban for this game. Nathan Collins will come in to partner Ben Mee in central defence. As to who steps in for Westwood remains to be seen though I would like to think Connor Roberts will figure somewhere in Sean Dyche’s thoughts.

Co-incidentally speaking, Peter Bankes who took charge of our Carabao Cup tie against Spurs returns to Turf Moor as match referee for this fixture. Assisting him on VAR is Craig Pawson. Let us all fervently hope for a much better result against Spurs this time around. COYC!

[kritichris]

It seems a good time to play them and it will be interesting to play without Tarkowski, something we'll have to get used to.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I thought your standards were slipping Mr outwood, and I felt the need to check your spelling of Hojbjerg.

I need not have bothered. COYC!

[outwoodclaret]

I thought your standards were slipping Mr outwood, and I felt the need to check your spelling of Hojbjerg.

I need not have bothered. COYC!

I can’t say bjettjer than that mon ami.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I can’t say bjettjer than that mon ami.

Lol!

[Supersub6]

I could pass comment on Peter Bankes after his last outing at the Turf, however, I shall let it ride -----but -------we won't win!

[Norder]

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will Spurs be bothered turn up....will they care ?

[Norder]

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Why it didn't happen.

[WillPark]

Will our suspended players not play or next game or will they not play when wee meet Tottenham next time??

[Supersub6]

Will our suspended players not play or next game or will they not play when wee meet Tottenham next time??

They are suspended for the game at Wolves, provided that it takes place.