Spurs will look to this weekend`s clash with Burnley as an opportunity to bounce back from two defeats and amazingly, a win tomorrow with be Tottenham`s first Premiership win in September for four years to the day…
I have to say that was a stat that had completely passed me by and perhaps therefore we shouldn`t have been surprised to loss to United and Chelsea in the last two games. With a run like that I would happily take a scrappy 1-0 like four years ago with a Jermain Defoe against Fulham.
Burnley have delighted not only their fans but many others in football by gaining promotion to the Prem and have so far epitomized the romance of the game in beating Man United at home something we failed to do of course. But winning at home has been the easy part of life in the top league, it is getting anything away that has and will be the problem.
In defence of Burnley, the three away games so far have all been very losable games with a very touch opening day trip to Stoke, followed, by Chelsea and Liverpool. I don`t think there will be too many sides expecting too much from those fixtures. So perhaps in looking at the table and only seeing zero points, No goals and nine conceded, we are missing the point and perhaps underestimating the opposition, particularly early in the season.
The home form has been a total contrast with the “huge” win over United, followed up by victories over Everton and Sunderland. If not always convincing, surely it is points on the board that count and as we witnessed in last season`s Carling Cup, Burnley are not only a quality footballing side, but also one prepared to roll up their sleeves and battle.
The last time these sides faced each other in a league match was in the old Division two with games played on Guy Fawkes night and April fool`s day, with honours even at one win each. Thankfully for Spurs, that was a single season out of the top flight, but for Burnley is was 33 long and often painful years.
Spurs will definitely be without, Ledley King (Hamstring) Jonathan Woodgate (groin), Luka Modric (Fibula), Giovani Dos Santos (ankle) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (Achilles), whilst Sebastien Bassong will have a late test, but is hopeful of being ok.
Harry has the luxury of having both Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale fit for the first league game this season and it would appear certain that Daws will start the game, alongside Bassong or Vedran Corluka if the Frenchman doesn`t make it. Bale could be an outside bet for the left of midfield, but I think the best he will get is a place on the bench.
Harry has decisions over which keeper will start and I think it would be tough on Cudicini to replace him when he did nothing wrong against Chelsea and although Gomes was impressive against Preston and I feel he is the better keeper, I would like to think that the man in possession should retain the starting place if he performs well and Carlo would be justifiably upset to miss out. Harry had the chance to make the change last week and didn`t. I don`t think for one moment that he retained Carlo purely on sentiment so think he will stick with his man, for now at least.
Attack is the main issue to divide the fans and media. With Peter Crouch scoring three at Preston, he would rightly expect to get the nod tomorrow, but that would also be ignoring Keane and Defoe both scoring and both feeling they are the rightful starters. This all tells me that Harry will play all three and move Robbie back to the left, leaving Crouch and Defoe in attack. Not to everyone`s liking, but it is the likely solution in my opinion.
The other interesting selection if Harry plays Keane on the left, will be which of JJ or Hudd will partner Palacios? I thought that JJ was good at Stamford Bridge, but if we base selection of players in form, Hudd could and possibly should stay in the team. Aside from a poor game against United, he has looked impressive in the middle and also in defence and it would again be harsh to push him out. All tough decisions, but I guess that is what Harry is paid for and it is clearly better to have selection problems over players playing well, than actually because we have been poor.
I think selection will be more about formation than individuals. If we are to play a 4-4-2, then I think Harry will feel that Robbie is best suited to the role on the left over either Kranjcar or possibly Bale, with the other option being Aaron Lennon moved to the left, with either JJ or Bentley on the right. Keane may not be everyone`s right man for the left, but I think he is probably the best at this time. It also leaves the striker argument for another day.
Tomorrow will be tougher than many anticipate in my opinion but I still expect a comfortable Spurs win and will go with 3-1. I have a nasty feeling that David Nugent will get a goal as he will be really fired up and desperate to stick two fingers up to Harry after his disappointment at Pompey. If I am right let`s hope it is a last minute consolation after a fantastic Tottenham display. If any side get any consolation at White Hart Lane, I can`t think of too many I would prefer it to be than Burnley at this time…
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