Tottenham Hotspur made it four losses from the last five Premier League games with a 1-0 defeat to Burnley tonight, despite beating Man City with the same starting XI just days before.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned:
Let’s stop talking about top four – For a while, Tottenham were very much in the hunt for the top four. However, a small part of this was considering the number of games in hand they had on their opponents. What this didn’t take into account was the fact Spurs are really struggling to pick up points against lower and mid-table teams with any consistency this season and that will ultimately be their downfall. At this point, no European football next season would be better than Europa or Conference League, I think.
Unchanged line-up – I thought Conte naming an unchanged starting XI was a little strange. I guess it was a toss of the coin, either keep the same XI that beat Man City and ride the confidence wave or make a few changes and introduce fresh legs. In hindsight, which is an easy thing to operate in, I think certain leggy players could have done with a rest. While other players on the bench were maybe better suited for Burnley’s style of play. For me, Moura should have started at right-wing-back, Winks instead of Bentancur and Joe Rodon as an aerial presence at the back just to keep legs fresh.
Joe Rodon is in a tricky spot – This brings us onto my next takeaway. Spurs have a lot of games to contend with. Dier is just back from injury. Rodon thrives on dealing with aerial balls, which Burnley use a lot. If he isn’t getting rotated in for games like these, he doesn’t look as though he is going to get any Premier League minutes, short of a huge injury crisis. So much potential there and he needs chances or a loan move.
Kulusevski at right-wing-back – I think we may have glimpsed into the future in the final 30 minutes when Conte switched Kulusevski to right-wing-back, with Moura in the number ten pocket. It just wasn’t happening for Emerson again in the final third and Kulusevski went close a couple of times from RWB, as well as putting in some nice crosses.
Creativity, our long lost friend – Tottenham were lacking creativity again today. Unlocking the door away to Burnley has always been tough, but it isn’t just tonight that it has been a problem. Ever since Christian Eriksen left, Spurs have been missing the key that can consistently unlock the door. Until they find that again, they will probably keep struggling. It may come in the form of a playmaker, a number ten, a new right-wing-back… whatever the case, Spurs need it.