Tottenham fans in the Transfer Tavern have been left frustrated following the defeat to Chelsea on Sunday and they’ve expressed their concerns.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been extremely inactive in the transfer market thus far, with last week’s capture of Davinson Sanchez being their only piece of incoming business thus far, and fans are concerned that they’ve been left under staffed ahead of the new season.
Defeat to Chelsea at Wembley has left Pochettino’s side playing catch-up to the early season pacesetters, including Manchester United, and the pressure has been raised as many believe the Lilywhites still have a problem at Wembley.
The best response will be to bounce-back this weekend against Burnley and Mauricio Pochettino needs to go for broke ahead of the international break, to put down a marker ahead of the league’s return next month.
Hit the navigation buttons below to see who Pochettino must select in his XI to play Burnley this weekend.
GK: Hugo Lloris
The goalkeeping position within the Lilywhites’ set-up continues to select itself and that’s not going to chance as the season progresses. However, Hugo Lloris has a point to prove after a mishap for Chelsea’s match-winning goal on Sunday afternoon.
Captain of Spurs, Lloris can’t afford to have games like that against top-class opposition if Mauricio Pochettino’s side are desperate to win the Premier League title this season. Shortcomings need to be avoided and a top-class performance against Burnley is exactly what Spurs need this weekend.
RB: Kyle Walker-Peters
The young defender starred on the opening weekend as Spurs overcame newly-promoted Newcastle United and his performance in that game helped Mauricio Pochettino’s side to cope following the loss of Kyle Walker to Manchester City in the summer.
Kieran Trippier made a return from injury in the weekend’s defeat to Chelsea and he’ll continue to be vital as the season progresses. However, Spurs need depth in this position and a clash with Burnley is the ideal opportunity to hand further minutes to 20-year-old Walker-Peters.
CB: Toby Alderweireld
The Belgian defender has a huge season ahead of the World Cup and he’ll be looking to prove his worth at the highest level in the Champions League, following Spurs’ failures on the European stage last season and he’ll also be looking to push Tottenham towards league glory.
Spurs’ defence wasn’t at their best against Chelsea, perhaps prepared for a different tactical set-up from the Blues, and Antonio Conte’s alterations caught the Lilywhites off guard. There can be no room for mistakes this weekend though and Alderweireld will need to be at his prime.
CB: Jan Vertonghen
Just as this season is key for Alderweireld, the same can be said for his compatriot Jan Vertonghen. The 30-year-old vice-captain is one of many players who could be tempted for a new opportunity next season if the campaign doesn’t go Spurs’ way and it’s crucial the Lilywhites improve their performances.
Vertonghen, like Alderweireld, was part of a defence caught out by Chelsea’s tactical alterations at the weekend and nothing short of a comfortable victory is acceptable in this weekend’s clash with Sean Dyche’s Burnley, despite the Clarets’ stunning victory over Chelsea on the opening weekend.
LB: Kieran Trippier
With Kyle Walker-Peters on the right, Kieran Trippier may have to fill-in on the left side of defence due to the continued absence of Danny Rose. This may end-up being beneficial to the former Burnley man though, against his former side, as he could prove his versatility.
Currently, the left-back area at Spurs lacks significant depth and a strong performance from Trippier at Wembley could help the Lilywhites in their quest to find cover for Rose. That could help Trippier too if Walker-Peters continues to shine at right-back.
CM: Eric Dier
The England international has deputised in defence through the early weeks of the campaign but he sees his future in midfield. With the signing of Davinson Sanchez, that’s likely to be the case and he now faces a battle to establish himself in the starting XI.
Dier faces a stern test this season to prove his worth to Gareth Southgate’s England side too ahead of the World Cup, having been a key-player during the European Championships last summer, and for that to happen he needs to find consistency in his role.
CM: Victor Wanyama
A stellar signing last summer from Southampton, combative midfielder Victor Wanyama is one of Tottenham’s unsung heroes in the side and the protection he provides the defensive line will be crucial as the season progresses.
Also capable of providing an impact at the other end of the pitch, Victor Wanyama needs to step-up this season and put in the sort of performances that are comparable to N’Golo Kante at Chelsea and Nemanja Matic at Manchester United.
RW: Christian Eriksen
A reshuffle to the formation this weekend may drive Christian Eriksen out-wide, a position he’s admittedly not as effective in as he is centrally, but the Danish ace provides the sort of quality that can prove to be decisive wherever he’s placed in the line-up.
Eriksen should have plenty of opportunities against Burnley to carve-out openings for his side in attack, which could be the key to ending Harry Kane’s August goal drought, and it’s the sort of match where the Danish ace should thrive.
CAM: Dele Alli
England and Spurs’ star-man, Dele Alli has endured a difficult start to the season as his reputation continues to cause problems. However, as shown against Newcastle, he’s still the hero that Spurs need him to be, he just needs to mature a lot this season.
Still just 21, Alli has a crucial year ahead of the World Cup next summer and his antics need to be quelled before that tournament, as there’s every chance he could follow in the line of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney by being sent-off at a World Cup.
LW: Son Heung-Min
The South Korean star was one of Spurs’ stand-out performers last season as Mauricio Pochettino’s side finished runners-up in the Premier League and he now needs to show that wasn’t one off season- and that he’s capable of continuing to be a star.
Son has plenty of wide-players to compete with in the Premier League, ranging from Alexis Sanchez around the corner at Arsenal to Sadio Mane at Liverpool, and he needs to prove he remains in the same calibre as these stars.
ST: Harry Kane
Arguably the greatest striker in the Premier League right now, Harry Kane has endured a difficult start to the season and is yet to score this campaign, something that’s been a trend throughout the August months gone past. However, there’s a lot more to his game than goals.
Kane’s contribution in the matches against Newcastle and Chelsea is clear for all to see and Spurs will be a much better side if the reliance on their star-striker cools somewhat, especially as the general consensus is that Spurs will crumble if Kane was to suffer an injury.
