Tottenham Hotspur vs. Burnley: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape FA Cup Game
Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley do it all over again in the FA Cup third round this Wednesday.
The replay obviously means a change of scenery, with White Hart Lane the host after last Monday's 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. The extra fixture in an already crowded schedule is likely to mean alterations to both teams, too.
Read on for the issues and decisions set to shape this FA Cup clash.
Spurs Look to Bounce Back Against Rising Clarets
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Tottenham's last slow period, just over a month ago, also came around the time of a meeting with Crystal Palace.
They lost to Chelsea and Besiktas either side of that 0-0 draw. Mauricio Pochettino's side reacted by recording 13 points from their next five Premier League games and winning their Capital One Cup quarter-final.
Spurs will now look to bounce back from Saturday's reversal by the Eagles and ensure two games without a win—including last week's initial cup match with Burnley—do not turn into a full-blown skid.
"I’m disappointed and we need to analyse, we need to improve and we need to avoid some mistakes that we made against Palace," Pochettino told his club's official website after the Selhurst Park defeat.
By comparison, Burnley's 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers built on successive solid draws with Manchester City and Newcastle United to take them out of the Premier League relegation zone. The draw with Spurs proved a decent momentum-sustaining performance too. Clarets boss Sean Dyche was keen to point out the progress of his team, per their own website:
"There was a lot made of us not winning for 10 games, in what was a period of growth for us, but there are real signs of the belief in the group now and although I suppose this is a big win from the outside looking in, it’s just another three points on the board and we have to get many more."
Scott Arfield, scorer of a tremendous opener against QPR, stated post-match that the replay with Tottenham is just as important to Burnley as their improving league form.
"The next clutch of games are important but none more so than the next one which is Tottenham away," the left-midfielder told Burnley's official website. "It’s the FA Cup and that’s what you want to be involved in so we certainly won’t be going down there to make up the numbers."
Battle to Impress
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Pochettino has shown his willingness to rotate his squad over a busy winter period further set to stretch his resources in the weeks to come.
At left-back, Danny Rose has again got the nod to start in league-play after losing his place to Ben Davies. The Welshman started at Burnley last week, so he should be back for this one.
After his half-hearted attempt to defend Michael Kightly's cut-back for Sam Vokes' equaliser only helped it into the path of the striker, Davies could do with a sturdier showing. Rose has played decently in his last two appearances, but has not been so commanding that he would be immune to his team-mate displacing him again.
Vlad Chiriches and Paulinho were the less frequently used squad members drafted in last time out at Turf Moor. Options are limited in Spurs' midfield because of Ryan Mason's injury and Nabil Bentaleb being on international duty, so the Brazilian could get another run-out.
The returns of Younes Kaboul and Aaron Lennon to the bench against Palace for the first time since before Christmas further opened up the possibility of Pochettino mixing things up.
It is a big call in such a hectic period.
Consistency is important to a team maintaining momentum. Coaches, too, would naturally rather use the better, in-form players those preferences imply.
The risk of over-using a footballer to the point they are drained and their performances suffer is very real. Spurs have not got there yet with main men like Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, but it will certainly be on their head coach's mind.
Stick or Twist for Dyche?
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Burnley boss Dyche's options are more limited than Pochettino's. He knows there is not much he can do other than to get on with things.
Over their good recent run, Dyche has used the requirement to field largely the same team to his favour. His players know what they are going to get from one another
The burgeoning understanding of Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings up front was displayed by their combination for the latter's terrific winner versus QPR.
Burnley's back four of (right to left) Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane, Jason Shackell and Ben Mee has not been perfect. But, given the difficulties caused by chopping-and-changing at clubs like Hull City and QPR, the familiarity of this quartet (backed by Tom Heaton) has to be preferable.
Dyche did, however, vary things up against Spurs last week.
Daniel Lafferty came in at left-back, while the lively Kightly got a shot in midfield. The most notable of Burnley's substitute contributors was scorer Vokes in only the striker's second appearance since last March.
The availability of a man who scored 22 times last term is the kind of development which may prompt Dyche into changing things up against Spurs again.
The question will be how much the 43-year-old alters things.
Is It Time to Bring Adebayor Back in from the Cold?
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The greater uncertainty behind Pochettino's thinking makes predicting a bigger selection call from the Spurs boss difficult, to say the least.
But here is one. Is Wednesday the time to bring Emmanuel Adebayor back in from the cold?
The striker's exact status is unclear. In a period punctuated by a spell of personal leave, he has not played since November but has been back in training for a few weeks now, according to his head coach.
In his pre-Palace press conference, Pochettino was non-committal on Adebayor's status. A vague answer on his satisfactory training form was concluded by "maybe he is close to being available again, to maybe have the opportunity to play."
If he is in the frame to be selected, now is as good an opportunity as any to take another look at the temperamental Togo international.
His performances while first-choice earlier in the season have been significantly overshadowed by the better form of his replacement Kane. The England Under-21 forward can only carry the team so far, though, and he would surely benefit from someone helping him share the load.
Adebayor might not be that man. His recent lacklustre showings might be indicative of a player whose future is best served elsewhere.
Then again, the striker who led the line impeccably against Southampton and scored fine goals against QPR and Newcastle might be ready for a return. He showed midway through last season he could make a substantial difference for Tottenham. If he wants it enough, he can do so again.
Adebayor might not be the main man in his team's attack anymore, but on-song, he has it in him to be adept cover for Kane and, possibly, a partner who can help him to even greater feats.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
