please log in to view this image Saturday 15th December 3pm Premier League Wembley Stadium Our unlikely progress in the Champions League was achieved and it's time to put Europe on hold for a while. Thoughts of bright lights and glory are put on the back burner and we're back to the hard graft. No side typifies this quite as well as Sean Dyche's Burnley. They've got little in the way of flair or glamour, but regularly take points from those who do. We won the possession battle against Barca, now we need to win the work war against the Clarets. Burnley came into this campaign on a high, having finished the last one in 7th place. They had qualified for European football for the first time in 51 years and were going on tour. Thoughts of exotic flights to faraway places were immediately put on hold after the first round draw, though. Passports stayed in drawers, as a short trip to Aberdeen was first on the menu. The season started early for them and a spartan transfer window seemed to dampen expectations. A tough fight requiring extra-time saw them past their Scottish opponents and off to Turkey. Emmanuel Adebayor's Basaksehir also required extra-time and a 1-0 aggregate win, draining the side further. Olympiacos were up next, but the European regulars were too much and they failed to reach the group stage. It felt anticlimactic and appeared to take the wind out of the club's sails. They've yet to recover. The European distraction took it's toll on their league form and they managed a solitary point from the first five games. Two wins in late September suggested that they may have got over their disappointment, but it didn't last. Six losses and a draw from the next seven matches, plus elimination from the League Cup was to follow. A 1-0 win against Brighton in their last match has dragged them out of the relegation zone, though. Is it a sign that the Burnley of last season is back or another false start to a really tough campaign? Our match at Wembley against Burnley last year was only our second at the ground in the league. Talk of the curse was at a high, following our opening defeat to Chelsea and win at Newcastle. The game would only add more fuel to that fire, unfortunately. A lackadaisical display saw us dominate possession, but rarely threaten until Alli put us head just after the break. Chances were wasted to put the game to bed and a sleepy last 15 minutes saw Wood equalise at the death. The trip to Turf Moor was a stark contrast, as we came out quickly and maintained the intensity throughout. Alli won a penalty after six minutes, which Kane converted to give us the lead. Various opportunities to extend it were spurned until Sissoko put Kane in again with 20 minutes left to make it 2-0. The hat-trick followed ten minutes later as Kane matched Shearer's calendar year record with a game to spare: Sanchez, Foyth, Aurier, Dembele, Wanyama and Trippier are all injured for this one, officially. There's some suggestion that Trippier, Aurier, Sanchez and Foyth will be tested late and could play, though. Defour and Gudmundsson are doubts for the visitors, while Pope and Ward are definitely out. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Winks; Sissoko, Alli, Son; Moura. Subs: Gazzaniga, Walker-Peters, Rose, Skipp, Eriksen, N'Koudou, Kane. League form: WWWLWW. Burnley: Hart; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Cork, Brady; Wood, Barnes. Subs: Heaton, Lowton, Long, Hendrick, Lennon, Vokes, Vydra. League form: LLDLLLW. Referee: Graham Scott. TV: Not televised. Would you risk any rotation or rest anyone for this, given the Arsenal League Cup match next week? Is there anything that you'd like to see us do differently to help break Burnley down? Did Walker-Peters do enough against Barca to keep his place or would you play someone else there?
As mentioned in the predictions thread, the following won't be playing Serge Aurier Mousa Dembele Juan Foyth Davinson Sanchez Kieran Trippier Victor Wanyama
Hugo KWP, Toby, Jan, Davies Dier, Sissoko Lamela, Eriksen, Lucas Kane Son and Alli on the bench, their turn to be rested.
Sean Dyche has been talking up Burnley's chances saying Wembley and last week's win will give them freedom so he's confident but we mustn't be over confident. 3-1 Spurs.
But do we dare rest Sissoko? Asking that question in all seriousness makes me wonder if Spurs are in infinite improbability drive.
He is almost undroppable at the moment - an incredible turnaround in such a relatively short space of time. (Making the £30m fee looking like an absolute bargain). With the cup game midweek I would be wrapping him up in cotton wool this weekend - his strength and attitude in these derbies has already shone through - so I would bench him. Particularly as Dier had a rest midweek. I would keep the DoF in as well. An extra game for him (after his decent 2nd half against Barca) and another game rest for Ben will be benefits on both fronts running into the Xmas period. Gazza, KWP, Toby, Verts, Rose, Dier, Winks, Eriksen, Lamela, Lucas, Kane - or maybe give Nando a run-out. Hopefully, Skippy will be in the bench for another outing. COYS!
It's going to be freezing and raining at the match today, for anyone that's going. Hopefully that won't affect the team or the start, as we need a quick one, but it'll influence the atmosphere. Could suit Burnley down to the ground, if we fail to get a goal early on.
Yeah and I sit fairly low down behind the goal to the right, so likely to get ****ing drenched. Laaaarvely.
FFS, has Verts picked up a knock too? ...not quite the response that TJ Eyoma was hoping for when he was announced on the bench
Well I'm already at a disadvantage in the prediction league, as I said Dier would score and he's not even in the squad...
Wow, Poch is certainly rotating his squad. Vertonghen not even in the matchday 18. Hopefully not serious. Trippier back in which is a shame for KWP and it looks like Davies is partnering Toby at CB. Hope Rose continues his Barca performance which was outstanding. The big talking point though is Oliver Skipp making his full debut. Delighted for the lad and for those who follow our youth set up will know what a talent he is. (First name on the team sheet) the beast Sissoko starts again and Lamela and Lucas are rotated in. Eriksen and Son off the bench if we need them. 3 points a must. COYS !!
Dier injured too? That team looks a bit of leveller what with the weather too, Burnley maybe fancy their chances Was this team picked with 1 eye on the gooners midweek?
