Tottenham Hotspur pay a visit to Kenilworth Road this weekend in the Premier League as they look to continue their unbeaten start to the season under Ange Postecoglou.
Luton Town: Their Story
The Hatters had started to turn heads after the 2018/19 season after they had achieved back-to-back promotions, from League Two and League One. The Town started their first season back in the Championship since their dramatic fall from the top which started in 2006 and was made worse in 2008.
The 2008/09 season seemingly ripped Luton apart as they were deducted an initial 10 points for financial irregularities, then shortly after, the FA cut deeper wounds for Luton as they deducted them another 20 points; making it the most severe punishment to ever have been given. (FourFourTwo)
Despite, their constant setbacks, Luton arose from their ashes, flirting with promotion to the Premier League in 2022 with Nathan Jones, and then securing it with Rob Edwards in May 2023.
Their promotion was inspired by the club’s never-say-die attitude which has been ever-present since its re-emergence from the ashes. Luton have assumed a rebellious approach to the football league, flying through the leagues despite little financial muscle.
This attitude is symbolised by a flag that is hung in a corner of the famous Kenilworth Road simply stating ‘Luton Town – Betrayed by the FA’.
Now the club have reached the summit of English football, Luton have encountered a new form of resistance to them; the media. As much as the fairy tale story was covered widely when their return was complete, the club have certainly experienced a lot of doubters.
The most notable has been Garth Crooks whose comments were soon knocked back by manager Rob Edwards. Crooks claimed that he ‘can’t take them [Luton] seriously’, following it up by stating that the Hatters will be ‘down by Christmas’ (BBC).
Rob Edwards provided a reason for Crooks to be wrong instantly as his side impressively beat Everton away in a 2-1 win. Their victory was achieved due to their clinical nature from set-pieces, as both goals came from a corner and freekick respectively.
How will Luton Town set up?
As mentioned prior, set pieces are key to Luton’s game, Tottenham will have to nullify their potent nature from set plays if they want to minimise the chances of an upset.
Tottenham will have to expect a lot of competition in the air, as Carlton Morris wins around 6 aerial duels per 90 minutes (FBRef), Romero and Van De Ven are currently only winning 2.38 (FBRef) and 1.28 (FBRef), respectively, and therefore will need to adjust.
Those aerial chances are bound to come from not only Luton’s most creative player, but also the Premier League’s most creative, Alfie Doughty. The 23-year-old left-wing back is creating 3.7 chances per 90 minutes (Premier League) and with the pace of Chiedozie Ogbene also on the left wing, Pedro Porro will need to be at his best to prevent Luton’s threat from that side.
Luton are still seeking their first home victory in the Premier League and will be frustrated after a late goal from Jacob Larsen denied the Hatters a valuable draw against Burnley. Tottenham will have to expect a rampant atmosphere as Edwards promised ‘give them [the fans] a performance to sing about’.
The Hatters are likely to be most vulnerable when being attacked from their left and right side of defence. Amari’i Bell was pulled off after 21 minutes on Tuesday with an injury. Bell’s absence will cause Luton to field the inexperienced Teden Mengi as well as the deputising Reece Burke as their wide centre-halves.
With Postecoglou’s inverted full-back system, the Tottenham players should certainly be trying to find some joy through those gaps. There are certainly goals to be had in this game; Luton have conceded the joint-fourth most goals in the league. (FotMob)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates the win with Pedro Porro and Alejo Veliz at full time during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 30, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Statement Win or Spursy Performance?
Although Tottenham have come flying out the blocks this season with 17 points from their first 7 games; Spurs fans will be anxious at the ‘Spursy’ like nature of this game.
Early kick-offs always tend to throw up some unusual results in the Premier League, just look at how Villa picked apart Brighton 6-1 at 12:30 last Saturday, but if Tottenham do play in the same vein they have so far this season; there should be no worries for The Lilywhites.
Tottenham should be expected to control the ball, even away, as they are 5th in the league for possession, averaging 60% per game, a stark contrast to Luton’s average of 37.7% (FBRef).
Saturday’s clash will likely be a test of Tottenham’s patience, persistence and dynamism as Luton aren’t likely to press Spurs frequently.
The Hatters have the least amount of tackles in the final third, 11, whereas Tottenham like to press high and have the joint 2nd highest final third tackles with 24 (FBRef).
Rob Edwards even joked in his press conference that ‘we’re playing a flat nine with Carlton upfront’.
Tottenham have so far not appeared entirely comfortable facing an opponent that likes to sit back and allow them to have the ball, for example, Sheffield United and the final 25 minutes of last weekend’s battle against Liverpool.
At times in those games Spurs looked dumbfounded and lost in possession, struggling to find a way to unpick the tight lock in which both Sheffield United and Liverpool had constructed.
There’s obviously evidence that Spurs can break those low blocks down with Postecoglou’s men walking away with late victories in both games, but both of those fixtures were at home and the story may be different in the intimating setting of Kenilworth Road.
Opposition manager Rob Edwards has vowed to give Tottenham ‘the full Kenny experience’, an early goal could be key for Spurs.
Team News
Luton:
As expected, Luton manager, Rob Edwards confirmed in his press conference that The Town ‘will be without Amari’i Bell’ and he will ‘be assessed on Friday to see the extent of the injury’.
Luton have former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley back as Edwards’ explained ‘he’s fit, he’s been training, he’s part of the squad and it’s good to have him back on the grass’.
An interesting story emerging is that Andros Townsend, former Tottenham winger, is training with Luton; but not expected to be near the squad against Tottenham.
The Luton manager said ‘We’re having a look at him, and he’s having a look at us’, Andros will play on Friday night for Luton’s U-21’s side against Leeds. (Luton Official)
Tottenham:
Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media ahead of the short trip to Luton, the focus was inevitably upon Spurs’ star players, Son and Maddison. What the Australian had to say would be music to Spurs fans’ ears.
Despite rumours of Son not training this week after he was brought off due to a groin issue, which he was seen to be wincing with as he was taken off against Liverpool, Ange revealed simply, ‘Sonny is fine’.
The manager was then asked if Maddison was being ‘wrapped in cotton wool’, to which Postecoglou denied stating ‘No cotton wool here’ and that ‘Maddison is fine, he’s trained in every session this week’. (Football.London)
Two other players also re-joined in training with the squad and will therefore be in contention of playing, those two are Bryan Gil and Giovanni Lo Celso as Postecoglou states ‘Gio and Bryan both trained’. Whilst two players have returned, two are out: Manor Solomon and Brennan Johnson.
The club stated that ‘Manor Solomon suffered a meniscus injury to his right knee in training this week’ and that he ‘has undergone surgery’, the Israeli international is expected to be out for 2-3 months. (Spurs Official)
Luckily, Johnson’s injury is expected to be shorter-term, with Postecoglou stating ‘Johnson is close but not quite there yet. With the international break, he’ll be able to recover’.
This will obviously keep the door ajar for the young Jamie Donley who was named in the first team squad for the first time last weekend, Ange confirmed that ‘I’ve been really pleased with Jamie [Donley] and Alfie [Dorrington] though, they’ve been working well’. (Spurs Official)
Expected line-up:
Luton: Kaminski, Kabore, Mengi, Lockyer, Burke, Doughty, Mpanzu, Nakamba, Brown, Ogbene, Morris. (3-4-3)
Edwards is likely to be unchanged from Tuesday’s defeat to Burnley, apart from Reece Burke who can be expected to come in for the injured Bell.
Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van De Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Son. (4-3-3)
With Johnson and Solomon both out injured as well as his recent fine form, it can be expected that Richarlison will hold his place in the team, likely on the left of Tottenham’s forward three.
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