Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur
At the start of the week, I noted that one of the burning Premier League questions was whether Harry Kane would still be a Spurs player by the time of the big kick-off.
With that now upon us, it seems he could well be after the club reportedly turned down the latest offer from Bayern Munich – a good price for a 30-year-old it must be said.
Yet this 30-year-old is not just any player. He is the Spurs and England captain, a player who has scored more goals for his club than any other in history and is also the all-time record scorer for his country.
So, if he does figure this weekend, judging by his record, that could spell bad news for Brentford.
On saying all of that, how many times were the Bees written off last term only to prove the doubters and the so-called “experts” wrong.
Talking Points
For this is a Brentford side which has produced Premier League highlights aplenty over the past two years – both seasons in which they were considered among the favourites to go back down the lower leagues they had graced for much of their existence.
Yes, it is easy to forget that this is just Brentford’s third season in the Premier League. The club has been in transition for a few years – from Championship to top tier, from Griffin Park to Gtech Community Stadium, from tiki-taka style to a more counterattacking high press – and a period of stability would do just fine. Keeping hold of Thomas Frank, who was linked with Spurs but recently spoke of moving towards Brentford 2.0 is key to that.
The absence of Ivan Toney is a blow and means tactical adjustments will be required, but you’d have confidence in Frank achieving just that.
They may also have a new player in their ranks by then.
Certainly, they should have some money to spend after it was announced in the Premier League 2023 news that they will sell goalkeeper David Raya to long-time admirers Arsenal.
They made multiple bids for the Spain international in the summer of 2020 and, three years on, Brentford have achieved a significant return on a player who cost them £2.7 million when he signed from Blackburn in 2019.
Spurs seem to be building for the future, judging by their transfer business in recent days.
Tottenham have completed deals for Netherlands under-21 defender Micky van de Ven and Argentina under-20 forward Alejo Veliz.
Spurs signed van de Ven, 22, from Wolfsburg for an initial £34 million which could rise to a reported £43 million with add-ons.
Veliz, 19, has joined the London club from Rosario Central for a reported £13 million fee, subject to a work permit.
Both players have signed six-year contracts at Tottenham.
Judging by glimpses I caught of the friendly defeat to Barcelona in midweek, albeit a second-string Spurs side, their fans should have reason to be optimistic about the future.
History
Overall, Spurs have dominated this fixture with 24 victories, 15 draws, and just seven defeats. But not last season as the Bees secured a fine Boxing Day draw before winning in North London towards the end of the campaign.
Vitaly Janelt and Toney goals had them dreaming of a Christmas to remember until Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hauled Spurs level.
It was very different in the penultimate week of the season as Frank’s men recovered from going a goal behind to Kane early on and hit back with three second half goals to seal a superb victory.
An impressive double from Bryan Mbeumo overturned Tottenham’s first-half lead before Yoane Wissa capped things off, as Brentford completed a clean sweep of victories against the established big five since returning to the top echelon of English football.
It was in March 1902 when these teams first met in the former Southern League.
Then the Bees ran out 2-1 winners before Spurs won the return game 3-0 at White Hart Lane just six weeks later.
For the next six years, their meetings were all in the then Southern, Western, or London leagues.
Aside from one FA Cup clash in 1922, the two clubs didn’t meet between 1908 and 1946, again in the FA Cup, a tie Brentford won on penalties.
After some games in the old Division Two in the late 1940s, the hiatus was then even longer as Brentford and Spurs failed to lock horns again until League Cup ties in 1992, 1998, and 2000.
When they met for the first time in the top-flight in 2021, Spurs won 2-0 at home courtesy of an own goal and Son Heung-Min.
They then fought out a goalless draw at Brentford in the return in April 2022.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds edge towards the visitors 1X2 @ 2.29, while Brentford are close by @ 2.69.
This is going to be a fun one, and I predict a draw at Gtech Community Stadium this weekend.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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