Premier League preview: Tottenham Hotspur
It has been a surprisingly quiet summer at White Hart Lane, the expectations of big summer spending have not happened and Tottenham look as though they will attack their venture into the Champions League with the same side that achieved the all-important fourth spot last season.
Their rather successful season was built around their fantastic home form, losing only three games and conceding just 12 goals all season. In fact, since Harry Redknapp took charge at Tottenham in October 2008, Spurs have collected 78 points at home. What they will need to improve on if they are serious about challenging for major honours in all competitions is their wretched away form -seven wins and 27 goals scored on their travels – doesn’t read well, especially with tough trips to major European sides potentially on the agenda. But before the dreams of Champions League football can be made a reality, Tottenham have to win a season-defining Champions League clash with Young Boys Bern in the two-legged play-off.
Harry Redknapp failed to attract his former player Joe Cole to the club and it looks as though the fee they are going to get for striker Robbie Keane is going to be rather skinny, which leaves Redknapp with a lack of ammunition to bring in players who could improve the side.
Not that this, in any way, represents a bad move by the club. Few clubs in the Premier League have as strong a squad as Tottenham and with a strong collection of young players, including Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, who won’t have to be registered in the Premier League squad allocation of 25, they should have no problem rotating the squad for their European encounters. Their reserve team could include the likes of Carlo Cudicini, Jamie O’Hara, Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley, probably the strongest reserve team within the Premier League.
But with rivals Manchester City seemingly improving their squad, with the Spanish winger David Silva for £26million, £19million splashed on Aleksandar Kolarov, and Internazionale's Mario Balotelli reportedly on his way, Spurs could find it difficult to compete with big-spending City.
If a bulky transfer budget was to somehow appear on Redknapp’s desk then, if reports are to be believed, Ashley Young could be on high up on Spurs’ wish-list. The talented winger is allegedly looking to move on from Villa Park and it would seem Tottenham could provide a perfect new home for the winger.
But the area he should be concentrating on if money becomes available should be adding a centre-back to his depleted back line. Ledley King makes Darren Anderton look like a fitness guru and Jonathan Woodgate, his fellow centre-back, is yet to recover from his chronic groin problem, which has ruled him out for nearly 18 months. The unavailability of King and Woodgate means Redknapp has no back-up for Michael Dawson and Sebastian Bassong, which is a worrying sign, considering a long, hard, European filled season awaits.
However if Redknapp fails to acts in the transfer market, the likes of Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale should be capable enough to deliver a moment of magic or two, for a Tottenham fan base that has endured severe underachievement for far too long now.
Premier League team previews
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Arsenal-a21521
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Aston-Villa-a21522
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Birmingham-City-a21523
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Blackburn-Rovers-a21524
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Blackpool-a21527
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Bolton-Wanderers-a21528
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Chelsea-a21529
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Everton-a21530
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Fulham-a21531
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Liverpool-a21532
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Manchester-City-a21535
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Manchester-United-a21536
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Newcastle-United-a21538
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Stoke-City-a21540
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Sunderland-a21542
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Tottenham-Hotspur-a21543
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-West-Brom-a21548
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-West-Ham-a21551
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Wigan-Athletic-a21555
*
http://www.senore.com/Premier-League-preview-Wolves-a21556
Tags: