Tottenham Hotspur Season Preview Season 2011/12 Predictions:- Premier League 4th, Europa League -Quarter Finals, FA Cup - Quarter Finals, Carling Cup - 4th Round.
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| Play-maker Modric is vital to Tottenham's plans. |
For once I feel confident that while Harry is in charge Spurs can actually hold onto their top players, unlike in previous seasons when Manchester United have come knocking for the likes of Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov. If Spurs are to reach the dizzy heights of Champions League football again it will be imperative that star players such as Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Raphael Van Der Vaart stay at the club, although another season outside the top four and these players will almost certainly be looking for the exit door for a chance of European Glory. However with Spurs' bulging squad there could potentially be a number of players sold, with several players out on loan and fringe players not getting a game it is possible that Alan Hutton, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas, Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Giovanni Dos Santos, Jamie O'Hara, Ben Alnick & Jonathan Woodgate could all move onto clubs that might offer more of a chance at regular first team action, generating a few million quid in the process. Two other players who have publicly vented their frustration at not playing enough are Sebastian Bassong and Niko Kranjcar, they are likely to leave however will be missed by the fans.
Let's take a look at how Spurs could line up next season:
Goalkeeper - With Gomes, new signing Friedel and Cudicini all currently at the club, I would expect Harry will be looking closely in pre-season training to decide who will start the season as number 1. I thought the last chance for Gomes was fumbling Christiano Ronaldo's shot during the Champions League Quarter Final at White Hart Lane and that was before the Chelsea goal line fiasco! Friedel is an excellent and very experienced goalie and will offer Spurs the assurance they have lacked recently and therefore in my opinion will be installed as the first choice keeper by the time the new season starts.
Defenders - Michael Dawson will be ever present next season while Gallas and Kaboul will be expected to fight it out to partner the Spurs captain. Ledley King could make the occasional appearance but he makes it look easy even though he does not train and when he does play will do so much better than most centre backs in the league. You will find the ever improving Benoit Assou-Ekotto at left back and it will be great to see Kyle Walker playing at right back, leaving Vedran Corluka, Kyle Naughton, Danny Rose and potentially a new signing as cover.
Midfield - Gareth Bale on the left, Aaron Lennon on the right and Luka Modric in the middle will be the first choice in the Spurs midfield, Tom Huddlestone and the impressive Sandro could occupy the other available position in the centre of midfield. Steven Pinnaer can provide cover across the midfield and Raphael Van Der Vaart will play on the right on occasion, but another new signing is likely to arrive, perhaps Scott Parker?
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| Could former Gunner Adebayor be tempted back to North London? |
Strikers - Last season Spurs were lacking firepower up front and it would seem that this was the most likely reason for not finishing in the top four. After an embarrassing January transfer window in which Spurs tried and failed to sign almost every half decent striker playing in Spain, it is that this time Harry will get at least one new striker, but who will leave? Keane almost certainly, but Harry has recently been positive over the future of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch, so is Jermain Defoe's Spurs future in jeopardy, surely not? Harry has worked with Defoe at various clubs but his patience might have been tested with Defoe's lack of goals last season, only four premier league goals last term and all coming from outside the box, evidence that perhaps he has lost his predatory instincts? Another problem for Defoe is that he is not the ideal partner to play with Van Der Vaart. Holding up the ball and knocking it down into VdV's path are not high in Defoe's priorities. He is a shoot-on-sight striker but with dwindling pace. I expect Keane and Defoe to be sold with a youthful, relatively inexpensive striker joining the team, Leandro Damiao currently looking the most likely but Adebayor, Osvaldo, Dembele, Gervinho and even Drogba or Berbatov remain possibilities.
Next Season is likely to see six teams fighting for the top four positions in the Premier League, Manchester United will still be the team to beat but Chelsea and Manchester City will challenge however they could potentially focus with too much desperation on Champions League glory. Arsenal will still find a way to contend even with worries of losing their top players and missing out on signing key players in positions such as goalkeeper and central defender so will remaining in the top four prove too difficult next season? Liverpool will be back with a vengeance next season but will they have enough experience as a team to really challenge, possibly not.
If Spurs can continue to perform well against the top teams and find a way to beat the weaker teams a top four finish is most certainly possible but, can injuries that plagued last season be avoided, can a new goalkeeper stop the goals being conceded quite so cheaply and can a new striker provide the finishing touch that was so badly missed last season? If the answer to these questions is yes Spurs could be in for a very successful season....unless the dreaded Europa league proves to be an unwelcome distraction.
Written by Adam Sharpe, who tweets at @iSharpey and who will hopefully be featuring a lot more on Finding Row Z.
Written by Adam Sharpe, who tweets at @iSharpey and who will hopefully be featuring a lot more on Finding Row Z.
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