da fezbet： As the 2011/12 season gets underway, the prospects of Tottenham Hotspur remain uncertain. Much depends on their business before the close of the transfer window. Should Spurs retain the services of Luka Modric and recruit a top class striker, their chances of keeping pace with the top four will be greatly improved. Should Spurs lose Modric and not secure a striker, any improvement on last season’s fifth place finish seems highly unlikely.
da apostaganha： Over the course of the 2010/11 campaign there were many positives for Tottenham. Benoit Assou-Ekotto still shows occasional moments of madness but is maturing into one of the best left backs in the league. Gareth Bale has propelled himself, literally at great speed, into stardom and Aaron Lennon has become an electric winger with a delivery. Add to this the signing of Brad Friedel to minimise costly errors at the back and the emergence of the highly rated Kyle Walker at right back and Tottenham have the potential for a great season.
The deciding factor this season, as with the last, will be the strikers’ ability to finish the chances this team creates. Too often last season, Tottenham let teams off the hook, particularly at home. It’s no good dominating possession if you don’t make it count. Without a new striker on the books, there will be huge pressure on Defoe and Pavlyuchenko to step up and find form, otherwise this season may also become a tale of missed chances and dropped points.
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Whilst Tottenham do have the ability to finish in the top four this season, their chances would be massively increased by the addition of a top class striker that the club don’t seem to be able to afford. Spurs have the ability to see off the challenge of Liverpool this season and with the potentially imminent departures of both Nasri and Fabregas, they would do well to target Arsenal’s place in the top four, however I wouldn’t hold my breath on those transfers so another 5th place finish looks the likeliest outcome.
Undoubtedly the player to watch this season will once again be Luka Modric. As he is constantly on the ball it is impossible not to watch him anyway but his ability to control the tempo and possession is always lovely to see. He is also incredibly hard to knock off the ball. If the constant reports of his professionalism are true then I expect to see him dominating games all season long.
This year will also be huge for Kyle Walker, the attacking right back will definitely get chances to impress during this campaign and has been gaining rave reviews for loan clubs and country over the last 18 months. Expect to see him edging out Corluka and bombing past Lennon on the right wing.
Let’s hope business goes well and Spurs are in the chase for Champions League football once again.
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