Tottenham Season Preview - Could lack of summer movement cost Spurs a top-4 spot?
Many tipped Tottenham to finish outside the top-4 after their move to Wembley for the season, yet after a rocky start to life at the national stadium, they quickly bucked up their ideas and exceeded expectations to secure a third-place finish. However, supporters are eager for silverware and with the new stadium set for it’s first competitive match when Spurs face Liverpool next month, the aim is to quickly adjust to their new home or they run the risk of being left behind.
One to Watch - Lucas Moura
Signed in January, Lucas Moura was never going to become a first team regular upon his arrival from PSG. The Brazilian winger had endured a bitter end to his time in Paris, but showed signs of his quality when called upon last term, particularly in the final day 5-4 win over Leicester City. Having impressed in pre-season, Moura will, for want of a better phrase, feel like a new signing in north London and with a full summer at Hotspur Way under his belt, fans are expecting to see the best of the Brazil international.
Best Signing - Harry Kane
Tottenham are surprisingly yet to make a single signing in the transfer market, but have pumped out the contract extensions as and when once more. Tying Harry Kane down to a new deal was as important as any, with the star striker and England captain putting pen to paper on a new six-year contract earlier this year. Supporters are craving new signings, but Kane’s new contract is a huge statement of intent.
📝 We are delighted to announce that @HKane has signed a new six-year contract with the Club, which runs until 2024. #OneOfOurOwn pic.twitter.com/4p6xfVTLkE
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 8, 2018
Area of Weakness
Spurs come into the new season short of central midfield options. Toby Alderweireld’s seemingly impending exit is a blow, and the Belgian will need replacing, but the club managed fine without the centre-back, with Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen forming a solid partnership as Mauricio Pochettino reverted to a 4-2-3-1 setup. Rather, a new signing in the middle of the park will go a long way to easing concerns over a lack of options in midfield. Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko are both injured coming into the new season, while Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier have extended breaks following their exploits at the World Cup. It leaves Harry Winks as the sole senior central midfielder who has a chance of facing Newcastle, but he is well behind on fitness following an ankle injury and while youngster Oliver Skipp and Luke Amos have impressed in pre-season, Spurs lack depth in the middle of the park.
Prediction / Best Bet
Many wrote Spurs off last season due to the move to Wembley, but they still managed to finish third. The lack of summer movement is a concern, but with no major outgoings at the time of writing, they have, arguably, the most settled squad in the Premier League. That being said, with a new stadium to adjust to and a lack of movement in the market so far, with their top-6 rivals all strengthening, Spurs to finish outside of the top-4 is available at 2s, which is tempting.
I'd expect Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea to make the top 4, maybe the top 3 in that order. Man Utd's chances are dependent on Mourinho not having his customary meltdown a season early and Arsenal are in a rebuilding phase so Spurs still have a chance of the top 4 but I would be more worried that top 4 is still the target if I were a Spurs fan. Danny Rose hinted at the lack of ambition at the club, which is why he wants to leave, Walker did leave for the very same reason and Pochettino himself needed assurances from the Tottenham hierarchy (Daniel Levy in particular) that they were as ambitious as he is in order to stay at the helm. Grealish, Lobotka and Zaha have been mooted as transfer targets- none of whom would get into the first XI with everybody fit. A change of mentality is needed at the club to avoid a decade of mediocrity and wasted opportunity which mirrors that of my own team.