Premier League Preview 2011-12: Tottenham Hotspur

Best title odds: 66/1 - Coral
Best odds for Top 4 finish: 10/3 - SkyBet
Last season: 5th
Manager: Harry Redknapp

Good news:

Luka Modric is still there, and the fans are trying to remind him that he is still very welcome indeed. The Champions League is often described as a welcome distraction, but that’s still a distraction nonetheless. Spurs can therefore be focused on the league this season. ‘But what about the Europa League?’ they cry. Harry will play the reserves until Spurs go out or get dangerously close to some silverware. It’s the tried and tested Carling Cup strategy. The main target is definitely getting back in the top four. After that, the whole pattern starts over again…

Bad news:

Nobody has arrived to smash in all those gilt-edged chances that tend to go begging at White Hart Lane. But there’s always Jermaine Defoe knocking about; he gets described as a ‘20-goal-a-season’ striker quite often. The only problem is that he isn’t. He’s never scored more than 18 league goals in a season and last term netted just four. If only they had a Darren Bent-type player…oh, hang on, they did didn’t they. Brad Friedel has arrived to add composure between the sticks. Not surprisingly, at 40, he came to play, but the word is that error-strewn Heurelho Gomes remains first choice. Controversial.

Remember when:

Spurs scored for fun but couldn’t keep clean sheets? You should, it lasted about 35 years. Bizarrely, that’s all changed now. When two of Dawson, Gallas and King are fit (Dawson-Gallas then) the side look rock solid if Gomes isn’t having ‘one of those days.’ But where is the fox in the box?

Verdict:

With Bale, Modric and Van der Vaart, Tottenham will frequently be a delight to watch. On their day, they will look like world beaters; another day you wouldn’t be surprised to see a 9-man Stoke side sneak something against them. Even so, this could finally be the year when Redknapp gets the team above their great north London rivals Arsenal. I could see that happening, yet the Champions League spots might still prove elusive. It will be exciting and very close in that battle.

Prediction: 5th