
Despite the massive splurging on new talent, Tottenham never quite broke the glass ceiling. Two fifth-placed finishes raised expectations, but Martin Jol’s final season was a huge letdown. They had come within touching distance of the promised land of the Champions League but excruciatingly missed out both times.
Jol’s signings, added to Juande Ramos’s new recruits and his hard work ethic, have transformed Tottenham’s squad and they now boast a formidable defence. In Gareth Bale and Alan Hutton they have two of the best young full-backs in Britain, while in the middle Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate have only fitness standing in the way of success.
Uber-Gooner Nick Hornby’s oft-quoted rant is that Arsenal play a space-age version of the type of football Tottenham aspire to, but in recent years a few moans have slipped in with the floods of praise for Arsene Wenger. Things are beginning to shift in North London.
Whilst Wenger - either because of shrinking finances or because of a rigid devotion to his principles - continues to scour the earth for cheap and brilliant youth, Tottenham opt for a much more pragmatic approach. They, too, are interested in youth, but for them money is no object and in this battle of wills I have a feeling Tottenham will succeed by throwing more dosh at the situation than Arsenal.
Admittedly, it is ridiculous for Spurs fans to take aim at Arsenal for not winning a trophy - the mere fact that Arsenal qualified for the Champions League is worth millions more than Spurs’ League Cup win - but next season may well be very different.
Teams like Tottenham, packed to the rafters with fans who are eternal optimists, seem to live in a footballing Groundhog Day, every year claiming that the next one will bring success. They are constantly chasing their tomorrows because their todays are so dire. But - really and truly - next season COULD actually be different for Spurs. Money talks in football and even if 50 per cent of Tottenham’s signings fail, that still leaves a huge number of players who will be a success.
The chase for fourth place has taken on even more epic proportions because it always seems to include two big city rivals. This year Liverpool and Everton fought for it and next year I think it could be the north Londoners fighting for success.
The current Spurs squad is far too good for another ignominious league finish. It seems the table DOES lie, and last season it was doing its very best Jeffery Archer impersonation, spitting out porkies every week. Tottenham’s lowly position was due to the seismic effects of friendly ogre Jol’s protracted and painful exit.
But with Mexican starlet Giovanni straight from the Nou Camp, Croatian Luka Modric - who has been described as second only to Kaka by his national manager - and young John Bostock - trailed by many a big club - now added to an already ridiculously-muscular squad, Tottenham finally look to be a healthy bet for fourth.
Can Spurs finally break the stranglehold of the Big Four - or will next season only bring more under-achievement?
but Spurs have been saying that and spending big for the past few seasons.. and fat lot of good it did them
Arsenal and Liverpool beware! Spurs, Everton and Co are set to break up the Big Four.
Originally posted by the Bear:but Spurs have been saying that and spending big for the past few seasons.. and fat lot of good it did them
They have indeed spent quite a bit over the years but this time, under Ramos... They seem to be buying better quality players rather then those like Darren Bent... cost a lot but didn't do much...
I am sure the arrival of Modric and Santos will be felt... these are quality players of the highest calibre which could go right into the top 4 squad... and along with Woodgate, Gareth Bale and Alan Hutton... Ramos looks like he knows what is needed...
The emergence of Spurs and City is not good for Arsenal and United, but it makes the premiership a much more interesting league come next season...
dont think spurs are ready to challenge for the big four.
spurs player are often jinx by injuries.
look at their center back, non could last half season, woodgate and king.
berbatov gone, can you depend on santos a 17 yr old to delivered the goals of a UCL spot?
modric look good but it seem a major engine overhaul is needed instead of changing spark plug, engine oil.
kanoute is rubbish when at spurs, look what he achieve in sevilla now.
Originally posted by reyes:dont think spurs are ready to challenge for the big four.
spurs player are often jinx by injuries.
look at their center back, non could last half season, woodgate and king.
berbatov gone, can you depend on santos a 17 yr old to delivered the goals of a UCL spot?
modric look good but it seem a major engine overhaul is needed instead of changing spark plug, engine oil.
kanoute is rubbish when at spurs, look what he achieve in sevilla now.
sound like newcastle too
don't forget FA cup winners... Portsmouth. they are quite solid too.
as for spurs, technically, after winning the league cup, they just coast thru the season, cause they achieved the aim of going into euro.
and with their buyings of good young internationals, they will soon gel.
yes, in the past, they were like quick sand, the more they try to play, the more they sink, but now, they got a ramos, and that may be different...
man city may get ronaldinho soon.