Tottenham Hotspur Aim for Top Four
Jol's Signings Look to Have Spurs Challenging Arsenal and Liverpool
Martin Jol's transfers have strengthened Spurs as they attempt to break in to the top four of English football.Arsenal may be most vulnerable but others will be a threat.
After finishing fifth in the Premier League for the second successive season, Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Martin Jol, will be hoping that his summer signings will be able to lift the club into the elite group of clubs in English football. For a number of years Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have monopolised those top four places which bring qualification for the coveted and money-spinning Champions League.
To break into that top group, one of those teams must be displaced. Manchester United and Chelsea have ruled supreme at the top for the past three seasons and there is nothing to suggest that either will relinquish their top spot.
Liverpool strengthened by summer signings
Liverpool and Arsenal have looked the most vulnerable in past seasons but Liverpool have used the financial backing of their American owners to strengthen their team with a number of international players – Fernando Torres from Spain and Ryan Babel from Holland. They have invested heavily in an attempt to win the title for the first time since 1989-90 and may have secured their position in the elite group.
Arsenal lose Theirry Henry
On the other hand, Arsenal have lost their captain and leading scorer, Thierry Henry, to Barcelona, Jose Antonio Reyes has remained in Spain with Atletico Madrid and Freddie Ljungeurg has gone to West Ham United. Their most significant signing has been striker, Eduardo da Silva from Dinamo Zagreb to replace Henry. This will be a major task and manager, Arsene Wenger, will be relying on his young players this season, leaving Arsenal vulnerable to drop out of the top four.
Tottenham Hotspur's Summer Signings
A number of clubs have spent extravagantly this summer in an effort to close the gap at the top and reach the European qualification places. Tottenham Hotspur have added to their strike force with the transfer of Darren Bent who was signed from Charlton Athletic for £16.5 million. Bent, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe could provide the most potent strike force in the Premier League. Elsewhere, Jol has added young players to his squad, Gareth Bale from Southampton for £5 million, Younes Kaboul from Auxerre for £8 million, Adel Taarabt from Lens and Kevin-Prince Boateng from Hertha Berlin for £6 million.
Tottenham are maintaining their policy of buying exciting young players for the future but whether they have sufficient experience to lift Spurs in to the top four this season is another question that only time will answer.
The injury to Spurs’ captain and central defender, Ledley King, is a blow to the club and his cool assurance will again be missed in defence, an area the club clearly needed to improve upon, having conceded fifty four goals last season, more than twice the number conceded by the teams finishing in the top three places. A further injury concern surrounds England international winger, Aaron Lennon, who will miss the start of the season while recovering from an operation.
Two seasons ago, Tottenham were pipped for fourth place on the last day by Arsenal. The players were struck down by illness on the day of the match and lost to West Ham, while Arsenal achieved the win they required to move above their north London neighbours.
Other Clubs Strive to Improve
Other clubs – Everton, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Aston Villa will all be hoping that their summer signings will enable them to move closer to the top teams. Manchester City and West Ham United have used the financial package provided by their new foreign investors to strengthen their teams and are looking for a big improvement in their performance this season. With so much money invested during the summer, some managers will be under considerable pressure if their early results are not to the liking of their new paymasters.
