OK, I know this is not a quote from any of the so-called experts in the media. And even most Spurs fans have a hard time saying it out loud in fear of public ridicule. But in my opinion, Tottenham Hotspur is the most underrated team going into this season.
I think there are a lot of question marks to put to the current favourites. Anyone just assumes that United will be top dog once again. But they have two completely inexperienced goalkeepers – a very crucial position to any team vying for the title. They have also lost a couple of other experienced talisman players to retirement. And they have an aging and injury prone central defence.
CSKA London has a very inexperienced manager left with a heavy burden of responsibility and expectation in the toughest league in the world. How will he react to the challenge? And how will his primadonna players react if he loses the plot at some time?
Speaking of primadonnas. City are breading them themselves with their overinflated salaries and do. transfer fees. How many will throw their toys out of the pram during the season? And will they still have primadonna surplus in the form of Adebayor, Bellamy and Tevez rocking the boat when the window closes?
Liverpool has bought something like 54 new players. And every pundit seems to think that they will blend seamlessly into a coherent unit from day one and immediately be challenging for honours. Dalglish has to be more than a miracle worker to make that happen.
Our ‘good’ neighbours have serious question marks in the form of want-away key players like Fabregas and Nasri. If they go, Wenger has limited resources to fill the vacancies. And his team will be more vulnerable than ever.
Which lead me to Spurs. Limited activity so far in the transfer window is seen in the media and among fans as a weakness. I have the complete opposite opinion. Stability is a key element to success - the players knowing each other, knowing where and when to pass, knowing where and when to run into position etc.
Last year going into the Champions League, I think most of us were very excited about the squad. Now each player and the manager are wiser for the experience. And they have not become worse players since May.
Modric might wish to leave. And I would let him go for the right amount of money (£35+ mill.). Because unlike the neighbours, we have a readymade substitute in the form of van der Vaart. With him in midfield we would make space for two strikers – and there is no way they can have such a low goals to games ratio once again.
I wouldn’t mind a change or two in the striking position. And there are some midfielders who will struggle to get a game and should be sold. But I would never characterise it as a failure or a weakness if we stay with the current squad.
If we manage to overcome Hearts, we can even blood some of the exciting young prospects in the Europa League group matches to the long term benefit of the club – and we might even see one or two breakthroughs during the season.
All in all, I think we have every chance of challenging for the title – if the players believe in their ability. I think the Premier league will be closer than ever this year.
I think there are a lot of question marks to put to the current favourites. Anyone just assumes that United will be top dog once again. But they have two completely inexperienced goalkeepers – a very crucial position to any team vying for the title. They have also lost a couple of other experienced talisman players to retirement. And they have an aging and injury prone central defence.
CSKA London has a very inexperienced manager left with a heavy burden of responsibility and expectation in the toughest league in the world. How will he react to the challenge? And how will his primadonna players react if he loses the plot at some time?
Speaking of primadonnas. City are breading them themselves with their overinflated salaries and do. transfer fees. How many will throw their toys out of the pram during the season? And will they still have primadonna surplus in the form of Adebayor, Bellamy and Tevez rocking the boat when the window closes?
Liverpool has bought something like 54 new players. And every pundit seems to think that they will blend seamlessly into a coherent unit from day one and immediately be challenging for honours. Dalglish has to be more than a miracle worker to make that happen.
Our ‘good’ neighbours have serious question marks in the form of want-away key players like Fabregas and Nasri. If they go, Wenger has limited resources to fill the vacancies. And his team will be more vulnerable than ever.
Which lead me to Spurs. Limited activity so far in the transfer window is seen in the media and among fans as a weakness. I have the complete opposite opinion. Stability is a key element to success - the players knowing each other, knowing where and when to pass, knowing where and when to run into position etc.
Last year going into the Champions League, I think most of us were very excited about the squad. Now each player and the manager are wiser for the experience. And they have not become worse players since May.
Modric might wish to leave. And I would let him go for the right amount of money (£35+ mill.). Because unlike the neighbours, we have a readymade substitute in the form of van der Vaart. With him in midfield we would make space for two strikers – and there is no way they can have such a low goals to games ratio once again.
I wouldn’t mind a change or two in the striking position. And there are some midfielders who will struggle to get a game and should be sold. But I would never characterise it as a failure or a weakness if we stay with the current squad.
If we manage to overcome Hearts, we can even blood some of the exciting young prospects in the Europa League group matches to the long term benefit of the club – and we might even see one or two breakthroughs during the season.
All in all, I think we have every chance of challenging for the title – if the players believe in their ability. I think the Premier league will be closer than ever this year.
. 
