This is an important time for Spurs. With the new season now less than two weeks away and our transfer business looking like its 60-70 percent complete what are the realistic goals and expectations for us ahead of the big kick off? .
While it is far too early to gauge whether or not we can have a genuine crack at the top four and the holy grail of achieving a return to the Champions League dinner table it clearly can’t be another transition season.
Pochettino should not be under any major pressure in the early stages providing we don’t have a disastrous start. We need to give this manager a chance to build his own team and this takes more than one season. He has had time now to offload some, if not all of the deadwood (get on the plane back to Spain Bobby!) and bring in what look to be some really exciting and promising signings.
How much of an improvement the team has made on last season could be evident quite early if as many predict we begin the season with at least half of a new back four. Our defence cost us last season on many occasions and was far too flaky, hopefully the new additions can change that fact.
The fixture computer has been reasonably kind to us. To begin away at Utd is a blessing not a curse. They will not be at their strongest, first game nerves and new players bedding in will make it a bit uncertain for both sides. I would rather play one of our toughest fixtures of the campaign in the opening game.
Man Utd (a)
Stoke (h)
Leicester (a)
Everton (h)
Sunderland (a)
Our next four games can’t help to raise optimism amongst even the most pessimistic of fans. I would reasonably expect us to pick up 7-9 points before the trip to Sunderland. The north-east is a landmine for us but Sunderland are a pretty poor side and although I fear the great Defoe haunting us I would still expect at least a draw. It is not beyond belief that we could go unbeaten through our first five games.
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As for the question marks? There is Erik Lamela but I remain in the camp (hopeful with my fingers crossed) that he may still prove to be the player we thought we were signing two years ago. If Townsend stays then he also needs to start producing the goods on a regular basis and not just scoring for England!
If we can bring in a central midfielder and one or two forwards then I think we have a real chance this season to at least punch above our weight. We have kept our best players and have a hardcore of young players who can improve even further this time round. COYS!
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