Jamie O’Hara has backed Ange Postecoglou to guide Tottenham Hotspur to a top-four finish in his first season in charge.
Spurs had a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, eventually tottering to an eight-place finish, which means that there will be no European football in N17 for the first time since 2009.
Postecoglou thus has his work cut out for him ahead of the new campaign, which is now just a little over a month away.
The Lilywhites have acted with urgency in the transfer window so far, signing Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison to fill two priority positions.
Two more signings are seemingly on the way in Manor Solomon (The Athletic) and a left centre-back (either Micky Van de Ven or Edmond Tapsoba according to Fabrizio Romano).
O’Hara predicts a top-four finish for Tottenham
One can argue that Tottenham need to do more if they are to close the gap with last season’s top four but O’Hara believes that the fact his former side do not have European football to worry about could work in their favour.
The pundit told Grosvenor Casinos: “I think the top four will be Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. The top four is going to be so difficult to get into with the likes of Newcastle in the fight as well.
“I would say that Aston Villa could be a surprise package next season and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were really good and challenging for the top four as well.
“I have a feeling Tottenham might get back in the mix for the top four, because they don’t have any European football to worry about this season, so they might have a chance.
“The other teams have got other competitions to play in but Spurs haven’t any. I’m actually going to throw them in the top four places because they have no European football.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I do think Tottenham can compete for the top four next season. Our squad is nowhere near as bad as Conte made it seem last season and there is no reason why Postecolgou cannot get a tune out of players such as Romero, Bissouma and Richarlison, who struggled last season.
However, having said that, I would consider a top-six finish a success next season as long as we show signs of improvement over the course of the campaign and play exciting front-foot football.