Premiership Betting Preview - Tottenham
7th Aug 2007, 18:52
In their last two Premier League campaigns Tottenham Hotspur have come agonisingly close to fulfilling their burning ambition of playing in the Champions League. Finishing in fifth position on both occasions, just one place behind their bitter North London rivals, Arsenal, the club are on the verge of breaking into the Premiership elite. The Premiership betting market at leading online sportsbook, PinnacleSports.com, reflects this situation with Spurs rated 55.14 chances for the new season, behind the ‘big four’ of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd.
Spurs Invest Heavily in Pursuit of Champions League Dream
Coach, Martin Jol, has been investing heavily during the summer months to maintain the push toward a top four position, spending in excess of £30million, half of which was accounted for by the £16.5 million purchase of Darren Bent from Charlton. Spurs fans will be hoping that Bent provides better value for money, than the club’s previous record of £11million for Sergei Rebrov, one of the league’s biggest flops Despite injury lay-offs Bent scored 15 goals last season for the struggling Addicks and has recently broken into the England squad, nevertheless many eyebrows were raised at the figures involved. At 23 years-old Bent has the potential to serve the club for many years, but becomes one of four high profile strikers at White Hart Lane, so the club’s most expensive asset could spend a considerable amount of time warming the bench.
The natural consequence of building a large talented squad is the inevitable rotation policy and the impact this has on players disappointed not to play regularly. Jol has already experienced this, and seemingly managed the problems well, helped last season by good cup runs, which necessitated resting players. Along with Bent, Spurs have signed 17 year old Gareth Bale from Southampton for £5million, who recently became Wales’ youngest player. Bale was a revelation last season at left back for the Saints, scoring several eye-catching free-kicks, and though only a teenager, should get plenty of opportunities given Spurs’ lack of left-sided players.
Martin Jol is clearly following a policy of building a squad of young promising world class talent, similar to that followed by his nemesis, Arsene Wenger. The summer spending spree continued with French U-21 defender, Younes Kaboul, signed from Auxerre for around £7.5million. Kaboul’s purchase could prove all the more important as captain, Ledley King, is taking longer to recover from knee surgery, and Jol will not want a repeat of last season’s defensive injury crisis.
The final piece of significant business involved the signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng from Bundesliga outfit, Hertha Berlin. Another promising young player, at only 20, Boateng has established himself as one of the German league’s biggest talents, voted country’s best young player last July. He will bolster the Lilywhite’s midfield alongside Didier Zokora, and further emphasis the club’s credentials as a potential Premiership force for many seasons.
How Tottenham perform in the short term is open to debate. Jol will have to quickly integrate his new signings, and decide on the most productive formation – a difficult decision in attack. Last season Spurs struggled for goals early in the season, before the floodgates opened from February onward scoring 44 in their final 19 games. If they can carry on where they left off, Tottenham’s young side have the potential to fulfil their Champions League ambitions, but dreams of the title may have to wait.