Players Tottenham Hotspur may need to launch a serious Premiership title campaign next season
Any neutral would be hard-pressed not to respect the meteoric rise of White Hart Lane as a venue to be more and more afraid of over the last two seasons. However, if they want to feature consistently in the Champion’s League, there are three parts of the pitch they need to improve on.
Peter Crouch has teamed up well with Rafael Van der Vaart this season. However, height only gets you so far, and while the 6ft 7inch giant has good feet for a guy his size, assists aren’t what a striker is there for. Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko both have their moments, but neither is consistent enough to star in European football. To stamp their claim on the world, they need that elusive ‘goal-scoring machine’.
One forward who should be on everyone’s radar is Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan is currently on loan to Napoli from Palermo. Perhaps a massive mistake on Palermo’s behalf as the striker has managed 22 goals in 30 games for his new team so far. Hugely responsible for the reason they are currently 3 points off of leaders AC Milan. A more controversial option is Mario Balotelli. The youth is rumoured to be ‘more trouble than he is worth’ at Manchester City and might be for the exit come July. Could Harry be the man to tame the temperamental Italian?
Right-wing is a position which also deserves some revision. Blistering speed, a wicked change of pace and some really cool hair patterns, but altogether, not a world-class midfielder. Leeds-born Aaron Lennon has the flair to put fans on their feet, but a lack of consistent crossing-ability and a penchant for greediness pegs this guy back in my books. The obvious candidate for replacement is of course Aston Villa’s Ashley Young, already embroiled in much transfer gossip, as is Southampton’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Douglas Costa is a much sought-after target for Manchester United. Costa currently plays for Champions-League rivals Shaktar Donetsk and the 20 year-old Brazilian is quickly rising in fame, so a quick deal would surely be preferred. A more established player, Jesus Navas would be a welcome addition to Redknapp’s team. The Spanish winger plays an important right wing role at Sevilla and featured frequently in the 2010 World Cup-winning side.
The centre-back partnership of William Gallas and Michael Dawson has been in ok form so far this season. However, it’s their replacements that have been the problem. A chronic knee injury has reduced club captain Ledley King to playing only a bit-part with Jonathan Woodgate having a similar story with his groin. And while Younes Kaboul and Sebastien Bassong are good defenders, for the heights Tottenham are aspiring to, they need to be looking more up-market.
A bid worth considering is Bolton’s Gary Cahill who could be available for around £15 million. Speculated to also be a target for rivals Arsenal, Cahill provides a 6ft 2inch frame capable of stopping attackers and preventing goals as he shows time and again for the Trotters. He is also able to score goals himself, perfectly integrating into the Tottenham mindset. Fulham star Brede Hangeland is a similar prospect, and should Gary Cahill be a no-go, is definitely worth looking at. Since a monumental 2009-2010 season for Fulham, the Norwegian has lost some of the glamour that pundits gave him, but none of the skill.
Looking to gain a European place again this season, and set to play Real Madrid in their Champion’s League quarter-final, it shows that Tottenham have an excellent team. However, to ensure that these two great season’s aren’t just a stint of greatness in the club’s history, they must continue to expand, and continue with this insurgence into becoming a world-class side.
