Season Preview: Tottenham

Overall Outlook - This is a huge season for Spurs and the story seems to have been lost in the rush to cover every random rumor coming out of Eastlands.  With Spurs making their entry into the Champions League and the potential juggernauts in Citeh and the potentially taken-over Liverpool Spurs had better make the most of it now lest they be left behind like so many Evertons, Villas, or Fulhams incapable of legitimately competing for the talent necessary to sustain Top 4 finishes.  Reputation-wise Spurs are definitely on the edge as the reactions of players like Luis Fabiano show.  If they have some success in the Champions League and in the Prem then they might be able to recruit some bigger names.  If not, then the window may close on them quickly and more quickly than optimistic supporters may realize.  As to whether this will happen or not, I can't pretend to say.  The assessment of 'arry has always been that while he's likable and tends to do well on a low budget he's a bit lightweight for competing with the Wengers, Fergusons, and Ancelotis of the world.  This is the year we find out because he certainly has a lot of reasonably promising talent on hand.  Can he bring it all together again and sustain a top 4 place while simultaneously competing in the Champions League?  Perhaps the most interesting long term question of the season.


Projected Starters - Gomes, Bale, King, Dawson, Corluka, Palacios, Kranjcar, Lennon, Modric, Defoe, Crouch

In the Rotation - Bassong, Kaboul, BAE, Hutton, Sandro, Bentley, O'Hara, THud, Rose, Jenas, Keane, and PVC

Kicks - lots of guys who can take some of the kicks with Bale and Modric the two most likely out of the starting XI and Bentley, Kranjcar, and O'Hara all able to come in and take some away from the first two.

Newcomers

• Sandro, M - With a little over 2 weeks left in the transfer period, Spurs have yet to make much of a dent having signed holding midfielder Sandro to backstop Palacios as a true barrier in front of the back four (as opposed to THud who is more of a Carrick like deep-lying passer who isn't much of a ball-winner);
• There are rumors of more transfers coming in at striker (Remy?), midfielder (Ashley Young?), defender (Gallas?) or a keeper (Pletikosa) but with the exception of Pletikosa they seem to be more tabloid fodder than reality;

Rising Youth

• O'Hara, M - we here at the blog really like O'Hara and were very much hoping that he'd end up somewhere that he's likely to start this season but it would appear that it isn't going to happen (although I'd think Villa would be wise to take a look).  If he gets a run of games, he's worth a spot in your line-up;
• Rose, M - the 20 year old winger faces an uphill battle to get any playing time despite the fact that he is a highly thought of England youth international.  Despite his promise he has had a difficult time getting playing time while out on loan due to injuries and management turmoil.  It is probably best that he go back out on loan in search of playing time despite his goal of the year candidate against Arsenal last season;
• Naughton, D - the right back is another one for the future who faces a huge uphill battle to get any playing time.  If it looks like he'll start at some point he's worth looking at but if Corluka, Hutton, and potentially BAE are all in front of him he's probably looking at another loan - if we're lucky, it will be within the Prem and we'll have a chance to add him to our line-ups;

Fantasy Breakdown

• Best - With all of the better-than-average-but-not-quite-great talent assembled the best fantasy player of the bunch is Bale which is sort of amazing since he wasn't even starting about halfway through last season;
• Best Value (non-newcomer) - There aren't a lot of players, if any, who are likely to perform better than they did last season which means that there isn't a great deal of under-priced value to be had on the Spurs roster - if O'Hara gets a run then he represents some solid value.  Otherwise, despite his price, Bale is the best value as well as being the best overall fantasy player;
• Best Projected Value - Again, unless something unexpected happens like Pavlyuchenko being the first choice starter opposite Defoe then there isn't a great deal of value to be had in this veteran roster;
• Worth Considering With Good Match-ups - Just about anyone in the starting line-up except Palacios;
• Worth Knowing If He's Starting - O'Hara, Bassong, Kaboul, Naughton, THud, Keane, Pavlyuchenko, BAE, Rose