Premier League Preview

Tottenham Hotspur

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
Captain: Hugo Lloris
13/14 position: 6th
Top League Goalscorer: Emmanuel Adebayor 11

Life after Gareth Bale looked, on paper, like it’d be brilliant, as Andre Villas Boas spent the money brought in for the most expensive player on stars that many thought would revolutionise the North London club. But how wrong were we all?

The best signing of the lot ended up being Christian Eriksen, for £12m for Ajax, as the Danish waved his wand brilliantly. But that was, quite frankly, the only real success; Paulinho struggled to adapt after arriving from Corinthians in Brazil, Soldado looked poor despite being a regular goalscorer in his homeland, and the fact there’s a hashtag on twitter called #FindLamela says an awful lot about the £30m signing of Erik Lamela from Roma, ironically the marquee signing of director of football Walter Sabatini who arrived from Roma himself.

Villas Boas was dismissed after several performances in the big games, seeing his team just capitulate against Manchester City and Liverpool, shipping 11 and 9 in both games against them respectively. Sherwood brought back Adebayor who proved his quality, but the rest of the dressing room were lost by the gillet-wearing former midfielder.

Now Pochettino arrives at Tottenham fresh from receiving plenty of plaudits at Southampton, and it looks like he’ll need to sell a few players in order to buy, but that is nothing new for the guy who had to sell the furniture at Espanyol. Indeed, up to eleven players are being up for offers, and it seems that they won’t have enough to make a real challenge for Champions League yet. Pochettino needs time at a club with a chairman in Daniel Levy who hasn’t got patience in his vocabulary. 7th

FANS OPINION: Callum Haymes @CallumHaymes

What is your idea of a good season for your club?
Just to see a return of the free-flowing, high-energy football that was lacking under AVB and the implementation of a solid defensive setup which was non-existent under Sherwood. Finishing in the top four would be seen as a major success in Pochettino’s first season, but I’d be equally happy with some silverware.

Worst case scenario?
The players fail to grasp Pochettino’s tactics and oppose his notoriously demanding training sessions, leading to poor results. In keeping with tradition, Spurs supporters call for the manager’s head and Levy duly obliges, wielding the axe.

Best player?
Debatable one, this. Spurs have a strong backbone. Emmanuel Adebayor scores goals (when he can be bothered), Christian Eriksen provides assists, Jan Vertonghen commands the defence. But our most crucial player is arguably Hugo Lloris between the sticks. Dug us out of a hole on many an occasion last season. Goodness knows where we’d have finished up if it wasn’t for his quick thinking and sharp reflexes.

Player you’d happily drive to his next club?
Michael Dawson. The likeable defender and loyal club captain is no longer up to the standards required to be a regular starter for a side challenging to break the stranglehold of the top four.

Fans hero?
Sandro. The eccentric Brazilian has struggled to regain form following a serious knee injury suffered last year which required surgery. Tottenham’s guitar playing holding midfield, affectionately known as ‘the Beast’, will be driven on to succeed by the Spurs faithful.

If you could pick, who would you want your team to do the double over this year?
Arsenal. Derby day delight against the old foe continues to remain the most exhilarating feeling any Spurs fan can wish to experience. Arsène Wenger’s men managed to do the treble over the Lilywhite’s last season without conceding a single goal in the process, and many of us will be hoping the players are able to avenge that humiliation.

League winners?
Chelsea. People talk about how Liverpool blew the title last season, but by all accounts the Blues did exactly the same. Silly points were dropped at home against Sunderland, West Ham and Norwich, not forgetting the capitulation at Villa Park. Jose Mourinho has made certain the same won’t happen again this campaign after bolstering his squad with the additions of Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Diego Costa.

Relegated?
Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa. Poor squads, relatively low budget, inexperienced managers. Recipe for disaster.

Surprise package?
Burnley. Tipped by many for relegation at the start of last season, Sean Dyche (aka ‘the Ginger Mourinho’) proved his managerial credentials by taking the Clarets to the Premier League on a shoestring budget. Holding on to prolific goalscorer Danny Ings will prove difficult. But with a couple more additions to the squad, who knows what they can achieve this time around?

Who will win the golden boot?
Roberto Soldado, obviously. Jokes aside, I can’t see beyond the obvious contenders — Sergio Agüero, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge. Chelsea’s £32m summer signing Diego Costa could be in with a shout if he acclimatises to the Premier League.