The 2007-8 season was supposed to be the season when Tottenham pushed on from two consecutive fifth placed finishes and secured their place in the promised land of the Champions League. Spurs’ early season league form put paid to that. The dream of a place alongside Europe’s elite was dashed by the end of October and Martin Jol paid the price for the Lilywhite’s shocking start to the season.

The turn-around under Juande Ramos has been well documented and the Carling Cup win has infused the club and the players with a real confidence that could signal an assault on the top four next season. Both Aston Villa and Everton are in with a good shout of bagging fourth spot this season and Spurs boast as good a squad as these two clubs.

Spurs’ problem in the early part of the season was a failure to deal with set pieces. This also dogged the early reign of Ramos, and despite their recent impressive run of form Spurs still look a soft touch defensively.

'Darren Bent has yet to prove himself in a Spurs shirt and he could well see himself on his way out of Tottenham in the summer'


Paul Robinson has largely failed to find any form since his error for England in Croatia in October, 2006. If the former England No. 1 can regain his form he is a good enough goalkeeper for a team in the top four. But, should Spurs plump for Espanyol goalkeeper Carlos Kameni in the summer, they could fill a problem position with one of the best up and coming goalies in the world.

The first choice defensive four of Alan Hutton, Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Bale is as good a back line as any other team in the league. But, King and Woodgate, especially, are rarely fit and their replacements, Micheal Dawson and Younes Kaboul, are error prone, while Gareth Bale, one of the finest talents in world football, has missed much of the season with injury.

Like much of the Spurs squad, the first choice defence is of an extremely high quality but the reserves leave Juande Ramos bereft of top quality players should the Spaniard be affected by injuries. Other defenders in the squad include Gilberto, Pascal Chimbonda and Lee Young-Pyo who are solid but are not going to lift Spurs to a Champions League position.

It is a similar case in midfield. Jermaine Jenas, Didier Zokora, Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone are class acts; in addition Steed Malbranque has improved rapidly under Ramos. But if there are injuries or suspensions the midfield looks a little light. Teemu Tainio and Jamie O’ Hara have performed exceptionally well in big games this season but there is no guarantee that they can consistently put in performances when called upon to keep up with the big clubs.

Spurs can also count on Adel Taarabt, a player who has been likened on this website to Zinedine Zidane. If the Frenchman was to come of age next season and provide some of the sparkle and creativity the Spurs midfield often lack, they could challenge for a place in the Champions League.

And the same theme continues up front. The partnership of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov is among the best in the league, but if one striker is injured or suspended Ramos is struggling for a top-class forward line. Darren Bent has yet to prove himself in a Spurs shirt and he could well see himself on his way out of Tottenham in the summer. Some fans were surprised that Jermain Defoe was let go in January. So far Spurs have yet to regret the decision, but it is almost certain that they will go into next season with four strikers rather than the current three.

Most Spurs fans would agree that the first choice XI, when fit, is undoubtedly good enough to challenge for the Champions League. But this first eleven is rarely fit and available. Woodgate and King are crucial to the Spurs team, as they proved in the Carling Cup final, and they are amongst the most injury-prone players in the league.

If the Sportingo select question was: “Is the Spurs team good enough for a Champions League push?” Then the answer would undoubtedly be “yes”. But the four top clubs who consistently qualify for the Champions League year in year out have fantastic squads and Tottenham’s first choice bench is nowhere near the level needed to challenge.

Nevertheless Juande Ramos has already proven in La Liga that he can lift an under-performing team to greater league success and his signings this summer will be crucial as will be the ongoing battle to hang on to the mercurial Berbatov. A goalkeeper, left-winger and striker are the priorities but as we see season after season, new signings take time to settle in and really make a difference.

Spurs are probably three or four players from having a squad to challenge the very best. The truth is, though, that Spurs fans have been saying this for many years now.

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