Establishing itself as a top four outfit has become something of a holy grail for Tottenham Hotspur, who have once again spent big in a quest to become a genuine English Premier League giant.
What happened last season
Having cashed in on mercurial Croatian midfielder Luke Modric, who departed for Real Madrid, Spurs got off to the worst possible start with an ominous away defeat at Newcastle United.
It wasn’t until a routine away win over Reading in Round 4 that the north London side really got its campaign under way and early missed opportunities would come back to haunt Tottenham.
Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas would go on to collect Tottenham’s highest ever points tally in the English Premier League, yet their quixotic attempts to bust open the big four ended with Spurs finishing an agonising point behind bitter local rivals Arsenal in the standings.
A 5-2 away defeat at the Gunners early in the campaign cost Tottenham dearly and not even 2-1 win in the return encounter at White Hart Lane was to prove much consolation.
Spurs ultimately finished fifth and missed out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League by the skin of their teeth.
What happened in the off-season
Transfer wheelings and dealings have become the norm at White Hart Lane and the current off-season was no exception.
Brazilian powerhouse Paulinho was the major signing of the summer, or so it appeared, as the bustling box-to-box midfielder arrived with high expectations from Paulista giants Corinthians.
Somewhat curiously, Spurs then signed Spanish international striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia for an eye-watering 26 million pounds – surely way over the odds for a 28-year-old who has never played outside Spain before.
Midfielders Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capuoe have also been added to the squad.
But with William Gallas, Tom Huddlestone and Clint Dempsey all going the other way, all eyes will be on big-money signings Paulinho and Soldado in what could be a make-or-break season for the club.
Why fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
While Spurs proved in 2010 that qualifying for the UEFA Champions League is not beyond them, the close season capture of two high-quality internationals suggests Villas-Boas and his team mean serious business this year.
Soldado’s signing ensures Jermaine Defoe and the peripatetic Emmanuel Adebayor face some stiff competition for a place up front, while Paulinho will be expected to strengthen an occasionally brittle midfield.
The big question revolves around whether Spurs will be able to hang on to star man Gareth Bale.
With Real Madrid reportedly prepared to pay an astronomical transfer fee to lure the Welsh international to the Bernabeu, Tottenham may ultimately find it hard to resist cashing in on Bale as they did with Modric the previous season.
Whether he stays or goes, the on-going transfer saga is bound to have affected the pacy winger, and Tottenham fans will hope the situation is resolved soon to avoid another slow start to the season.
The main man that can carry 2013/14 hopes
Bale was, at times, a one-man machine for Tottenham last season.
Aside from scoring an astonishing 21 league goals, it was his pace and penetration as an old-school attacking winger which so threatened opposing teams, as Bale turned back the clock with some wing wizardry from yesteryear.
Should the Welsh international ultimately check out of the Lane and in to the Spanish capital, then it’s a man arriving from the opposite direction who could prove key.
Soldado has proved one of the most reliable goal scorers in Spanish football in recent years, however a move to north London represents an entirely new challenge for this late bloomer.
If the former Valencia man can establish himself as Tottenham’s number one striker, then his goals could fire Spurs to the top four finish they so desperately crave.
Verdict – Fighting for Europe
Tottenham’s core of players looks as solid as any team in the top half of the table, with the likes of Hugo Lloris, Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Michael Dawson, Moussa Dembele, Scott Parker, Gylfi Sigurðsson and Sandro ensuring there is copious amounts of talent on show.
Breaking into the top four on a regular basis has proved the problem for Spurs and once again guaranteeing Champions League football is the aim for Villas-Boas and his side, with a battle for European places the least Tottenham fans should expect.
Former Valencia hit-man Roberto Soldado will be a welcome addition at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas had made a number of shrewd signings over the summer.
Will Gareth Bale be persuaded to stay at Tottenham?
This time next year, Ange Postecoglou expects Tottenham to be in the Premier League title race.
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