Spurs news: Sociedad & the season ahead

By jasondozzell
August 15 2006

So here's a view from someone who chooses his words and opinions carefully... Having been to the game on Saturday and reading reports of the other friendlies, and given my regular attendance last season, this is what I think of our squad and our chances.

Robbo will become a better keeper - he's very good at the moment, obviously prone to a couple of errors a season as we saw like most goalkeepers are but he's solid and reliable. Still feel he needs to be more vocal, especially with King not available at the moment. Needs to be more in control of the defence, stop them from making silly mistakes.

Not convinced thus far by Ekotto - did some very good things yesterday but worried he could become a bit of an Atouba... impressive to begin with but too cocky on the ball and dangerous to ourselves. Don't want to sound overly negative though - just unproven and hopefully could develop into a top quality fullback. Can supposedly play on the wing or centre-mid so hope to see lots going forward.

Lee on the other hand I believe will make a great right-back and bar his mistake against United last season, is very trustworthy. When Lennon went off yesterday we saw him attacking more - only worry was when he started cutting inside and using his left foot... exactly what we wanted when he was on the left but now we want him running to the byline and sending balls in without having to turn inside. Experience will be useful in Europe.

Dawson, along with Lennon, I believe is our brightest prospect. He's developing into the kind of player any team in the world would like to have and if he can turn some of his chances into goals, could become our John Terry. Will learn massively playing alongside King, but the way he marshalled the defence yesterday and kept Davenport in line was magnificent.

Davenport will be a great player to have as a third or fourth choice centre back although I believe that in time he'll rightly warrant a first team place and need to move on. Can see why he was so highly rated and had a superb game yesterday.

Lennon is one of the brightest prospects we've had at Spurs for a very, very long time and if Jol keeps him focused we could be seeing the development of a world class winger. However, he's not yet the finished article and whilst he has his moments of brilliance, he still tends to go missing during games. Having Lee behind him should inspire some confidence and his defensive capabilities will be tested when YP makes his forward runs but looking forward to another impressive season.

Zokora looks good on the ball, sprays some very Carrick-esque passes around but needs time to adjust to the game. First impressions suggest he will fill Carrick's boots very well and probably have a bigger effect on the team, particularly if he can score 5-10 goals this season as he's well capable of. A very Spurs-like player and could benefit with another strong central midfield player.

I still haven't warmed to Jenas as I was told I would by most of my mates. I'm just not sure what he really contributes to the team. No one can doubt his work rate, energy and the freekick against Man Yoo was something special but not a top 4 central midfielder in my opinion. I believe Tainio could be and I'd like to see more of Ghaly.

In my opinion Davids is worth his place in the squad just for the experience he brings with him, however a place in the starting XI should be beyond him this season unless he can find one last real energy store. No one doubts that he was a world class player and he did a job last season but this year I don't feel he deserves a place in the starting eleven.

I was sceptical about Berbatov before yesterday despite having never let me down on Football Manager. The boy looks like he has all the attributes to be a top quality striker and bang in 20+ goals a season. He's big and strong, unselfish, wins headers, holds the ball up well, provides for others etc. Whilst not scoring yesterday he looks like a bigger, fitter version of Mido with a work ethic that puts the Egyptian to shame.

Defoe yesterday looked like the excitable Defoe who joined us from West Ham under Pleaty. Eye for goal, very busy, just not getting the service he needs. Will hopefully start on Wednesday for England and this should do his confidence a lot of good.

Let's not forget the players we had missing. Tainio is a very good player to have in the squad - adaptable and able to play anywhere along the midfield. Hopefully we'll also have another great season from Keane and King when they return from injury.

But we do have areas of the team that need improvement to consolidate our position and potentially move into the top 4. I believe we need an experienced centreback (not as experienced as Naybet) to give us four decent options at the back. Gardner needs to be sold as he should be playing Premiership football - just not for us.

A solid option at left back is still required. Chimbonda for me doesn't fit the bill entirely as this option puts Lee as the required backup. I'd still like to see Wayne Bridge as a first choice leftback. The boy was class at Southampton and Chelsea when he was playing regularly. Although given the Duff palava, not sure if Chelsea will accept reasonable offers from us.

A central midfield playmaker is a must and personally I believe the most important position for us. Jenas is a good box-to-box player, but not the creative running midfielder we so desperately need. If Zokora can spray the ball around, we need someone in front of him to pick it up, play off the front two and generally be a busy central midfielder. I'm not sure when we last had one of these and it's a difficult position to fill - Lampard, Gerrard, Fabregas, Scholes are players who fit the bill and are huge parts of why these teams are consistently in the top 4.

Left wing is troublesome, and whilst Tainio could potentially do a job, it's not on in the long-run. We always look stretched when our left-back charges down the wing and there's no cover. However with Lennon still immature and playing an out-and-out winger's role on the right, there's something about having three central midfielders to cover that is quite reassuring. Not sure Downing's the answer, Duff would have been ideal. Medium-term priority. Would like to see someone in January time.

Another big striker (not Mido) would also be useful (not Rasiak either). And not wanting to whinge but I really feel we missed out in not signing Ashton...

So basically my team to break the top 4:


Robbo

Lee King Dawson Bridge

Lennon Zokora xxxxx xxxxx

Defoe/Keane Berbatov


Bench: Defoe/Keane, Jenas, Tainio, Davenport, Chimbonda, Ekotto, etc.


Either way, we're in for a decent season with a good league finish and potentially a decent UEFA cup run. I'd like to see us win a trophy and finish 5th again which I think is definitely possible, with us pushing for higher all the way. Sort out the silly mistakes that lead to points dropped and keep everyone fit and things will be looking up down the Lane.

Jason Dozzell
Class

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