TOTTENHAM
CURRENT MOOD
The lingering gloom from a disappointing end to last season has not been lifted by a summer of inertia in the transfer market and uncertainty over the future of star performer Luka Modric. However the expectation is still that Spurs will be among the top six come May, if not in the top four.
TRANSFERS
IN: Brad Friedel (Aston Villa), Cristian Ceballos (Barcelona), Souleymane Coulibaly (Siena); OUT: Jamie O’Hara (Wolves), Jonathan Woodgate (Stoke), Bongani Khumalo (Reading, loan), Kyle Naughton (Norwich, loan), Steven Caulker (Swansea, loan)
Form
Last season: 5th
Last trophy: Carling Cup, 2008
FIRST FIVE FIXTURES
22 Aug, Man Utd (A); 28 Aug, Man City (H); 10 Sep, Wolves (A); 18 Sep, Liverpool (H); 24 Sep, Wigan (A)
BEST CASE scenario
Modric (left) stays, Defoe finds his scoring touch, Red-knapp signs attacking reinforcements, Spurs gatecrash the top four again and enjoy a decent FA Cup run.
WORST CASE
Modric goes, strikers fail to shake off last season’s malaise, rest of the top six break away to become a Big Five, Redknapp loses momentum and authority ahead of his likely departure to England job next summer.
TREVOR STEVEN’S VERDICT
Have seemed on the back foot since end of great European campaign last term and are still looking for something – Redknapp should have acted earlier – but will still be in the mix for the top four.