Tottenham Hotspur. Last Season’s Finish: 5th. Expectations: Top 4. Predicted Finish: 5th.
Spurs have missed out on the Champions League for the past few seasons now and I expect this trend to continue. No one can really pinpoint where they are going wrong, they just lack the consistency in the latter half of the season. They have done their best to bring in real quality this summer, Paulinho will strengthen the deeper midfield areas and play alongside Sandro, and Nacer Chadli provides great depth for Gareth Bale assuming he stays. If he stays, Spurs have every chance of finishing Top 4, but I think they cave sooner or later and sell, and they again miss out on the Top 4. Roberto Soldado gives Spurs a real world class forward; he is your 30 goal a season man they have been lacking for some time.
He will replace the goals lost by Gareth Bale this season, but the will need to replace his creativity. Someone like Fiorentina’s Adem Ljajic or Ajax’s Christian Eriksen would be a welcome addition to this Spurs line-up. Etienne Capoue will replace Steven Caulker, as his versatility is appealing to Andre Villas-Boas, but this will be a season of so close, but yet so far for Spurs in terms of the League but they could contend in the Europa League.
Key Player: Roberto Soldado will need to be a regular scorer in the Premier League if they have any Champions League hopes. Spurs need to create chances for him, which he will put away; he is as clinical as the come.