SC Season Predictions

After what has seemed like the longest lack of football mankind has ever had to endure, we are finally on the eve of the new season. It has been a very busy, and really rather satisfying closed season for the Spurs with plenty of rumour and intrigue. Plenty of cash has been splashed and there is no doubt that every single signing has been a good one.

Bent has been laughing at those who scoffed at his £16m price tag by banging in almost a goal a game in pre-season, Kaboul has looked like a natural, and I suspect will also bag a goal or two before long. Taarabt has impressed in South Africa (although he really has got to learn how to pass), Robbie Keane is looking like he's up for the challenge of keeping his place, the Prince scored on his debut and even little Waynetta Routledge is looking dangerous. With seven wins on the trot things are looking very positive indeed.

At long last it looks like we have a squad rather than just a team and there is adequate cover in every position, except the troublesome left wing. We can keep dreaming of BenArfa and Quaresma, but don't hold your breath.

There are of course still a few hangers-on loitering around the training ground. Ghaly and Mido must surely have no future, but Murphy seems happy to play in the reserves and can do a job if called upon - let's not forget that magical assist he provided for a Keano goal recently. I will also begrudgingly admit that Gardener is showing signs of improvement (although I still put him as 5th choice CB if everyone is fit). Does this mean the boo-boys will finally be silenced? I doubt it, they can always find someone to moan about over in the West stand.

So what can we realistically expect? For starters I think we can expect to get off to an absolute flyer. Our first 3 games are Sunderland away followed by home ties with Everton and Derby - I think we can look for 9 points from those. The first big test comes at the end of the month when we are away to Man U. The way they are playing, and the look of their squad suggests that if we come away from Old Trafford with anything other than a pasting we will have done well. The Red Devils are, in my opinion, dead certs to retain the title.

Spurs are widely tipped to "challenge" for a Champions League spot. I'd like to go one further than that and suggest that we should be looking to third as our target. Man U and Chelsea are too strong for anybody to dislodge, but whereas before we put ourselves in a "mini-league" with the like of Bolton, Everton and Blackburn, all vying for 5th, I think the time has come to leave those behind and start putting ourselves on a par with Arsenal and Liverpool. I'm not shortsighted enough to say we will trounce them, but I do believe we are every bit as strong as both of them, and all three teams are in with a shout at third.

I am convinced that this season is going to be one of the best in Tottenham's modern history. The team is growing, players maturing. We have a season of European experience that should see us jump the final hurdle and make it into the UEFA Cup final. We have a team capable of beating anyone on their day, so progression in domestic cups is possible, and we have added yet more firepower to a team that scored over 100 goals last season.

I predict that this season we will:

• Come third in the league - yes, that's right, third.



• Get into at least one domestic semi-final



• Win the Uefa Cup

Even if those predictions are off the mark, one thing is for sure, the corner has been well and truely turned!