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2006-09-01 22:16:04
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Article by David Walker |
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Tottenham Hotspur
Odds: 80/1
Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 5 (Premiership), 2004/05 - 9 (Premiership), 2003/04 - 14 (Premiership), 2002/03 - 10
(Premiership), 2001/02 - 9 (Premiership).
2005/06 Cup Progress
FA Cup Third Round vs Leicester City (a) - lost 3-2.
Carling Cup Second Round vs Grimsby Town (a) - lost 1-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Robbie Keane (striker) - 16 goals.
Players In
Dimiter Berbatov (Bayer Leverkusen - £10,900,000), Didier Zokora (St Etienne - £8,200,000), Dorian Dervitte (Lille - Undisclosed), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Lens - Free).
Players Out
Michael Carrick (Manchester United - £18,600,000), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City - £750,000), Mounir El Hamdaoui (Willem II - Free), Claude Seanla (Watford - Free), Dean Marney (Hull City - Free), Johnnie Jackson (Colchester United - Free), Goran Bunjevcevic (Released), Noureddine Naybet (Released).
Tottenham Hotspur established themselves as genuine contenders to break into the elusive "top four" of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal and almost pipped the Gunners to the fourth available play-off spot.
Spurs will have to make do with UEFA Cup football this season after they finished fifth, but manager Martin Jol has been splashing the cash over the summer to strengthen the squad even further in time for the new campaign.
Bayer Leverkusem striker Dimitar Berbatov, joined the club for £10.9 million, just short of the £11 million record transfer fee paid to sign Sergei Rebrov from Dynamo Kiev six years ago. Bulgarian international Berbatov was the second top goal scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 21 goals in 34 matches and has an equally impressive international record of 31 goals in 50 appearances.
Ivory Coast midfielder Didier Zokora, who played in every minute of his country's appearance in this summer's World Cup, was another costly acquisition at £8.2 million from St Etienne. Zokora was a graduate of the ASEC Abidjan academy that has developed many current Ivory Coast internationals and he joined RC Genk in 2000. Zokora revealed he opted to join Spurs despite receiving an offer from Arsenal.
Spurs also received a substantial transfer fee when they sold Michael Carrick to Manchester United in an £18.6 million deal. The initial fee is believed to be £13 million, with the balance dependent on the player's appearances, international caps and overall club success. The sale gives Spurs a huge profit on the £2.75 million they paid West Ham United for his services two years ago with the Hammers also set to benefit from a windfall due to a sell on clause.
Verdict
Jol has brought in two excellent players in Didier Zokora and Dimiter Berbatov, while the sale of Carrick to Manchester United was an excellent piece of business. Spurs have the "distraction" of Europe this season and they should aim for fifth place again.
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