da spicy bet： We may still be one month, one week and one day away from the opening weekend of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign – yes, we’re ticking off pretty much every hour here at Football Fancast – but some clubs’ starting Xis for next season are already beginning to take shape.
da lvbet： Tottenham, for example, have already made a handful of noteworthy additions this summer – namely defenders Kieran Trippier and Kevin Wimmer – whilst at this point, their alleged transfer targets are relatively indisputable; as are the current first teamers likely to retain their places in the starting Xi for next season.
So with everybody here at Football Fancas growing increasingly desperate for the new season to begin, we’ve decided to slow down our withdrawal symptoms by considering who the Lilywhites’ starting line-up might consist of by the time they face Manchester United on August 8th.
Could this XI grab all three points against the Red Devils?
GOALKEEPER – STEVE MANDANDA
Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino undoubtedly intend to keep current No.1 Hugo Lloris between the White Hart Lane sticks for next season.
But amid relentless reports of him replacing Real Madrid-bound David De Gea at Manchester United, Spurs have been linked with a potential successor in Marseille man Steve Mandanda.
The France international has unquestionably been one of the top goalkeepers throughout recent Ligue 1 history, claiming the division’s Goalkeeper of the Year award on three occasions during his eight terms at Stade Velodrome. Last season he made the third-most saves of any goalkeeper in the French top flight – an impressive 86.
With just a year remaining on his contract, it’s claimed the Lilywhites could snap up the 30 year-old for just £6.5million.
RIGHT BACK – KIERAN TRIPPIER
It remains to be seen what role recent £3.5million signing Kieran Trippier will have in Tottenham’s squad next season. Some have speculated he’s a replacement for Kyle Walker, but a rotation situation between the two seems like the most plausible scenario at this moment in time.
No doubt, the 24 year-old suits the mould of full-back Mauricio Pochettino tends to go for; hardworking and feisty with the ability to contribute going forward.
Trippier averaged the most created chances per match (1.7) of any Burnley player last season and the most accurate crosses per match (2.4) of any Premier League player. So Pochettino will be hoping he and the aerially imperious Harry Kane can strike up a recurring partnership.
CENTRE-BACK – TOBY ALDERWEIRELD
Spurs are firmly in the race to sign Toby Alderweireld and the Atletico Madrid misfit could turn out to be a particularly pivotal signing for the north London club.
The Belgium international was in strong form on loan at Southampton last season, featuring at full-back, centre-back and defensive midfield to contribute to Ronald Koeman’s side claiming the second-best defensive record in the Premier League.
He’s a well-rounded, smart and technical defender who looks more than comfortable playing top half Premier League football.
But most important from Tottenham’s perspective is his prior history with compatriot Jan Vertonghen; proving incredibly successful during their many years as a centre-back partnership at Ajax, where they lifted three consecutive Eredivisie titles together.
It’s something the 26 year-old has already commented on and surely gives Spurs a unique advantage over fellow suitors Southampton and Chelsea.
CENTRE-BACK – JAN VERTONGHEN
Jan Vertonghen has never quite rekindled the marauding form of his debut Premier League campaign, earning him a place in the 2012/13 PFA Team of the Year.
But on his day the Belgium international is still one of the best centre-halves in the top flight and the hopeful arrival of Toby Alderweireld should help those days become a lot more regular.
The only issue Spurs face is whether the 28 year-old decides to leave White Hart Lane. With just a year remaining on his current contract, the 6 foot 2 defender could force a move if he’s linked to one of Europe’ top clubs.
LEFT BACK – DANNY ROSE
Danny Rose may not be the most talented of defenders to ever grace White Hart Lane but in terms of going forward he certainly produced the goods last season, grabbing three goals and four assists in 28 appearances whilst averaging one created chance per match.
Much like Trippier, he fits the template of what Mauricio Pochettino prefers in his full-back, as an almost box-to-box player capable of contributing at both ends. But we could see understudy Ben Davies enter the fray a little more regularly next term, after making just nine Premier League starts following his arrival from Swansea City last summer.
HOLDING MIDFIELD – NABIL BENTALEB
Many were bemused by Tim Sherwood’s continuous calling upon Nabil Bentaleb during the 2013/14 campaign but the prodigious Algerian more than justified it last season, becoming a permanent fixture of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting Xi.
The 20 year-old is a little understated in style but he brings consistency on the ball and tenacity to the Lilywhites’ engine room, last season averaging 2.3 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per match with a pass completion rate of 87%.
Whilst midfield partner Ryan Mason emerged as an effective workhorse last term, Bentaleb is the one with real quality and appears to have a huge future ahead of him.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN
Southampton star Morgan Schneiderlin is widely expected to join Manchester United this summer but Spurs aren’t out of the race just yet.
The Red Devils have already seen a £20million bid rejected for the France international and they’re also targeting Bayern Munich’s similar-in-style Bastian Schweinsteiger – so logic suggests they won’t be signing both this summer.
No doubt, the 25 year-old would massively boost the quality of Spurs’ starting Xi, having emerged as one of the most formidable enforcers in the Premier League over the last three campaigns.
Last term, he averaged the second-most tackles per match of any Premier League player (3.7) and recorded a pass completion rate of 89%
But perhaps most important for Spurs is that Schneiderlin has worked under Mauricio Pochettino before; he understands his methods, tactics and philosophy and could therefore be the perfect on-pitch general for the White Hart Lane boss.
It’s believed Southampton value him at £25million.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – JAMES MCCARTHY
Another centre-mid allegedly on the White Hart Lane radar is Everton’s all-action box-to-boxer James McCarthy.
If there’s one criticism of the Ireland international, it’s that he doesn’t score enough goals. But the rest of his game is solid whilst his work rate is simply phenomenal, seemingly touching every blade of grass twice over the course of 90 minutes.
He’d be an ideal upgrade on the similarly industrious Ryan Mason and according to The Daily Mail has grown frustrated at Goodison Park following Everton’s string of wayward results last season.
They also claim Spurs will attempt to entice the Toffees with a double swap deal involving Aaron Lennon and Younes Kaboul. But it seems unlikely the Mersey outfit would be prepared to sell a key player to a club they’ve spent the best part of the last decade competing with for Europa League qualification.
RIGHT WING – VICTOR MOSES
Spurs desperately lacked strong performers on the right of midfield last season, with Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend, Aaron Lennon (for the first half of the season) and the now-departed Paulinho all struggling to impress in that role.
According to the tabloids, the Lilywhites are now considering Chelsea’s Victor Moses as a potential solution and the Nigerian international certainly maintains Mauricio Pochettino’s preference of powerful and direct winger-forwards.
Output has always been the 24 year-old’s fatal flaw, managing just three goals and three assists in 19 outings for loan club Stoke City last season. But in terms of build up play, he can border upon talismanic, averaging 2.2 shots, 1.7 created chances and 3.3 successful dribbles per match during his stint at the Britannia.
The Potters are keen to sign him permanently but according to Mirror Football, Moses would much prefer a move to White Hart Lane.
LEFT WING – CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
It’s perhaps not his most effective position but new signings could see Christian Eriksen return to the left wing next season – a role that saw him claim seven goals and seven assists during his debut Premier League campaign and four goals in his ten outings on the left-hand side last term.
With the exception of perhaps Harry Kane, the 23 year-old is undoubtedly the biggest talent in the White Hart Lane squad, with sensational technical ability, plenty of output and a recurring knack of netting last-minute winners.
If Spurs are to upset the Premier League’s status quo next season and claim Champions League qualification, the form of the almost talismanic Eriksen will certainly be a major factor.
STRIKER – HARRY KANE
Who else but Harry Kane? Last season, the 21 year-old emerged from the peripheries of Tottenham’s squad to become the Premier League’s top scoring Englishman and lift the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Being firmly ‘one of their own’ and recently dismissing rumours that he’s in line for a big money move to Manchester United, Kane’s place in the starting Xi comes with a guarantee regardless of who Spurs add to their strike force this summer.
Of course, the real test for the 6 foot 2 striker is proving he’s not a one season wonder, instead justifying the comparisons with Teddy Sheringham, Alan Shearer and Thomas Muller to name a few.