Jol: Preparations couldn't have gone much better

Last updated : 14 August 2006 By Editor

Everybody is very optimistic Spurs can maintain the kind of form that emulated in a top 5 finish in the Premiership last season, and qualification for the UEFA Cup.

Steve Tongue in The Independent on Sunday wrote: ‘Only Tottenham, with shrewd signings in Dimitar Berbatov and Didier Zokora, look like threatening the big four.'

Matt Denver in The Independent on Sunday wrote: ‘Zokora possesses all the attributes of a modern midfielder - strength, speed, aggression and determination - combined with the required technical ability in passing, heading and shooting. Much is expected of the 25-year-old, who is likely to play in the role recently vacated by Michael Carrick.'

Nick Townsend in the same paper predicts the table to read: ‘1 Chelsea, 2 Liverpool, 3 Manchester United, 4 Tottenham Hotspur' by next May.

Joe Lovejoy in The Sunday Times wrote: ‘Martin Jol's eager-beaver improvers will miss Michael Carrick's influence, but Didier Zokora is a promising replacement, young Aaron Lennon has the look of a potential champion and Spurs possess the strong spine that is a prerequisite of success.'

Spurs boss Martin Jol said: "I have bought Berbatov to score goals for us and he has scored four goals in pre-season, three of them in big games."

"We were all sad to have seen Michael go but that's football. We got a lot of money for him but we had to spend a lot on other players. Zokora could just have easily gone to Arsenal. He has been playing his part during pre-season."

"And it's as if Benoit Assou-Ekotto has played for us for years."

Zokora said: "I was in contact with Manchester United last season - and on more than one occasion. However, I decided to wait until after the World Cup. I chose Tottenham because they are a big club - and a club that is going to become even bigger in the future. I was sure about that. There was also the chance to maybe go to Real Madrid, but I chose the club where I felt I could grow as a player. I have become more tactically aware than I used to be." (Sunday Mirror)

The three summer signings eached played 90 minutes against Real Sociedad at White Hart Lane on Saturday, the last first team action before the trip to Bolton's Reebok Stadium, in the Premiership this Saturday.

Jol told the club's official website: "Last season we did well, didn't lose a game and this summer has been the same. We've used a lot of players and it couldn't have gone much better."

Ledley King added: "Although we had a good season we've also had a taste of sides making it awkward for us to play our game at White Hart Lane."

Sheffield United and Everton are the first visitors to the Lane in the new season.

The Blades entertain Liverpool on the opening day, while Everton host another of the newly promoted sides Watford, then go to Blackburn, before the first Saturday 3pm encounter of the season at Spurs.