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22Jun

“Spurs have reached a ceiling in terms of fourth place”

Last season saw Tottenham miss out on Champions League qualification despite finishing in fourth place. The summer has already seen them part with manager Harry Redknapp. And with rumours that Luka Modric wants out refusing to go away, footballer-turned-journalist Adrian Clarke believes another fourth-place finish is the most that Spurs can expect to achieve next season.

“I tend to think that Spurs have reached a ceiling in terms of fourth place,” he says. “If they couldn’t grab third last season, I don’t know when they’ll next be in a position to be that high in the league table. With the likes of Modric and Gareth Bale there, at their peak, they still didn’t make it. And now you suspect that one or both of them will go.”

And despite André Villas-Boas remaining the favourite to succeed Redknapp as Tottenham manager, Adrian suspects that Laurent Blanc might be the more likely candidate if the north Londoners are prepared to wait until his involvement in Euro 2012 is over.

“From what I gather, AVB is the one doing the running, he’s doing the chasing. His agent is very keen to put his name in the mix. Laurent Blanc can’t do anything until France are out of the Euros. If Spurs are going to play a patient game I’d definitely make Blanc the favourite.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the image play button above.

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  • TommyHarmer

    Fact is, until our manager stopped looking at what was going on on the pitch, we were in third place with ten points to spare. In the end, Arsenal beat us to third by one point with an inferior goal difference and, with nothing more than a proper keeper Albion would have taken two points off them …… Said like THAT your logic seems a bit dodgy ……  So – I saw no glass ceiling last season, and we were ultimately let down very badly by “Arry in the run-in. Which of HIS previous teams played football like ours? Next season is not some new and amazing place that we can’t do well in, it is the same Premier League and we will be as good as if not better than last year if Levy chooses wisely. In the end, though, we are Tottenham, and we will play good football on the ground whatever our position in the Sky Money Stakes.

  • Spice1971

    ‘Former Arsenal Player’ says it all – Levy is not going to just let everyone leave, in my opinion if Modric had played as well as he has in the euros all season rather than sporadically we might already be in  the Champions league. what gauls me is the same players who failed to get third want to leave because they didn’t get third – nice to see see some responsibility taken. We had the Second Strongest squad in the EPL last season after Abu Dhabi, it’s not going to be dismantled but improved on. with a decent tactical coach who says we can’t compete – do you have a crystal ball?

  • Essexian76

    Who knows for sure?, wait a while and judge a while later-It’ll be difficult, but Liverpool and Chelsea are both in transition as well, Utd are not any stronger either, so it’s not just us who are an unknown quantity, not forgetting Le Arse who may be without their only decent striker next season!

  • spur1950

    seems people with no idea about our spurs have onions on it come wat may because it get noticed if he wrote bout other  lesser team like the nomads
    if u going to write something constructive do some bloody homework!!!

  • Doug Montgomery

    … Adrian who?

  • The Cabbie

    As an Goner since 1948 and a football fan all of that time I often read whats been said by Spurs as well as Arsenal.This peice makes so much sense and read it as of it was talking about Spurs and Arsenal.
    Can you compete against Mercenary City FC ,money wise no way .Chelski no hope ,and Man U will always be there so 4th is what we push for and fingers crossed with the right transfers we might just make a push for the titles, Of course it could happen but are Arsenal now in a better state money wise then Spurs to callenge ,just.So Adrians copy says it all Spurs and Arsenal have hit a ceiling and getting rid of a manager who got you there twice makes no sense to me.
    I watched a few Spurs games on TV  last season and 1 that you lost although I was very happy with you should have won by a mile and with in a week or so you had a draw that you should have also won easy.Harrys fault I dont think so ,a bit of luck maybe so Adrian good peice and lets hope we both challange this coming season ,us 1st and you 2nd would be great

  • Bazza

    Idiot, what a load of rubbish you have just written. Another ex-player trying to make a name for himself by belittling Spurs. Why is it the media feel its great fun to try and rip apart this football club whenever it either sells players or gets rid of its manager. According to the media Spurs in every transfer window are buying every player available, while at the same time all their best players are trying to leave the club. Obviously Spurs must not give the media as many freebies as other clubs do? How is that for rumour mongering? Please keep your trashy personal comments out the press. In any other profession you would have been sacked, ridiculed or even sued for making unsubstancial statements. Stick to the facts, truthful ones! and do,nt just jump on the British media bandwagon which I,m sure would love to see this great club go the same way as Leeds did a number of years ago. But rest assured it will not!!!! ps This is not just the rantings of  a snotty nose kid, I have been a spurs fan since the days OF DITCHBURN, RAMSEY and BILL NICK when they PULLED on the famous white shirt. Bit of respect please, the club and this elderly fan have earned it.

  • guest

     Do you?

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