Opinion | Post-Bale Progression
Opinion | Post-Bale Progression
Are the new look Bale-less Spurs stronger than last season?
At the start of the transfer window, had you asked any Spurs fan - well any football fan for that matter - just what would happen to Spurs this season should they sell star man Gareth Bale, the answer would not have been good.
Now however, Daniel Levy has been called everything from a master poker player to a transfer wizard. Levy seems to have again pulled off some sort of magic in the transfer window, and should, as it seems to be the case, Gareth Bale depart for Real Madrid, the North London club will be not only £93 million richer but will actually look a better side than last season - by quite some distance. 
If Gareth is off to Madrid then life after Bale isn't looking too bad Spurs.
Spurs kicked off the season without their key forward and allegations of the club being a one man team seem to be disappearing quicker than those calling them the second best team in North London. In a match that make no mistake, would have been drawn last season, Spurs managed to grind out a win, and whilst it may not have been as enthralling as the demolition of Newcastle by Man City or the RVP show put on by Manchester United, Andre Villas Boas men looked, dare we say it, contenders for the title.
The key reason Spurs failed to finish in the top four last season was entirely down to their inability to keep the lead in games, and conceding sloppy goals, not to mention draws that should never have been ended up costing the club dear. Given their displays thus far in pre season and against Crystal Palace, that will not be the case this time around.
Over at N5 Arsenal fans begin to let their frustrations show as Wenger misses out on target after target.
Yes, the club will face much sterner tests than the newly promoted side (who look like they will struggle big time this season) but coincidently it was against teams we would consider to be lower end of the table that Spurs dropped vital points last term.
Top four (especially given Arsenal s performance in both the transfer market and also opening day) seems to be a shoe in for the club, yet they are still considered outsiders for the title - at 33/1 yet money is going on Spurs and it may yet be smart money at that.
Roberto Soldado needs no introduction to anyone who has watched either Valencia or Spain over the last few seasons and Real Madrid must be ruing the day they let him leave. With a strike ratio of 207 matches in Spain s top flight and 101 goals, it's not hard to see why AVB broke the bank for the forward, who only looks set to get better.
Fellow new boy Nacer Chadli is slightly less well known, yet can play either as a winger or second striker, giving AVB some much needed versatility up top and creative flair on the wings. Chadli is yet another of the Belgium boys who look to have enough talent to make a serious impact on the World Cup this summer. Given Chadli made his Premier League debut in Gareth Bale s favoured position on the left wing, he could have easily folded under the pressure, yet held firm and showed that given time, there will not be £85 million difference between himself and Bale.
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Another starter an the weekend was Paulinho, who showed exactly why AVB fought so hard to land him, displaying quality and an ease that many players take seasons to master. Brazilian born, the box to box midfielder was sensational at the Confed Cup and has proven that not only can he defend, he can pop up with a goal or two.
The fourth signing for Spurs this summer came in the shape of Etienne Capoue, who started the game at Palace on the bench, but once he came on, made an impression on the game. Capoue featured for all of 33 minutes and provided six interceptions - more than Sunderland, West Brom and West Ham put together combined in their opening fixtures and was a major part of why Spurs managed to hold on until the end.
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Should Spurs manage to add left back Fabio Coentrao to their already rather impressive squad, they will gain a player who not only has experience at the very top level both domestically and in Europe but also one who has plenty to prove after his treatment by Real Madrid and is certainly a player who can handle the pressure. That may seem like quite enough additions even for one summer, but AVB is not stopping there - highly rated and long term target Willian has passed his medical and is expected to complete a whopping £30 million move and Eric Lamela is also on the wishlist.
Losing Bale? At one point that may well have been a disaster for the club, yet now? Spurs have the squad to take them into the top four and a manager to see the job through and eventually push for the title. This season may come too soon, but then again, AVB did learn from the Special One after all. 
Do you think Spurs have got enough without Bale to push top 4? Let us know your thoughts.
