This weeks clash with Chelsea is make or break for Tottenham Hotspur. Win it and their place in next seasons Champions League in is their hands. Lose and in all likelihood they look favourites to be the bridesmaids once more.
After imploding last year under Harry Redknapp, slipping from third to fourth and then unluckily missing out of the Champions League thanks to Chelseas win in the competition, this year they are desperate to put that right. Under Andre Villas Boas they have earned plenty of plaudits this year and yet have consistently dropped points in games that on paper they should have won. That leaves them once more, scrapping for the top four instead of sitting pretty within it.
Failure to make the grade this season could have serious implications for the short term success of the club. Without doubt their star name is Gareth Bale. He has single-handedly got Tottenham into the position they are in. Without the Welshman, it is fair to say they would be back with the Liverpools and Evertons in the Premier League table. As such, Bale is attracting attention from all over the world. The best players want Champions League football and if Spurs cannot qualify again this year, Bale may well look to pastures new. While he looks content at White Hart Lane, his career needs to take the next step and this will concern Spurs fans greatly.
Also, Tottenham look maybe three or four top class players away from being Premier League title contenders. Certainly if they could add two 15 to 20 goal a season strikers they would be a far greater threat. Similarly, extra quality in midfield and in the full back positions could lift Spurs to the next level. The problem is that the quality players are much easier to attract if you can offer Champions League football. The sides above Spurs in the table can offer such incentives and so could pull yet further away from them in the transfer market this summer.
If Tottenham can make it this season and pull out the quality to achieve fourth place, they look like a side who are ready to kick on and establish themselves among Britain and Europes elite. Failure to qualify however and Tottenham may well have missed the boat. Losing top players and failing to sign top players is an inevitable consequence of finishing fifth. If that happens, Tottenham will not be able to improve next season and are at risk of missing their opportunity to achieve real success with this talented squad.
