Are Tottenham Stronger Than Last Season Even Without Gareth Bale?

Following Tottenham’s second successive Premier League win on Sunday Andre Villas-Boas said that his squad was stronger than the one he inherited last July when he took over at White Hart Lane. Without Gareth Bale’s amazing talent can Spurs be stronger? Is AVB correct?

Tottenham 2013-14 v Swansea City [Jav The_DoC_66]

Villas-Boas who has been unable to use Gareth Bale this season due to an injury as the player awaits further developments in his expected move to Real Madrid, backed up his claim with a confident assessment of his current team/squad. His views were reported by Matt Hughes in an article in The Times with AVB’s main arguments being that:

• the current team has had little time to train together but have the technical qualities to play very well

• the new signings are all showing quality and have brought a new mentality

• the team looks sharper, have a great will to win and are able to control possession

These qualities have combined to enabled the team to get results and in AVB’s own words,

"It’s looking good compared with what we did last season. We have six points at the moment and last year we had two from the first three games."

Is the Tottenham 2013-14 Squad Stronger?

Goalkeepers – Hugo Lloris has been added to the 2011-12 squad which included Brad Friedel, Carlo Cudicini and Heurelho Gomes. Cudicini is now playing in America but with Lloris as the Tottenham first choice goalkeeper, AVB’s current squad/team is definitely stronger.

Defenders – Jan Vertonghen completed his transfer to Spurs following the appointment of AVB. He brought quality to the back four which would be without the retired Ledley King for the first time in over a decade. Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul, Kyle Walker, Kyle Naughton and Benoit Assou-Ekotto remain in the squad. Danny Rose has returned after a season away to gain Premier League experience and has replaced BAE at left back. William Gallas was released at the end of the season and Steven Caulker was sold to Cardiff City. The inclusion of Vertonghen in any defensive line-up will automatically improve it and while there are concerns about the full back positions with BAE out of favour and likely to move on, overall the squad is stronger. Tottenham, however, appear to be looking to make a further signing in central defence with Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest expected to join this week as well as monitoring options for the left back position.

Midfield – since July, 2012 Spurs have signed Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mousa Dembele, Lewis Holtby, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli to replace Luka Modric, Rafael Van der Vaart, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore. Clint Dempsey has come and gone while Sandro and Aaron Lennon remain in the squad. Andros Townsend has benefited from his time at QPR so Tottenham have a much stronger midfield squad with replacements and different options available to AVB.

Strikers – The arrival of Roberto Soldado has immediately improved the strength of Tottenham strike force. He not only scores goals but his whole contribution to the team is greater that Jermain Defoe or Emmanuel Adebayor brought to the team last season. Harry Kane is a young player who is developing and making progress but is  a long way short of holding down a place in the squad. AVB has been impressed by Soldado’s contribution to the team in the opening games. His remarks were reported by London24.com,

"He is really adding to our game because he brings that life and spark into our game.When he receives the ball in space he has one objective which is to beat the man."

Gareth Bale

Bale’s contribution for Spurs has been phenomenal over the past two seasons and it was a major factor in Tottenham finishing 4th and 5th. His goals and late interventions last year kept Spurs in the hunt for a Champions League place until the last kick of the season but it just wasn’t enough. He could have done no more. That is what the present squad is lacking – for all the power and strength, it needs that magic touch Bale brought with his explosive pace, his powerful runs and amazing strikes on goal.

2011-12 Squad v 2013-14 Squad

Gareth Bale – an amazing talent [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]The 2011-12 squad with Modric and Parker at his best in central midfield, Bale causing problems with his pace and Adebayor totally involved would but for a loss of form through the spring of 2012 have finished in the top 3. Last season’s squad was weaker but Bale carried it with his goals, as I’ve already said, almost taking them into the top-4 finish.

The all-round strength of the 2013-14 squad is greater but it lacks the inspiration, the goals and the ability to produce the unexpected that Bale brought to the team. As an all-round unit, the current squad may achieve more as it is not dependent on one player and others will have to step up and not just look to Bale for all the answers. It has more quality players with experience who have the correct attitude and a winning mentality. This comment by Paulinho shows the commitment he has to Spurs and his determination to succeed. His remark was tweeted by @HotspurRelated.

The squad and team are still a work in progress with the possibility of further signings before the end of the transfer window. If some of the possible signings are completed then the squad might be a step closer to replacing what Bale brought to the team but his talent can never be fully replaced.

Michael Laudrup, the Swansea manager, in his post-match comments summed up the situation perfectly. He said,

"Tottenham are different. They don’t have that one superstar, but they still have some very good players.The other players may have to react and realise they have to give five per cent more."

If Bale were to stay, however, and with some additional tweeking of the squad in the next week, it would be one of Tottenham’s strongest ever squads, if not the strongest ever.