Hoddle backs the 'Summer Seven' to come good

Former Tottenham great Glenn Hoddle does extensive work on TV as a pundit and was asked where he thought Spurs might want to strengthen during the Summer Transfer Window.

“I think it depends on who is going to be leaving. I think they need a centre-half. That’s a given, definitely a centre-half and maybe in the full-back areas and in defence and I think they need cover – but I just think they need to get the best out of those new players that came in in the summer. I think that’s the key to it and they can add on a few players.

“At the beginning of last season, when they sold Gareth Bale and they brought in seven new players, they would have wanted a return to the top four. For whatever reasons that hasn’t happened so I think there will be a tad of disappointment.

“There’s not a problem with the seven players, there are some quality players there.

“I think the fact that none of those had any Premier League experience was the key and that was the mistake that has been made, not the actual players. We haven’t seen the best of them I’ve got to admit.

“They might come good next year, having that one year under their belt and that experience. Now they know the culture of the country, they might feel at home more off the pitch with their families and it could still happen for players like [Roberto] Soldado and [Erik] Lamela and all that.

“I would say if anyone has impressed at times it has been [Christian] Eriksen. In my opinion he really needs to play in the centre of the pitch, where you can see the best of him, so we will wait and see if that happens in the future, but he looks a decent prospect.

“You can’t look that far ahead. If you had asked me the same question this time last year then we’d be saying ‘they’re not in the top four, bad luck’. They have got to become more consistent to get in that top four, it’s as simple as that."

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Hoddle was a part of Greg Dyke’s committee who put forward the controversial ‘B League’ suggestion to try and improve the chances for youngsters in this country.

England simply have too small a pool of players to choose from who play Premier League football regularly, especially in the top teams. Until that is rectified and more youngsters are given a chance England will never be a strong footballing nation.

“It is one of the things the committee have looked at and it could be an advantage to get young players more flexible, playing in a competitive league. I think that is one of the problems we have got.

“I don’t think it would be a ‘B League’ as such, it would be more like B teams which are being monitored and understood and having an association, and I think it is a positive thing yes.”

Tim Sherwood has to be commended for the work he did developing the youth at Tottenham and for then giving them a chance, a chance they took. The new man at the helm has a remit to develop youth as well but how many will get their chance in the first team this season we will have to wait and see.

Harry Kane (20), Tom Carroll (22), Nabil Bentaleb (19) and Zeki Fryers (21) will all be hoping for more chances but we shouldn't forget that Erik Lamela is only 22, Christian Eriksen is 22, Andros Townsend is 22, Danny Rose is 23, Lewis Holtby is 23, Vlad Chiriches is 24, Nacer Chadli is 24 and Kyle Walker is 24.

In addition Milos Veljkovic is only 18, on loan at Swindon Town last season was Ryan Mason 22 and Alex Pritchard 21, while third choice goalkeeper Jordan Archer is only 21.

It will be quite a challenge to develop them all.

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