The Premier League campaign is almost here and it would still be brave to make any firm forecasts about how Tottenham will fare.

Patience is an underrated virtue in football and particularly during the summer months, it is worth suspending judgement until as late as possible.

However, the dreaded season predictions are looming and Spurs have been most unhelpful thus far in providing telling clues about what is to come. Every signal comes with a caveat.

Last week Mauricio Pochettino assured supporters that signings are on the way. However, the club's interest in Ross Barkley has not yet turned into anything serious because of issues surrounding his price tag and wages -- two fairly important sticking points.

Since then, Pochettino has stressed the need to strengthen the squad and maintain the pressure on his biggest stars.

That is a lofty goal and would require some high-calibre recruits. But moments later, Spurs' manager admitted it is difficult to find players who are willing and able to challenge for first-team spots, revealing even Alvaro Morata feared he would end up watching Kane from the bench.

We are only halfway through the transfer window so there is plenty of time for Tottenham to make their moves and cause a splash. Yet it appears that all, or most, of their purchases will take place after the season has kicked off.

That presents its own problems, with new signings having to settle in when the action is already under way.

Supporters who watched Spurs' limp 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in Nashville on Saturday may understandably be concerned about their side's readiness.

On the other hand, Pochettino has stressed that he was prioritising fitness work during the USA tour -- and his players were largely working in hot conditions.

Speaking on the morning of the City match, he said: "If you're preparing for a Premier League game or official game, be sure that yesterday we would not have trained with such intensity.

"For us now, it's a balance -- it's important to win, yes, but also to push the players to get fit as soon as possible."

After the chastening defeat he added: "We cannot speak about [what would happen] if we played today in a Premier League game in Manchester or London."

It is difficult, therefore, to analyse Tottenham's squad -- there may be upgrades in key areas in the coming weeks -- or to draw too much inference from their preseason performances and results.

Then, of course, there is the Wembley factor: How will Spurs' ambitions be affected by the fact they must play all of their home games at the national stadium this term? Will the extra space help or hinder them, given the importance of their pressing game?

We may get another clue this Saturday when Tottenham face Juventus under the arch in their final warm-up match. But, again, it is not a competitive contest and the result may not be Pochettino's primary concern.

Spurs have a poor record at Wembley, that is indisputable -- they have won just one of their last nine competitive matches there.

Yet we must consider the circumstances and the sides they have played during that run -- they have all been cup finals, semifinals or European matches, not league games against bottom-half teams.

Three of the seven defeats have come against Chelsea, while the 2009 League Cup final loss came against Manchester United (on penalties).

Monaco, who beat Spurs 2-1 last September, went on to reach the Champions League semifinals, and the 2-2 draw against Gent in February was actually a decent performance -- Pochettino's side had 10 men for the second half but went 2-1 up on the night and were pushing for the extra goal that would have won the tie before conceding in the 82nd minute.

Spurs have undoubtedly put in poor showings at Wembley too -- notably against Portsmouth and Bayer Leverkusen -- but their quality should still shine through against most of their Premier League foes.

Nonetheless, they are highly unlikely to repeat last season's home record -- an unbeaten campaign at White Hart Lane in all competitions, and 53 points taken from a possible 57 in the top flight. The only question is how far below that tally Spurs will fall.

There are so many unknowns but, not for the first time, that may just keep the attention and pressure off them when the opening weekend arrives.

Spurs have benefited from being largely overlooked in the early stages of the last two seasons, before emerging as contenders for the Premier League crown.

And despite finishing third and then second, their lack of new faces combined with the Wembley issue may cause them -- rightly or wrongly -- to be ranked as outsiders again when the title challengers are being discussed in the coming days.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by BEN PEARCE

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