1 - Erik Lamela will make the PFA Team of the Year
Okay, so maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but the Argentine winger means serious business this season. Undoubtedly our best player in preseason, Lamela now looks to dominate proceedings rather than float through the match. He always looks for possession and when he's not beating his man, he's sliding in a defence splitting pass or finishing a chance with assured confidence. That's the key word of Lamela's revolution under Pochettino - confidence. He has shaken off his underwhelming first season or two and finally looks capable of fulfilling the promise of his hefty price tag.
2 - Marcus Edwards's Breakthrough Season
This one is a bit more of a safe bet. If Edwards's late cameos are anything to go by, we can expect to see his inclusion in matchday squads throughout the campaign. For those that are unfamiliar with the player's talents, Edwards essentially combines the dynamism and deft of touch not seen since a young Lionel Messi first took to the stage. Of course, this comparison isn't without a touch of irony, but Edwards certainly possesses the skillset to light up White Hart Lane after signing his first professional contract. Whether the youngster will feature as a late substitute or from a starting position against weaker cup opposition, it's likely that this season will alert the wider footballing world to the talents of Marcus Edwards.
3 - We Will Surprise People (Again)
Countless pundits and fanboys on Twitter have written off our chances before we've even kicked a ball. It's not difficult to see why - after all, three of the traditional top four have changed managers and spent absurd amounts of money on overrated players. That's not to say Pogba isn't a fantastic player, and I'm sure Stones will be an England regular, but the amount of money these players cost is insane, especially compared to some of the bargains we've acquired since Pochettino took over.
There is no guarantee that United, Coty or Chelsea will hit the ground running. They've got the players, but have they got the team ethic and sense of cohesion that won Leicester the league and ran us a close second - er, third? In any case, we're poised to hit the ground running this time round with a settled first team and a couple of early-embedded signings. A top four position should be attainable, but once we get over the intimidation of others' spending power, we should be going toe to toe with them.
4 - Why Can't We Succeed On All Fronts?
This isn't so much a prediction as an assertion that we will succeed in more than one competition. Our maiden Champions League excursion saw us surprise everyone by emerging from our group and reaching the quarter finals. It's a tough competition, but Pochettino has assembled a squad capable of fighting on all fronts. Kane, Lloris et al will relish playing at Wembley in such a prestigious competition and our squad players, notably the two newest signings, add much needed strength in depth. Literally, in Wanyama's case. It'll be fantastic seeing effective squad rotation across all competitions this year, with hopefully a trophy to supplement Pochettino's willingness to change up the side when required.
5 - Harry Winks - More Than Just Another Carroll?
I'm sorry Tiny Tom, but this 'potential' you promised when you made your Tottenham debut five years ago no longer warrants a starting berth. Fortunately, a player with similar talents and far more off-the-ball presence has emerged. Step up Harry Winks, the eyebrow-wielding centre midfielder who looked right at home during our preseason tour. With Dembele's suspension running into the first four games of this season and a Wanyama-Dier partnership unlikely for home fixtures, this season could see Winks's progression from academy prospect to first team player. Only time will tell with regards to him becoming more than just hype, but both Pochettino's track record with youth and Harry's ability suggest there could be a bright future.
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