[bandini]

Jose Mourinho has included Tottenham as one of the teams capable of challenging for the title and it represents a major shift in fortunes of one of England’s sleeping giants.

Spurs have spent the duration of the Premiership slumped in the middle of the table, while constantly talking as if they were a big club and dishing out lavish transfer fees to boot. However, after a major reshuffle and some brave managing by chairman Daniel Levy they have seen themselves emerge as a ‘Big Five’ club once again.

At this stage they are very much on the outside of the Big Four, but do seem to be pulling away from the rest, even though they only just managed to climb to fifth in the table in the final week of the season.

It has been the case that the big clubs keep getting bigger and the gulf keeps widening, but Levy’s strategy has helped ease that and with much less risk than what was applied by Newcastle and Leeds, the latter of which have crashed beyond all recognition.

However, for Tottenham to join the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United and not just be the ‘best of the rest’, which manager Martin Jol has been only too happy to call his side, they need to push on now.

A year ago they narrowly avoided finishing above Arsenal in the table and more crucially eliminating them from the Champions League places. They then took a step back by selling Michael Carrick, although they did have little choice, but nonetheless the sale hindered their progress. As a result they fell behind their rivals again and took a number of months to emerge as a fighting force in the league. This summer they can not afford to be weakened, but most make themselves stronger, especially in the wake of the uncertainty facing Arsenal.

The importance of finishing ahead of the Gunners, for example, and earning a Champions League spot is imperative. Achieving this for the first time would boost their revenues, profile and confidence, while having a negative effect on their rivals at the same time.

This is when the shift in fortunes really begins to motor, at least providing that they do more with their chance than Everton did when they finished fourth three seasons ago. Their entire European campaign only lasted four matches as Champions League elimination was followed by Uefa Cup heartbreak and consequently the Toffees were back to square one.

Although, this example is vastly contrasting to that of Tottenham’s as here is a club that has a real platform to succeed and prosper, while as Everton were already pushing their limits and expectations.

If you take a look at the raw ingredients already in place:

They have a loyal and numerous fan base, which guarantee continuous sell outs even if the capacity of their stadium is half of the big four.

They have a healthy squad full of young, hungry internationals and they clearly have the money available to strength. Players such as Ledley King, Aaron Lennon and Dimitar Berbatov are coveted by the best in the business, plus there is any more with potential craving for recognition.

They have a manager that is liked by his players, supporters and superiors in the boardroom, at least to the level that us watchers can ascertain.

They are a fashionable club, based in London with a history to sell.

If Tottenham do not take this opportunity with both hands and make the right decisions it will go away, as despite what they may think it is not their god given right to be a big Premiership club. Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa are equally sleeping giants that need the right ingredients before they can rise to their potential, so the onus is in Spurs to make their move and join England’s current elite.

Tottenham’s chance of success is coinciding with Arsenal’s possibility to capitulate, but the window of opportunity is brief.

source: Goal.com - England - Tottenham’s Time To Join The Big Boys