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The Challenge to Liverpool and Arsenal's top four positions is likely to come from Tottenham next season.

Under Martin Jol a quiet revolution has been taking place at White Hart Lane that is taking shape to launch Spurs into the Champions League equation over the next few years. Two seasons they came close to that elusive fourth place finish; however that was perhaps premature in their increasing status, and owed more to Arsenal struggling, then to their own improvement. Things are starting to take shape nicely for Spurs, and the new season may see them announce themselves as a serious contender to the latter half of the big four.

While Arsenal's team are a young up and coming outfit, that are lacking in experience rather than talent, and Liverpool have just reached their 2nd Champions League final in three years, the job Martin Jol has been overseeing in London is perhaps the one that may have the best chance at long term effectiveness. He seems to have taken a leaf out of Sir Alex's book and has gone about constructing a team that has at its core a strong British nucleus with a heavy weight on youth. Jermain Jenas, Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Paul Robinson, Tom Huddleston and Robbie Keane have been together for a few seasons now, building an understanding, camaraderie and team spirit. Last season saw the introduction of Didier Zakora to add some steel to the midfield that had just lost Michael Carrick, another young British player, to Manchester United. Zakora showed glimpses of the talent that saw him a much sought after player after some good seasons in France and an impressive World Cup for the Ivory Coast, but the consistency that is needed should come in his second season. The pivotal capture was however that of Berbatov from Bayern Leverkusen, in retrospect a bargain at 10 million pounds. Berbatov has added class and flair to a hard working outfit that has relied on the unorthodox Keane as their leading man over the years. The combination of Keane and Berbatov has been the highlight of a steady if not spectacular season for Spurs. The two have forged a quick understanding that has seen Keane having his best scoring season for Spurs, and Berbatov having the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool hovering with bids said to be in the 35 million pounds plus region. Generally with strikers it is the second season where they come alive, having taken the first season to settle in, get used to the pace and physical nature

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