Tottenham are set to resume their European campaign tomorrow evening, with a tricky last 32 round tie against Fiorentina.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men can resume the Europa League safe in the knowledge they are in better form than they were when they finished their group stage campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Besiktas in December.
In the time since, Tottenham have sorted out their problematic home form and have moved to within one point of the coveted top four.
Harry Kane has continued to score goals for fun, and is now on 23 for the season in all competitions.
And to top off what has been an excellent couple of months, Pochettino’s side have also booked a date at Wembley to take on Chelsea in the final of the Capital One Cup.
Still however, there is plenty of work to be done, with Pochettino at the early stages of a long term project.
Plenty of players have been fighting for their Tottenham future under the Argentine coach, yet there are still several the fans wouldn’t be too sorry to see depart. Here we have identified five of those players.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Mauricio Pochettino to reveal 5 Tottenham stars Spurs fans want rid of this summer
[/ffc-gallery]
Emmanuel Adebayor
Last season Adebayor almost fired Tottenham into the top four, with an average of better than a goal every two games.
This season, he has looked a shadow of the striker that was scoring for fun last season, and has fallen out of favour with both the manager and the supporters.
It has become a frustrating habit of Adebayor’s at almost every club he has been at. Tottenham were willing to let him leave on loan in January, but chose to cancel a move to West Ham with the Hammers so close to their London rivals in the Premier League table.
Roberto Soldado
Soldado is popular with teammates and supporters due to his attitude on the pitch, but the bottom line is that he was signed for big money to score goals – and there have been nowhere near enough of them.
Kane is keeping him out of the team at present, and it is no secret Pochettino wants to sign another striker as quickly as possible.
Soldado has no way of getting back into the Tottenham side quickly, whilst his record in England would suggest he would jump at the opportunity to return to Spain in the summer.
Etienne Capoue
The Frenchma was signed with the hope of becoming a top defensive midfielder in the Premier League. But Capoue has looked out of his depth on each occasion he has been called upon in the middle of the park, and has even been tried at centre back – where he has looked even worse.
Youngsters Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb have formed a decent partnership in the midfield under Pochettino, and Capoue is seen as surplus to requirements, with the club actively seeking a new DM.
Reports suggested he may return to France after just six months of his stay in England, and we can’t see him staying beyond the summer.
Younes Kaboul
The 28-year-old Frenchman has been a good servant to the club and offers plenty of experience.
However, his performances over the past 12 months – especially against the big teams – makes you question whether he is good enough for a team whose realistic target is to make the top four this season and challenge for titles in the future.
Jan Vertonghen, Vlad Chiriches and recent summer signing Federico Fazio are all fighting for a centre back position, whilst the club have been linked with further defensive signings.
Kaboul was also offered to various clubs on loan in January, which suggests he won’t be at the club beyond the summer.
Paulinho
The Brazilian international midfielder has been arguably the major disappointments of the club’s 2013 summer business.
Big things were expected of Paulinho but he has continuously flattered to deceive in that midfield role, and has been replaced by Mason and Bentaleb under Pochettino.
Chelsea have been surprisingly linked with a move but a move away from the Premier League looks most likely should the right offer come in, with the 26-year-old showing no signs of adapting to the physical demands of English football.
