Players to watch… in the middle

There is no doubt in my mind that Taraabt can, this season, take the spotlight away from Aaron Lennon in a major way. This is just the sort of relief needed by Lennon to let his game develop in piece away from minuscule scrutiny. Adel was inspirational in the Cape Town game and well deserving th man of the match award he got. His next game was not so inspiring as the opposition had him earmarked for special attention but still he showed fight and class- two things that too oft do not go together.

George Boateng is an exciting signing as of a few hours ago. Four goals and fourteen assists in the top flight of Germany is nothing to be sniffed at and players from Germany seem to settle faster than from many other leagues. Not a small chap and a combination of him and The Hudd is going to be intimidating.

Spurs keep getting offers for Routledge and keep turning them down. I think this year they will let him show us why they think so much of him.