We might have recruited a new manager but some things never change at Spurs.

Every pre-season is the same. We go into it thinking that if we buy the top-class striker that the team is in desperate need of, then we might just achieve something special.

As each year passes we think this will be the transfer window in which our chairman Daniel Levy will look to solve this particular problem early and put us all out of our misery. Instead I spend every minute of August checking Twitter in the vain hope that an ITK insider will confirm that we have signed Leandro Damiao, or Fernando Llorente, or for the love of God... anyone.

At the time of writing, Spurs have once again neglected to sign a striker. With just days before our opening game of the season against Newcastle I should be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but somehow the prospect of us starting the season without signing at least one striker is so potentially disastrous that I can’t imagine we’d be stupid enough to go through with it.

Because if we don’t sign anyone our only options are Jermain Defoe (can’t play on his own up front, rubbish away from home, always offside), Harry Kane (promising young player, probably not ready yet, good name though), or to play without a striker (Van der Vaart’s too slow, Bale’s better on the left, we’re not as good as Spain).

Elsewhere the squad is looking pretty healthy. Ledley King is a genuinely irreplaceable talent, but his injury problems made it difficult for Spurs to form a settled defence. With the signing of Jan Vertonghen and the returning Steven Caulker, alongside the fit-again Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul, we could arguably be stronger in central defence, despite losing one of our greatest ever players.

Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are two of the best full-backs in the Premier League while, behind them, I’d be perfectly happy to see Brad Friedel carry on for another season, even though a younger model would be preferable.

In midfield, we have lost Luka Modric but are still well-stocked in that department. A 4-3-3 should suit the talents of Scott Parker, Sandro, Jake Livermore, Rafael van der Vaart and Gylfi Sigurdsson. I’m especially looking forward to seeing how Tom Huddlestone fits back in. He’s been out so long it’s like getting a new signing and there’s a good chance AVB’s favoured formation could bring out the best in him and allow The Hudd the freedom to really control games.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon should be similarly well-suited to the front positions of a 4-3-3 and will provide plenty of chances for that elusive striker. We’re a bit light on proven back-up in the wide positions, but perhaps Giovani Dos Santos will finally get an opportunity to prove that he can cut it in the Premier League.

In the dugout, I think we have made a definite upgrade. Harry Redknapp’s achievements were always over-exaggerated. It’s true that we played some brilliant football over the past few seasons, but in terms of results Redknapp didn’t achieve much more than Martin Jol managed with a weaker squad and a lot of interference from a certain Monsieur Comolli.

On far too many occasions Redknapp found himself out of his depth tactically and had no idea how to change things when a game wasn’t going our way. Andre Villas-Boas will have more than one plan up his sleeve and you imagine that his advice to substitutes will be more constructive than “just f****ing run around a bit”.

AVB does have a lot to prove and you hope that he’s learned from his mistakes at Chelsea - namely, to persist with a style of play that didn’t suit their defenders and his poor handling of the delicate egos at Stamford Bridge.

So what will we achieve? I reckon a top four spot is on again. It will be a tight battle for the top six places, with question marks surrounding pretty much every team other than Manchester City. If we can bring in a striker or two then we’ll have more than a fighting chance of regaining a Champions League spot. Over to you Mr Levy…

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