Top-four target eludes Tottenham again

As in the previous season, Tottenham had to be content with another fifth place finishing in the 2006/07 Premier League final standings, being thwarted from a Champions League berth yet again.

This seems to be an elusive target for the Londoners... in their entire history and 52 years of European Cup competition, they competed only once - and that was way back in 1961-62 when the UEFA competition was only in its seventh season from infancy.

The fans will be looking forward once more to watch their side break into the top-four zone and outbid or equal their north London rivals Arsenal.

Their chances of breaking the barrier looked more realistic in 2006 but lost at West Ham when they had a good number of players unavailable and Arsenal outshone them with a home win against Wigan in the last day of the campaign.

Yet, last season Spurs were never close to claiming a place in the top-four, having actually collected five points less than the previous term.

However, on the scoring side it was 'goals galore' for Tottenham even though they produced only six clean sheets, the lowest number by any side in the division.

Watford, like many other promoted clubs before them, slid back into the Championship at the first time of asking.

It was a year of struggle for the Hornets and ultimately the predictions of being favourites to the drop were confirmed as they finished at rock bottom. Yet, their spirit and attitude earned the side a lot of admirers.

Their winless streak of 11 matches, the worse in the league, was also tied with Aston Villa and West Ham. Along with Manchester City, they scored the least total of goals, 29 in 38 Premiership games.

At Vicarage Road, Watford only won three league matches (vs Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth) and failed to score in eight of their home encounters.

A lack in consistency has always been Tottenham's downfall in league competition as false dawnings have become almost a routine at White Hart Lane. They remained a total different kettle of fish when tackling cup football.

Martin Jol has impressed although he still needs to find the winning formula in bread-and-butter commitments. The signing of Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov has been a master stroke by the Dutchman.

Last season, Tottenham took part in the UEFA Cup, their only second European excursion in 15 years, and their first since 1999-00.

In cup competition, Tottenham could have done better. In the UEFA Cup they reached the quarter-finals with a 100 per cent record before going down to Sevilla, the eventual winners and holders of the trophy.

After losing 1-2 away, the Spurs looked favourites to make it to the last four, but two schoolboy errors at the back spelt their downfall as the match at White Hart Lane ended 2-2.

In the League Cup they succumbed to neighbours Arsenal in the quarter-finals, 3-5 on aggregate after extra time. FA Cup winners Chelsea held Tottenham in their stride, also in the last eight, with the Blues winning the replay at Spurs' lair 2-1.

Watford went one better as they lost at Villa Park in the semi-finals of the FA Cup to Manchester United 1-4.

In the League Cup, they went out in a penalty shoot-out against Newcastle at St James' Park after a 2-2 draw in round four.