Page 25 - Soccer360 Issue 107

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 5th place
RECORD: 20-6-12
MOST GOALS: Heung-min (17)
WEST HAM UNITED
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 9th place RECORD: 14-10-14
MOST GOALS: Bowen (16)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 14th place RECORD: 13-7-18
MOST GOALS: Cunha (12)
After being widely tipped to struggle amid
a troubled build-up to 2023-24, Wolves exceeded expectations by finishing a respectable 14th place and head coach Gary O’Neil enhanced his reputation in the process. It would therefore be foolish to underestimate them again this time despite Max Kilman and fan favourite Pedro Neto being the latest key players to depart. Promising midfielder Rodrigo Gomes has joined from Braga and is expected to make an impact, while Jorgen Strand Larsen’s arrival on loan from Celta Vigo gives them an extra forward option to go with last season’s top scorer Hwang Hee-chan. There’s still lots of quality in this Wolves squad, but the main priority for O’Neil will be to keep them up and it’ll be another good achievement if he does.
KEY PLAYER
Hwang Hee-chan
DID YOU KNOW?
Julen Lopetegui was a goalkeeper,
he played
149 La Liga matches over nine seasons, representing Real Madrid, Logroñés, Barcelona
and Rayo Vallecano in the competition.
He added 168 appearances
in the Segunda División for three clubs
They may have missed out on Champions League qualification in the end after a superb start, but Tottenham undoubtedly made impressive strides in Ange Postecoglu’s first season in charge. The positivity has returned to the club and
the football on show under the Australian coach is some of the most scintillating
the Premier League has to offer, so there’s potential for further progress in 2024-25 as they look to take that extra step into the top four.
Summer signing Archie Gray promises
to be a star of the future as the squad continues to evolve nicely, with £65m spent on Dominic Solanke to provide a focal point alongside the enduringly excellent Heung- min Son. Indeed, arguably the biggest challenge for Postecoglu is to create a winning mindset throughout the club, something which he publicly questioned towards the end of last term.
KEY PLAYER
Heung-min
Julen Lopetegui begins his first season in the West Ham hotseat and if their summer transfer activity is anything to go by, exciting times may lie ahead. The capture of Borussia Dortmund and Germany
striker Niclas Fullkrug is a real coup while Crysencio Summerville offers pace and trickery, giving the Hammers an extra outstanding attacking option to go along with Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus. With Max Kilman and Aaron Wan Bissaka also arriving to strengthen the defence, this is a side that even in an ultra-competitive Premier League, should be setting its sights on the top six with fans expecting more of a front-foot approach than under previous boss David Moyes. The only serious concern is the fate of star midfielder Lucas Pacqueta, should he be found guilty of spot-fixing charges.
KEY PLAYER
Jarrod Bowen
SOCCER360 23
Tottenham, TOP:
Dominic Solanke joined Tottenham for £65m
West Ham, Top:
Niclas Fullkrug
is one of several standout signings by West Ham