Tottenham and Villa

Tottenham Hotspurs let the on-loan Mido go - I was surprised at first beacuse he was such a focal point of their attack (before injuries) last season. Despite his bad reputation, Mido seemed to get along with Coach Jol and definitely worked his tail off on the pitch (had an effect like Drogba for Chelsea - more profound than goal totals suggest). Also, with Keane, Defoe and Berbatov (offers some of that) as striker options, Spurs might miss Mido's capabilities as an aerial target.

But I think Martin Jol has this team firmly on the right trajectory - so my thought is he will use all this amassed talent to ditch the "When in doubt, hoof it to Mido" strategy and play more of a short passing Dutch total football style. I like Jol's results (and his personality - seems confident yet humble) and am keen to watch Tottenham this year. Also, I love the signing of the Ivory Coast's Zokora from St. Etienne.

One gripe with Jol is that Edgar Davids is rapidly heading the opposite direction from the team - I know Jol loves him, but I don't think he is a very effective player anymore (Time for the Red Bulls to make an offer - he could be Lenny Kravitz to Beckham's Brad Pitt.) Is Davids really staying?

On the other end of the spectrum from Tottenham lies Aston Villa - a club that is barely treading water. I had kind of hoped they'd be relegated last season, and not only because of their indifferent play. I needed a break from David O'Leary's cloying, whinging interviews and press conferences. (Every dip in form is accompanied by O'Leary's "We're a small club. We're not a Man U or a Liverpool" Routine. We get it, David.) But the Villa board refuses to sack him despite crappy results on the pitch and his tendency to whine, slag the club, and rarely inspire off of it.