Tottenham Spurs: Predicting a Possible Starting Lineup for the 2012-13 Season

Tottenham's out of the race for the Premier League title this year. 

There, I said it. No wood to knock on, no salt to throw over my shoulder—Spurs' title chances are kaput.

But hope springs eternal, right? This season won't see the north London club at the top of the league table, but next season is a whole other ballgame. With a spot in next year's Champions League all but wrapped up and a clubhouse that's only been in ascension this year, Tottenham's future is bright.

However, Spurs fans aren't the only ones who know their team is incredibly talented. Many clubs all over Europe are planning to poach some longtime fan favorites.

Who will be gone and who will be left? I give you a possible—and probable—starting lineup that Tottenham fans can expect for the 2012-13 season.

GK: Brad Friedel

The ageless Ohio native will be 41 when next season starts, but that doesn't mean he's nearing the decline of his career. So far this season, he's been able to earn 10 clean sheets and conceded an average of just 1.21 goals per game, keeping up with the likes of Tim Krul, Michael Vorm and Pepe Reina.

Friedel has a contract that runs through June 2013, and I see him finishing his career next season at White Hart Lane.

LB: Benoit Assou-Ekotto

The attacking left-back is easily Tottenham's most improved player from last year and has shown himself to be invaluable.

With DailyMail.co.uk reporting that Barcelona is planning to sell players to Arsenal and Chelsea to fund a major swoop for the Welsh winger, securing Assou-Ekotto in support on the left flank will prove to be one of Spurs' top priorities this summer.

CB: Younes Kaboul

The only knock on Kaboul is that he can get caught out of position sometimes and that his eagerness to go forward and support the midfield gets him into trouble on counter-attacks.

However, if Tottenham's offense is what many think it could be next season, Kaboul will be able to sit back and play to his strengths—he's physical, he's quick and he's got size.

CB: Ledley King

As you'll see later in the article, Tottenham will be spending like crazy to shore up other positions on the pitch, meaning they'll have to hope and pray that King's knees don't give way until after next season.

I think fans can sleep soundly at night. The veteran centre-back has exceeded expectations this season, making 18 league appearances and playing all 90 minutes in 14 of them. Besides, backup centre-back Michael Dawson has shown he's more than capable to provide King a spell if he needs it.

RB: Kyle Walker

The England international hopeful has dipped a bit in form recently, but his play over the course of this entire season has been phenomenal.

Walker is only 21 years old, and when he looks back on this year, his first real season in the top tier of English football, he'll know what needs to improve for next year.

LW: Aaron Lennon

Gareth Bale is going to get a ton of money thrown his way—presumably from Barcelona—and there's not anything Tottenham's going to be able to do to stop the Welsh winger from going to La Liga. There's just not enough money in the bank to keep everyone at White Hart Lane.

But that's okay because Tottenham's got Aaron Lennon to fill in on the left flank.

Lennon's a poor man's Bale anyway—incredibly quick, small enough to elude defenders and the skill to dribble past most opponents. He showed in Tottenham's 3-1 loss to Manchester United that he can show up the likes of Nani, so what's the harm in plugging the 24-year-old into the starting role and seeing what he can do?

CM: Scott Parker

Tottenham's got a veteran presence along the defensive back line in Ledley King. Who will they have in the midfield?

Enter Scott Parker.

Parker has been absolutely necessary to Spurs' success this season, making 23 appearances. He's technically gifted and an excellent passer, two things Tottenham will desperately need if Luka Modric is poached by Chelsea or any another English club, as has been reported by Guardian.co.uk. 

CM: Eden Hazard

I think the rumors are true, and I believe Harry Redknapp's parting gift when he leaves White Hart Lane to become England's next manager will be landing Eden Hazard.

ESPN reported that Redknapp told media that "[Hazard] is a player that's on our list. I watched him last year about three times and this year a couple of times. He can do special things. He's a fantastic player..."

There's also a report from MirrorFotball.co.uk that Redknapp and Tottenham are "ready to smash their transfer-fee record to land £35 million-rated Lille wonderkid Eden Hazard."

What a blessing the attacking midfielder will be to Tottenham.

RW: David Hoilett

How many times has Blackburn winger David Hoilett been linked with a move to White Hart Lane? Too many to count, that's for sure.

Sadly, Tottenham will finally land the 21-year-old phenomenon shortly after Bale leaves, preventing Spurs fans from seeing just how effective a partnership between the two best wingers in the game could be.

F: Louis Saha

Saha signed an 18-month contract with Tottenham in January, and with the way he's started his campaign at Spurs, I see no reason why he'd be left out of the starting lineup.

In just five appearances for Tottenham, he's scored three times and assisted on two others.

F: Jermain Defoe

That's right, Jermain Defoe will be starting opposite Saha at forward.

I believe Emmanuel Adebayor, like his teammate Gareth Bale, has achieved such great things this season that he'll be lured away from White Hart Lane and that Tottenham won't have the funds to keep him.

But so far, the only major purchase has been Lille's Eden Hazard and Blackburn's David Hoilett. Even though the midfielders have a combined price tag of well over £50 million, Dan Levy and the rest of the Spurs' front office has a few more pounds, right? Where will the rest of it go?

Manager: Jose Mourinho

I'm sure you saw this coming.

Real Madrid's current manager Jose Mourinho has been linked to several English clubs, but it's Tottenham who looks to be the front-runner to land "The Special One."

In addition to a strained relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, DailyMail.co.uk reported that Tottenham chairman Dan Levy will allow Mourinho to "name his price to move to north London."

With Redknapp most likely becoming the manager of England's senior international squad at season's end, Mourinho would be a wonderful addition to White Hart Lane.