MIKE McKINLEY: Transfer activity has strengthened Spurs squad

A week on, and the dust has settled following the final flurry of transfer window activity. While some recriminations continue, it s time to look forward and hope that the squad assembled can take us towards where we want to be. Certainly Juande Ramos

A WEEK ON, AND THE DUST HAS SETTLED FOLLOWING THE FINAL FLURRY OF TRANSFER WINDOW ACTIVITY.

WHILE SOME RECRIMINATIONS CONTINUE, IT'S TIME TO LOOK FORWARD AND HOPE THAT THE SQUAD ASSEMBLED CAN TAKE US TOWARDS WHERE WE WANT TO BE.

CERTAINLY JUANDE RAMOS HAS DECLARED HIMSELF HAPPY WITH WHAT HE HAS TO WORK WITH, AND HE SHOULD KNOW BEST OF ALL.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE CLUB HAVE BACKED HIM IN THE TRANSFER MARKET - THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TEAM PLAYERS SIGNED DURING THE LAST TWO WINDOWS IS QUITE REMARKABLE REALLY.

AND THE NEW BOYS ARE HIGH QUALITY, FROM JONATHAN WOODGATE AND ALAN HUTTON LAST TIME AROUND TO LUKA MODRIC AND HEURELHO GOMES NOW WE HAVE CAPTURED SOME TERRIFIC PLAYERS.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOST SUCH A POTENT STRIKE PAIR, THE OVERALL STRENGTH OF THE FIRST TEAM LOOKS HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO.

SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? HOPEFULLY THE TEAM CAN BUILD ON THE FIGHTING PERFORMANCE LAST TIME OUT AT CHELSEA AND CAPITALISE ON A SLIGHTLY FRIENDLIER RUN OF FIXTURES.

STARTING WITH THE VISIT OF ASTON VILLA WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HOME GAMES THAT WILL GIVE US THE CHANCE TO MAKE OUR WAY UP THE TABLE.

THE GAME ON MONDAY WILL BE A BIG TEST, EVEN AT THIS STAGE. WE CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER HICCUP AFTER THE FIRST FEW GAMES, AND VILLA WILL BE RIVALS FOR THE EUROPEAN PLACES WE HOPE TO CHALLENGE FOR AT THE END OF THE SEASON.

THEY WERE ALSO ACTIVE OVER THE SUMMER, AND HAVE PUT TOGETHER A USEFUL AND WELL BALANCED SQUAD, SO WE WON'T FIND IT EASY. BUT NOW, EVEN THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON, IT IS PROBABLY ALREADY TIME TO ROLL OUT OUR MUCH LOVED "MUST WIN" CHANT.