Tottenham target solid start

Michael Dawson knows Tottenham cannot afford yet another slow start to the season.

Thankfully, for those who are becoming tired of the saga, talk of Gareth Bale will be put to one side tomorrow as Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at Crystal Palace.

A foot injury means Real Madrid and Manchester United target Bale will play no part in the encounter at Selhurst Park, where the home side will be looking to register the biggest shock of the opening weekend.

Recent history suggests Ian Holloway’s side may have a chance of doing so as Tottenham have not won on the opening day of the season for the last three campaigns.

“We didn’t get off to a flyer last season like we wanted to,” the Tottenham captain said.

“We showed strength, commitment and spirit to fight back, but if we had started better then who knows where it would have taken us? Hopefully this year we can get off to a flyer.”

While Bale’s on-off move to the Spanish capital has dominated the back pages over the last few weeks, chairman Daniel Levy has spent almost £60 million on new signings.

Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue have all joined the north London club this summer and are available for tomorrow’s game at the newly-promoted club.

Dawson has been impressed by the four new additions, especially Soldado, who has scored 20 goals per season for Valencia over the last three campaigns.

“He can send you here, there and everywhere with his touches and movement. I know, I’ve seen it in training,” the England centre-back said.

“He is a top signing and he is someone that I am sure the fans will come to adore.”

Palace are many people’s favourites for relegation after their struggle to sign new players following promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Dawson thinks tomorrow’s game will be no walkover, though.

“It will be a battle,” the 29-year-old said.

For his part, Holloway is too busy trying to improve his Crystal Palace squad to get excited about the start of the new season.

The 50-year-old is frustrated that transfer windows even exist, believing they restrict the prospects of promoted teams.

“I’m telling you the truth, what am I excited about?” said Holloway. “Not having a squad as big as the others? This is reality now and my job is to get some more players in here now to help this group.

“I’m of the understanding that there should be no window because it limits you, it limits the teams that come up.”