Team XI of the Century: Three new-boys make Spurs team

Although the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Gylfi Sigurdsson could have had greater impacts and another striker perhaps should have arrived in January, Andre Villas-Boas’ transfer dealings have been more than respectable at Tottenham.

And the quality of his signings on the whole is backed up by three of his new recruits already doing enough to seal starting places in Tottenham’s Team of the Century.

One of these comes in goal, with Hugo Lloris showing enough in his months at the club to suggest he is well on the way to being the best Spurs keeper in the whole Premier League era.

Lloris boasts a solid all-round game in terms of distribution, handling and command of his penalty box and edged out Paul Robinson for a start, who was England’s number one during his time at White Hart Lane.

In defence, Ledley King has to start as the mainstay of the team for much of the century and he is partnered by Jonathan Woodgate, who could have become a bigger fan favourite if having more luck with injuries.

It is worth noting that in Woodgate’s two seasons at Spurs, the club had a higher win percentage with him than without him.

Another newcomer gets in at full-back with Jan Vertonghen already looking like future captain material, while Mr Dependable Stephen Carr also starts.

In midfield, Mousa Dembele’s driving nature with the ball has impressed and he could be an ally to Luka Modric in the middle, with Michael Carrick selected to start attacks from deep.

The big debate is whether this trio would contribute enough goals and whether they are tough enough in the tackle, but Dembele has shown he can put a foot in and Modric does have goals in his game.

There was little competition for current wing duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon in the wide areas and arguably the toughest pick was which striker would be best leading the line.

Les Ferdinand and Teddy Sheringham were suitable old-school options, while Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane were also heavily considered.

However, Dimitar Berbatov just got the nod, especially as he has shown recently at Fulham his ability in a lone striker role.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date