Spurs loanee Emmanuel Adebayor can be a Premier Lge great

Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by The Sun

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR could become a true Premier League great — the only person stopping the guy is himself.

After a tough start, which included matches against both Manchester clubs, Tottenham's season is beginning to take shape and Adebayor is playing a central role.

Lots of people tipped Liverpool for fourth this season but I have yet to be completely convinced by them.

I still feel Arsenal will challenge too but, right now, Spurs seem to have the better squad.

On Sunday, it's the North London derby at White Hart Lane and you can bet Adebayor will have to take all sorts of stick from the away supporters.

It's written in the stars that Adebayor will score. While half of Arsenal fans hate him, I reckon the other half would have him back tomorrow.

I'd love to sit him down and have a serious chat.I'd ask: "What do you want to be remembered for?"

He can either be remembered as a terrific scorer of goals or a player who angered Arsenal fans with a goal celebration for Manchester City.

Adebayor, still only 27, has a simple choice. He could go down as a sensational player rather than a very good one. He's capable of scoring more than 20 goals every season.

Maybe Arsene Wenger lost patience with him but I certainly believe Harry Redknapp is the man to get the best out of him.

Even if Spurs are having to pay a loan fee of a few million, Adebayor is a very shrewd signing and I have no doubt Harry will pull out all the stops and try to sign him permanently.

Alongside players like Jermain Defoe and Rafa van der Vaart, he can only flourish. When you consider Tottenham also have players like Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, he will have plenty of ammunition.

This is why I think Spurs will do well and why many will make them favourites against Arsenal.

Adebayor and Scott Parker were the bargains of the January transfer window.

I watched Scott in seven or eight matches for West Ham last season and he was superb. I always felt he would do a great job. Parker would fit any team in the Premier League as there is no one better playing in that position at the moment.

People tell me he cost only £5million because of his age, yet Parker is 30 — not 34 — so I don't see the problem. Football is so short-term that two years' guaranteed service from a top player is worth the transfer fee, surely.

Providing Spurs can get as many games as possible out of the superb Ledley King, I think they will have a seriously good season.

In contrast, Liverpool have it all to do. They are still waiting for Andy Carroll to live up to his potential while they need Steven Gerrard to get fully fit. Maybe then, Kenny Dalglish's team will start to click but right now, they are behind Spurs.

As for Arsenal, tomorrow against Olympiakos is another important test for them before they can think about their local derby.

It is worrying Robin van Persie admits he does not intend on signing a new contract — for now at least.

But when you look at the Arsenal team, can you blame him? Of course you can't. Van Persie is understandably going to wait and see how this team progresses before making a decision on his future.

As I keep saying, bring back David Dein. His knowledge and experience could only benefit the Gunners.