Manchester United. Chelsea. Arsenal. Liverpool. For years this quadruplet of footballing giants bossed England, each using their own individual styles to bring success (or at least valiant attempts) to their clubs, but all good things must end, and with the Premiership becoming ever more competitive, we have to ask, are others ready to be accepted into the elite?
Clubs will always have their highs and lows, my own club Derby County had a period at the top of the premiership some years ago. These days they sit in the Championship on their rocking chairs, reminiscing glorious times with Leeds and Nottingham Forest, but the trio who were once unbeatable are all struggling to even get into the top league, let alone top it. So it is important to remember that as great as teams seem, it won’t last forever and some years down the line, these powers could well be facing relegation.
So let us assess the six teams in my opinion will be battling for that elite:
Manchester United:
Being just 18 years of age I’ve grown up as United as the backbone of every top four, and despite money troubles beginning to surface, you couldn’t possibly rule this team out. Always seemingly an older squad, Ferguson has worked on decreasing the average age this year, which although pundits questioned, has so far breathed fresh life into the team, seeing them muster a terrific result against tough cookies Tottenham on Monday night. Prediction: 1st
Chelsea:
I held a conversation with a Chelsea fan during the close season, who, despite being a fan of his club through thick and thin, admitted he felt he was watching the slow decline of his club, and after thinking about it, I guess I understood. The greatest managers and high quality players have played for Chelsea in recent years, and yet Chelsea usually vary between outstanding and shocking, but as manager after manager faces harsh sackings you wonder if Chelsea have expectations too high. With a squad of relatively old players you feel they are going to struggle more now. People have seen Liverpool and Arsenal crumble recently, and I feel Chelsea’s time in the big four is almost up.Prediction: 2nd
Manchester City:
The big spenders have, to my annoyance been praised in the last year for contending with the big four. I would’ve thought a squad as good as this with this much money spent should be challenging for 1st not 4th but that is why I am not a professional manager. Despite this rant, there is no doubt in my mind that we are seeing a permanent entry to the force, and I feel ultimately they will lose to Chelsea in the battle for 2nd due to their lack of experience fighting at this level. Prediction: 3rd
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Chelsea fan here, and your probably right for the end of season predictions. I think City are looking very very dangerous, I just think there is a gap between the top 3 and the 4th spot. Liverpool look better than they have for quite a while, although I think Carroll is rubbish, he just doesn’t fit the way Liverpool seem to want to play. I do think that Villas Boas at chelsea doesn’t need to win anything this year, and as long as we finish 4th or above then he will keep his job. He has spent money on players with the highest age being 23 (and Juan Mata looks a bargain considering what what need) and he has brought a few players that look like they will be future first team stars. This current Chelsea team is coming to an end, but with three players like Lukaku, Sturridge and Mata they could be a front three for 8 years.
Decent article. The problem for the rest is that ManUtd are unstoppable and another young side has arrived to dominate Chicharito, Cleverley, Nani, Anderson, Rooney,
Vidic, Fletcher, Welbeck, Macheda, Fabio, Rafael, Young, Jones, Smalling, Evans, De Gea, Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Morrison are going to keep United winning titles for a long time. We will rule the world.
Good article. I think it’s the start of Arsenal decline & I can see Wenger leaving within a season or two. They have a very good young team who can be groomed into another great Gunner side, but subject to Wenger staying for another decade, which I don’t see happening. The new man ‘ll have to start from scratch.
United is in great shape in days to come, but their biggest star is almost 70 now & once he is gone, I am not sure about their dominance. In last 25 years, I have seen many great managers, so called “Special ones”, but those are as good as their sugar daddy’s wallet depth. MU ‘ll surely struggle to replace SAF.
I think with the spoiled money, for the next few seasons (Or till Abu Dhabi’s oil dries up like Dubai) ManC might purchase lot of success. Even in these days crazy money, you can’t compete with maniacs, who can have 250mn worth of only attacking force to choose from. Moreover, they are not making Chelse like mistakes of spending big on unknown players, purchasing young, tried & tested EPL top players.
As an LFC supporter, I see a better future for us, but for the next 5-6 years, I don’t see our-self dominant in EPL. Here & there cup success, may be a good run to EPL title till end, a regular berth in UCL is probably what we can expect. & yes, even in these days of crazy money, 35mn was too big (3 times) a wastage on Carroll.
The rest are just not in the same league. I think, Spurs might not finish even at 6th this season.