I don't really venture onto the PL General Board too often as most threads here seem to descend pretty rapidly into what I can only call an 'HIAG Orgy', but I thought this question needs a proper 'airing' to be answered thoroughly. First things first, congratulations to Chelsea on a fine season Second things second, commiserations to Sunderland, Boro and Hull - wishing you all the best of luck next year and hope you bounce back quickly Now that I've got the pleasantries out the way... After today's results, there is a 16 point gap between Everton in 7th and Soton/WBA in 8th & 9th. Even if the former beat United tomorrow night, they will still be closer to Hull and the relegation zone than they will be to the top 6/7 spots. I have been arguing for years that increased TV deals turning the PL into a land of plenty would lead to a more level playing field. Last season seemed to confirm that theory but this year things have swung back sharply in the opposite direction. Is the league splitting in two? Will the current Top 7 increase the gap even further next year? What is the future for clubs such as Soton, Stoke, WBA etc. who seem to be stuck in mid-table? Interested to hear your thoughts lads.
The money from the TV deals is supposed to level the playing field to a degree, but there is a such gulf between the top clubs and the next tier in terms of finance, so when you have players who can either play for West Brom, in midtable and earn £50k per week or play for Chelsea (on the bench) for £180k+ per week. I think most will choose the later.
Outside the top 7 it's a very poor league this year. Guaranteed to be lowest amount of points for 8th place I think. It's like all the ground made up in recent years has been erased this year and some. Though teams like us, Stoke and West Ham have definitely regressed a bit this year. I've always maintained though that the PL is made up of 6/7 teams who 9 teams out of 10 will make up the top 6/7. The rest are in a constant battle against relegation in reality.
Yup, Begovic from Stoke is a prime example. Was a fine keeper, and getting games each week at Stoke. Plays once in a blue moon for us, but probably gets paid more in a month at Chelsea than Stoke paid him in a year, just to sit on the bench.
A 'Spurs' fan who never posts here, never seen him on the Spurs board and somehow turns up here, today of all days please log in to view this image
We'll perform better next season in the league hopefully, without the untimely injuries and a crippling fixture schedule and a manager who has adjusted to english football, but it will be tough to break into that top seven again for sure.
We were stuck there for years, as I'm sure you remember. It takes a lot of planning, but it's clearly possible to get out of there. Someone like Southampton with their academy would probably have the best chance. Villa and Newcastle were both up there, before having spectacular falls. The Geordies have a good manager and they could work their way back, if Ashley lets him get on with it and backs him.
If he's still here that is Impossible to call what we'll do next year imo, huge Summer for us. Get it right and can I see us challenging the top 7 again. Get it wrong and we could be in a relegation battle. Fine margins.
We will have to seriously **** up to be down at the bottom TLL, we still have a good core of players and our Academy that keeps us ahead of our peers (mid sized clubs).
Yeah but it's possible. Hopefully we won't **** up that badly though and we've learned from the last 2 poor windows. Like I say though, get it right and we could really push on again. My fear is the takeover/manager stuff drags out most of the Summer putting us on the backfoot.
