As far as I can see it, we have gotten a lot better. The sqaud is tighter than in previous years and the players we are bringing are well known established names at the right end of their career rather than taking a punt on no one has ever heard of or taking on players who are in the twilight of their careers. However, the league this year is as competative as I've ever seen and the teams around us arent exactly following the management model that we have (Newcastle anyone?) but they are still in and around us so they must be getting better too. Or is it simply a case of the 'established premier league clubs' like your Aston Villas, Everto?ns, Liverpools etc have just gotten worse. If you looked at the Liverpools squad at the start of the season you would'nt think they would be below Sunderland. Similarly, with the teams at the very top of the table (with the exception of Man U) dropipng points to the teams like us and our neighbours up the road are they getting worse? Chelsea havent invested in the squad as much as in seasons past and Arsenal look good but are sadly looking like the perenial also-rans. Man City? no team spirit and hand bags at every training session are still a few years off the pace in terms of a title run. Where does that leave Sunderland? Coming towards the end of the season, we are 4 points of a champions league place while having to play the two teams directly above us at home in the up coming weeks. At the beggining of the season top10 was fine. But is it a case of us improving or others becoming easier to beat
