Last year for much of the season, there was next to nothin between about 8th and 19th for much of the season.And the lowest points total for a few years to win the PL I think next year there will be a big gap between the top 6 and the rest, I can see 15 points,between 6th and 7th. I can see you needin about 75pts for the CL and close to 90 to win the League
I agree, there seems to be a huge gap in quality from the top 6 and the rest. I do think the gap will start to close up again in a few seasons though, especially as one of the other top 6 clubs (not us) are due a fall at some point. Everton, Newcastle, Aston Villa etc... don't look close to challenging anywhere near the European spots just yet, I think it's a case of everyone needing to rebuild in the next couple of seasons.
I guess it all depends on what Spurs do in this transfer window. Players like Modric and Bale are going to be attracting interest from other clubs and if one of them is sold, I would struggle to see them keeping up. Yes, they would have the money, but would they be able to invest it properly? I could see Spurs dropping back a bit and then leaving a gap between 6th and the top 5.
Never mind the top 6.The top 3 are in for the shock of their lives. Chelsea have had yet another managerial change and haven't dropped the age of their overall squad,so they are ready to be attacked.Everybody knows all teams will be gunning for Man United because they are champions and will take a swipe at them.Its going to be very competitive.There will be no easy ride for anyone attempting to make the top 3.Who will win it.Thats also uncertain.I do believe however that whoever finishes above Man United and Chelsea will be champions.
I would not be surprised if Liverpool take Arsenals spot, they seem to be in a bit of turmoil at the moment
I tend to agree wtih Eat Custard, if Arsenal lose Fab, Clichy, and nasri, that will be a huge hit on them. If they make the champs league they will be stretched again and with Wenger and the way his teams seem to be imploding lately, i could see them slip out.
Arsenal will be there or there abouts even if they lose both Fabregas and Nasri,and I think theyll keep Fab cos Barca wont pay the cash and see Sanchez and Rossi as priority signings, plus the rumours are if they lose them 2, the replacemnts will be Gervinho and Douglas Costa, both quality
If there is one thing we are good at it is finishing in the top 4. Although next year it will be more difficult with the clubs around us getting stronger I am still confident. Clichy and Nasri are replaceable and Fabregas won't leave this summer because Barca refuse to pay us the amount that he is worth.
Just my thoughts, but I thought that was the one thing Liverpool were good at with Rafa and well......we know what happened. Granted we had all the money problems and loss of key players but what happened with Alonso was possibly our downfall, you have to look at an Arsenal without the talisman Fabregas possibly in the same light. Also, sometimes you don't realize what you had lost until it was gone, johnson had a hard time that first year filling the void of Arbeloa. More quality around I will give that, but we went from 2nd to 7th ffs!!!! But, I can't really say Spurs as they are not in the top 4 anymore, hence I put Arsenal, as Citeh will be strong, United are united, and Chelsea will still be there.
Wenger has been around far longer than Benitez though. Even if Fabregas does leave though I still think we have the quality to finish in the top 4.
Fair enough, just saying it can happen! I mean we fell hard the past two years after being consistently top 4, consistently at least in the quarters of champs league ( making it at least into the group stage).
I can't see LFC or Spurs finishing within 10 points of the Top 4 places, which I believe will be the same again, and could be for some time.
10 points? have to disagree there, we are going to be a better team next year and we were not that far off of the top four this year. i think it will be interesting, The gap between the top 6 could be closing and it could make for one of the best seasons ever, I hope so at least.
the top teams aren't anywhere near as good as they were a few years ago. the top prem teams are miles behind Real Madrid and barca. A lot of miles. Many of the best players in the league left for those two and it shows.
I can easily see the 'pool fighting it out with Citeh for 4th. Don't even joke about comparing the chances of the Spuds with your boys next season. You are a class above and made a major move towards reclaiming your rightful place in the top 4 last season. Keep the faith.
I feel that the 2011/12 is wide open and none of last seasons top 4 can be assured of their place: Chelsea have big problems to resolve. Even if they do appoint Hidink, it is not certain that he can resolve the internal problems in the squad. Add to that, the age of the squad. Arsenal. If they do lose Fabregas and Nasri they will find them very difficult to replace. Additionally they still have to strengthen the back 4 and as importantly find a striker to accompany glassman V, Persie. Somehow, somebody in the squad MUST take responsibility on the pitch and I don't see that ability in any one of their players - perhaps not as ugly but they need to find the same kind of spirit that Adams had. Additionally, we will not know until the season is underway, just how much last season took out of Wenger psychologically as he clearly ended last season in turmoil. United. Even they must recognise that they became champions as much by others failure than their own efforts. The true limitations of the squad were cruelly exposed by Barcelona. Here again we have to consider the effects of the CL final on the management team. If you remeber, Ferguson just sat there (very untypical behaviour) whilst Phelan looked too terrified to make any suggestions . City. At first glance they would appear the most certain to reach top 4. However, they do rely heavily upon Tevez and we are not certain what could happen if he refuses to re-join. Spurs. Modric is now making it clear that he wants to move, Harry is in his last season before he is appointed England manager, they still have a dodgy back 4 and have not found a strike partnership. Liverpool. Even with the return of a fit and fully functioning Gerrard it is clear that we have to strengthen the squad and add some quality. All of the clubs have money to strengthen and no doubt will in the next few weeks but new players will not necessarilly fix all the problems. Whilst i will admit bias (GOWAY!), I truly believe that liverpool actually have the momentum. We are trying to attack the top 4 whereas the others are trying to defend their positions. But after all that, we will see what we will see and that is the beauty of football
Its so hard to call what will happen. Man utd, Liverpool and Chelsea are all investing on a scale that they have not done in a long time, Man City already have an extremely strong squad as do we. Although I would be surprised if Liverpool do win it's not that unlikely is it?
I think this is the absolute last season Utd can go without signing a top class centre mid, and that's only because the other teams are all having to strengthen. Maybe they do have something in the pipeline, but i'd have thought a left footed winger, and a centre mid would be their priorities, and so far they have bought a young centreback and a right footed winger (assuming A.Young deal). The De Gea situation is obviously still up in the air. Either way this season they have to be favourites again. Chelsea, well who knows until they even have a manager in place. Hiddink knows the place so maybe he can hit the ground running, but that's a big maybe. Questions over Torres, the shunning of Drogba who was back to his best after his Malaria-related dip, Essien was way off his best last season in my opinion, and many of their players are edging towards the end of their careers. I see them as the solid 4th Champions League spot until their situation improves/resolves. Arsenal consistently make the top 4, because they are often claiming a title challenge at Christmas. They tend to fade at the end. I think Nasri will sign a new contract. Cesc i'm not sure about but don't think he would be missed that much (having a negative influence at the moment) and a centreback like Chris Samba to play alongside the fit-again Vermaelen will make a massive difference to their mentality. I don't think they will spend enough to overhaul Utd or City, but i thinkthey will be battling for 3rd. Liverpool- i can't predict how we'll do until i've seen our summer signings. If our signings go well then i think there will be a battle for 3rd/4th(depending on Chelsea) with Arsenal, the loser of that being edged out of the European spots, and if we don't strengthen with the players we want/people don't settle etc then favorites for 5th Spurs fans will hate us for writing them off, but they are definitely suffering from dropping out of the CL. Modric is either on his way or causing problems, and will they actually reinvest his transfer money? Harry's Premier League transfer record hasn't been especially good in my opinion, tends to stick to players he's already signed and just moves them about. The players that got Spurs into the Champions League are the ones Comolli got. They do still have good players, but Defoe is unhappy, Lennon is unhappy, Modric wants out, and of course they have the much maligned Europa League to think about. I think 6th. Man City- depends on whether their crazy spending continues. Given the fact all of the teams apart from maybe Utd need to strengthen significantly, City's strength in depth and its continued gelling as a squad, plus one or 2 star signings make them my tip for 2nd. I don't see any other team breaking the top 6 this season or even getting close.
