Can Premier League quartet break the current dominance?
The Premier League is widely regarded as the best league in the world and when you look at the quality of players on offer, combined with the pace and excitement, it’s hard to disagree with that notion. However there is a certain familiarity to the outcome of the league, as not since the Invincibles of 2004 has a team other than Man United or Chelsea won the title. So I wonder if the forthcoming season has the prospect to see a buck in the trend.
Manchester United and Chelsea will undoubtedly be the two teams regarded as the favourites once more, but there is the potential for a more competitive title race next season. The so called big four has branched out and become a big six in the previous two seasons, as Manchester City and Tottenham have both secured a top four finishes. There is still a huge gulf between getting a top four spot and winning the Premier League though. I’m sure the majority of people would still respond with either Man United or Chelsea when asked who they think will win the league next year.
Going into a new season still brings a new optimism for all of the sides involved and Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City will all harbour hopes of a title challenge in the new season. Arsenal were still challenging for the title towards the climax of last season and after victory over Man United at the Emirates a strong run in would have seen them in contention. Unfortunately for the Gunners they weren’t able to build on their victory over United and their title hopes extinguished. Arsenal will approach next season in the same way they have the previous six, with the club once more expectating to win the Premiership. If Arsene Wenger can hold onto his best players and add a top striker and centre back they have the fire power to put a strong challenge together.
Manchester City have unrivalled riches and while money can’t buy you the title it can have a major influence when it comes to adding quality players to the squad. Roberto Mancini made some good signings last season, with the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva in particular having a huge impact on the team qualifying for the Champions League and winning the F.A Cup. With more high profile additions this summer I’m sure that Sheik Mansour will expect his team to be pushing for the title this time around. There is of course the possibility City could encounter the same problems Tottenham faced this season in juggling the demands of the Champions League and the Premier League.
Liverpool’s fortunes have improved dramatically since the start of last season, with the reappointment of Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish a huge factor in this process. Dalglish has added some real fire power to his attacking options in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, with the latter being a revelation in his first five months in the Premier League. Liverpool have already had the chequebook out once this summer by adding Jordan Henderson to the squad and with more money expected to be splashed out before August Liverpool are looking to build a side capable of challenging for the title. Liverpool have no European distractions next season and will be intent on challenging for the title as they look to get back on level terms with Man United’s nineteen titles.
Tottenham have to ensure they hold onto their best players if they want to get back among the top four, the likes of Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart will be determined to get back into the Champions League after tasting it this season. Tottenham will be the outsiders of the six teams for the title but they have the players and the finances to put together a decent run. Harry Redknapp went into last season with the title as a target and there’s no reason why he won’t approach this season in the same way.
Manchester United will be the favourites as they are at the start of most seasons; however it will be interesting to see how they deal with the transition of replacing Edwin Van der Sar, who has been an instrumental cog in their success in the past. It was suggested in the media that the current United side were missing a certain element compared to some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s previous teams. This could bode well for the rest of the challengers going into next season. The other main contenders are Chelsea, who are currently without a manager and looked a shadow of the team who won the league in the 2009-10 season. There are rumours Didier Drogba their goal getting talisman of the past five years could be heading for the exit. However, money will be spent in the summer and a new manager will bring a fresh approach which could bring the best out of £50 million pound man Fernando Torres.
I think the coming season has the potential to bring an open campaign, with a more competitive title race, it would be brilliant to see four or five teams still in contention for the title with five or six games to go. Whether that will actually happen though is very doubtful, but next season does have a chance to be the one that sees an end to the dominance of Man United and Chelsea. In the same way Tottenham and Man City have broken the top four could a team now break the top two?
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Well, introduce some decent refereeing and who knows what might happen. We might actually have the team that plays the best football winning the league. That’s something that also hasn’t happened since Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’ of 2004.
Stick with the Howard Webbs of the world and perhaps it’ll be more of the same.
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YouSillyGooner Reply:
June 13th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Poor refereeing is no excuse for Arsenal losing their bottle year in year out
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Rooneys AMAZING tap in Reply:
June 13th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
No but it is a huge part of the reason Man United proportionately concede far less penalties at Old Trafford and continuously receive favourable treatment. I know we are all biased to see our club as unlucky with decisions but Man U fans moaning about their treatment? Do me a favour. Not only do they do my team in by some pressurised and dubious refereeing but decisions get given against ALL teams that play them. Look at Clattenburgs blind panic during Man U vs Tottenham this season when Nani scored. That was labelled as a ‘mistake’ by Gomes such is the objectivity of our sports media. There are so many examples of this WEEK IN WEEK OUT.
Anyone remember that non penalty from a hernandez dive at Blackburn where Phil Dowd bravely awarded a penalty to help them avoid defeat, win the league and spare them a potential nightmare vs Blackpool?
Under pressure referees are also the reason for Utd recieving far more injury time only when losing or drawing than any other club. It now has its own name ‘fergie time’ – who else gets this? Of course the disparity is spun into their ‘amazing belief’ and ‘winning mentality’. Really it is playing on the fear of the opposition who realise that the refs are not in their favour. People will say this is bitter but they are deluded and live in a bubble where the only stats they see are spoonfed by purely biased sources. No doubt the reason for their dominance has been they have utilised and enjoyed these advantages for many tedious years. It is so embedded in English football now to the point people expect they wont get treated fairly at Old Trafford especially. It doesnt help that the media support Yoonoited more than any other club. Scholes and Vidic put in red card challenges and we get them laughing or praising them. Penalties given for them are justified but covered up and played down when they happen at the other end.
Changing the psyche of the referee to the dominance of Man U and their hordes of gloryhunting fans needs to happen in the interests of fairness and competition. It shouldn’t matter that the game involves United they should be consistant and have no fear for upsetting the expectant fans who travel from all over the place to see a win.
Maybe next year United fans will start to realise how lucky they have been. I wont hold my breath…
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Ishaqur Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
listen…I know u gunners are UPSET…I mean u dont win ANYTHING and we basically win EVERYTHING…so itz okay to be upset little kid. but the thing is YOU PPL have to realize that BLAMING referees about OUR GREATNESS will get you nowhere…Arsenal will never be GREAT against UNITED not unless their fans learn humility and acknowledge the fact that UNITED are better now. Arsenal is a good team and I always wish em best of luck cz they play good football but WE have a winning mentality…sumthing that is required to win trophies. TALK TALK TALK all u want….WE UNITED will still make history and we ll still be collecting trophies. NOT becoz u ppl BELIEVE that we are helped by the referee…but becoz WE ARE BETTER!!! If u dont c it…ur jst blind bro!!! GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!:)
Well, introduce some decent refereeing and who knows what might happen. We might actually have the team that plays the best football winning the league. That’s something that also hasn’t happened since Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’ of 2004.
Stick with the Howard Webbs of the world and perhaps it’ll be more of the same.
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Yes, Manchester City.
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Know for sure that united are paying off referees.
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Ishaqur Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 1:07 pm
Know for sure that arsenal wont anything again as well eh??:)
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Well said, sick and tired of seeing fear in referees eyes when they might have upset fergie, it is a joke. We want a fairer league one where Vidic is just as likely to be sent off as any dirty tacking defender and where penalties at Old Trafford are not exclusively reserved for when Man United REALLY need them.
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