by bigmick » Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:08 pm
Over the next five seasons, Arsenal will surely win the Premiership at least once, in all probability so will Man City. The Mancs will depend very much on who replaces Ferguson (I actually think he should have left after they won the Premiership last season, I think he's left the squad too weak this time around). Chelsea remain strong but do have some aging players. That said, they (Chelsea) do look like men against boys in the Premiership this season and I expect them to win it comfortably having seen what we've seen so far. The other clubs will have a fair bit of catching up to do next season and it maybe beyond them. A lot depends also upon who Mourinho manages when he comes back to the Premiership. If he takes over at Man Utd or Man City I'd expect him to improve either by quite a bit. For us, as things stand with the current owners and the current manager, I don't think we'll win it over the next five seasons if I'm honest. With new owners and/or a new manager, who's to say.
Anyway this is how I see it over the next five seasons.
Chelsea: Comfortable winners of the Premiership this season, probably winners next season as well. Beyond that, much will depend on the transfer ban. If UEFA can enforce it, they won't get a hat-trick. While Abrhamovic stays interested though, they will remain right up there.
Man Utd: I think they'll be third this season as of now, and a mile back. They aren't a good team, and I suspect this will be Fergusons final season. Much will depend on who replaces him.
Arsenal: I think they'll be second this season but a long way behind Chelsea. I do though think they will be a major force over the next five seasons, winning the league at least once.
Liverpool: We are in a dogfight for fourth this season IMHO with Man City. It'll be too close to call but obviously we desperately need to get in (much more than they do in truth). I don't think we will win the Prem in the period mentioned unless either the owners or the manager or both change. Rafa could win it with a huge influx of cash I suppose, but the owners aren't going to give him it so we are a bit stymied. Finishing top four is going to become very hard given the people in power both from an ownership and management point of view IMHO. If we miss it for a season or two, it could be gone for good.
Man City: Like I said, in a dogfight for fourth with us this season. If they can continue to spend like they have though, they will go past us and challenge for the title very soon. It's hard to imagine them not being permanently up there if they continue to get the financial backing. Hughes is doing well but I think another manager could possibly do even better.
Villa: Punching just about as high as they can IMHO.
Spurs: Potential competitors for the big four. Now they've got a good manager and are talking about a new stadium, they could possibly get there in five seasons.
I also think that very soon (probably within five seasons) Celtic and Rangers will be in the Premiership. They will both struggle to stay up.
Last edited by
bigmick on Fri Nov 06, 2009 3:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
"se e in una bottigla ed e bianco, e latte".