Tomassi Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 After Tottenhams victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup, are the Big Four being caught up slowly but surely? Definately not this season, but maybe in the next few seasons we might be looking at 6 and maybe even 7 teams looking to challange for the league. Aston Villa look like they could be dark horses for next season, whilst Everton always seem to be in the top half now and Tottenham seem to be more and more solid with every game (just need a decent keeper !) With extra TV money coming in, it seems teams like Tottenham and Aston Villa are able to attract higher quality players whilst have world class managers in place and a bigger wage structure to work with. Also looks increasingly likely that English teams will be dominating both Champions League and Uefa Cup competitions in the coming seasons, its happening this season thats for sure!
Sparky Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 After Tottenhams victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup, are the Big Four being caught up slowly but surely?Definately not this season, but maybe in the next few seasons we might be looking at 6 and maybe even 7 teams looking to challange for the league. Aston Villa look like they could be dark horses for next season, whilst Everton always seem to be in the top half now and Tottenham seem to be more and more solid with every game (just need a decent keeper !) With extra TV money coming in, it seems teams like Tottenham and Aston Villa are able to attract higher quality players whilst have world class managers in place and a bigger wage structure to work with. Also looks increasingly likely that English teams will be dominating both Champions League and Uefa Cup competitions in the coming seasons, its happening this season thats for sure! I agree that Spurs , Everton and Villa will be the sides most likely to push the top 4 for next few years but id still fancy the current top 4 to remain the top 4 for another 3 seasons minimum .
Maybes Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 I agree that Spurs , Everton and Villa will be the sides most likely to push the top 4 for next few years but id still fancy the current top 4 to remain the top 4 for another 3 seasons minimum . Exactly my thoughts.
breadandcheese Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 No. I think it's more a case of one of the big four (Liverpool) has slipped backwards quite dramatically, whilst Chelsea have been off the pace as well. With regards Man U and Arsenal, the gap between them and those clubs deemed outside the biggest four remains just as large.
Tevez Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 Big 4? More like big 3. Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Nationwider Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 The status quo seems to involve a top 3, with Liverpool desperately trying to hang on to their coat tails by overachieving in European football. Liverpool, fourth in the pecking order by some distance, can still afford to go out and spend £26M on Torres. Unless the best of the rest can start shelling out that kind of money on world class talent, I can't see things changing anytime soon. They will have to royally **** things up this season to miss out on fourth, despite the challenges from Villa, Everton and Man City. The best placed teams to crack the top four in my eyes are Spurs and possibly Man City, because of their respective turnovers, managers and their potential for investment at the moment. Villa's squad is too thin - and it's not clear now much Lerner is willing to put in. Everton don't seem to quite be able to kick on. Portsmouth just aren't big enough or rich enough to attract the best players. Newcastle always have potential but are a perpetual joke club.
Flynny Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 With extra TV money coming in, it seems teams like Tottenham and Aston Villa are able to attract higher quality players whilst have world class managers in place and a bigger wage structure to work with. Thats why the gap WILL start to close just a little, which I think we're just starting to see this season. Growth in Premiership income is rapidly outstripping growth in European income, which should start to render it less of a problem, though still giving the big guns a significant advantage.
Mikey Posted 24 February 2008 Posted 24 February 2008 They are catching up with Liverpool, maybe Chelsea and maybe even Arsenal. But I do feel as though Man United are pulling further and further away. People will say 'But Arsenal are 1st in the Premiership'. But tbh I think Arsenal will finish the season with nothing.
C-man Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 The current top 3 are unreachablen in my opinion. Liverpool, Villa, Everton and Spurs (this season Man City), will now be in a scrap for 4th place in the coming seasons, I fancy.
MC Prussian Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Not really. The Top Four will soon shrink to a Top Three convention and the remaining few teams with enough financial backing (Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Manchester City) will battle out the other European spots. I'd fancy West Ham doing well in the next few seasons. They're doing quite good at the moment and could surprise a few comes 2008/09.
act smiley Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 There are maybe another four or five sides who are strong enough or well enough managed to beat the big four on some days, if they're lucky, and its always been that way, but with the exception of Man City now, they don't have the resources to go and match them over the course of the season. It does look like Liverpool are being caught up, simply because they've got quantity over quality in some cases, but I don't think that the big four as a whole are at risk.
Tubes Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 I think that Liverpool should make the most of the Champions League next year (should they even qualify) because it is really going to be fight to get into it in the coming years.
Phube Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 I agree that Spurs , Everton and Villa will be the sides most likely to push the top 4 for next few years but id still fancy the current top 4 to remain the top 4 for another 3 seasons minimum . Top 3! They are catching up with Liverpool, maybe Chelsea and maybe even Arsenal.But I do feel as though Man United are pulling further and further away. People will say 'But Arsenal are 1st in the Premiership'. But tbh I think Arsenal will finish the season with nothing. Let us pray!
Simi Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Sadly, I don't think they're. Although it does seem that the big four are now becoming the big three. Despite the hype Liverpool seem to build at the start of each season, they never seem to live up for it. I would love to see Villa break into and disrupt the top four. The Champions League money would really do them a lot of good. O'Neill certainly proving that you don't need a massive squad to achieve good things. I was pleased to see Spurs win yesterday, but I don't really foresee anything of note being achieved any time soon. A lot of people thought that this year would be the season that they broke into the top four, evidently not. Everton are building well to, but it's going to take more years of work and maintaining there best players to break the mold. Liverpool will be spending big in the summer as they have had a disappointing campaign this time around, so I don't see them dropping out the top four, however I don't see Benitez spending the money. Arsenal or United won't be moved anytime soon, Chelsea don't look like dropping many points when they get ahead, although Grant still has a lot to prove. So for now, I don't see things changing, sadly.
Joe. Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Sadly I don't think they are. And I don't think they ever will. You know why? ££££££££££££££££££££££ <_<
Uncle Albert Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Sadly I don't think they are. And I don't think they ever will.You know why? ££££££££££££££££££££££ <_< Chelsea are the only team out of the big 4 who have spent huge amounts on players since we have had the top 4. I know Liverpool spent big in the summer but that is there first year. Also other teams in the league have very wealthy owners but they choose not to put there money into there team, where as Abramovich, Glazer and Hicks and the other clown at Liverpool do. Not there fault that the others dont spend big really is it?
Simi Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Chelsea are the only team out of the big 4 who have spent huge amounts on players since we have had the top 4. I know Liverpool spent big in the summer but that is there first year. Also other teams in the league have very wealthy owners but they choose not to put there money into there team, where as Abramovich, Glazer and Hicks and the other clown at Liverpool do. Not there fault that the others dont spend big really is it? Having wealthy owners is one thing, but using that money to fund transfers is a completely different thing.
Uncle Albert Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Having wealthy owners is one thing, but using that money to fund transfers is a completely different thing. Exactly, but the "Top 4's" owners are spending on transfer's. That isnt there fault is it? Look at Randy Learner and Mike Ashley they could easily give £10 million to O'Neill and whatever mug is in control of Newcastle in January but they chose not to, where as the others are.
Simi Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Exactly, but the "Top 4's" owners are spending on transfer's. That isnt there fault is it?Look at Randy Learner and Mike Ashley they could easily give £10 million to O'Neill and whatever mug is in control of Newcastle in January but they chose not to, where as the others are. I don't think you've really understood what I've said. People like Randy Lerner can't "easily" give his manager £10 million, sadly for O'Neill. Whereas clubs like Chelsea can just splash out when they want to. But they've payed the price for that, because every deal they go for gets bashed up by a few million, because it's "Chelsea". Villa won't have such problems because they won't go spending for the sake of it. But as you say, it's not their fault. It's how it is. Plus, with the high expectations of the fans, they have to keep spending that money to achieve targets and make it look like constant progress is being made.
lildave3 Posted 25 February 2008 Posted 25 February 2008 Chelsea are the only team out of the big 4 who have spent huge amounts on players since we have had the top 4. I know Liverpool spent big in the summer but that is there first year. Also other teams in the league have very wealthy owners but they choose not to put there money into there team, where as Abramovich, Glazer and Hicks and the other clown at Liverpool do. Not there fault that the others dont spend big really is it? What? I take it we're not counting Man U then, and Liverpool haven't exactly spent lightly.
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