Liverpool, Tottenham or even Everton to win the Premiership next Year?
Chelsea have raised the bar in recent years, and its had as much to do with Mourinho as it has to do with Ambramovich’s billions. Yes they have spent many millions building the squad, but its Mourinho who has brought the professionalism to the club that has made it grind out results right from the start of the season to the end. Sometimes its not pretty but he knows Premiership titles are made in pre-season by planning to win every game you play right from the off, and it doesn’t always have to be pretty, sometimes “effective” will do.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been the first to respond. It seems he had become complacent and had forgotten how to win the Premiership. In the past he could get away with a lackaidaisical start because he knew he had the time and the ability to catch up later in the season, and others would falter at some stage. But when he wasn’t looking Chelsea raised the bar, so they built from the off and never slackened, and United never caught them.
After seeing Mourinho win back to back titles, Sir Alex knew that the only way to beat him was to get back that winning mentality they had, and play every game as if it was a cup final. And, so far, its working. United are three points ahead with six games to go and a superior goal difference. It could all turn around next week, but at least United’s destiny is in their own hands and this time its Chelsea’s turn to wait for United to slip up.
Liverpool and Arsenal seem to be lost in the wake of these two clubs, both five or six wins off the pace, with their managers seemingly not yet grasped the new height of the bar. Despite a disastrous start to the season caused by a miserable away form, Benitez still publicly clung on to the hope that the leaders would slip and allow Liverpool a sniff of the Premiership title. Perhaps now he realises that he needs to win the Premiership from the start of the season and I’m sure that will occupy his mind through the Summer.
Arsenal know what it takes to win the Premiership, they have been on those long unbeaten runs. Their problem is that they don’t have what it takes to do it again… yet.
So outside the top four, is there anyone waiting in the wings? Well Tottenham have been impressive this season. Jol is building a great squad and maybe the distraction of the UEFA cup has proved too much of a burden for his young team, but you can bet he will be building on it in the Summer and while Spurs are not in the Champions League yet, they are only three wins behind their North London rivals. If it not been for a disastrous start to the season where, perhaps preoccupied by their European adventures, they lost five of their first seven games, they would again be competing for a Champions League place?
And talking of rivals, what about Everton? They seem to have found a manager who can grind out results with the best of them, and but for a couple of lazy home results against Tottenham and Villa, perhaps they would also be fighting for a Champions League slot? Although to be fair, their last venture into Europe showed them how much they have to do, and Tottenham’s pre-occupation (and perhaps Liverpool’s and Arsenal’s) with Europe has reminded all the Premiership clubs what it takes, both in terms of ability and strength in depth, to be successful in both domestic and European competitions.
Everton may not be there yet, and perhaps still wont be next season, but their manager is moving them in the right direction with ever increasing speed. Tottenham are perhaps closest of those outside the top four, and with Arsenal seemingly on the decline, then maybe next season will be their chance to step up into the top four.
Manchester United and Chelsea will, of course, be at battling it out for the Premiership title again next season but, despite Mourinho’s jibes about Benitez only fighting for the Champions League, perhaps this time Liverpool will be joining them in the race for the Premiership?
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3 opinions for Liverpool, Tottenham or even Everton to win the Premiership next Year?
dannymackay
Apr 16, 2007 at 9:46 am
Couldn’t agree more with this article.
Spurs Everton and Aston Villa are finally being run properly again, each for the first time since the early 90s. And while only Liverpool can really break into the big two next season, Everton look to be much where spurs were last year, and Spurs players just need to make that mental leap from being grateful for progress to feeling they are a top club again.
And if Arsenal can identify which of their superkids are not good enough quickly, and bring in proven equivelents - then in two years there might be six plausible title winners in August.
And thats as it should be.
B
Apr 19, 2007 at 11:00 am
I’m a blue, but we have no chance of winning the league, i think you’ll see more of a challenge from them lot across the park, they’re privy to a lot more investment, and have already have some very good players, i don’t believe Spuds can put together a good enough run to stick with Utd, Chelsea or Le Arse, i’d like to see Everton challenge for a cup, rather than the league, we don’t have a big enough squad, with enough quality.
Sack the Juggler
Apr 19, 2007 at 11:15 am
B - I agree that Everton wont win the league next season (and mention it in the above article), but they are moving in the right direction - however I refuse to beleive that Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool will be the only teams to challenge for the title in future years.
I think your point about the size of the Everton squad extends equally to being able to challenge for a cup. David Moyes priority will always be the League, even if he wins the thing, anything else will be a bonus.
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