Don't think your view of things quite matches last season. The PL was tough, for ALL teams. I reckon the reason is there's too many good managers and reasonably good players around for the "top" teams to buy out the talent. Take Stoke. Are City going to wave the cheque book at Stoke players this summer. Nope! Are City going to find it tough to beat Stoke next season? You bet! The reason why Stoke isn't likely to break into the top 4 or 5 is that, effectively though they play, they don't have enough depth to keep it going for the whole season, although they're likely to get a decent position. Now provided improvements in training and bringing on young players continues, the Stoke's of this world may find it possible to increase the depth of the squad, which means that the top teams are likely to come under even more pressure.
There's another factor. Top teams don't stay top as of right; they have to earn it. It's becoming more difficult, and team performances even at the top tend to run in cycles anyway. SAF reckons that 4 years is about the longest a team can go without rebuilding; if you're SAF and you're lucky, you can keep the team at the top even when they're at the bottom of the cycle, like he did this year. Others aren't so lucky (or good). Liverpool have not only had a bad couple of years, I reckon they won't find next year that easy even with Kenny at the helm. When top teams falter, it's opportunities for teams below them take their place; Spurs have done it, others can do it. Now teams like Spurs won't keep it going year after year, they haven't the money, but they'll have their moments.
So overall, I think things are more competitive than you're implying. Could it be better? Don't think it needs much, things like the new European rules should help. Yes the richer clubs will always have some advantages. But only some.
Can we make the prem more even to all clubs
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posted on 25/6/11
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 25/6/11
Would that be Evan Lendl ?
posted on 27/6/11
Don't think your view of things quite matches last season. The PL was tough, for ALL teams. I reckon the reason is there's too many good managers and reasonably good players around for the "top" teams to buy out the talent. Take Stoke. Are City going to wave the cheque book at Stoke players this summer. Nope! Are City going to find it tough to beat Stoke next season? You bet! The reason why Stoke isn't likely to break into the top 4 or 5 is that, effectively though they play, they don't have enough depth to keep it going for the whole season, although they're likely to get a decent position. Now provided improvements in training and bringing on young players continues, the Stoke's of this world may find it possible to increase the depth of the squad, which means that the top teams are likely to come under even more pressure.
There's another factor. Top teams don't stay top as of right; they have to earn it. It's becoming more difficult, and team performances even at the top tend to run in cycles anyway. SAF reckons that 4 years is about the longest a team can go without rebuilding; if you're SAF and you're lucky, you can keep the team at the top even when they're at the bottom of the cycle, like he did this year. Others aren't so lucky (or good). Liverpool have not only had a bad couple of years, I reckon they won't find next year that easy even with Kenny at the helm. When top teams falter, it's opportunities for teams below them take their place; Spurs have done it, others can do it. Now teams like Spurs won't keep it going year after year, they haven't the money, but they'll have their moments.
So overall, I think things are more competitive than you're implying. Could it be better? Don't think it needs much, things like the new European rules should help. Yes the richer clubs will always have some advantages. But only some.
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