Home > Football > Liverpool and Arsenal be warned - top-four success is beckoning for Spurs and Manchester City
by Prashant S on 05 July 2008
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Since the Euros came to a close, most football fans have had withdrawal symptoms. The tournament was one of the best international competitions we've had in years; it was played in the right spirit, there was lots of drama and, most importantly, the team that played the best football won.
Euro 2008 has been the perfect kick-off as we look at the new season, and how breathtaking it might be . In the Barclays Premier League, we have seen Spurs and Manchester City spend some big money and add some real quality players. As a result, they may really threaten the top four this time round. Yes, we know people say this every year about Spurs, but seeing the amount these clubs are spending you can expect them to stage a real fight for glory. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->Now, we take a look at the Big Four, The biggest news has been Big Phil Scolari's arrival at Chelsea – a move which will have Stamford Bridge fans hoping for more attacking free-flowing football, the kind we saw in the Gianfranco Zola’s days.
Scolari has a great international record , winning the World Cup with Brazil and taking Portugal to the Euro finals. He's the big name Roman Abramovich wanted but in club management he has hopped about many clubs in Brazil, and with Chelsea he faces a huge challenge. Don’t forget they have recently fired a coach who won them back-to-back titles after 40-odd years, and a man who took them to the Champions League final and lost the league title on the last day of the season.
Manchester United are undoubtedly favourites to take the title again - with or without Cristiano Ronaldo. This is purely due to the winning mentality their players have developed- and the never-give-up attitude Sir Alex Ferguson has instilled in them.
United have not made a big move in the transfer market as yet, as their primary concern is to keep Ronaldo at the club. But you can be assured that Sir Alex will look for a striker and probably a right-back, too. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->The challenge for United is to keep up the intensity and try to win their third title in a row with, realistically, Chelsea standing in their way again.<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->Next up, Arsenal and Liverpool. Both these clubs are under real pressure to win a trophy, and their managers are desperate to prove people wrong. Arsene Wenger has already invested £16million on 20-year-old midfielder Samir Nasri - and lots will be expected of him. But Wenger has already lost Mathieu Flamini and has conceded he may lose Emmanuel Adebayor and Aleksandr Hleb, too. Having led the table for most of last season and then finishing third, Arsenal are desperate to make amends by winning a trophy. <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]-->Liverpool, like every season, will be craving for the 19th title to come to Anfield . Their manager Rafa Benitez has had a lot of stick for focusing too much on Europe and not making the league a priority. He has been quoted as saying he wants players with a winning mentality and has signed Philipp Degen and Andreas Dossena , both of whom are attacking full-backs. This clearly shows that Rafa wants to play more attacking football.
Seeing he is trying for players who are already proven in the Premier League and the fact that he is willing to sell Xabi Alonso, who is much more of an asset in Europe than in the league, Rafa is finally focusing on the Premier League title as his major ambition for the season, which he claims would be the biggest achievement of his career. Taking a look at the Champions League, we have two of the biggest clubs back in it this season - Juventus and Bayern Munich. The other German teams struggled in Europe last season , and only Schalke showed some sort of reserve. So Bayern will be desperate to win back the nation’s pride. The same goes for Juventus, who have always been a major force in Europe - albeit having lost the most number the finals.
The other big managerial signing this season is Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, where the former Stamford Bridge boss is again at a club which is desperate to do well in Europe, and in some ways is very similar to Chelsea.
All in all we can be prepared for a rollercoaster of a season – one that will probably even top last year’s action and excitement.
Comments (61)
by Sue H on July 05, 2008
So why not warn all top four why just The Arsenal and Liverpool.......I sense some very biased reporting here!!!!!!!
by Internet Gooner on July 05, 2008
It'll be between Arsenal and Man U for the title. Chelsea will be a close third. Liverpool have a lot to do if they don't want to drop back.
by rui coster on July 05, 2008
why not warn all the top 4 sue??? well probably because even the most optimistic Spurs fan wouldnt expect us to be as good as Chelsea or Man u anytime soon but Ar5ena1 and Liverpool are targets that we shouldnt be losing too much sleep about, im not seeing a top 4 place would be easy but its something to sensibly aim for
by xxx xxxx on July 05, 2008
Maybe in the Championship or P.S.Spuds are sh*t,Man City???????Talk of even Everton n Aston Villa
by P K on July 05, 2008
"So why not warn all top four why just The Arsenal and Liverpool.......I sense some very biased reporting here!!!!!!!" Because there's no such thing as top 4 - there's only top 2 (ManU & Chelski) and then there's the other 2 who are there to be taken. By City, Spurs and Villa at least.
by Harry Pancake on July 05, 2008
So little to say. So many words to say it. Some people have too much time on their hands.
by Mash Up on July 05, 2008
Hahahahahahahahahaha! Spurz finished closer to the bottom than the top of the league. The likes of Everton, Villa, Pompey and Blackburn are a bigger threat. Arsenal are on the way up, not down. The spuds and others missed their chance 2 seasons ago when their arses went! Wigan will finish higher than spuds. Thats isnt any glib statement, Wigan will do well this season. Funny how EVERY close season the spuds are full of it, how they're gonna do this that, take a champs ;eague spot.... By the end of the season they will be screaming for Oneday Ramos to be sacked. Silly, fickle deluded fans. No wonder thery are the most despised behind United and Chav fans.
by yid o on July 05, 2008
ar5ena1 overachieved last season all their players realised this that is why their better players are heading for the exit door as quickly as possible.
by martin mackenzie on July 05, 2008
spurs will break in the top cuz arsenal shit,man utd are show offs,liverpool never buy any one good accept torres and gerrard,chelsea are divers specialy drogba. yid army yid army come on you spurs
by Jonny D on July 05, 2008
'Yes, we know people say this every year about Spurs, but seeing the amount these clubs are spending you can expect them to stage a real fight for glory.' How about instead of regurgitating platitudes, you go away, do some research and come back with an article showing how close season transfer spending translates to on field success over the last ten years? Sure, it's worked for Chelsea and Man U, but Arsenal have spent markedly less than a lot of their rivals and still keep on keeping on and the likes of Spurs have spent an awful lot and won what, a solitary Carling Cup? I don't know what the correlation between spending and performance is, but I'd happily bet a few quid that it's not as simplistic as the 'spend money = success' relationship you seem to believe it is.
you are right that the likes of pompey,villa, everton and wigan will be more of a threat to your uefa cup spot next season as we will be challanging as we will be challanging for champions league.
by Andrew on July 05, 2008
Man City finished 9th last year, Spurs in 11th. Spurs were 11 points away from relegation, and 31 points from finishing in the top 4. Man City were only 9 points better, still closer to relegation then a top 4 finish. Sure Spurs knocked on the door for 2 years, but with the exception of Modric, I don't see any improvement. Neither team will finish 10 points higher then they did last year. City will probably finish worse.
by Gordan Zola on July 05, 2008
Arsenal played most of last season without their best striker, their best winger and then lost Eduardo when he started firing. When we get £30 mill for Adebayor and sign Huntelaar or who ever we'll be even stronger. Not saying we'll win the league, but I'd expect us to challenge again. Now, the chavs and scousers should be the ones for you spuds to be trying to catch coz i seriously dont see Big gene Hackman lookalike doing it in the English Prem.
by Mike on July 05, 2008
Give over. Man City sign 1 player, a young Brazilian who isn't in the national team yet, and who is new to the league and they are top 4 contenders? They have a long way to go yet, i reassure you of that. The fact is, Hughes is no better then Sven. They wont sign Ronnie either. Spurs have signed 3 great players in Gomes, Giovani and Modric with more on the way, so i can understand why we're on there. So should Everton aswell though. Moyes has done great for them. I just hope for the Premier Leagues state that the top 4 is changed this season. COYS.
by YID O on July 05, 2008
that solitary carling cup is more than ar5ena1 from the heomoroids stadium have won for a few years
by lala bobo on July 05, 2008
liverpool are best
by nicky nickncik on July 05, 2008
Hahahahahhahahahahaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaahahahahahahh hhaaaaaa. Please stop the bulshit and talk real football. The top 4 are secure, especially from the spuds and the 4th city's 2nd team. The gap from last year is massive and it will take more than a couple of decent signings to sort their teams out. Its all about TEAMS not individuals. I got more enjoyment coming 3rd in the league and watching some fantastic games at the emirates, than winning one silver plated mug every 20 years or so. Start promoting good football as much as tribal warfare and you might have a good blog.
by spud peeler on July 05, 2008
i love these types of articles... they give me something to laugh about!
by Jon on July 05, 2008
Why? Why do you have to do this? Did last season (and the season before that, and the season before that) teach you nothing? What is it in the makeup of a Spurs supporter (of which I am one) that causes this collective blindness EVERY season? Why can't we just be quietly confident instead of spouting how "2 of the top 4 are there for the taking" which clearly isnt true. I have no problem with confidence, and I think the squad will be much stronger with Bale, Modric et al, but why set ourselves up for a fall? Of course this could just be a Newsnow fishing exercise to get hits.
on July 05, 2008 on July 05, 2008
Stick to cricket mate, you clearly know all about football you stupid .
by name on July 05, 2008
Sportingo has single-handedly sold all of the Spurs team! P.S. Fix your image text. You can correctly enter the text and wrongly be told you made a mistake!
by arsen no trophy on July 05, 2008
The gormless goons and there stupid comments, spurs outplayed them in all but 1 of 4 games last season, we outplayed chelsea and Man utd ask there fans. Our trouble was injuries, turmoil over martin Jol and inconsistancy. Our new keeper will save us 15-20 points this coming season compared to robbo. So your after Huntelaar? nah its martins from newcastle. We can only improve on last season's 11th place and cup win. What did Arsenal win that gives you so much to brag about.?
COYS JUANDE RAMOS IS KING
by EFC on July 05, 2008
As per usual they dont mention Everton you know the team that has finished 4TH, 6th & 5th in the last 4 years proving they are the best of the rest. Dont worry we will just get on with it quietly whilst you big up the small clubs in Spurs and Man City who will both be lucky to scrape a top 7 finish. No wonder this site is laughed at.
by GOONOR on July 05, 2008
4TH 6TH AND 5TH IS ONLY 3 WHERE DID YOU FINISH IN THE OTHER YEAR YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT OF THE 4 YEARS