Even if..

PHB

So even if next season:

Arsenal*:
- keep Henry
- invest in a new midfielder
- get a new CB

Liverpool*:
- Get two new strikers
- Get a right winger

Man Utd*:
- Get two new central midfielders
- A new left winger

Could they be able to compete, with a Chelsea that:
- Gets Ballack
- Gets Ronaldo or some other world class striker

Mark

Arsenal* Could

Is it unrealistic of me to expect Chelsea to win the Premiership every year Mourinho is there?

sprinkles

I don't accept the premise of the question

IF...and it's a big if....United do get 2 quality midfielders and possibly a winger (although not crucial) then I think they would have a solid team. Defensively strong with plenty of cover, up front...well ruud and rooney with saha and rossi as cover, can they get better? and of course a new midfiled. THe only chink in that is that the mindfiled would need to gel immediately cause Chelsea will hit the ground running, early points dropped will result in losing the premiership again...


Liverpool have an outside hope.....get a good striker in there and free up some of the dead weight and they have a decent prospect...just look at the amount of chances they create...

Arsenal will do alot better next season, fabregas has really come into his own recently and he will get better and better. Henry, if he stays, needs to get his head in the game and realise that he needs to preform for all the games and not just the televised ones. They need defensive cover imo. Also it will be interesting how quickly they adapt to their new pitch.....massivly different to Highbury in terms of size which undoubtedly played in Arsenals favour at home. Can they turn their new stadium into a fortress?

Spurs I think are a wild card....if they continue with their progression, the younger players will have gained more experience at that level and I could see them with an outside shot.

eyerer

dont think spurs have the slightest chance of winning it next year

ballack isn't really that much of a factor imo, they can only field so many midfielders (mourinho knows this, right?)
they have enough midfielders for 2 top sides

i still cant see anyone catching chelsea, it doesn't even come into consideration for me. even when they play poorly they usually grind out the win

PHB

I don't accept the premise of the question

Makelele - Lampard - Ballack
Essien - Lampard - Ballack

Both of them are actually better than, significantly better

Makelele - Essien - Lampard

sprinkles

I don't accept the premise of the question

eyerer wrote:

dont think spurs have the slightest chance of winning it next year

ballack isn't really that much of a factor imo, they can only field so many midfielders (mourinho knows this, right?)
they have enough midfielders for 2 top sides

i still cant see anyone catching chelsea, it doesn't even come into consideration for me. even when they play poorly they usually grind out the win

You could have sais the same thing about Arsenal 2 seasons ago, it looked as if no one could beat them, once they were beaten they crumbled somewhat. Chelsea's dominance can be clawed back, and they can be beaten

Kingp35

Arsenal* Could

I hate to admit it because I really despise them at this stage but I think Chelsea will win it again next season. If those things happen that you mention PHB like Man U getting two new midfielders then I expect them to close the gap considerably but I still dont thnk that they will be able to catch Chelsea who are juts too consistant in the league for the others to handle.

I just hope that the other sides can sort themselves out and give it a better go than they did this season.

iregk

Arsenal* Could

Well being a blues fan I’m very optimistic about next season, why wouldn't I be!

That’s said, I do agree with Fergie a few weeks back. Chelsea haven't raised the bar in footballing terms but they have done considerably in consistency terms. That’s the killer for other teams.

Chelsea this season hit the ground running and next season that’s exactly what others need to do. It used to be a case where you could loose about 6 and win the league, now its looking like anymore than 2 and your out.

Even if chelsea don’t strengthen they will still have outrageous consistency if not 100% of the time amazing football and that’s the key to winning a league. Personally I see Liverpool as next seasons closest team providing they sort out some strikers and find a replacement for Hyypia who has a season left in him at best.

United for me need a couple of midfielders and defenders and another striker to get back to their best. Arsenal need a new defense, a couple more midfielders and another striker to take the weight of Henry.

OTliddy

I don't accept the premise of the question

I voted Man Utd have a chance(in hope), but in reality Chelsea will win it. Even if Man Utd get 10 points higher than in any season they've done before, they'll still probably not win it. If the world becomes a fair place, and Chelsea players are punished for acting and they concede lots of late goals to make up for some of the lucky ones they've scored this season, then we have a chance.

Töpher

Arsenal* Could

OTliddy wrote:

If the world becomes a fair place, and Chelsea players are punished for acting

First thing that popped into my head when I read that... Ronaldo? Every teams at, so every team would have to be punished for it. Blaming Chelsea is just ridiculous.

I think Chelsea'll win it again, but it'll be a closer season.

mike65

Banana

I dont accept the validity of the question. Football is'nt a science.

Mike.

growler

Arsenal* Could

I suspect that regardless of the other "Ifs" , if Chelsea get a decent striker then they will be clear favourites. Arsenal are they only other potential challenger IMO but wholly dependent on keeping Henry.

sprinkles

I don't accept the premise of the question

mike65 wrote:

I dont accept the validity of the question. Football is'nt a science.

Mike.

True, football isn't a science but we're not looking for a definative report on the future....merely your opinion.

mike65

Banana

Its all if and buts. Henry could stay and break his leg in the opening game if its against Blackburn!

Mike.

sprinkles

I don't accept the premise of the question

Ture, I see you point but the OP was only asking you to speculate on the options he proposed or offer you're version of how things might pan out...what do you think will happen based on the OP's suggestions?

As for henry...if that happens they're fooked.

gracehopper

I don't accept the premise of the question

If United sign 2 quality midfielders they would be closer to Chelsea. If Liverpool had a player like RVN up front they would also be very close to Chelsea.

TBH i cant see either Pool or United maintaining the consistency that Chelsea have got goin. So until Uefa introduce a spending cap and deal with clubs operating on a loss then i dont see a change in the situation

From an Arsenal point of view If Henry leaves in the summer Arsenal wont compete for the title at all for a couple of years. They were class against Real and Liverpool but they wont develop consistency if they keep losing the physical battle in games

rondeco

Man Utd* could

Is this not a vote for your favourite team poll?

Hobart

rondeco wrote:

Is this not a vote for your favourite team poll?

Certainly looks like it. The "poll" has so many holes and flaws, it's actually laughable.

Xterminator

Man Utd* could

Arsenal are only couple of players short of being able to compete (assuming Henry stays). And when they move into the new stadium, there has been talk of 'a big money signing' to help sell season tickets etc.
So i would belive they can challange.

Liverpool, were one season wonders i believe. Perhaps a new world class strke force would do the trick, but then you could say that for aloast every team in contention for europe, and it would be true,

United have the strikeforce funny enough. If there defensive signings work out, ( i'm not sure they will) and if Fergeson keeps his job, and if they sign 2 or 3 new midfield players and if they gel straightaway .... etc etc United could be challanging, but its by no means ceartain.

Stephen Reid could really do a job at united. But you know United, unless his name is Stephen Readaldo or some other foregin spelling, they are as likely to end up with the next Veron.

Chelsea are showing a few cracks, and their managers tactical nous has certainly been questioned! With the money at his disposal, he will have another tilt at europe, with another top name striker, and probably Ballack, and a decent LB. Expect a small exodus too, as the fringe players lose patience!

X

SCULLY

Xterminator wrote:

Chelsea are showing a few cracks, and their managers tactical nous has certainly been questioned! With the money at his disposal, he will have another tilt at europe, with another top name striker, and probably Ballack, and a decent LB. Expect a small exodus too, as the fringe players lose patience!

X

I agree that there will probably be a few people leaving the Bridge this summer if/when the new singings take place. Chelsea have been getting the results (domestically!) without firing on all cylinders and are a good bit ahead of the pack. I think that this again will be the story next season (I think that Chelsea might actually get better if they are pushed closer by the other teams). The big hope for the rest is that Chelsea concentrates on Europe, where they have a lot still to do before competing with the very best. If they do take their eye of the premiership they could slip up. Having said that, most Chelsea fans have long memories - mostly bad!! - and the domestic championship is still a novelty. There is no real pressure on the European front for the immediate future.

iregk

Arsenal* Could

Some of that Scully is quite true however I do believe the European pressure will start to gain speed during the course of next season particularly if they open up a similar gap again.

As was said a small summer exidous coudl take place but this has been known in and around the bridge for a few moths. Geremi, Cole (carlton that is), Huth, Bridge etc... may all well be heading for the exit door. Mourinho and Kenyon have said that they will trim the fat in the summer so expect about 5-6 to leave and only about 2 to join.

Dont be at yourself

If the above happens, any of those teams would be capable of winning it. It would be all down to belief - instilling it in the team, and breaking Chelsea's. One team with a good run at the start of the season, pushing Chelsea until, perhaps, doubt creeps in and their form suffers and we'd see a much more open race, I think.

Ruskie4Rent

If so, prepare for a very exciting season.

mike65

Banana

Xterminator wrote:

Liverpool, were one season wonders i believe.

Okay who's going to point out the flaw in this statement!

Mike.

astrofool

I don't accept the premise of the question

It's quite clear that Liverpool aren't one season wonders, they also won the league about 15 years ago, which brings the number up to at least two,

Rikand

if chelsea buy a striker who can actually score goals and be their top scorer type of scorer, then they will totally walk it

A Dub in Glasgo

Arsenal* Could

The EPL will be over by Christmas for the 3rd year running

Davei141

mike65 wrote:

Okay who's going to point out the flaw in this statement!

Mike.

Best to ignore trolls.

sprinkles

I don't accept the premise of the question

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

The EPL will be over by Christmas for the 3rd year running

I assume your looking towards chelsea again or have you vain hope in the other messers?