Tottenham and Newcastle in line to challenge the top four
With several English clubs now privately owned by billionaires there should be more future competition in the Premiership. Recently it’s been between only two clubs - Manchester United and Chelsea - with Liverpool and Arsenal making up the four teams that seem to be way above the rest of the competition.
However, with teams like Newcastle, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and West Ham being bought by billionaires - that should help add more competition to the Premiership race in the years ahead. We’ll take a look at five teams we think will push hardest to break into the top four in the coming seasons. Of these five however, we believe only Tottenham Hotspur has any real chance of overhauling Arsenal for 4th place next year.
Tottenham - Martin Jol
Well managed by Martin Jol since 2004 and finished in 5th place last season on 60 points - just 8 points behind Arsenal. Tottenham have no billionaire owner but don’t seem short of funds. Martin Jol is turning out to be excellent manager for the North Londoners who have built up their squad over the last few years. Recently signed Darren Bent from Charlton for a whopping ₤16.5M deal which we believe is way overpriced. In addition they have signed Adel Taarabt from Lens and Gareth Bale from Southampton – all top buys. Tottenham are probably favored again for 5th place this year and may just be able to pip Arsenal for 4th place – depending on their remaining summer transfer dealings.
Newcastle United - Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce and Mike Ashley have put new life into Newcastle – or at least into their fanatical supporters. Sam has already signed 4 new players Viduka, Barton, Rozehnal and Geremi for a combined fee of less than ₤11M. Allardyce has cleared away some of the deadwood by releasing six players and expect at least another 5-6 players to be brought in sooner rather than later. Sam is busy building his back-room staff for the future and is raiding the Bolton back-room staff – which has caused significant friction with Bolton Chairman Phil Gartside. The Newcastle squad will be improved over last year when the Magpies finished 14th on 43 points – their worst ever premiership performance. With Sam’s motivational powers and organization skills Newcastle may be able to make 6th place – which would be a good start to his tenure at the club.
Everton - David Moyes
Have done extremely well under manager David Moyes the last few years and finished a commendable 6th last year with 58 points. Moyes has not had a lot of money to invest but has generally spent wisely although the deal for Beattie was not one of his best buys. Very well organized and a difficult team to beat and Moyes demands 100% commitment from his players at all times - and gets it. Not a great deal of money to spend on the team but Everton should be there and thereabouts top six again next season – but may be pipped by a resurgent Newcastle side.
Portsmouth - Harry Redknapp
Did well last year finishing in 9th place on 54 points under the wily management of Harry Redknapp. Grant has been brought to Fratton Park by Portsmouth’ Russian owner Alexandre Gaydamak - and fans will hope this will not interfere with Sam’s running of the playing side of the club. Harry has already brought in 3 players this summer in Sulley Ali Muntari from Udinese, Hermann Hreidarsson from Charlton and Sylvain Distin on a free transfer from Manchester City. These are good buys and linked with his acquisition of Campbell, James and Lauren - Harry is building up a good strong squad. Top eight side next season at least.
Aston Villa - Martin O’Neill
This season will be a big challenge for Martin O’Neill who did OK last year in his first season at the helm. Finished well at the end of last season to position Villa in 11th place with 50 points. Hasn’t yet moved in the transfer market this summer and seemed to have recently lost out to Newcastle for Geremi - but they seem to be actively trailing Nigel Reo-Coker from West Ham - but may have to pay big bucks. Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner has lots of cash and will back Martin in the transfer market. More good players need to be brought in during the summer transfer market to allow a major challenge on top six - but that still seems unlikely next season.
Other teams that may be challenging for top eight next season include Manchester City under new owner Thaksin Shinawatra and ex-England boss Sven Erikkson – but they will need some time to build up their sqaud. West Ham United may be a surprise next year under Alan Curbishley after their amazing escape from relegation – winning six of their last seven games. Recently signed £6.1M Julien Faubert from Bordeaux and took Scott Parker from Newcastle earlier this summer for £7M. Much will depend on whether they can secure Carlos Tevez for next season – a truly world class forward who gives 100% effort and commitment every game - and is in great demand.
Blackburn and Middlesbrough are other teams that should do better than last season. We feel Blackburn could do a lot better but manager Mark Hughes – who continues to make great buys with yesterday’s £350K signing of Maceo Ritgers from NAC Breda – needs more cash to bring in quality players.
Of the five featured teams our choice of the two teams to make up the top six next season would be Tottenham and Newcastle – probably in that order.
Which teams do you think can realistically challenge the top four? Will Tottenham (or Newcastle) break into the exclusive club? Discuss this and more in the SL forum.
Written by Ed Harrison, who runs the best Newcastle United blog on the planet.
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Discussion - 48 Responses
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in your dream…its gonna be the same old 4 clubs again in the top four positions this season… as much as I hate them MAN UTD will be champion, followed closely by Arsenal by 5/6 points(who will be the champion next season), then liverpool and chelsea battling for 3 position 10pts behind arsenal. spurs can only dream my brotha!
Give the Magpies and Spurs some credit for their rising positions, but they are both at least two years from the Champions League. Besides, Arsenal is not going to be the push-over side that people think they are going to be. But we shall see how things work out this season.
I stopped reading after ‘Tottenham have no billionaire owner’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Lewis_%28British%29
I think allardyce makes all the difference at newcastle and I partly agree with dave, but I do think that finally Tottenham have a squad that matches Arsenal and betters them in some areas. The coming season could bring anything…. NEXT SEASON: 1. ManU (byebye sir alex)
2. Chelsea (byebye jose)
3. Liverpool
4. Tottenham (byebye berbatov?)
5. Arsenal (byebye wenger)
6. Newcastle.
7. Portsmouth
8. Everton (Johnson injury)
9. West Ham
10. blackburn
11. Aston Villa
12. Sunderland (with defoe)
13. Middlesboro
14. Bolton
15. Man City
16 Birmingham
17. Fulham
18. Reading
19. Middlesboro
20. Derby
You have Boro twice! Also, Bolton is a much better side that 14th, and Man City will not finish so low with Sven. I believe that Arsenal has a better squad than both Liverpool and Tottenham and if Tottenham breaks into the Champions League, it will be at Liverpool’s expense. I don’t really get why you think Sir Alex is leaving after next season.
Not a bad article,but missed a couple of things.
Tottenhams owner is Joseph Lewis(might wanna check him out on the sunday times rich list…he comes WAY above the likes of Ashley,Magnusson(and his cronies)Lerner etc etc.In fact,he is the 2nd richest man in football,behind you know who)
Tottenham are closer to the top 4 than anyone else at the moment.
Newcastle ssem to be bringing in typical Sam Allardyce players at the moment.
Either their best days are behind them,or bargains from the continent.
I don’t see them challlenging the top 4 for at least another 2 seasons.
Tevez is not a world class forward.
He has potential,but so far has not achieved much in his career.Bar the last 8 or 9 games of last season,he was basically a total flop,and the likes of McCarthy and Berbatov(especially)made him look 2nd rate for the majority of last campaign.
Villa are my tip for the “suprise package” next season.
In O’Neil they have a fantastic manager,and they went on a great run at the end of the campaign.
West Ham may well struggle again next season.
Once Tevez and Reo-Coker go,their squad is weaker than the one that struggled last time round.
They also have serious trouble attracting players,despite their cash.
i think Ferguson will retire on a high…boro twice? damn! then who did i miss out?… sloppy of me. I recon I’ll stick by my other choices though. Arsenal’s squad is skillful and exciting but i dont think they have the heart or strength to take enough points next year. Liverpool have more firepower now Torres is on Merseyside so… I’ll stick by my top 5. So many clubs in transition… Last point: Sad to say I think Sven will fail in the prem. Too cerebral.
put wigan in 19th place dave.
wigan not there
swap 17 and 18 and then 17 with 12
sunderland down not as good as everyone thinks
couple of things.
why would dimitar leave us if we finish 4th and get champs league? not gonna happen.
dave - rising position! newcastle finished 14th mate.
yo gys have a pretty nice sqad bt its gonna be fll of new players who need time to gel, same goes for west ham.
i think someone like blackburn or everton with take 6th with newcastle possibly 8th.
spurs with an established squad to take 4th, arse 5th.
btw, can we have dyer please, pretty please even
neil
why do you think reading would get relegated next season ?
You are obviously misinformed. Do you know that Lewis is worth Billions and also owns tottenham?
And neil - if we make champions league the Berbs will stay.
You dicks
I put a question mark after Berbatov because like all tottenham fans, I think he will stay if we make champions league next year… But I also think the biggest clubs in europe will come in offering crazy money.. .
Punya: I think reading, like wigan have had their moment in the sun… the adrenaline will have worn off and they dont have the infrastructure or players anymore to survive in what will be a tougher league next year. . .
Tottenhams Billionaire isnt a meddler either so we have the best of both worlds.
Ed… I corrected myself. .please fill 19th place with wigan.
Maybe Stu is right about Newcastle too. . . It was only a guess gents!
You need to do your research about Spurs, they already have a Billionaire owner in the form of Joseph Lewis.
Im sure we will all agree that had arsenal finished all the chances they created last season, they would have come 3rd but just a few points behind chelsea. The transition phase is moving forward and arsenal will definitely challenge for a better place.
Liverpool need to worry because if you look at all the players at all positions, arsenal has a stronger, more skillful and younger side. Just because Torres is coming in he wont “push for success” on his own will he? Dont be stupid if youre thinking that.
I think Chelsea will push man utd for top spot. I rate
1. Chelski
2. Man utd about 3 or 4 points behind chelski
3. Arsenal level on points or 2 points behind…hate to say it but man utd score like demons.
4. Liverpool about 4 points behind the gunners
….the rest dont deserve any mention. they can battle it out for the scraps.
I think that Spurs now have the best front line in the league. However, i think they have the weakest middle of the park out of the top five sides. The centre midfield is average mid table prem quality. We should now focus all of our transfer energy into signing a world class central midfielder and left winger. Untill we do, we will still lose the amount of games we do against the top four. Hargreaves/Scholes, Lampard/Ballack, Gerrard/Alonso, Cesc/Silva are all world class central midfielders. Jenas/Zakora is just not good enough in comparrison.
We might be lucky and scrape into the top four due to problems at Arsenal, plus we certainly have the firepower. Just please, SORT OUT THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK!!!!
Spurs will struggle first half of season. I think they will find it difficult to keep the same team every week even if they win, the reason for this is they have not bought players who are better than the ones they already had. You’ve got to buy one better if you want to improve, they’ll finish Uefa like usual but I’ll have Everton to finish 5th, Tottenham 6th, Newcastle will be mid-table.
Liverpool are the team if any I can see dropping out of the top 4, because like spurs they’ve bought a striker that won’t score anymore probably less than before, and the worst thing is the will play him every week regardless!
Another thing, to Dave.
The most likey candidate for the bye bye next year will be Jol when he doesn’t live upto the top four expectation next season spurs fans will be calling for his head.
Just watch!!
Bullshit, Bale is a far superior player to Lee or Ekoto. Bent is also a taller more versatile player than Defoe. I fully expect Spurs to sell Defoe. As they have proved before, there is a business behind the team, and a good one at that. They will not let a player run his contract out and that is the only reason why we signed Bent. Now we are in the driving seat with regards to offers for Defoe. With the money from his sale, we will sign a left midfielder for deffinates, and that is also bound to be an improvement on Malbranque. So Lee Pownall, you talk shite my friend. Who do you support out of interest? Arsenal?
Im still surprised people talk about arsenal crumbling. No-one is going to get near the top four teams. Anyone who thinks so is pretty ignorant if you ask me. How many Tottenham or Newcastle (or Liverpool) players would make Arsenals team? I’d say 2 2 and 4
I would say Bale, King, Chimbonda, Lennon, Berbatov, Keane or Bent would get into the Arse 1st team. I would also say that Arsenal fans are worried, which is why they now entertain such suggestions, rather than simply dismiss them, as they used to do.
Unless the rich sugar daddy has the cash of Abramovich, then sadly they are not going to break into the top 4 (on a long term basis). I can see Spurs finishing 3rd or 4th next season as I don’t know what Arsenal will do; they may crumble, they may come good again.
[…] have a general article on SoccerLens today - analyzing which clubs can break into the top four in next few years.You […]
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Well MDH he just proved you wrong so stop being so stupid, for Liverpool it would be Fernando torres, Alonso, Gerrard, Carragher, Agger and probably Finnan. For newcastle it would be Taylor, N’Zogbia, Barton, Milner, Martins and Owen. These players are better than Gallas, Gilberto, Hleb, and Adebayor. Just face it, Tottenham are almost as good as you’se and Liverpool now.
Hmm… My predicted table standing next season
1. Liverpool (if they can buy in a few Top wingers, better defence cover for back 4;if not they will be third)
2. Chelsea (Certainly cant win the Champs League)
3. Man Utd (Old players, young players who cant adapt to premier league)
4. Tottenham Hotspurs
5. Arsenal (rank lower if wenger leave in middle of season)
6. Portmouth
7. Blackburn Rovers
8. Bolton Wanders
9. Aston Villa
10. Newcastle (cant see them shooting themselves into Europe in their first season under Big Sam)
11. Everton (i could sense that they are inconsistence in some season)
12. West Ham United (if Tevez could stay and Ashton is fit)
13. Sunderland
14. Middlesboro
15. Birmingham
16,17,18. Fulham or Man City or Reading (one of them to be relegated)
19. Wigan
20. Derby County
Conor
I guess having an opinion different to yours must make me stupid, thanks for informing me. Anyway onto my thoughts…
Taylor (Toure & Gallas are world class, Taylors a fat clumsy England under 21 player) Barton (instead of Fabregas?) Milner (instead of Rosicky?) and Owen (Van Persie, who can control a ball and helps his team rather than just giving the ball away, damaging his ligaments and goal hanging) would not start for Arsenal. I know they all did there bit to help Newcastle finish 14th last year but Im still pretty sure they wouldnt cut it.
Now I know a Spurs fan said Tottenham would have half there team start for Arsenal, but why dont you actually try analyzing things properly. Bale is 17 and unproven, he might not even start for spurs next season, if King did make Arsenals back four Chimbonda wouldnt because Toure’s a better right back than him. Berbatov would no doubt, and Lennon would against crap opposition but Van Persie would easily start over Keane or Bent, the kid would have outscored both of them but for injuries.
Liverpool wise you talk a bit ore sense I think Alonso is great and so is Agger, but Gallas and Fabregas just edge them both in my opinion. Not sure about Finnan, hes good but I’d rather Toure as a right back, that said I’d rather have Reina in goal. I’d say Arsenal and Liverool are even at the moment, but please get to know a bit about football before you say Spurs and Newcastle will make top four.
You guys are so Stupid!!
Theres a big difference between having a billionaire owner like abramovich or ashley who own the club themselves!
…and having a billionairre who is the main investor in Tavistock Group, which owns more than 100 companies, such as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and SK Slavia Praha.
DUH
I too agree with you MDH about the geordie players. I think Martins would probably get a look in and maybee Viduka/Given. Other than that no-one.
Re the Spurs players, Bale is unproven at prem level but an amazing prospect, far more so than Cliche. I think Chimbonda is the joint best right back in the league with Neville so he deffinately would start. I think King is equal to Toure, admitedly Gallas is a better player than both but injury prone. I have to disagree with Van Persie, he’s a dirty little rapist, petulant and not a player i admire. I can respect a man for his footballing skill, but when you are scum of the pitch all respect is gone for me.
I think the two squads of players are very close, as close as they have been for years. You must agree with that. However, Arsenal or on rocky ground at the moment, Dein/Henry having left, 1 year left for Wegner, player uncertainty over the managers future- cesc and toure wont hang around if Wegner doesnt. Wheras Spurs have a settled back room and management structure, which is moving in the right direction, rather than the wrong one.That could be the differance.
I never said they’d make the top four, they won’t for another 2 years probably, maybe not for a long while. But i wasn’t comparing to fabregas to anyone, other thangerrard fabregas is the best cm out of spurs newcastle arsenal and liverpool, i said that barton is better than gilberto, and so is alonso. I then said milner/n’zogbia is better than hleb, I know that rosicky is better than both of them, Bale is better than clichy, and I’d rather have taylor than Gallas because Gallas is wayyy to injury-prone. Owen is better than Adebayor, not V.P. King is better than Gallas and chimbonda is better than Eboue. I don’t mean they will all be in the same team at one time, but individually they are better. Keane, Berbatov, Bent or Defoe are all better than Adebayor, but only one of them would get into Arsenal’s team. Out of Spurs Liverpool and Arsenal it would be like this:
Reina
Toure
King
Carragher
Bale(Liverpool’s and Arsenal’s left back’s aren’t good enough to be play for their teams)
Lennon
Gerrard
Fabregas
Rosicky
Torres
Berbatov
Liverpool=4
Spurs=4
Arsenal=3
This obviously doesn’t prove Spurs are better than Arsenal, but are pretty close, Arsenal have good cb’s,cm’s and strikers, but thier wingers and full backs aren’t great. Liverpool have a good back 5 and 2 good cm’s, plus 1 good striker, but probably have the worst wingers overall. And Spurs have by far the best strikers, a good back 4 and lenon. Their cm’s + lm are crap and Robinson isn’t that good. So all three of you’se are weak in places, and all three could finish in the top four.
There is a bit of disbelief and sinicism amoung liverpool and arsenal supporters I think, that ANY team will EVER dislodge them.
As A fan I can say I can say the following about my team- With a patchwork defence, we got fifth this year, and should have got fourth the year afore that. Our team is young English and exciting, midfield we are not there yet but our players are young and jenas/zokora has potential. (Spurs babies makes more sense than Arsenal babies.) We are in a position to do well next season but MORE importantly, we are in a position to get better with coaching and experience.
Title challenge over the next five years? I dont know…. top four challenge now? NO DOUBT.
Arsenal and Liverpool fans. Just for fun if you like, ‘think’ about what would happen to your clubs without Champions league for a few years…..
Dont be too proud…..think about it.
A good topical example is that Newcastle last season had a much better squad than Bolton - much better - but Bolton finished way ahead of us. We think that’s because Sam is so good with players and gets the best out of them. One reason we think Sam will do well - is he’ll get the best out of our current squad - for once. They’ve all been under-performing since Bobby Robson left. We think Sam is one of the best at that - and yes - maybe none of our players could make the Arsenal team - but so what?
i think that spurs will be a top side next year and with there imminent signings still to come ( i hear we are on the verge of buying rob harvey from fc koln, brilliant left winger and super fast) then we will finish in 3rd place
Tottenham in third place, so wrong so wrong. Tottenham doesn’t have the depth in the midfield to challange for a Champions League birth. But the people up front are very intimidating. Berbatov, Defoe, and Keane are some of the most talented strikers I have seen from Spurs in a few years. By the way, the person who had Liverpool must not be paying attention to the papers. You just signed Fernado Torres for 20 million pounds. That to me sounds like the biggest ripoff ever in transfer history. Fernando Torres is going to flop, and then you will have to score with Kuyt and Crouch up front. Be realistic, no Premiership title is in the cards for Liverpool next year.
i agree with neil
I can’t see the top 3 changing, but I think 4th place is open this year.
Arsenal are a great footballing side and wenger always seems to pull class players from no where.
Spurs have to be favourites for 5th, Great going forward, but a bit of a soft touch away from home last year, and not great strength in depth at the back. They missed King last season.
I think Newcastle, Villa, West Ham will battle it out for Uefa spaces.
let me try and take an objective stance on this. on paper, tottenham’s squad is just as young as arsenals and i must admit that tottenham is going from strength to strength.
on the other hand arsenal has a skillfull young side and many of the youngsters proved themselves last season whereas some of the spurs youngsters have not had the chance. need i remind you that arsenals youngsters defeated spurs senior side in the carling cup last season.
aside from manchester utd, arsenal created the most chances last season and if they had been converted, we would have been in a better position.da silva has been brought in for this purpose. whilst i admit that spurs can mount a serious challenge for 4th place or even better, if they cannot create as many chances and convert them they they will not come good.
in addition to this, arsenal had worst season last year and spurs had undoubtedly their best. still they finished 8 points behind us. at their best spurs cannot actually do better than arsenal and thats the truth.
arsenal are unlikely to perform poorlu from now on so this should be interesting. i say that there wont be a change in the top 4.
[…] have that general article on SoccerLens today - analyzing which clubs can break into the top four in next few years.You […]
1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Liverpool
4. Tottenham
5. Arsenal
6. West Ham
7. Newcastle
8. Everton
9. Blackburn
10. Bolton
11. Portsmouth
12. Wigan
13. Man City
14. Sunderland
15. Boro
16 Aston Villa
17. Birmingham
18. Fulham
19. Reading
20. Derby
[…] have that general article on SoccerLens today - analyzing which clubs can break into the top four in next few years.You […]
Tottenham4eva, aren’t you a little biased? Simmy’s response pretty much sums it up. I mean, how can you forget that Arsenal beat Tottenham last year…with their young reserves. Also, I’m not sure why you think Reading is going down. They almost qualified for the UEFA Cup, but yet you have them in 19th.
DAVE, think Ipswich.
TO all those people badmouthing Clichy, you are wrong, he is better than i remember Ashley Cole being at 21/22 and can surely get better.And as much as i hate him who is a better left back?
Arsenal 3/4 easily
To james cutmore.
Correct I am a gunner and a biased one at that, but I try to look at other clubs with an honest eye. My comment isn’t bullshit, you tell me how spurs will play all 4 strikers.
And another thing, Berbatov and keane will score more goals than bent. Come on! Admit it Bent is your 4th striker, and if he isn’t he should be. Gunner, Spurs fan, Preston North End fan, doesn’t matter. It seems blatently obvious to me!
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