Next Season

[Dark Savante]

Interesting to think about that - we have a chance to truly make ground-breaking history in going for a 4th in a row and being the outright #1 team in the history of the competition rather than sharing the honour.

The scousers truly believe they are close to 'being back' but I'd say this was their best chance to do the deed as this has been a poor season by Big 4 standards as, whilst they've played the best they can, ourselves, Arsenal and Chelsea have not been anything close to what they have been associated with over the last few years.

Obviously, we'll have the proper picture come September 1st, but I really wouldn't bet against big summers for both Chelsea and Arsenal and I think we can do much better.


At this extremely early stage, who do you think or suppose will be our biggest threat come next season?

[googoo]

I'd say Chelsea.
They have a very-very capable squad, strenght in depth, all they need is a good manager.
I think they've been impressive with Hiddink.

[Sapphire]

Chelsea.

They have never really recovered from the loss of Mourinho. If they get a coach in there who can utilize the talent and rub all of those egos the right way, Chelsea will be really dangerous.

[Red Jeph]

Chelsea. I agree that Liverpool had their best shot this year. They had several players who were much better than can be reasonably expected going forward (Kuyt). Their only hope is Torres staying healthy and bringing in a major purchase this summer.

The scary part for the rest of the big 4, is outside of Giggs, Fletcher and maybe Vidic, did anyone have an above average year? Rooney was outstanding, but I don't see any reason he can't improve. Berba, Ronaldo, Tevez, Evra were all sub par by their standards. Scholes and Nani were non-factors, Rio was hurt quite a bit, Brown and Hargreaves the whole year. Park was on and off. Carrick was good but not outstanding.

[Bronaldo]

Arsenal.

If they can get a couple of experienced players (1CB, 1 DCM), they will have the team to go through most of the league

[iDiveStevieG]

Arsenal.

If they can get a couple of experienced players (1CB, 1 DCM), they will have the team to go through most of the league

this

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Arsenal have numerous problems that a mere two additional experienced players will not solve. I agree that Liverpool have just missed their best shot. Chelsea it is.

[Invincible]

I think Liverpool are tip toeing closer and closer to a title, although I'm not sure it'll be next season. They're steadily improving and if they could add 1 or two more class players I expect them to be our closest challengers again next season.

[lynne]

I vote for Chelsea. Though Ballack will be even older (does his contract run through next year?). And Drogba will be older (or not there at all.)

Liverpool depend on Gerrard and Torres and they spend a lot of time injured.

Arsenal? Today, that moronic color commentator couldn't stop talking about how wonderful they were, yet when I saw them come out at the start of the 2nd half, it looked like Man Utd was playing the local high school team. That isn't going to be fixed in a single year. I will enjoy watching them try to take the captain's armband away from Fabregas and give it to one of those incoming experienced people, tho'.

[Motterman]

I think if Chelsea gets somebody with Hiddink/Mourinho like quality, they have the ability to be consistent enough to challenge, but they have some big personnel issues to deal with this off season as well...

I don't think Liverpool can ride their luck as much next season.

[cr7torossi]

Chelsea.

Liverpool are not going to have a player sent off against them in more than a quarter of the games again.

Arsenal's season is dependent on the summer and how many departures they face.

Citeh are not going to be challenging with Agent Sparky at the helm.

That leaves Spurs. They have ended the season really strongly and have shown great form against the top 4. If they can get another competent defender or two and not have another summer of turmoil, I can see them giving the top 4 a run for the money.

[JAKE SPEED]

Tough to say. Lot of things to consider. Who will be the next manager at Chelsea, and do Ballack and Drogba stay? Will Arsenal splash some cash on a defender and a defensive mid, and does Adebayor stay? Liverpool look relatively stable by comparison--as long as Benitez doesn't do something stupid like break up the Torres/Gerrard partnership by bringing in another first team striker. They reall just need to sort out their left flank. Riera hasn't been good enough, Babel hasn't been given enough time to develop and has been alienated. They need someone with some class and some goals on that side---especially with Kuyt on the other (not to say that Kuyt has been bad---he's very dependable and has scored some clutch goals, but he can't really terrorize the opposition). They would do very well to get a Valencia/Lennon/Young type player who can create something off the dribble.

Obviously we underperformed a bit this year, but that doesn't mean we will be better next year.

I'll go with Arsenal. Lots of questions, but no other team has the ability to consistently beat the small teams and that's what winning the league is all about.

[Ruud v.Nistelrooy 10]

what the fuсk?

that has been arsenals problem all year. they did well against the top 4 and struggled against 'small' teams

[Charleysurf]

Liverpool most likely.

It's going to be very difficult to win the 4th in a row. It's never been done before and the competition is harder than ever. I guess a lot is going to depend on what happens in the summer. Will Ronaldo and Tevez stay? If not then who will we buy? No player in the world could replace Ronaldo like-for-like. Someone like Ribery would be a great addition but he's no Ronaldo as regards goalscoring.

Livepool will be strong. I can see a buyout of Hicks and Gillette providing a lot of money for Benitez and strengthening a decent squad further.

Arsenal could be a dark horse. They've had some injury issues this year, but if Wenger can get an experienced CB and an experienced DM then they could be lethal (Jagielka and De Rossi?). As we saw again today they are a very capable side.

Chelsea, I just don't know. I think they need a few good transfers to freshen up that squad. But does Abramovich really want to dip into his pockets in a big way again? Who will the new manager be? Certainly if they can have a fit Essien for the whole season then it will be a big help, but what will happen to Drogba?


I guess we'll have an interesting summer as the transfer merry-go-round starts up. I'm just glad we'll have the afterglow of another title as we go into it.

[JAKE SPEED]

what the fuсk?

that has been arsenals problem all year. they did well against the top 4 and struggled against 'small' teams


They were never in it this year. This season gets written off, as their only goal after bottling the first half of the year was to finish in the top 4. I think there's a good chance they come out next year like they did last season.

The problem for both Chelsea and Liverpool is that they don't have enough game-changing players who can be relied on for goals. Chelsea have Lampard and Drogba, Liverpool have Torres and Gerrard. Their best asset in cup play is their ability to keep the game tight. That doesn't win a league campaign because it makes the margin for error much smaller, and you end up getting draws against Stoke, Hull and the like. They have to grind out every match.

There are a lot of goals in this Arsenal side, and they have the firepower to blow opponents out of the water quickly. Aside from us, they are the team most likely to put together a long string of victories. They have to buy and sell smart but I think they will be a lot better next year.

[johno]

I think it is very difficult to say. Chelsea obviously have the potential, especially if they manage to keep that squad together and add some new blood particularly on the wings. Arsenal don't have many holes to fill, but it will come down to how draws go, the schedule and injuries. As poor a season as this was for Chelsea, they were an injury or two away from being within striking distance at the end. This Arsenal team is not nearly as deep, but if they are out of the CL early or they prioritize the league they can do some damage. It isn't just too early, it is impossible to say.

[F@ndango]

Liverpool have the momentum, as things stand Chelsea look too old and Arsenal too young.

[michael24710]

No way do Liverpool do the double over us and Chelsea again...

I just wonder how much fatigue we will carry over to next year especially if we have to play in the world club cup and super cup again... Keeping the likes of Ronaldo is important and I still hope we can bring in one or two quality new faces as I always believe in never standing still.

[SirManchester]

Unless Chelsea replace Hiddink with a capable manager, and Arsenal fix their problems which I don't thin can be done in one summer, it has to be Liverpool. They are finding the right variables for a true challenge and the yare perhaps two or three players away from it if Benitez and the club play it right, and the Americans are willing to give him the money for it. They only lost two matches this whole season domestically and those could have easily been avoided. Their weakness was the amount of draws which can also be avoided with a deeper squad.

[Vocalz]

liverpool most likely.

It's going to be very difficult to win the 4th in a row. It's never been done before and the competition is harder than ever.

everyone will stay and we'll take 4 in a row.