Which clubs will challenge Manchester United and Chelsea next year?

[Jthunder]

Which clubs will challenge Manchester United and Chelsea next year?

[United Pumps]

Sunderland.

Them or none.

[GriffinGunner]

Um, I think all 18 of the other clubs will challenge them. Unless Derby or a couple others decide to just tank, that is.

If you're meaning who will contest for the title, Start with the next 3-4 below them this past season and go from there. Come back when the transfer/off season is done and we'll have an even better idea.

What will be telling is how the middling clubs do at closing the on-field gap between them and the bigger clubs. For example, I can think of a few narrow escapes for Chelsea this past year that might have meant the difference between 2nd and 3rd place. If clubs like Villa, Newcastle and West Ham make some strides then it will be tougher to win the league, and then it'll all be up for grabs.

[Hazzathewazza]

I think Liverpool are the most likely to challange with the new investment.
But as the previous poster has said, you need to wait to see who these teams buy.

[Harry Boulton]

I think Liverpool are the most likely to challange with the new investment


Nah, we hear that every year, but they are well short of challenging for the title I think. They need some strikers (two of them) at least 2 wide players as Garcia, Kewell, Gonzalez etc are not up to scratch and maybe another defender too. Unless they sign some great players in those positions, then I believe they will not be challenging for the title next year....

[Luke Bradley J.]

Spurs have got the potential (don't laugh) they just need to find some consistency.

[Ian Daglers]

Spurs have got the potential (don't laugh) they just need to find some consistency.

I think Pompey have more potential at the moment. Spurs are a great attacking team, but they're truly awful at defending (maybe even consistently awful? ;) ). They kept a grand total of 6 clean sheets this season, fewer than anyone else in the league, which seems to me to be the sign of players who just aren't up to the task. I suppose a healthy Ledley King would help some. To catch up with the top two, though, you're talking about catching clubs who not only attack better than Spurs (although maybe Spurs have the potential to compete on that front), but defend at a level that's out of the reach of the players they currently have.

[anewsoccerfan]

Fulham and the Americans. :)

[Derrida]

Each other.

[MNAFETSC]

I think the majority of the premiership need to worry about challenging for 4th before they can think about 1st.

[auf Amerika]

Manchester might slip next year with their new signings taking time to adjust. Plus they're going to have keeper issues I think.

Chelsea, I would pick, to win it all. They'll be rejuvenated and will have a bone to pick since they came in 2nd this year. Liverpool and Arsenal will be there as well.

Tottenham look to be a little bit better. Everton will be tough. Pompey will be the new Bolton. West Ham will play up to their potential. Sunderland will shock.

Wigan, Fulham, Bolton, Derby, and Birmingham will go bottom. Reading may be down there too. Wigan and Fulham have big problems.

[Red Bird]

Chelsea and Arsenal will be the most settled and will be the teams to beat. Shevchenko will start earning his keep. Adebayor will also have learned the art hitting the target while Henry and van Persie will be back meaning goals will be flowing freely. I doubt that Man U will get the same performances from Giggs and Scholes, plus whatever new striker is signed will not bed in until after 6 months. Also danger of two over-hyped signings turning into Djemba X 2 and Kleber-whatever-his-face. Still, never bet against Ferguson. Liverpool? Anybody's guess, really. If they can avoid the defensive shambles of the beginning of last season and if they can create and score more goals ...

Potential dark horses will be Portsmouth but will need to show more ambition away from home. Allardyce will need a season to impose himself on the magpies and Jol will be content with another 5th place.

[Derrida]

Chelsea and Arsenal will be the most settled and will be the teams to beat. Shevchenko will start earning his keep. Adebayor will also have learned the art hitting the target while Henry and van Persie will be back meaning goals will be flowing freely. I doubt that Man U will get the same performances from Giggs and Scholes, plus whatever new striker is signed will not bed in until after 6 months. Also danger of two over-hyped signings turning into Djemba X 2 and Kleber-whatever-his-face. Still, never bet against Ferguson.

Man U finished 21 points ahead of Arsenal. And made it two stages further in the Champions League. Henry is good, but not that good, even if he can play at top-level the whole year.

People were dumping all over Man U last offseason, predicting their demise, but they demonstrated the strength of a team which combines older players who offset their decline in skill with a great deal of experience and younger players who will gain in both. Of course they're not going to get those seasons from Scholes and Giggs again, but they don't need to. They have new players who will fill in the gaps, give the older guys some needed rest, AND offer them a chance to get their feet wet without having all responsibility dropped on them immediately.

Given the talent they have, I will give Alex Ferguson the benefit of the doubt that he can produce quality results, until I see something to convince me otherwise.

[Red Bird]

Man U finished 21 points ahead of Arsenal. And made it two stages further in the Champions League. Henry is good, but not that good, even if he can play at top-level the whole year.

People were dumping all over Man U last offseason, predicting their demise, but they demonstrated the strength of a team which combines older players who offset their decline in skill with a great deal of experience and younger players who will gain in both. Of course they're not going to get those seasons from Scholes and Giggs again, but they don't need to. They have new players who will fill in the gaps, give the older guys some needed rest, AND offer them a chance to get their feet wet without having all responsibility dropped on them immediately.

Given the talent they have, I will give Alex Ferguson the benefit of the doubt that he can produce quality results, until I see something to convince me otherwise.
Which is why I'll never bet against Ferguson ;) On the question of Arsenal, they missed van Persie's goals more, I think.

[SidFarkus]

I'll have to see who buys what in the silly season... but I think if a real start striker goes to Anfield that Liverpool can challenge the top 2. It's the most glaring weakness on an otherwise good team.

They could also use another winger, although it looks like Malouda will be that guy. I could see some other areas where help could be needed... but one great on form striker all year will put them up with the top 2.

[AussieLFCfan]

I think the Title will be a three team race next season. Obviously Chel$ki and Man U and I think Liverpool will have a much better season. Some new signings will help also!

I see Arsenal slipping up this time around. I'm expecting them to lose Henry and I don't see them signing any superstars, their young players will still need time to develop.

I think the teams battling for the last Champions League spot will be Tottenham, Newcastle, Everton and West Ham(if they keep Tevez).

Battling it out at the wrong end will be Derby, Charlton, Fulham and Man City.

I expect Sunderland and Birmingham to stay up.

[AussieLFCfan]

I think the Title will be a three team race next season. Obviously Chel$ki and Man U and I think Liverpool will have a much better season. Some new signings will help also!

I see Arsenal slipping up this time around. I'm expecting them to lose Henry and I don't see them signing any superstars, their young players will still need time to develop.

I think the teams battling for the last Champions League spot will be Tottenham, Newcastle, Everton and West Ham(if they keep Tevez).

Battling it out at the wrong end will be Derby, Charlton, Fulham and Man City.

I expect Sunderland and Birmingham to stay up.

My mistake....Charlton?:eek: I've lost it!

[Yabasic]

I think Chelsea will win the league come next season. Out of every Premiership club, they have the best squad. Manchester United will be up there as well, but I can see Arsenal really challenging for second, as their youngsters will just keep on getting better,

[United Pumps]

I reckon that next season will see the highest points totals accumulated by the top two clubs in Premiership history.

[fernb8]

I reckon that next season will see the highest points totals accumulated by the top two clubs in Premiership history.

dont know about that, although Utd and Chelsea will both be very good once again and Liverpool should improve next season, the chasing teams appear to be improving and getting better

Everton, Newcastle, Spurs, Villa, etc have all improved/or should quickly improve and IMO they will not be as many doubles over them as occured in the past.