Quote Originally Posted by chris View Post
the top end of the premier league as been a closed shop for years, barring leicester winning it last season, the top four virtually picks itself every season, barring a miracle chelsea have already won it and we are only at the beginning of march

as for the teams coming down and going straight back up again, where are villa and norwich this season ? the championship is a far more open league than the premier league will ever be simply because the top five or six command most of the money especially from sky tv, champions league, gate receipts, sponsorships etc.
The top four was a closed shop, but since Man City forced their way in it's become more open. Spurs are genuine contenders every year now.

Chelsea will probably win it this season. They finished 10th last season. Man Utd's last three finishes are 5th, 4th and 7th after being 1st or 2nd nearly every season for two decades. It definitely doesn't pick itself any more. Again, I'd like you to tell me a time when you couldn't have a very accurate stab at who would finish in the top end.


As for the Championship, Norwich bounced back in one season last time they came down. Maybe they won't this season but Newcastle will. Villa are a badly run club, so it's no surprise they are struggling. The three promoted teams last season were Burnley, Hull and Middlesbro - Burnley and Hull have both been promoted three times in less than a decade, while Middlesbro were an established PL team for over a decade themselves, until they slumped.

In fact, since we got promoted, Bournemouth is the only 'new' team to go up. It would be amazing if Brighton and Huddersfield both manage it this season.