Tony Cascarino: Everton, Villa & Man City to Improve this Summer But Spurs the Team to Watch!
Once again I expect Manchester United to lead the way in the Premier League next season as they’ve shown throughout the season that they have the squad and the mentality to dominate. However, if Chelsea and Liverpool sign the right players this summer on top of the squads they already possess, they will run United pretty close.
Once again, Arsenal will be the team who’ll be in most danger of slipping out of the top four with a number of teams sure to strengthen this summer. Arsene Wenger needs to rebuild the centre of his defence with one or two new established stars otherwise they will continue to fall at the final hurdle. Everton finished 5th and are a really organised outfit, work harder than any other team in the division and with a few top players including a recognised striker and creative midfielder will push on in 2009/10.
Martin O’Neill will be given money to spend this summer; Aston Villa have a young team that enjoyed a first three quarters of the season and a manager that has a good track record in the transfer market. If Martin can keep hold of his main men Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, they will be a force to be reckoned with once again.
Man City should also be a threat if they continue to buy big and we all know that they will be extremely busy in the transfer market with all sorts of names linked to the club. They need a proven goal scorer and better defenders but will surely improve on what was a largely disappointing season. If Mark Hughes can keep Craig Bellamy fit then that could transform their fortunes as he gives the side an added edge.
The most intriguing team for me will be Tottenham. I know we’ve heard it before about Spurs being the team to break up the big four domination, but there form under Harry Redknapp has been excellent. Not only did Harry turn the clubs fortunes around but he has improved the side so much that instead of struggling to survive, they pushed close to a European spot. Their form in the 2nd half of the season was right up there with the big boys and we all know that Harry is a shrewd mover in the transfer market.
Tottenham will be busy improving and if they bring in more players like January signing Wilson Palacios they will be very competitive. Players will come and go but unlike in the past, proven quality will come in to fill specific roles rather than stars bought just for the sake of it. Harry made a powder puff midfield into an effective unit, tightened up a notoriously poor defence and has assembled a decent array of forwards so they will be the team to watch in 2009/10.
Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City, Manchester United, Premier League, Tony Cascarino, Tottenham
May 28th, 2009 at 09:00
You are right Spurs form after harry took over was very good. But you forget that Moyes and Everton had 9 points more than Spurs when Harry took over and finished 12 points clear. So Everton gained 3 points more and therefore were more of a match for the big boys than the media darlings that play at the lane. In that period Everton lost Yakubu (Nov - May) Arteta (Feb - May) and Jagielka in the run in.
May 28th, 2009 at 09:35
Let’s hope Mr Cascarino’s prediction about Man City is as accurate as it was at the beginning of the Sven season when he predicted City would be relegated…if his prediction is as accurate this time,City will win the Premier League in 2009/10 without breaking sweat…
May 28th, 2009 at 09:48
haha, here we go again. ‘Spurs the ones to watch’ ‘Spurs to break into the big 4′. Every season the same nonsense is spouted, every season the team lives up to its small time reputation
May 28th, 2009 at 10:11
Really poor article, full of the usual hackneyed old cliches that ex pros inexplicably get paid to trot out every year.
Man United will be strong, Man City have lots of money, Liverpool might challenge again and of course the old favourite - Spurs will be the team to watch.
How many more of these tired articles will be written between now and August?
Yawn.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:23
Fair comments! If Everton had the same financial backing as Spurs then it could be a different story. But lets be honest they will never break the top 4 with there current board of directors.
Tony C is not the only professional backing Spurs to do well. They have been tipped by many to break the top 4; with the right signings and no Uefa Cup distractions i can honestly see them pushing for fourth
I believe Aston Villa will slide down the table next season unless they find a world class Centre Half to replace Laursen!
May 28th, 2009 at 10:55
Spurs to break into the big four……again ha ha ha. Why would that happen? Have the suddenly got pots of money like Man City or Portsmouth? Have they slowly been building a good team like Villa or do they have a manager like Everton who can get the most out of the limited players and cash he has. No but they are a London club, may be thats why the same old rubbish is about them is dished out each year.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:15
Spurs have never been or will be a big club. i’d rate them the fifth biggest in depressing london behind le arse, chelski, wet spam and fulham.
WHL is a proper dump and their fans the ugliest in the prem!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:26
No Spurs fan is saying that we will fin ish in the top 4 its just the media every year. If we can finish in the top 6 next year then it will be progress and then maybe we can build on this and aim for the top 4 after that.
May 28th, 2009 at 15:59
Let me start by saying that I HATE Spurs with a passion, however, I do seriously believe them to be a SERIOUS contenders for the Champions League places this year. Villa are up there but I feel with the loss of Martin Laursen we will struggle to hold the team together without the signing of a world class CB. Everton are a solid side and have proven they are the best side outside the top 4 but have never had anything about their play and IMO the most boring side currently in the premier league. Man City will spend big but are still a good 2 or 3 solid seasons away from challenging the top. Painfully I think Spurs will be the side to watch this season as they have just about the best squad of the chasing pack and if they sign Barry (Please God no) and we get Bentley (Also please God no) they will break the top 4 next season
As long as BCFC go down ill be happy!!! VILLA TIL I DIE!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 16:04
Andy May 28th, 2009 at 09:00 - Whilst I agree with what you say, you also need to take into consideration that Tottenham didn’t instantly start winning when Harry arrived, he had to get rid of that losing mentality from the previous reign. So it could be argued that his points tally would have been even better.
May 28th, 2009 at 16:53
spurs will be champions of europe 2010/2011
just wait and see
get there by winning premier!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 21:13
Spurs have had a decent return since Redknapp took over. But I cannot see them coming remotely comeing close to breaking into the top four. They will do amazingly well to finish in a top six place.
Man City is a much harder team to predict. Their spending power means any player is in their grasp. But I cannot see Mark Hughes being able to “Gel” a team worthy of breaking into the top four, it just seems to much to do, in a short amount of time. But a top six finsh is within their limits.
Aston Villa, the loss of Laursen is a massive one. A player of his abilites in the back is a blessing, and his retirement from football is disastrous, and the loss of Barry to City is just as bad. But they will, have strong spending power, and IF Martin O’Neil can sign 5 to 6 quailty players, they will be a side to fear once more. But again like City these players will need time to bed in to the side, so I think it may be a while into the season before we see Villa at there best. By then they will have lost the chance to get a top four place. I think they will do very well to finish 6th once more, but i think 7th or 8th will be were they finish.
My beloved Everton, what Daivd Moyes has done with Everton is simply amazing. And we need to build on a very good season next term. I read above from Danny that “IMO the most boring side currently in the premier league.” I think that is totally laughable, the fact we had a goal difference of +18 must mean we play with some degree of an attacking nature. While Yes we are very good at the back, we do score alot of goals, having seen Everton play all season long, home and away, we are not at all a boring side. I think Everton are the most realistic team of breaking the top four. But we need money for Moyes. The signing of four quailty players would mean us being in a very good poistion. I can see us getting in the top 5, for a top four place, we need to sign good players, while Arsenal to loss some important payer.