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Weakening of our rivals

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billycopper

Player Valuation: £40m
Chelsea- Releasing Lampard and Cole at the end of the season. Two huge players to replace even with an open cheque book. They might also be looking for a new manager.

Spurs- Levy has reportedly told Real Madrid that Bale's price is £55m. Is Holtby a ready-made replacement? Gallas is nearing the end of his deal, Parker is looking washed up, Adebayor is apparently out of favour and Dawson might be moving on too. They've got some really good young players but it will take Dembele, Sigurdsson et al some time to develop into the next Modric or Van der Vaart.

Arsenal- Will Walcott be moving on? Is their transfer policy an issue? Has Wenger lost it? They're still a good footballing side but they're becoming less and less competitive.

West Brom- Olsson and Odemwingie could be on their way to QPR during this window. Dorrans is supposedly surplus to requirements too. They've got a small squad as it is and very little time to find replacements. Lukaku going back to his parent club will hurt them too.

Liverpool- If I was a Liverpool fan I would be concerned that one of the league's top scorers (Saurez) will be altering his position to accommodate an unproven striker (Sturridge). They've got some decent players but it's difficult to judge them as a team because they're so reliant on Gerrard and Saurez. How long will the Uruguayan carry on at Anfield without European football and potential silverware? Rodgers has already told the fans to enjoy him while he's here. I still can't make my mind up about the management at the club either. They could certainly self-destruct.

We can't rely on others but, as a team, we're about as stable as they come. We could potentially get our noses in front just by carrying on as we are and letting our rivals sabotage themselves.
 

Everton - They could lose there big stars Baines and Fellaini, Distin could unsettle our defense and not sign a new contract, Gibson is injury prone as is Mirallas Osman, and neville are getting on a bit.
 

Still, it's an interesting point. Only the top 2 are relatively stable, all the rest are up and down. A key player lost / signed could make all the difference.
 
Fensta said:
Still, it's an interesting point. Only the top 2 are relatively stable, all the rest are up and down. A key player lost / signed could make all the difference.
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Chelsea aren't going to start dropping below us just by losing Lampard and Cole. They'll replace both and still have a world class team.
 

It is interesting that they are "weakening" of sorts though, almost a changing of the guard with some big powerhouse names, like Lampard, moving on. Time for some new players to become dominant. Unfortunately we're not in a position to capitalise on this, and it makes me sad, because modern football is about one thing and one thing only: money.
 
Players age and eventually retire see Beckham.David.
Villas Boas tried to move a few on and caused a mutiny then when he was ousted they won the CL and let possibly the greatest striker of the prem years leave whilst retaining other much less effective players approaching the dusk of their careers. Suggs band.
How Chelsea have thrown money around at top players will keep them top end competative I reckon theyll get another striker in whether Torres leaves or not. Its their back line that will require the work to replace properly.
So far as Spurs go they have blooded a few new to the prem defenders who seem to be working out and even though in previous seasons they have lost out on keeping their better players they do a bloody good job of getting quality back in. Berbatov and Carrick went to Man Utd. Modric skipped off to spain and VDV left. Losing Bale wont be the end of them its if they can find another outlet for midfield that can do a job (not the same one).
For me Arsenal are the vulnerable looking side I cant remember a less composed and often frightened side under Wenger than this one now. Maybe all the kids they have signed and are gelling will work out but any stand out player could be easily cherry picked. Wenger doesnt seem to have the regularity he had with picking up foreign internationals for buttons like he once had,
 
'Parker is looking washed up'

Not sure what that is based on. Was our player of the year last season and has only been back from injury a couple of weeks this season.
 
interesting points. don't see WBA or Chelsea as realistic rivals. Liverpool could possibly be put in the same breath but surely they'll always have some sort of funds to strengthen. They'll possibly be the biggest losers though when suarez goes in the summer. can't see why he'd want to be there for another season because they certainly won't be getting champs league for a good 2/3 years.

Depends on if they blow their sale of him. same with us when fellaini eventually leaves and maybe spurs with bale, although madrid should not be paying that much for bale. They already gave spurs way too much for modric ffs, come take fellaini for £55m ffs
 

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