Premiership Winners: Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, or Liverpool?

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The season is slowly approaching and the big four squads have started to take shape. Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, and this year it seems as if the difference between first place and fourth place is going to be a lot smaller than in previous years.

As some upcoming clubs are trying to break into the coveted champions league spots, will the big four be able to hold on to their places? The current title contenders seem to be Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea with Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City having outside chances. 

Manchester City

Does money equal success? Every Manchester City fan will say yes but deep down in their hearts probably know that the answer is no. Foundation can not be built on money.  City may have short term success (Carling Cup maybe FA CUP) but outside of that, they don't have a core team.

With the addition of Adebayor, from Arsenal, City will be a dreaded attacking force, but will their defence be able to hold its fort? Granted Shay Given is probably in the top three goalkeepers in the country, if not the best, but he can not stop everything. City's defence is a little susceptible currently, they need to tighten it up.

I know City fans are not going to like this but, I have this feeling that the Abu Dhabi United Group are just using Manchester City as a toy to satisfy their needs.

Soon when they get bored, and City are not able to produce the results that the Abu Dhabi United Group are expecting, they might just leave leaving Manchester City in a huge mess and loads of debt. If City truly want to be winning things 10 years down the line, my advice to both owners and fans is patience is key.

I don't think city are genuine title contenders and will not be able to break into the top four this season. 

Everton

David Moyes is a manager I admire very much. He is a strong manager who commands respect. Under him everton are a good team with a solid foundation and are always very consistent. But at the moment with their current crop of players at their current level, the quality is not there.

They can not beat consistently the big four with their current crop of players, but they have some excellent propects (Rodwell, Gosling) which can take the team forward in the years to come.  I will not be surprised if in a few years, we will be talking about Everton as genuine title contenders.

Aston Villa

Ah...The team who played so well for the majority of last season yet could not keep it up and grab fourth place. Unfortunately, I think Villa will fall below Everton but above City. They have already lost Gareth Barry to Manchester City and Martin Laursen to retirement. Stewart Downing will be a god buy, but he is not who Aston Villa need right now.

Villa need a defensive mid fielder and a full back. Kyle Naughton is a good full back but he is still young and inexperienced. Villa have been linked to Veloso but it doesn't seem as if that is going to materialize.

They are another team who could be title contenders in a few seasons. It is up to Martin O'Neil to make sure he keeps the core if the team, especially Ashley Young.

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