The excitement of ‘Survival Sunday‘ has barely died down and players and fans alike will have likely been nursing headaches today following end-of-season parties after the conclusion of the Premier League. However, behind the scenes, plans will already be in place for the 2011-12 season.
Aside from those threatened with the drop over the weekend, most clubs would have had a good idea of their budgets for next term heading into the weekend and the majority of managers will have already handed their list of transfer targets to their respective chairmen and boards.
Scouts around the globe, meanwhile, will have been busily checking out talented youngsters and filing reports in the bid to unearth the next Cristano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez or Peter Odemwingie for their employers.
If you check totesport’s odds to win next season’s top domestic prize it will come as no surprise that they believe only five clubs have any sort of chance of claiming Manchester United’s title in 2012 – and that includes Liverpool (11/1) who are tipped by many to be dark horses next term provided Kenny Dalglish is handed significant funds over the summer to turn a sixth-placed finish into a more respectable top-four challenge, such was the Scot’s impact back on Merseyside when he returned in the new year.
However, despite high hopes on the Kop that the Reds can challenge right at the top in 2011-12, the best they surely can hope for is to break back into the top four they used to reguarly be in under Rafa Benitez. Without the distraction of the Europa League next season, it does look a realistic aim for Dalglish’s men ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer of comings-and-goings at Anfield.
Chelsea (11/4 to win PL next season) faltered in the final run-in after getting themselves back into contention in March and April but that wasn’t enough to save Carlo Ancelotti his job and he was dumped by owner Roman Abramovic after a trophyless season, despite winning the double just 12 months ago in his first year in charge. It’s fair to say the loaded Russian’s definition of failure does not concur with pretty much the rest of the world.
So that leaves the Blues facing another transitional summer amid reports Guus Hiddink or even Jose Mourinho could return. With that in mind, and the futures of several key first-teamers up in the air, we boldly predict – at the end of May – the best the Blues can achieve next season is second place again.
Arsenal (7/1), meanwhile, are likely to go one of two ways this summer:
Scenario 1 – The Gunners finally spend big money on a top-class goalkeeper, centre-half and a 25-goals-a-season striker to partner the fully-fit Robin van Persie and they confidently battle Manchester United for the title once again.
Scenario 2 – Arsene Wenger again refuses to spend what is required on the players he so obviously needs, Cesc Fabregas leaves on deadline day for Barcelona for £40million meaning there’s no time to find a replacement so they are left to fight over fourth with Liverpool and Spurs.
And that leaves us with City (3/1) and United (13/8).
Despite not being one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most eye-catching of teams, the champions have demonstrated this season they have character, squad depth and no little quality to have eventually seen off all the other challengers without too many problems.
Expect just a couple of big-money arrivals as Fergie tweaks his squad slightly over the summer but, largely, the same group of players who have just lifted the title can again emerge as the ones to beat next season.
But, if City get it right in June and July, they might do just that instead.
Roberto Mancini has impressively managed to mould an expensively-assembled squad of players into an FA Cup-winning and top-four side, which is no mean feat considering he has had to deal with some apparently difficult characters – Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli to name but two.
If Tevez stays – which is not guaranteed – and also remains fit, he could well lead City on a real title charge next term. There are bound to be a few high-profile arrivals at Eastlands as well and, with the budget they have, more top-quality talent will only add further depth to the world-class pool of talent already in Mancini’s large squad.
So, with that in mind and, yes, it’s very early to say so, but 2011-12 may just be City’s season.
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Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky has admitted he is determined to take his chance and ‘play at the highest level’ with the Reds and says he cannot wait to turn out for his new club (Liverpool 6/4 – top four finish).
England captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that if he was a fan he would boo the side at Wembley when they face Hungary on Wednesday night (England 2/7, draw 4/1, Hungary 11/1).
Germany (5/1 to win European Championships 2012) claimed third place at the World Cup after winning an enthralling play-off 3-2 against Uruguay in Port Elizabeth.
Arjen Robben is ready to take a gamble by playing against Cameroon on Thursday for the Netherlands (Holland 1/33 to win Group E).
The Serie A leaders conceded a goal after just 12 minutes at home to Chievo when a right wing cross was pushed into his own net by Thiago Motta. Jose Mourinho’s side were behind for no more than a minute when an Eto’o pass into the Chievo box was turned into an own goal by Chievo player Andrea Mantovani.
went some way to repaying the huge transfer fee Real Madrid payed for him in the summer with a dazzling display against a very decent Real Mallorca side.