With the odd 'this is our year' mail making an appearance, and John Henry coming out with a sensible assessment of his club's chances, I wanted to ask: How often does a team win silverware - specifically the Premier League - when they have just bought in a load of new players? A few Arsenal fans have said that they need to buy a whole raft of players in order to challenge for the title, but does this work in reality? Blackburn and Chelsea are accused of 'buying the league', but I am interested as to how many players in those teams were bought in in their title-winning years, and how many were already established (I genuinely don't know the answer). As I've been writing, what started as an open question has turned into a mini season preview:
- City brought in shed loads of new players over the last three seasons, and yet they have only won the FA Cup. However, they also had a settled spine of the team last year, and it's really this year that they are looking dangerous - and they would do even if they hadn't brought in Aguero. As the players have settled in to their group, and as the manager has been given some time, they seem to actually be playing like a team, and working well together as a unit.
- Liverpool rang the changes last year, and did the same this year - so I think realistically that it's next year that they should be looking at for success - although obviously, targeting that CL place is a must, if they are going to make progress. I wouldn't have them as anything other than an outside bet to do it, though - despite them looking as strong as Arsenal in many ways, even before Cesc goes.
- Arsenal I think they are facing major problems - unless they can hold on to Cesc, and add a squad defender to cover injuries, I don't think they will be challenging this year - and even if they brought in fantastic quality with the Fabregas money, they wouldn't be contenders this season, as it will take time for new additions to bed in - and then they will lose Nasri next year, so things look bleak.
- Chelsea have a new manager, but the playing staff looks like it won't change much. Their key man is Torres - if he settles early, if he starts to bang them in, then Ramires, Luiz etc will do at least as well as they did last year, and the squad have the quality to carry the manager while he's finding his feet. However, if the £50m man becomes the albatross round Villas Boas's neck, then the pressure from fans and Abramovic will kill their chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this year.
- Manchester United's squad actually looks relatively unchanged - despite the numbers of names coming in and out, most of the departees were playing one game in two, at the most. Outfield, only Ashley Young will be expected to start regularly, so the squad will be more or less unchanged. United's season rests on one of their new goalkeepers making the gloves their own early on, and getting the defence working with them. If they can do that, they will be in the race till the end.
I really think that City will be the biggest challengers for United's title this season. It's going to be exciting.
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