Paul Wilson takes issue with English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore’s view that the league and the game are in great health. Even allowing for the fact that Scudamore is a “paid optimist,” few could pretend that the EPL has any surprises in store this coming season.
Wilson talked to a Tottenham Hotspur fan who was excited that this could finally be his team’s season. Not to win the actual title, but just to finish in the top four. Everton, the team that finished last season in fifth place, are 200-1 at the bookmakers to be champions at season’s end. Even within the top for, Arsenal and Liverpool rank as outsiders to challenge Manchester United or Chelsea.
“Outside the top four,” writes Wilson, “Everton could be about to implode, West Ham are in danger of becoming the new Leeds, Newcastle are playing money games instead of football and Manchester City’s owner appears to be reappraising his desire to fund a challenge to Manchester United’s dominance. Teams such as Fulham, Bolton, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Wigan are not seriously looking higher than halfway up the table and, while improvement may be possible at Aston Villa, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Spurs, it is idle to pretend any of that quartet would not be absolutely delighted to finish fifth.”