Strongest ever Premier League?

[paulscholes18]

Tightest yes, but I don't think there is a great side like our 99, 06-09, Arsenal's invincibles or Chelsea's 04-06 sides

 

[RedStarUnited]

Chelsea, Liverpool, United & Arsenal all had far stronger squads 8-10 years ago so no, not even close. Unlike that era, the best players in the World aren't playing in England.

Arsenals squad in 06/07 was definitely not better than this years for me. And the best players were still in the other leagues, Kaka was a beat back then.

 

[ctp]

Agreed, for managers brought in the PL is ridicously strong compared to when Ferguson/Mourinho/Wenger were around. Yes they may have won loads domestically and in Europe (including Rafa for that) but the rest of the PL was actually quite weak at the time.

Not only have we got excellent managers/tacticians come in but a lot of the same-old, same-old dross has actually been removed: Fat Sam, LvG, Martinez, Villa's Manager [insert name here], Moyes, Hodgson, Rodgers. Teams with interim managers years ago are even in a better state (Bournemouth, Southampton).

I don't think that's the case. Fulham and Boro reached UEFA Cup/Europa League finals in that time. They only looked bad in comparison to the best teams in the world, just like the Spanish teams outside the top three nowadays.

It's the absence of a truly great team that makes everyone else look better.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Agreed, for managers brought in the PL is ridicously strong compared to when Ferguson/Mourinho/Wenger were around. Yes they may have won loads domestically and in Europe (including Rafa for that) but the rest of the PL was actually quite weak at the time.

Not only have we got excellent managers/tacticians come in but a lot of the same-old, same-old dross has actually been removed: Fat Sam, LvG, Martinez, Villa's Manager [insert name here], Moyes, Hodgson, Rodgers. Teams with interim managers years ago are even in a better state (Bournemouth, Southampton).

I agree, there were a lot of games back then when the big boys, barring some freak accident, usually knew they'd bag the 3 points. Not so much today barring a few proper minnows (like Villa last year).

But isn't Moyes managing a PL side next year? May have missed something.

 

[Kag]

The teams at the top have underwhelmed for a good few years now, but the strength of the rest of the league in terms of personnel is unbelievable.

Take a browse on Wikipedia, look at the Bradford side that went down 15 years ago, try and remember any more than three of them, and tell me that our league right now isn't a hell of a lot better on the whole. Sides with full internationals are getting relegated.

The top teams are nowhere near as good as they were between 2006 and 2009 but perhaps that will change. Football is cyclical, after all.

 

[NoLogo]

I think it will be between City, Chelsea and us this season. All three have now absolute top of the line managers and have improved their squads quite well or are still planning to get more quality into the teams.

 

[BlueCelery]

Arsenals squad in 06/07 was definitely not better than this years for me. And the best players were still in the other leagues, Kaka was a beat back then.

Obviously didn't mean literally. But their 07/08 squad was better than this years.

And I'm going to disagree on the best player's thing. Obviously there were a few exceptions but the large majority of the World's best were plying their trade in England. You can literally count on one hand the amount of elite players in the PL this past season (Aguero, Hazard, Ozil, DDG & Courtois) while United's squad alone had Rooney, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, VDS, Ronaldo & Scholes.

 

[Mark_Barca]

Will be the same as always(excluding freak last year)

Two teams end up competing for the league, Arsenal 3rd or 4th, 2-3 teams fighting for final CL spot. Some high scoring end to end games, many boring TV games especially the big matches that disappoint. The only two differences is a stronger manager field and the drop down in quality from the top clubs.