Who’s the favorite to win the 2010 English Premier League?
Posted by Creaven on June 12, 2009 under England, Premier League | 
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The 2010 English Premier League: Where anything can happen.
Manchester United sold the best player in the league (if not the world) and can any replacement(s) reproduce Ronaldo’s production? Chelsea has world-class talent (and will probably get some more) but will Carlo Ancelotti be a repeat of the Felipe Scolari fiasco? Liverpool hasn’t won the title in 29 years and is there really any reason to believe year 30 will be any different? Arsenal finished a distant fourth in 2009, but with all of Arsene’s young stars getting a year older could the Gunners sneak to the top? And lastly, can Manchester City be a legitimate dark horse and prove money can win trophies?
How much fun is this going to be?
The summer has barely started and it’s a bit folly making EPL predictions when you don’t even know who is going to be on which team. But it’s fair to say the English championship is wide open next year. The Big Four all have serious question marks and it’s safe to say that won’t change in two months
Just for fun here are the SkyBet’s EPL title odds (as of June 12) for 2010:
ManU: 6/4
Chelsea: 9/4
Liverpool: 11/4
Arsenal: 9/1
ManCity: 25/1
Liverpool seems like the smartest value bet, though, I’m tempted to put a fiver on Man City.
What do you guys and girls think?
Shawn Gillogly said,
I think City will always break your heart, unless you’re a United fan, then you get a good laugh (and I’ll be laughing).
I think it’s always dangerous to set odds until you see what the transfer market brings. 100mil quid is a lot of money for SAF to blow through. I think it likely they’ll have some talent inbound, probably enough in total to offset the loss of CR7.
I think that Chelsea having another new coach, even one of Ancelotti’s stature, means it’s likely they’ll have some issues getting to know each other. Ancelotti’s preferred style of play is probably not going to work in the Premiership. Can he adapt? Sure. But in 1 season? And his boss is not known for being a patient man.
Arsenal? Wenger is too full of himself to admit he has to buy players in. I think it’s more likely that someone passes them up then they finish top.
If I was looking for a dark horse, I’d look to Aston Villa or Everton. Both look much better prepared, and will have European cash to spend on their sides this year. Villa will have to replace Barry, and that will hurt. But I don’t think they were a 1 player show this year.
I’d say the strongest title challenge again will come from Liverpool. Can Rafa keep his troops together on the domestic front? History is starting to become a bugaboo again. And I don’t think they’ll beat United two years in a row at Old Trafford. That said, if I were an objective observer, I’d probably say this is their best chance to lift the crown. Being a United fan…I can’t say what I really want to happen to Liverpool.
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