This time last year all the talk was of a new style Premier League which would no longer be dominated by the top five clubs. The rise of Leicester City was produced as positive proof of a new era, overlooking the fact that Leicester City’s succees was not just a product of their own audacity but also problems besetting all the conventional title challengers.
This time last year all the talk was of a new style Premier League which would no longer be dominated by the top five clubs. The rise of Leicester City was produced as positive proof of a new era, overlooking the fact that Leicester City’s succees was not just a product of their own audacity but also problems besetting all the conventional title challengers.
A bigger television pot that was reasonably equitably distributed was seen as underpinning new forms of competition. However, this overlooked the additional edge that is provided by the big commercial revenues of the top clubs. The likes of West Ham and Crystal Palace might have more headroom for improvement, but Palace’s £32.5m purchase of Benteke was more than outshone by the £120m outlay of Chelsea on a number of players.
Very few expected Leicester to repeat last year’s feat, particularly given the attractions and demands of the Champions League. The top five now boast more points than after 14 games of last season. The exception are an under performing Manchester United who are seven points behind last season’s total.