In the past decade, the English Premier League has been largely been dominated by three main clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. While Liverpool have often been bandied together as one of the Big Four, it has usually been the former three who have contested the title. Apart from a period when Jose Mourinho arrived to blaze a trail in English football, it has been Manchester United who have won most of the titles at stake since the advent of this elite division. Under the watchful eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils have been the undisputed masters of the domain in which they are competing in.
Yet the stranglehold the three clubs have held over the rest of the field could be under threat with fresh financial investment pouring into the coffers of other clubs. While self sufficiency and sustenance is still a subject of much debate in the Premier League owing to recent situations with clubs like Portsmouth, there is no stopping the rich businessmen and individuals who have decided to make the league their playing ground. Ironically, it was Chelsea who set the wheels in motion when years ago, Russian billionaire rolled into town and fueled the club with his billions on their way to success.
This time, it is the group of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and to a certain extent, Aston Villa, who are raising the markers in laying down their challenge to the old guards of the Premier League. The Eastlands club are the most extravagant of the lot - splashing out millions of pounds in order to force their way into the elite and hoping to displace United as the top club not only in Manchester, but also in the world. While Manchester City enjoy the greater support domestically compared to the Red Devils, their achievements have paled in comparison. City are also often the butt of jokes and the self deprecating nature of their fans reflect this - so used are they to the stumbles their dearest team have made a habit of creating for themselves.
Since Middle East businessman Sheikh Mansour took over last year, City have made bold statements of intent by snapping up world class players on huge transfer fees. Their highlight so far must have been the signing of Carlos Tevez from their city rivals United last season in a controversial move that ultimately brought results in the form of a 20 goal season from the Argentinian. The club is also constantly in the headlines for tabling sky high bids for the best players from other clubs and this summer will certainly not be the last in which they will throw money around in order to build an invincible team. The Premier League title will be their main objective next season and City are ready to back their ambitions with cold hard cash.
Tottenham Hotspur, or Spurs as they are popularly known, may not have the deep reserves that Manchester City enjoy, but they are still generously bankrolled by club owner Joe Lewis. While they may not have been able to attract the biggest stars, in Harry Redknapp they have a manager who consistently brings out the best in every player he takes under his wings. The club has also focused on signing some of the most promising youngsters in both British and European football with the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon now flourishing at White Hart Lane. Their tussle for the fourth Champions League spot with Manchester City highlights the progress they have made under Redknapp and most importantly, a critical mental hurdle they may have finally overcome under his charge. Previously, Spurs were often the poorer neighbours of Arsenal as they fail to figure amongst English football's biggest prizes despite being one of the best supported clubs in the country.
Aston Villa certainly do not rank amongst the richest clubs in the Premier League but they have consistently picked out the best bargains from the talents left behind by the other top clubs. In Martin O'Neill, they also have a coach who is capable of forging a team that is always strong on teamwork and unity. That ethos carried them to the brink of Champions League football this season although the Midlands club fell short once again. It could see the club slip into the shadows of anonymity or the opposite effect could result. O'Neill is certainly a fighter and owner Randy Lerner is nevertheless an ambitious one. Investment could still pour into the club in the summer and they would certainly continue to figure as one of the clubs pushing the established order.
With Liverpool fading into obscurity as a result of continuing boardroom chaos and no lack of rebuilding in store for Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea when the Premier League season ends, the momentum could slowly shift in the direction of Manchester City and Spurs, and perhaps Villa if they manage to retain their core squad. While many in football maintain that money cannot buy success overnight, City and Spurs have certainly showed that it can turn sleeping giants into active ones. If the two clubs can balance headline grabbing transfers with results on the pitch, who is to say that the Premier League Big Four could be significantly different a few seasons down the road?
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