Mark Hughes: What Big Four?

By Brian Lofrumento | 19th October 2009

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After seeing both Chelsea and Liverpool lose at the weekend, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has dismissed claims of a Premier League top four. There’s no doubting that City, Everton, Tottenham, and Aston Villa are all doing their best to break up the top four’s stranglehold, and recent results have indicated that things won’t be easy for England’s top clubs.

“There are some good teams in the Premier League this year,” said Hughes.

“There is a focus on ourselves because we have the ambition to have a good season. But the fact there is a threat to the teams who have had those top four places is adding extra pressure.

“You just sense maybe that feeling of invincibility is no longer there. Other teams think they can take points off them.

“There are two or three teams who quietly think they can get into the top four.

“They don’t broadcast it so they keep themselves under the radar. We can’t help but be one of the teams people think should be in the top four.

“We have to deal with that anyway. I just think this year has the potential to be as open as it has ever been because the top four teams will drop points.

“That has been evident at the beginning of the season and I think it will continue. It is good for the Premier League.”

Do you agree with Hughes? Who will break into the top four? Have your say below!

Gary says:

October 20, 2009 at 6:23 pm

Only one thing he forgets is the amount of pressure the top four whingers put the referees under. “You only gave us one penalty”, “You didn’t disallow all their goals”, “You let them tackle us”, “You didn’t let us play until midnight”. It would be laughable except our leading bodies instruct the refs to keep them all happy. As soon as we stop accepting that “Tou have to accept decisions like that when you’re playing at … (fill your big referees club name here)”, we can have a level playing field where the best teams get to the top, instead of the biggest squealers with the most friends in the press.

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Jack says:

October 20, 2009 at 9:43 am

hughes is really starting to get to me, hes all smug like he thinks he is a manager the caliber of alex ferg, arse wenger, and jose. now im a spurs fan but i can say that those managers are just unbelievable, the difference being they got where they are today via merit, sparky will never get there no matter how much money is pumped into the club, i give him 1 more season.

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Stratty says:

October 19, 2009 at 9:51 pm

There is a Top 2. Arsenal are lightweight if skilful. Liverpool are a joke.

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yaseen shaikh says:

October 19, 2009 at 9:31 pm

Well said Mark Hughes. I totally agree, Liverpool look fragile, even with their 1st team back four they look like they will concede, and they seriously lack depth in their squad. Spurs bench was far better in the opening game of the season.

Arsenal are an excellent team on paper, excellent 1st team, but also lack depth. An injury to V. Persie and Fabregas could see them in ruins.

It has the makings of a great season.

Spurs have done well despite not having their favoured partnership in central defense for the entire season thus far, woody and king, and have conceded many goals as a result. I see Spurs getting stronger when they return to full fitness, as they showed last season.

Villa, Man City and Spurs will be a threat and I can see a few upsets.

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matt dred says:

October 19, 2009 at 9:09 pm

ha ha,nice one sparky lad !! the only reason people talking about citeh is because of the money you’ve wasted on other peoples cast-offs!! but you’re right,with liverpools weak squad now showing their true colours we could be just looking at a top 3 of arsenal, utd and chelsea, with villa and tottenham above you lot in the best of the rest !!!

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