The financial separation hasn't changed much, the inflated market has meant that the top teams are having to spend big money to even buy players equal to what they already have.
Utd lost Ronaldo and with it their x-factor, more worryingly if I was a Utd fan they still haven't really replaced the players their Premiership dominance was built on. Their central midfield looks distinctly average and needs serious investment.
Arsenal need a better defence and Van Persie to not get injured. Then of course there is the Fabregas factor and greedy Nasri. Arsenal's set up should really be doing better than they have in their last 5 trophy-less seasons.
I thought Chelsea would do better last season, but Essien's absence in their midfield cost them dear, they also missed Lampard massively when he was injured, Ramires isn't good enough which is probably why they're so desperate for Modric.
Are Man City still a team of individuals playing mostly boring football? They have the potential to be world beaters, but if their best player leaves I can't see them doing much better than last season. One year of the team gelling might make a difference, but from the outside they still mostly look like a bunch of mercenaries.
The problem is that big money is needing to be spent to improve upon what is already there. Big money striker is needed, but who, Llorente is the only one I've seen bandied about that is achievable and of the required standard.
As the team fully adjusts to the roaming style of VDV they should get more effective, hopefully the preseason will help that process.
I don't think there's much between any of the top 6 teams, the mini-league of last season shows that:
Spurs then beat Liverpool 2-0 away to make the league look very even.
