they are all a season ahead of us IMO (Spuds only because they have bought well this window)
I have a feeling we are looking at a season of mid-table mediocrity, which is fine if we buy well next year
im not too sure about that tbh. i think that pretty much all the teams bar that finished 5th to 11th last year bar spurs, villa and everton have either gone backwards or stayed still this transfer window.
villa have sorted some key weaknesses out (right back and left back) but not with any players of real quality, young and shorey are decent, but not great. similar to james milner.
everton have done ok and spuds have bought some excellent midfielders, but they are weak up front and if they lose king and woodgate for a long period at any time during the season (highly likely, with both of their fitness records) they have dawson and thats it.
i think it will be really tight next year. any team could finish from 5th down to 12th, and i think we have caught up a lot of what we lost out to them last year.