By Brian Sears 31 December 2009 At the end of a momentous decade for the English Premier League, most fans can take it as Red which club won the most points in the top division between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009. Yes, it was Manchester United, with 832 points from 381 Premier League games, and a record of 255 wins, 67 draws and 59 defeats in those 10 years. Look at the graph below and that's United on the far left-hand side, towering above the 37 other clubs who were part of England's top flight during the period. Yet without looking at the detailed tables below, can you identify which clubs are next in line, simply from the size of their points' columns? I'd guess that most seasoned observers would say the first four columns - United included - are the "big four", and they'd be right. But what about the next little group of four? Or the next two clubs after that who make up the decade's top 10? The big four, in order, are United, Chelsea (788 pts), Arsenal (773) and Liverpool (706). Then come Aston Villa (533), Tottenham (527), Everton (524) and Newcastle (498). Then Middlesbrough (429, and that might come as a surprise to some) and then Blackburn (427), before we move outside the top 10. Man City and Bolton are equal on 403 points, followed by Fulham (391) and West Ham (379). After that, there's a drop-off to what we might consider the also-rans: all 24 of them.
Take it as Red: United ruled the Noughties
Take it as Red: United ruled the Noughties
Take it as Red: United ruled the Noughties
By Brian Sears 31 December 2009 At the end of a momentous decade for the English Premier League, most fans can take it as Red which club won the most points in the top division between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2009. Yes, it was Manchester United, with 832 points from 381 Premier League games, and a record of 255 wins, 67 draws and 59 defeats in those 10 years. Look at the graph below and that's United on the far left-hand side, towering above the 37 other clubs who were part of England's top flight during the period. Yet without looking at the detailed tables below, can you identify which clubs are next in line, simply from the size of their points' columns? I'd guess that most seasoned observers would say the first four columns - United included - are the "big four", and they'd be right. But what about the next little group of four? Or the next two clubs after that who make up the decade's top 10? The big four, in order, are United, Chelsea (788 pts), Arsenal (773) and Liverpool (706). Then come Aston Villa (533), Tottenham (527), Everton (524) and Newcastle (498). Then Middlesbrough (429, and that might come as a surprise to some) and then Blackburn (427), before we move outside the top 10. Man City and Bolton are equal on 403 points, followed by Fulham (391) and West Ham (379). After that, there's a drop-off to what we might consider the also-rans: all 24 of them.