Prem was a lot weaker back then...

For a start still had all those NW teams with no fans or big (enough) financial backers (Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan) just waiting to get relegated.
Prem TV money has gone up massively in the decade since then and the gulf from Prem to Champs has widened accordingly.

Alex Neil is currently doing an amazing job at Preston and to be honest is almost certainly actually a better manager than Lambert.

Posted By: mr carra, Oct 28, 09:33:42