The perfect Premier League 20

[Member 5225]

Had a few chats with mates re: this.

If you could pick the 20 Premier League teams based on history/heritage/stature - what would be your ideal 20 teams?

CURRENT
Arsenal
Bournemouth
Burnley FC
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Hull City
Leicester City
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Swansea City
Tottenham
Watford
West Brom
West Ham

 

[Member 5225]

For me:

OUT
Bournemouth
Burnley FC
Hull City
Leicester City
Watford

IN
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Fulham
Leeds United
Newcastle United


ENDING UP WITH
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Swansea City
Tottenham
West Brom
West Ham

NOTABLE MENTIONS
Birmingham City
Bolton
Charlton
Derby County
Nottingham Forest
QPR

 

[Ian Reus]

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Huddersfield
Leeds United
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
The Wednesday
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Tottenham
West Ham
Wolves

 

[RedMaestro]

For me:

OUT
Bournemouth
Burnley FC
Hull City
Leicester City
Watford

IN
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Fulham
Leeds United
Newcastle United


ENDING UP WITH
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Swansea City
Tottenham
West Brom
West Ham

NOTABLE MENTIONS
Birmingham City
Bolton
Charlton
Derby County
Nottingham Forest
QPR

Maybe can mention the "Sheffield's", Coventry, "Wimbledon", Portsmouth and Wolverhampton?

 

[Nero]

I wouldn't mind Notts Forest and the two Sheffield clubs back in the league.

 

[King7Eric]

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Derby County
Everton
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth
Southampton
Sunderland
Tottenham
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers

 

[Trizy]

I wouldn't mind Notts Forest and the two Sheffield clubs back in the league.

It's Funny how a lot of people likes the Sheffield clubs including myself

 

[Member 5225]

It's Funny how a lot of people likes the Sheffield clubs including myself

Yeah good shout with the Sheffield clubs (perhaps Wednesday rather than United for me).
Not sure why Wolves get so much love - don't consider them a big club tbh

 

[Ian Reus]

Yeah good shout with the Sheffield clubs (perhaps Wednesday rather than United for me).
Not sure why Wolves get so much love - don't consider them a big club tbh

They've won 3 English championships. That's only 1 behind the noisy neighbours and 2 behind Chelsea.

 

[Carlsen19]

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Bolton Wanderers
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forrest
Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton
Sunderland
Tottenham
West Ham

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

No love for Wimbledon?

 

[2 man midfield]

Out

Bournemouth
Burnley
Crystal Palace
Hull
Leicester
Swansea
Watford

In

Aston Villa
Birmingham
Charlton
Fulham
Middlesbrough
Newcastle
Wigan

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham
Charlton
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Tottenham
Wigan
West Brom
West Ham

 

[RedMaestro]

Had a few chats with mates re: this.

If you could pick the 20 Premier League teams based on history/heritage/stature - what would be your ideal 20 teams?

CURRENT
Arsenal
*Bournemouth
*Burnley FC
Chelsea
*Crystal Palace
Everton
*Hull City
*Leicester City
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Southampton
*Stoke City
*Sunderland
*Swansea City
Tottenham
*Watford
*West Brom
West Ham

A bit hard to decide but maybe 10 teams could be changed:

1. Arsenal
2. Aston Villa
3. Blackburn Rovers
4. Bolton Wanderers
5. Chelsea
6. Coventry City
7. Everton
8. Leeds United
9. Liverpool
10. Manchester City
11. Manchester United
12. Middlesbrough
13. Newcastle United
14. Nottingham Forest
15. Queens Park Rangers
16. Southampton
17. Sheffield Wednesday
18. Tottenham Hotspur
19. West Ham United
20. Wimbledon

Had a "hard time" deciding between QPR and Wolverhampton...

 

[Samid]

1. United
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
5. City
6. Spurs
7. Everton
8. Villa
9. Newcastle
10. Blackburn
11. Southampton
12. West Ham
13. Leeds
14. Forest
15. Wednesday
16. Boro
17. Leicester
18. Sunderland
19. Fulham
20. Bolton

 

[POF]

If talking Premier League, I am amazed how many people have removed Leicester. They are one of just 6 teams to ever win it.

 

[R.N7]

All the teams that happened to be in the top division for a few years when I was younger.

 

[RedMaestro]

If talking Premier League, I am amazed how many people have removed Leicester. They are one of just 6 teams to ever win it.

But the question wasn't just to pick winners - it was heritage, stature etc.

I like the "classical" teams, that's why I made a different list.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Derby
Everton
Leeds United
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
The Wednesday
Sheff United
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Tottenham
West Ham
Wolves

Almost perfect, just removed Hudds & Blackburn & replaced with much better supported sides. Would love to see that PL.

 

[duffer]

I like having the odd smaller team in the Prem. Keeps it a bit more interesting.

Id much rather Huddersfield or Brighton then Newcastle come up this season.

 

[pacifictheme]

United
City
Liverpool
Chelsea
Arsenal
Spurs
Everton
Forest
Leeds
West Ham
Wimbledon
Villa
Wednesday
Southampton
Palace
Newcastle
Derby
Norwich
Ipswich
Burnley

 

[2 man midfield]

How did I forget Bolton?

 

[Robertd0803]

Id quite happily take out Liverpool, City, West Ham and Sunderland. Replace them with Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, Newcastle and Forest. You would miss Villa as well in the league though so maybe them ahead of Newcastle.

(yeah my reasons for picking the 4 teams to be removed isn't exactly in keeping with the OP )

 

[JB08]

I like having the odd smaller team in the Prem. Keeps it a bit more interesting.

Id much rather Huddersfield or Brighton then Newcastle come up this season.

Exactly the same for me. I support whichever Championship teams I haven't seen play in the Premier League, or at least for a long time.

And Bristol City if they weren't so fecking shite.

 

[duffer]

Chelsea
Wimbledon
Bradford
Swindon
Sheffield United
Bournemouth
Reading
Norwich
Derby
Ipswich
Wolves
WIgan
Coventry
Bolton
CHarlton
Arsenal
Portsmouth
Blackpool
Forest
Swansea

That would be nice.

 

[Ban]

Arsenal
Forest
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Fulham
Everton
Coventry
Leicester City
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Southampton
Portsmouth
Derby
Leeds
Tottenham
Newcastle
Sheffield Wednesday
West Ham

 

[Ian Reus]

I like having the odd smaller team in the Prem. Keeps it a bit more interesting.

Id much rather Huddersfield or Brighton then Newcastle come up this season.

Well at least huddersfield have won 3 English league titles. They were also runner-up on 3 occasions too.

 

[Offside]

Both Sheffield teams, Leeds, Forrest, Newcastle, Villa and Coventry in. Swansea, Hull, Palace, Sunderland, Bournemouth, West Brom and Burnley out.

 

[harms]

Manchester United
Arsenal
Liverpool
Chelsea
Tottenham
Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest
Leeds United
Newcastle United
West Ham United
Stoke City
Everton
Manchester City
Sunderland
Sheffield Wednesday
Blackburn Rovers
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Preston North End
Bolton Wanderers
Southampton

Something like this

edit: or is it only for the PL?

 

[witchtrials]

Excellent, I thought about starting this thread a few times but never got round to it.

I'm just about settled on:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Derby County
Everton
Ipswich Town
Liverpool
Leeds United
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Norwich City
Nottingham Forest
Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton
Sunderland
Swansea City
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers

You've got every really significant side from the last 70 or 80 years in there. I like the balance as it includes at least one team from every region. Nearly every team has at least some kind of local rivalry too, with the exception of Swansea and Southampton - Cardiff can't really be justified based on history, though I'm quite tempted by Portsmouth (which would have to be at the expense of Ipswich). I had Coventry in there right up until the last moment but ultimately can't really justify them above Wolves. I'd have been fairly happy to put Palace or Wimbledon in there but that'd probably be at the expense of Swansea (so as not to lose any local rivalries) but in the end opted for the greater geographical spread.

 

[decorativeed]

Out

Bournemouth
Burnley
Crystal Palace
Hull
Leicester
Swansea
Watford

In

Aston Villa
Birmingham
Charlton
Fulham
Middlesbrough
Newcastle
Wigan

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham
Charlton
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Man City
Man United
Middlesbrough
Newcastle
Southampton
Stoke City
Sunderland
Tottenham
Wigan
West Brom
West Ham

So you'd kick out Burnley, one of the founders of the league, two time champions and one time FA Cup winners and replace them with Charlton or Fulham, who have won a single major trophy between them in almost 250 years? Bizarre.

I don't mean to single you out in particular, there are some really odd choices in this thread if it's based on history and prestige.

 

[Member 5225]

Fascinating replies thus far!

 

[Frasbul]

Leicester has certainly done enough to be in it.

Yes, it was only one season. But it was the biggest upset in sport history.

 

[decorativeed]

In terms of the most prestigious clubs, it should be:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Burnley
Chelsea
Derby County
Everton
Huddersfield Town
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth
Preston North End
Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers

But... To get a bit more geographical balance and to remove teams I just don't like, I'd be tempted to boot out Sunderland for Ipswich Town and Leeds for Leicester or Lincoln City!

 

[2 man midfield]

So you'd kick out Burnley, one of the founders of the league, two time champions and one time FA Cup winners and replace them with Charlton or Fulham, who have won a single major trophy between them in almost 250 years? Bizarre.

I don't mean to single you out in particular, there are some really odd choices in this thread if it's based on history and prestige.

Who said that's what I'm doing?

Mine is based on a mash up of how the league looked when I started following football, circa 2002/03.

 

[Member 5225]

In terms of the most prestigious clubs, it should be:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn
Burnley
Chelsea
Derby County
Everton
Huddersfield Town
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Portsmouth
Preston North End
Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur
Wolverhampton Wanderers

But... To get a bit more geographical balance and to remove teams I just don't like, I'd be tempted to boot out Sunderland for Ipswich Town and Leeds for Leicester or Lincoln City!

Huddersfield?!!

 

[Member 5225]

Also, seems literally everyone has removed Hull!

 

[diarm]

If it's a Perfect Premier League 20 and not a First Division 20, first and foremost I would include any club who has won the league and any club who has been in the league for each of the 25 seasons.

After that, it just so happens that there are 20 clubs who have finished in the top 6 since the Premier League started. Removing nostalgia and sentiment from the equation leaves the clubs (in order of success) who have achieved the highest finishes in this league:

1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester City
5. Blackburn Rovers
6. Leicester
7. Liverpool
8. Newcastle
9. Aston Villa
10. Tottenham Hotspur
11. Norwich
12. Nottingham Forest
13. Leeds United
14. Everton
15. West Ham United
16. Queens Park Rangers
17. Ipswich Town
18. Southampton
19. Wimbledon
20. Bolton Wanderers

 

[DimitriusFalcao]

Huddersfield?!!

First club to win the league three times in succession

 

[Paul Scholes]

In
Norwich

Out
Liverpool

 

[Jaybomb]

1. Man Utd
2. Arsenal
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
5. Spurs
6. Man City
7. Everton
8. Leicester
9. West Ham
10. Southampton
11. Crystal Palace

12. Newcastle
13. QPR
14. Nottingham Forest
15. Leeds
16. Aston Villa
17. Fulham
18. Blackburn
19. Wolves
20. Portsmouth

Nothing to do with success or whatever. Just my personal preference. I think there would be some great games in there.