I never really got into FM09 and it was because I could never get a decent file going, with a top team or not, I don't know whether that was to do with difficulty though.
So far I've only played with Man City on the new game and to be fair it's been easy to get into, and i'm doing well but in my 2nd season minimum expectations are to reach the final of FA Cup, Champions League, win the Carling Cup and Title Challenge. And to me thats asking a lot, but to somebody else it might not be!
I can't really say for sure until I've played with a variety of different teams!