Many people talk about the so-called ‘Big Six’ in the Premier League. That concept is slightly strange, considering many of those clubs have failed to achieve success for a long time.
Even the most successful English football clubs in history, such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool, will experience cycles of success and failure.
Mainly due to Manchester City’s recent dominance of the Premier League, United have not won a title in over a decade, while Liverpool has won one league title in over thirty years.
Arsenal’s last title came in 2004, so none of these clubs can claim to have been wildly successful. Then there is Tottenham, who have failed to win an English league title since 1961.
In the last few decades, wealthy Manchester City and Chelsea owners have turned them into genuine contenders in English football. However, in truth, the ‘Big Six’ is a myth that should be consigned to the bin in the modern era of the beautiful game in England.
Challenging the so-called ‘Big-six’
In recent seasons, there has been a rise in other clubs threatening the ‘Big-six’. There are historic clubs in England that could become as big as City, for example, if they started winning trophies.
Three clubs in particular spring to mind: Aston Villa, Everton, and Newcastle. All three have storied histories, and if they experience major success, they have the potential to overtake clubs currently in the ‘Big Six’.
Both Villa and Newcastle have challenged for Champions League places in the English Premier League. In fact, in season 2023/24, Villa were title contenders for much of the campaign.
Under talented Spanish head coach Unai Emery, the Villains showed that they can go toe-to-toe with most teams in the English top-flight. Villa will be expected to enjoy another strong campaign in season 2024/25.
The men from the Midlands have already strengthened their squad with the addition of highly-rated Belgian international midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50m deal.
@avfcofficial A message from your newest Villans 🤩 #AmadouOnana #IanMaatsen #AstonVilla
The former Lille player seems to have all the attributes needed to become a truly top player. However, he wasn’t suited to an Everton team managed by Sean Dyche battling relegation.
He will be playing at Villa in a team that could be genuine contenders for significant silverware if they can continue their upward trajectory. If they can negotiate the sometimes-ludicrous PSR rules to their advantage, then the Villains can be successful, and their fans deserve a taste of success.
Newcastle’s big-money takeover by Middle Eastern investors has transformed the Magpies from also-rans into a genuinely promising football team.
In season 2022/23, the team managed by another highly rated head coach, Eddie Howe, broke that glass ceiling by finishing in the top four and claiming a prestigious Champions League place.
The north east team suffered some major injury issues in season 2023/24, which led to Howe’s team finishing a disappointing seventh place in the Premier League table.
Despite the seemingly underwhelming campaign, Newcastle still has the foundations to challenge at the top of the English top-flight table. It would be massively surprising if the Magpies were not genuine European contenders in season 2024/25.
Everton is the furthest away from being genuine contenders out of the trio. However, the club has such a big history and potential.
The Toffees have struggled near the bottom of the Premier League table in recent seasons, mainly due to some shocking mismanagement at the top of the club.
A brand-new stadium at Bramley Moore, due for completion in time for the 2025/26 season, could be a catalyst for the Toffee’s improvement.
Despite the recent collapse of a Friedkin Group takeover, things are looking slightly brighter. The club is supposedly no longer in PSR trouble after the sale of Onana to Villa.
On the pitch, without a points deduction in season 2023/24, the Toffees would have enjoyed a comfortable midtable finish. Former Burnley boss Sean Dyche has brought calm to the team, and if he can make the right summer additions, then Everton could be in for a far improved season.
In the longer term, other potential bidders are interested in buying the club. If they can also stabilise the finances off the pitch, then the team can move forward on the pitch, and who knows what they can achieve.
The elephant in the room that is PSR
The problem with all three of the clubs mentioned above is that they do not have the luxury of spending whatever the club owners wish to spend.
Chelsea and Manchester City bought success, as there were very few rules to stop them from spending small fortunes on players. Their rises to the top table of English football were relatively quick and unimpeded.
The PSR rules were introduced supposedly to protect clubs from financial ruin. However, in reality, they were just a mechanism to keep the status quo in English football’s top flight.
The Premier League does not want to upset its cash cow clubs, which attract fans from around the world. However, if they were successful, other clubs would attract the same number of fans globally.
It is a disgrace that Villa had to sell players in the summer just to comply with PSR rules despite finishing fourth last season.
Meanwhile, a certain other club, considered part of the so-called ‘Big Six,’ is nearly a billion in debt, and Villa is regarded as the villain for struggling to meet PSR rules.
Despite those PSR rules, hopefully, Villa, Newcastle, and Everton can flourish in the future. Without new teams challenging in the Premier League, the product will attract less and less interest from fans.
Less interest means less money in the league, which is bad news for all clubs within the organisation. Even as a non-Villa fan, watching Emery’s team challenge at the top last season brought joy and some excitement, which is what football is supposed to be about.
Can any team from outside the so-called ‘Big-Six’ truly challenge for the Premier League title in season 2024/25?