The Premier League is the top flight of English football, which, for many years, has been dominated by a group of teams known as ‘The Big Six’. This group of teams is composed of some of the largest stature clubs in the country, packed with history and legacies of domination. The group of clubs often make it a challenging task for new teams to embed themselves into consistent competitors at the highest level for numerous reasons. One of the pioneering factors preventing clubs from breaking into the big six mould is the huge revenue gap between clubs of smaller stature and the biggest in the world. There are some clubs in the Premier League of large stature, and in recent years, they have shown signs that they are ready to cement their status as among the greatest in the Premier League. In this article, we will cover what is restricting teams from breaking the mould, and some teams knocking on the door and may break into the elite in the near future.
BOYLE Sports, a sportsbook that offers casino online, has analysed the Premier League clubs and reached a verdict on the closest teams to the iconic ‘Big 6’.
What is The Big Six?
The group of elite in English football for the majority of the Premier League era has been labelled ‘The Big Six’, with all clubs dominant forces in the league. The clubs that compose this group of elites include Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Tottenham. All these clubs have been consistent competitors in the Premier League, showcasing their dominance in European tournaments and entertaining title races. The combined success of the big six clubs has helped showcase the strength of the Premier League, with many of the clubs being among the greatest in the world throughout the years.
What makes the big six untouchable is the tremendous revenue gap between them and the rest of the league, as they generate more income through sponsorships. Another contributing factor to the divide between the Premier League elite and the other 14 teams is their recruitment abilities, which can drain talent from other clubs. This can result in elite clubs growing at the expense of other clubs, making it difficult for them to sustain results due to the constant need to replace talent.
Teams Creeping on the Elite
Newcastle United
With the new era of Newcastle United well underway, supporters hope to see their club compete with the elite in England, like they once did consistently. The Premier League era for Newcastle United has been filled with ups and downs, and finally, things seem to be on the rise for the Northern giants. New ownership took control of the club in 2021, appointing Eddie Howe, and together they have seen some of the club’s greatest performances in recent history.
In the 2015/16 Premier League season, Newcastle United were relegated from the English top flight after finishing 18th. After a year of dismay, Newcastle United bounced back with immediate effect and returned to the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship. The return to the Premier League left a lot to be desired for Newcastle, with the club failing to break into the top 10 until the new owners took over. It was not until the 2022/23 season that Newcastle would return to the top level, finishing in fourth position, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2003.
In the past year, Newcastle United finished in 5th position in the Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the second time in 3 years. Newcastle United are currently in a year of change, after losing star talisman Alexander Isak to reigning champions Liverpool. Despite losing one of their star players, Newcastle United have spent well in the transfer window and look ready to compete in the Premier League once again.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa is one of the biggest clubs in English football, which in recent years has shown glimpses of success reminiscent of its historic times. Since the appointment of Unai Emery, Aston Villa has experienced a remarkable transformation, going from a reliable mid-table team under Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard to a European Contender. In the most recent years, Aston Villa have put together incredible performances, finishing in their highest top-flight league position since the late 2000s.
Like Newcastle United, Aston Villa faced relegation from the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, finishing bottom with just 17 points. Villa was relegated under caretaker manager Eric Black, though it was the two negative stints under Tim Sherwood and Remi Garde that set them up for disaster. After two years of failed attempts at promotion, Dean Smith was hired, who got Villa over the edge, and returned them to the Premier League after winning the Play-Off Final.
The previous season saw Aston Villa finish 6th in the Premier League, which, given their increased fixture load, was a respectable result. As a result, Aston Villa qualified for the UEFA Europa League, where they hope to advance through the rounds with their bolstered squad, bolstered by notable arrivals. With the likes of Harvey Elliott, Evann Guessand, Jadon Sancho, and others joining the club, Villa have built a squad with top-level experience, which may help them compete with the elite.
