Tottenham Hotspur are the reigning Europa League champions and they already have their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League secured. So, by that logic, you would think that any questions about them being a ‘big six’ club would be null and void – but that doesn’t exactly tell the full story.
Spurs, as a club, have been regarded as one of the biggest in English football for decades now. They have a deep-rooted history at the elite level of the game, and that’s not just because of their fanbase. They are one of the few clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League, they have multiple trophies scattered throughout their history, and they have even made a European Cup final.
A club in trouble
Unfortunately, the last few years have left many with more questions than answers about their legitimacy as one of the big boys. Just last year, they finished their league campaign down in 17th, which was easily their worst finish in recent memory. Sure, they won the Europa League, but in a different year, a bottom-three scrap would have been a serious possibility.
Now, they are once again lingering towards the bottom of the table, but this time around, it feels like a relegation battle could genuinely be on the horizon. They recently sacked Thomas Frank, and it came just a matter of months after they did the same thing to Ange Postecoglou, who was the man who won them their European title.
Right now, Spurs are priced at 5/1 to beat their North London rivals Arsenal this weekend, despite the gulf that currently exists between the two. If you happen to be optimistic enough to back that, you can use this AceOdds calculator to see how much you could stand to earn. Based on their form, though, it would require a minor miracle from Igor Tudor to get the job done.
The glaring proof
One of the issues facing Tottenham with regard to this debate is the presence of Aston Villa and Newcastle United. The Magpies captured the League Cup trophy last season and are also mixing it up in the Champions League, whereas Villa have been far more consistent in the league than Spurs have since returning to the top flight.
Even Leicester City have managed to win a Premier League title in the last decade, and they did so in a year where Tottenham appeared to be their closest challengers, and yet still finished third.
There is no official way to dictate who is part of the big six that we are discussing here but comparisons mean a lot in this sport. Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Manchester United have all enjoyed far more success in the modern era, even if Spurs fans will continue to remind the Gunners of their ongoing trophy drought (which they look set to end sooner rather than later).
They just do not seem to have the ability to draw in the big names as they once did, and that ‘Spursy’ mentality appears to be ingrained into the very foundations of the club.
