Chelsea would not have become a big 4 if FFP were in placeFirstly thank you for a well-thought-out out and reasoned reply.
I think you are right and there is an element of truth in what you have posted. The thing is though that it was far less competitive before FFP. The big 4 were Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man United. Between 05 and 12 those big 4 teams featured in 7 out of 8 CL finals.
If you look back to the start of the PL we were one of the big 4 and one of the chief protagonists in the formation of the breakaway League. Have Spurs overtaken us because of a cartel or just because they have been far better run?
City also
There is little difference at the top other than the addition of a couple of clubs that were added pre FFP
Since then no club has joined them, and none will, that's the problem
We weren't flying high at the time the PL was formed, were beginning to decline through mismanagement like you say, but also now, income being the deciding factor in what can be spent being what it is, and Spurs always having a decent income, that played a big part too. No more wealthy owners to flood a club with funds. Moshiri at least tried, but he was too late and had clowns controlling his investment.
It's a rigged game now and we won't see another Chelsea or City break the ceiling for any sustained period. As soon as a club does well, their players will be plucked from them








