Big Club

[Steve Wigan]

I think the term "big club" is a misused word in these days.

There are many group of clubs:

Biggest clubs: Manchester United and Liverpool
Big clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea
Big-ish clubs: Spurs and Manchester City
Sleeping giants: Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle




I think Sky Sports has led people to believe that mate. Leeds are a bigger club then Newcastle and Chelsea I my eyes. 10 years can't establish you as a big club. There are 6 big clubs in England to me, Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa, Everton and Tottenham. Followed by the likes of Leeds and City. Newcastle and Chelsea are still with your Sunderlands, forests, Sheffield Weds, West Hams I think.

True. Sky Sports have created a new hierarchy because it suits them. The mystical 'Big Four' was invented by Sky, and was simply the four currently successful teams when televised football became global. In the days when football was almost 100% about what went on in the UK, there were five 'big clubs', or maybe six. When I was a youngster, Everton were a big club and Liverpool were nowhere, just promoted from 'Division Two'. TV and money, and to a large extent luck or lack of it, and being the right club at the right time, is what determines size/importance now.

 

[Albertini78]

Newcastle a big club...Why because 30k+ jumped on the Keegan bandwagon in 1992? Spending more money than anyone in the 90's and winning bog all does that make them a big club? Sky/The premier league era really has brainwashed some people. They're about the same size club as Sunderland who's fans have had it much harder yet still pull in 40k crowds and are the last NE team to win the Title and FA Cup

 

[DevineEFC]

The term 'Big Club' is gone, for me. Dead.

It means NOTHING.

What should be used is 'Rich Club', because that is all that matters.

True.. Would prefer to say this myself!

 

[Toffeelover]

For me and this the difference, a big club is not neccessarily because it has a rich owner, it is more and deper than that which is why to me Everton is a "big" club.

It is it's history, it's fans, past players and mangers, for this is what makes a club.

 

[Wigan Blue]

We're big...end of

Totally Agree Fella

 

[mrb85]

I'm with the view that the best gauge of 'bigness' is away support. Away support reflects not just current 'size' but also history ie the cumulative effect of a clubs success and standing in the game. It's why we are 'big', and, for instance Newcastle, with their pathetic numbers at GP in the last two seasons, aren't.

 

[TraffordBlue]

No London clubs consistently travel mate.

Except for Arsenal who sell out every where with ease? Chelsea have as well this season, and Spurs have decent numbers too these days.

Us, Arsenal, United, Liverpool and Chelsea have the best away numbers and are the 5 biggest clubs for me. Followed by Spurs.

 

[bainesontoast]

I wonder if any Newcastle fans are still convinced they are a 'big club' after reading this: http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/newcastleunited/id/1624?cc=5739

 

[TraffordBlue]

We're obviously a big club. One of the biggest in the country but we're hindered by our trophyless past 19 years, the state of Goodison, lack of money in the transfer window and lack of "European Cup/CL" football. For the modern football fan, Newcastle with their bigger home gates, and Chelsea with their wealth are now bigger.

Chelsea have bought their success, and pre-Abramovich were a joke having just one league title. But they've won so much now it would be wrong to say they aren't one of the biggest now. City haven't got anywhere near Chelsea so far.

Our history, success, fanbase and away support proves we're a big club. Not doing too badly in the league at the moment either.

 

[Quim]

Except for Arsenal who sell out every where with ease? Chelsea have as well this season, and Spurs have decent numbers too these days.

Us, Arsenal, United, Liverpool and Chelsea have the best away numbers and are the 5 biggest clubs for me. Followed by Spurs.

Maybe this year while they are having a go, not for a number of years thoughChelsea don't travel at all mate, can't even remember the last time they filled out Goodison let alone the lower teams. Don't you remember them bringing about 500 for the league cup semi final afew years back. Arsenal the same they take about 1500 regulars everywhere no more than that, obviously they sell out now there doing well. West Ham are the only proper football supporters in London and even they don't travel in great numbers anymore

 

[Muggins]

Don't really see the point in an Evertonian making an argument for why Everton aren't a big club on an Everton fans forum.

There's enough non-Evertonians in the outside world and media that can spout that drivel, we don't need our own fans doing it. There's nothing to be achieved from such a navel-gazing exercise masquerading as a 'debate', as it will simply turn into a Bill Kenwright & board-bashing thread. Thats not defending them either, that's just stating a fact.

We are the 4th most successful club in England in terms of league titles won. For the first 110 years of our 135 year existence, we were the 2nd most successful club in England.

We have one of the biggest fanbases in England.

We are handicapped by our historic stadium and lack of finances.

We have one of the brightest young managers in Europe and a vibrant group of hugely talented international players that are forever the target of our fellow big clubs.

A very rich person buying a football club does not make that club a big club. It makes that club successful and glamourous, but it doesn't change the soul or the history of the club's past. Blackburn won the Premier League because they were very rich. Now they are not and are in the Championship. A billionaire bought Chelsea and they went from being a top 6 team to a regular CL team. Man City were a mid-table club that had a long history of relegations and promotions across 3 divisions, until a Sheik bought them and they won a few trophies.

Everton has a long track record of winning trophies throughout its 135 year history; unfortunately we've won nothing over a turbulent last 18 years. We've been close once or twice though.

Fantastic post mate.

 

[toffeemax]

I think the term "big club" is a misused word in these days.

There are many group of clubs:

Biggest clubs: Manchester United and Liverpool
Big clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea
Big-ish clubs: Spurs and Manchester City
Sleeping giants: Everton, Aston Villa, Newcastle United

let me fix this for you

good history and big now: utd + Liverpool
decent history and decent now: Arsenal, Everton
no history but current big: Chelsea + City

 

[Toffeelover]

Keep the faith. COYB.

 

[EvertonAndAustralia]

Except for Arsenal who sell out every where with ease? Chelsea have as well this season, and Spurs have decent numbers too these days.

Us, Arsenal, United, Liverpool and Chelsea have the best away numbers and are the 5 biggest clubs for me. Followed by Spurs.

Chelsea's away end v Boro in the FA cup last year looked empty. Yes it was a midweek game and far away but we would've sold it out

 

[rbm]

We are not the biggest but we are the best.

isn't taht what matters?

Manure are the biggest club in Britain and maybe the world but who wants to be a fan of he soulless corporate beast checking its share price every time Poor old Davie mutters to himself? Who wants that?