"Top 6"

[TheBigIguana]

Freak or not, the fact remains both Leicester and Saints were in the "top six" last season.

And the term "best of the rest" refers to the team finishing 5th, not 7th.

And the reason for that is the teams finishing in the top four go into the promised land that is the Champion's League.

The reward for finishing "best of the rest" is The Thursday Night Cup.

Why are people so gullible as to swallow all this nonsense the media would shove down their throats simply because on this rare occasion all their ducks are in a row and their "darling" teams happen to occupy the top six places.......for now

And as for quoting Tony Pulis as some kind of guru.....well lol

Best of the rest is the team finishing second. Only one team is the best

 

[4737carlin]

The media only started talking about top 6 once Liverpool could no longer be considered a top 4 side.

The top one side is the one that counts everyone else is bottom 19

 

[Toffee-nerd]

We aren't as good as any of the teams above us, but we are better than teh teams below us.

We are effectively in a league of our own for now.

Don't know about that. United without ibra for the next 3 games will be interesting to see how many points they pick up. Without him they really struggle to score. Rs are class against the teams above us but dismal against the rest. We battered citeh 4-0. Arsenal are going through some serious troubles on and off the pitch. Sanchez is quite obviously their best player but also a disruptive influence and there's clear disharmony there making them even more inconsistent than usual. Only spurs and Chelsea are in a league of their own imo. The rest are very catchable. Everton on the other hand are only behind Chelsea and spurs in terms of consistency and points scored over the last 9 or 10 games.

Edit I don't think we can catch city for the record.

 

[bluestevon]

No, I don't think so.....though I could be wrong

An attempt is being made in the media over here to make "Top six" a generic term for six teams they deem to be a cocooned elite in the EPL and too many of our friends on here are buying into it.

And I am raging against it

IMO it us being driven mainly by the fact Manchester United are struggling to make the Top Four on a regular basis these days, a genuine elite grouping as finishing top four allows a club to dine at the highest table and whatever else, the media have to preserve the elite status of the United "brand" and keep it relevant.

The same applies to the RS to a certain extent.

And it will get worse if, as I suspect, Arsenal lose their top four status and spend a few years in the relative doldrums fighting for the 5th Place Best Of The Rest Trophy

As we all know, United, the RS and Arsenal are media darlings and have been for yonkos.....if those three are regularly finishing outside the real elite group then a new term has to be invented to keep them aloft.

Hence we are entering the era of the "Top Six"

Next season will see Arsenal without their manager of twenty odd years, just look at the effect that can have with what happened after fergie left United, likely without cl footy as well, and with Sanchez leaving.
Spurs are gonna be playing all their home games at Wembley which will massively effect their form.

That's two of the supposed top 6 who can seriously falter next season.

Liverpool and Chelsea with European games and without massive first team squads.
Be interesting if we keep building with and break into that group how the media will spin it all to make us an abberation whilst they talk about the teams below us.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It's just a media term isn't it? I doubt the club pay too much attention to the media to be honest.

 

[zirc]

"Top six" does not guarantee you a place in Europe.

Only 5th place does that.

If the two domestic cups were won by teams finishing in say, 9th and 10th, then the team finishing sixth woukd not be in Europe

yes, that happened to us in 2013.

 

[tim cahill]

We aren't as good as any of the teams above us, but we are better than teh teams below us.

We are effectively in a league of our own for now.

So what your saying is... we're basically top of our own league?!

 

[The Cowboy]

Not sure why people are too arsed, the top 6 concept made a lot of sense this season when they were all miles ahead of 7th and any of them could have finished in the top 4

Even after our incredible streak in the last 9 games or so, we started in 7th and we're still in 7th

Because it serves to cement the concept that the PL is a two-tier competition, I don't recall hearing a 'top-whatever' last season, when the RS finished 8th and Chelsea finished 10th. But lo and behold, when they're concentrated again, the term returns and is always elastic enough to just encompass them all.

The PL/Sky needs to keep a select few at the forefront, for the international market. It's so much easier to sell it as a 6 club franchise with other opponents than have to big up everyone.

 

[Jreverton1]

Leicester was a freak. It was stunning & fully deserved but this season has proved even more how much of a freak it was. As for Southampton & WestHam, both have gone backwards. We are also a different animal now in comparison to them. Tony Pulis himself said that we are best of the rest a couple of weeks ago.

As long as Tony Pulis says we are best of the rest, I'm happy with that.

 

[allen]

I will only become a 'Top 7' if 7th place guarantees you an Europa League place. Until then, 'Top 6" it is.

Well, there was only a "Top 4" until a few seasons ago.

It's not so much about where you finish as where you compete to finish. If we are one of seven who are genuinely and reliably competing for the CL places, then there will be a 'Top 7' as far as the media are concerned.

 

[Rossisboss]

So what your saying is... we're basically top of our own league?!

Bottom too

 

[Stutheblue]

The media only started talking about top 6 once Liverpool could no longer be considered a top 4 side.

The top one side is the one that counts everyone else is bottom 19

Yes. Sky invented the 'big 4' when Abramovic's Chelsea joined the party. Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool. When Man City's billions crashed that party and it was Liverpool who dropped (by & large) outside that top 4, it became the 'bix 6'.
Even now, I'd say Man City don't get the same coverage as Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea. The media is full of them. If we ever get in there I think we'd be like City and Spurs. Decent coverage, but nowhere near that of the others.
But, the challenge is to get in there and 'spoil the party' first. But as has been said, if we do it will become 'a 7'. And we all know why.

 

[tim cahill]

Well, there was only a "Top 4" until a few seasons ago.

It's not so much about where you finish as where you compete to finish. If we are one of seven who are genuinely and reliably competing for the CL places, then there will be a 'Top 7' as far as the media are concerned.

No, we'll be seen as punching above our weight. Any of the 'top 6' we finish above will be criticised for having a poor season.

 

[RFUS]

I really hate the media in this country.

 

[allen]

No, we'll be seen as punching above our weight. Any of the 'top 6' we finish above will be criticised for having a poor season.

Only if that's the punditry you seek out.

Tottenham gatecrashed the Sky party uninvited. We can, too.