The "big four"

TBM · by **TBM** » 07 Dec 2010 10:44

Is there such a thing as the big four any more?

Victor Meldrew · by **Victor Meldrew** » 07 Dec 2010 10:48

There probably isn't but I find it funny when commentators trot out Chelsea,Man Utd and Arsenal and then it is "err...............any one of City,Spurs and Liverpool".

soggy biscuit · by **soggy biscuit** » 07 Dec 2010 10:55

The Massive Four - Cardiff, Brighton, Leeds, Chelsea.

rfcjoe · by **rfcjoe** » 07 Dec 2010 10:59

RL, af1(rip), rabidbee, JMW(apparently)

The Big Four.

FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT · by **FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT** » 07 Dec 2010 12:07

No, it's just 3 now.

Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal.

soggy biscuit · by **soggy biscuit** » 07 Dec 2010 12:10

FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT No, it's just 3 now.

Liverpool, Man United and Arsenal.

TBM · by **TBM** » 07 Dec 2010 12:50

soggy biscuit
FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT No, it's just 3 now.

Spurs, Man United and Arsenal.

Svlad Cjelli · by **Svlad Cjelli** » 07 Dec 2010 12:57

Depends how you measure "big". On financial worth there's now a big 5 of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal & Man City.

cmonurz · by **cmonurz** » 07 Dec 2010 13:04

Svlad Cjelli Depends how you measure "big". On financial worth there's now a big 5 of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal & Man City.

^Agreed.

The 'Big 5' are 'big' in different ways. Perhaps a decent definition of 'big' is that there is something of intrinsic value in the club that attracts the world's top players, be it history (Liverpool, more recently United), money (Chelsea, City), brand of football (Arsenal) etc. Players don't go to Spurs or Villa for any of those things. No-one joins Everton on the back of its glory years, or Fulham for its European pedigree.

Ginger Ninjas · by **Ginger Ninjas** » 07 Dec 2010 13:08

Svlad Cjelli Depends how you measure "big". On financial worth there's now a big 5 of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal & Man City.

Spurs' finances > Liverpool's finances

Y21_Royal · by **Y21_Royal** » 07 Dec 2010 13:08

Svlad Cjelli Depends how you measure "big". On financial worth there's now a big 5 of Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal & Man City.

Depends what you mean by 'financial worth' Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal don't appear to have any money to spend so in terms of financial clout there's a 'big one'

Mr Angry · by **Mr Angry** » 07 Dec 2010 13:13

"The Big Four" was always journalistic shorthand for meaning who would be the most likely to be in the top 4 positions as it appeared that 4 teams - recently, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal - would always be there or thereabouts.

Problem is, as has been demonstrated, that that journalistic licence no longer applies, as 2 others (Spurs and Man City) are joining the party, and I remember Everton and Villa being referred to as "big four" clubs (before Abramovich's money, and George Graham's discipline made Chelsea and Arsenal so formidable).

As always in the wonderful world of the Premier league, it is all about the now.

Svlad Cjelli · by **Svlad Cjelli** » 07 Dec 2010 13:16

Yep - before the PL came along there used to be a "big 5" - Man Utd, Liverpool, Everton, Spurs & Arsenal

soggy biscuit · by **soggy biscuit** » 07 Dec 2010 13:22

Svlad Cjelli before the PL came along

No Fixed Abode

dean horrix legend · by **dean horrix legend** » 07 Dec 2010 13:49

E mail Sky, they'll be able to tell you.

handbags_harris · by **handbags_harris** » 07 Dec 2010 15:27

So where does GROFLand SLOLam Sunday (one of many completely undeniable facets of Sky's hand in football) feature now then?

Wax Jacket · by **Wax Jacket** » 07 Dec 2010 15:43

Mr Angry "The Big Four" was always journalistic shorthand for meaning who would be the most likely to be in the top 4 positions as it appeared that 4 teams - recently, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal - would always be there or thereabouts.

Problem is, as has been demonstrated, that that journalistic licence no longer applies, as 2 others (Spurs and Man City) are joining the party, and I remember Everton and Villa being referred to as "big four" clubs (before Abramovich's money, and George Graham's discipline made Chelsea and Arsenal so formidable).

As always in the wonderful world of the Premier league, it is all about the now.

I think you could call it a big 3 now really

John Madejski's Wallet · by **John Madejski's Wallet** » 07 Dec 2010 16:30

rfcjoe RL, af1(rip), rabidbee, JMW(apparently)

The Big Four.

Do what now?

Bowman's Quiver · by **Bowman's Quiver** » 07 Dec 2010 16:51

It's not so long ago (20 years) when the talk was of the big six. Nobody could ever agree which six they might be.

Chelsea barely got into the top six clubs in London at the time.

papereyes · by **papereyes** » 07 Dec 2010 17:05

4 CL places = Big 4

I thought it was obvious

Made redundent by Manchester City and Spurs taking advantage of Liverpool (and to a lesser extent United) taking on loads of debt.

It's pretty obvious really.

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