So hear me out, the current top 10 clubs in the Premier League should be considered a "big 10". So the general rule for a club to be considered a part of "big x" they have to be:
- Big club - a big fanbase and history
- Financial strength - ability to spend a lot to buy playera
- Pull factor - playera wanting to join the club just becuse of the club name
- Consistent success
Now there is no doubt why the "big 6" is part of this "big 10".
Now Aston Villa, Newcastle are big clubs, spend a lot, pull players from big clubs from other leagues and have had consistent good results in last 2 season.
West Ham is a big club, with consistent results (apart from last season). However, they have less pull factor and less financial strength from clubs listed above. But, I believe that their ability is in these categories is still better than bottom 10 clubs so that's why they should still be considered part of "big 10".
Brighton is the only highly questionable. They have results and relative financial strength. However, they have almost no pull factor and aren't a big club. But if their results continue to be good they will start to become a big club and gain a pull factor.
That's why I believe Arsenal, Liverpool, City, Tottenham, Spurs, United, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brighton and West Ham are part of "Big 10". What do you think?
Financial supremacy is what really sets the "Big 6" apart from the rest of the league. Their revenue is significantly higher which means they can spend a lot more under FFP. That allows them to keep the majority of their best players/staff and rebound when they go through a rough patch, or spend their way out of trouble, rather than just fading away.
There is a strong argument that having qualified for the Champions League, with other vastly increasing revenue streams and owners with a bottomless pit of money, Newcastle are on track to join them as a 7th financially dominant club.
For Villa, Brighton and West Ham, we are still a long way behind the Big 6 in terms of revenue and therefore spending power. It would take qualifying for the Champions League multiple times and rapid expansion of our global fanbases to close that gap.
It's weird though because Villa is in a weird middle ground where they spend far more than most non-big 6 teams and have a net spend higher than that of Liverpool and Man City (But that's also because these clubs have won trophies, improving their net spend).
As well, under Unai Emery, they could easily build back the pre Premier League days of Villa if they win a trophy or two as they have a ton of history, very large fan base, and decent ownership. As a result, Villa, and Newcastle as well, are in weird spots as they are very obviously growing extremely fast.
Yeah this is the hope for us as Villa fans. Spending is not just net transfer fees though, it’s wages as well. Villa still can’t get near any of the big 6 in terms of the wage bill.
If we were to qualify for the Champions League, get the revenue from that, bring in bigger sponsors, get more global fans, that’s when the gap would start to close.