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The 'Big Six' Era is Over: Newcastle and Villa's Rise to the Top

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the Premier League and Champions League qualification finished on a dramatic note, Newcastle's qualification for the Champions League and Aston Villa's infamous collapse has sparked a debate about the 'big six' clubs. Only three seasons ago, Newcastle was touted as one of the top six teams, and now, with their impressive performances and consistent finishing in the top seven, they have disrupted the traditional elite.

Both Newcastle and Aston Villa have finished in the top seven in each of the last three seasons, a feat only matched by Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Their impressive league performances have led to the rebranding of the 'big six' as the 'big seven' by Sky. However, the Gazette notes that, while Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Spurs, and Chelsea still generate the largest revenues, the 'big six' era is effectively over.

Key Takeaways:

  • Newcastle and Aston Villa have disrupted the traditional elite by consistently finishing in the top seven in the Premier League over the past three seasons.
  • The 'big six' era is effectively over, with only three seasons of the top six clubs being in the top six in the Premier League table.
  • Newcastle finished fourth and seventh in the Premier League in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively, while Aston Villa finished seventh, fourth, and sixth in the last three seasons.
  • Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are the only 'big six' clubs to have picked up more points than Newcastle from the traditional 'big six' over the past three seasons.
  • Brighton have picked up more Premier League points over the last three seasons than Spurs, while Newcastle and Villa boast higher points totals over the same period than Manchester United, Chelsea, and Spurs.
  • Newcastle and Aston Villa's inclusion in the 'big seven' is due to PSR rules that restrict clubs from overspending, reflecting their commitment to Responsible Sponsorship.
  • Unai Emery, Aston Villa's head coach, has consistently dismissed the 'big six' label, stating that "it is not a top six but a top seven, top eight or top 10" and that Aston Villa is capable of targeting those positions.

Statistics:

  • Newcastle finished fourth and seventh in the Premier League in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, respectively.
  • Aston Villa finished seventh, fourth, and sixth in the last three seasons.
  • Only Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have picked up more points than Newcastle from the traditional 'big six' over the past three seasons.
  • Brighton have picked up 48 points in the Premier League over the last three seasons, more than Spurs' 46 points.
  • Newcastle and Villa have 52 and 51 points, respectively, over the past three seasons, more than Manchester United's 48 and Chelsea's 46 points.

Sources:

  • (https://www.shieldsgazette.com/newsletter)
  • (https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-anthony-elanga-nottingham-forest-swap-transfer-5177506)
  • https://imagestore.jpimedia.uk/webimg/10854154.jpg
  • https://imagestore.jpimedia.uk/webimg/10630520.jpg

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