The Athletic FC Podcast: "Does the 'Big Six' Still Exist?" Summary

Release Date: January 29, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Athletic FC Podcast, host Ayo Akinwolere delves into the evolving landscape of the Premier League, questioning the continued dominance of the traditional "Big Six" clubs. Joined by senior writer Rory Smith, weekly columnist Tim Spears, and later, senior football reporter Matt Slater, the discussion navigates through the current struggles of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the rise of emerging clubs, and the financial dynamics reshaping English football.

Current Struggles of the Big Six

Ayo Akinwolere opens the discussion by highlighting the unexpected poor performances of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, both languishing in the lower half of the Premier League table.

“Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are languishing in the bottom half of the table.”
— Ayo Akinwolere [01:37]

Rory Smith attributes Manchester United's struggles to managerial uncertainties and inconsistent recruitment:

“With United you could have foreseen just about like mid-table obscurity this year.”
— Rory Smith [02:36]

In contrast, Tottenham's decline is deemed more surprising given their strong start last season and strategic signings like Dominik Solanke.

“This is a truly kind of cataclysmic season for Tottenham and that definitely comes as a surprise.”
— Rory Smith [03:52]

Historical Context of the Big Six

Rory Smith provides a historical overview of the "Big Six," tracing the term back to the late 1980s and early 1990s when clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, and Aston Villa spearheaded the formation of the Premier League. The term solidified in the early 2000s with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool consistently finishing in the top four, later expanding to include Manchester City and Tottenham.

“They were the original kind of Breakaway 6. They were the engine behind this great change in English football's landscape.”
— Rory Smith [04:10]

Emerging Clubs and Revenue Dynamics

The conversation shifts to the rise of clubs like Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, and Bournemouth, attributing their success to smart management, strategic recruitment, and substantial financial investments.

Tim Spears emphasizes the shift towards intelligent recruitment and managerial excellence influenced by figures like Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp:

“The biggest change ... has been the hiring of good managers.”
— Tim Spears [07:51]

Rory Smith adds that clubs like Brighton and Brentford have closed the financial and competitive gap through innovative strategies:

“They have come up with kind of a competitive edge. I think that's helped them close the financial kind of revenue gap immeasurably.”
— Rory Smith [07:51]

Impact of PSR (Profit Sharing Regulations)

PSR plays a crucial role in leveling the playing field by restricting excessive spending, thereby encouraging clubs to adopt data-driven and sustainable approaches to player recruitment.

Tim Spears discusses how PSR forces clubs to be inventive:

“If you're ambitious but can't quite compete financially... it makes sense to try something inventive and creative.”
— Tim Spears [10:04]

Rory Smith highlights that PSR limits the ability of big clubs to buy out top talent, thereby retaining players within less affluent teams and promoting a more equitable distribution of talent across the league.

“PSR... leads to a greater spread of talent throughout the division.”
— Rory Smith [11:05]

Homegrown Talent and Its Challenges

The discussion touches on the implications of PSR for developing and retaining homegrown English talent. Concerns are raised about the potential loss of young English players to foreign clubs that can offer more lucrative contracts.

“You're losing a whole heap of young English talent and this actually makes it quite different to many other leagues.”
— Ayo Akinwolere [14:06]

Tim Spears concurs, noting that PSR exacerbates the trend of English talent migrating abroad, thereby impacting the domestic talent pool.

“PSR is only going to exacerbate that... European clubs are going to be the ones to benefit.”
— Tim Spears [14:35]

Financial Gap and the Big Six

Matt Slater provides insights from the Deloitte Money League, illustrating the substantial revenue gap between the Big Six and the rest of the Premier League. The Big Six maintain their dominance through global brands, extensive sponsorships, and consistent Champions League revenue.

“There's been a consistent gap between them, a revenue gap of 100 to 150 million this year.”
— Matt Slater [16:22]

Despite tightening gaps, the Big Six remain significantly wealthier, reinforcing their status as the league's elite.

Challenges for Clubs Like Wolves

The podcast examines the plight of clubs like Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves), who, despite being among the richest globally, struggle to break into the top six due to structural and financial constraints.

Tim Spears expresses skepticism about Wolves challenging the Big Six:

“I don't see them getting relegated... but they'll lose a lot of ground on those teams chasing for The Champions League.”
— Tim Spears [32:00]

Rory Smith theorizes that while elite teams can compete on multiple fronts, emerging clubs face difficulties in maintaining competitive balance, especially when participating in European tournaments.

“Maybe that's where the revenue gap that still exists comes into play.”
— Rory Smith [34:17]

January Transfer Window and Tottenham's Future

In the final segment, Matt Slater and Tim Spears discuss Tottenham Hotspur's potential strategies during the January transfer window to address their precarious league position. Spurs have invested heavily in recent months, but underlying issues related to club identity and management persist.

“They have spent an awful lot of money in the past 18 months... but there are some serious issues.”
— Tim Spears [37:54]

Rory Smith critiques Spurs' cyclical approach to player acquisitions and sales, highlighting the frustration among fans due to the club's inability to translate financial investments into sustained on-pitch success.

“They are just treading water... they feel like a character from Greek myth who kind of has the grapes just out of their reach.”
— Rory Smith [40:06]

Conclusions and Future Outlook

The episode concludes with reflections on the Premier League's unique position as a financially dominant league that fosters both stability among elite clubs and opportunities for emerging teams. While the Big Six continue to wield significant influence, the evolving financial regulations and strategic management of other clubs suggest a more competitive and unpredictable future.

Ayo Akinwolere wraps up by emphasizing the ongoing transformation within the league and the potential for further shifts in power dynamics.

“You can see that change in English football history and I wonder if we're actually in one of those periods now.”
— Rory Smith [16:22]

Key Takeaways

• Big Six Struggles: Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur's current underperformance challenges their traditional dominance.

• Emerging Clubs' Rise: Clubs like Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle, and Bournemouth are leveraging smart management and recruitment to bridge the financial and competitive gaps.

• Financial Dynamics: The Big Six maintain a significant revenue advantage, perpetuating their elite status despite tightening competition.

• PSR Impact: Profit Sharing Regulations promote competitive balance by limiting excessive spending, encouraging sustainable club growth.

• Homegrown Talent: PSR poses challenges in retaining young English talent, potentially weakening the domestic player pool.

• Future of Premier League: The league is poised for continued transformation, balancing the stability of elite clubs with the rise of ambitious newcomers.

Notable Quotes:

• “Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are languishing in the bottom half of the table.”
  — Ayo Akinwolere [01:37]

• “PSR... leads to a greater spread of talent throughout the division.”
  — Rory Smith [11:05]

• “They are just treading water... they feel like a character from Greek myth who kind of has the grapes just out of their reach.”
  — Rory Smith [40:06]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode's exploration of the shifting power dynamics within the Premier League, highlighting both the enduring influence of the Big Six and the rising impact of emerging clubs under evolving financial regulations.