Will we ever make the big four

[German James]

We can't compete money-wise, so the only chance is to build, develop and KEEP a squad over time. That's what we're trying to do, however we have to start again every summer because rich clubs like to take players as a way of hamstringing poorer clubs, and modern footballers and their horrible agents are as thick and greedy as Donald Trump.

Ridiculous contracts skewed towards the club (as much as they're skewed towards the players now), a general wage-cap or some sort of draft-system are the only ways I can think of which would enable us (or any of a dozen other teams) to compete. The Premiere League is an astonishingly successful disgrace to sport!

[Percy McCarthy]

I don't think the intention of the Milan clubs, Juventus and Bayern Munich was ever to generate less TV income than Bournemouth.

Who would have predicted that a few years ago?*

*Me excluded.

They have the bulk of the TV rights money in their own countries and almost unbroken membership of the CL club, plus massive marketing pull, which I'd guess puts them a fair way ahead of Bournemouth in the financial clout league.   Those clubs did want this situation to point, but the next step should have been a full on European elite super league.  I guess they are now somewhat taken aback to see quite how big a marketing and money behemoth the PL has become, and it seems it will put the mockers on that final stage.  Serves them right.   

Indeed. Like a lot of people on here, they never dreamed that the PL would become far more lucrative than their stitched-up Champions League snooze fest. I'd wager that even the plastic cartel of English clubs never saw that coming.

This could yet turn UEFA into an ally in the cause of limiting the power of the richest English clubs. FFP was an attempt at this, expect them to come up with something else when it doesn't work.

[SamTheMouse]

They should impose a flat redistributive tax on income and spending, with massive marginal hikes, so the likes of Chelsea and Man City end up having to pay hundreds of millions to the lesser clubs every year.

Make it about winning trophies for the glory, not the money.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

One day one of these so called big clubs will do a Rangers.

[German James]

One day one of these so called big clubs will do a Rangers.

Ah! Yes, I missed that one out... If that happens, there may be a little more thirst for change.

[Percy McCarthy]

Will we one of the very best sides in the country again any time soon? 

Barring a change to the ownership situation, it would be impossible.

However, 15 + years ago, being 4th or even 3rd best didn't mean a whole pile.

There was talk of the CL being rejigged to include the top 8 sides in England a few years back, and that is something that may be revisited. If that were to occur, we might have some outside change of restoring a bit of prestige.

It's shite, on one level.  The European Cup should be about the champions of their respective countries.  But that ship sailed in 1993.  Revenue  is what it is ultimately all about, and Hamburg versus Aston Villa in a rejigged CL would hold more appeal than MK Zillina against Bate Borisov to the powers that be.

Excellent point.

[Percy McCarthy]

Agree on the collective sale of tv rights abroad. If that ever stopped, it'd be the end of football for me.

Not sure that the television money is going to take away the advantages that really count. Man City, for example, seem to be immune to any form of economic limitations.

Man City are a pretty unique example though with their owners. Even Abramovich doesn't get it all his own way now - even perennially skint Everton don't need his blood-money as much as they need a promising centre-half. Twenty years ago it was commonly thought that Blackburn would dominate for years because of a relative pauper like Jack Walker.

[PaulWinch again]

As an aside the European Cup/Champions League used to be interesting, because you could see different clubs competing and big teams from England would struggle against the varying styles across Europe. However now it's incredibly dull with basically the same teams winning all the time. The group stages are the most boring money making exercise ever. The money isn't going to go away, so at least if they made the group draw unseeded that could be a bit more interesting.
Football is going to die at some point, because they're very naive. I'd argue the majority of fans are probably in it now for loyalty and historical love, I can't imagine many come to love the game now, or if they do they'll support it in the long term.

[Mellin]

Without another club getting serious financial backing, or the league going into complete and utter financial meltdown, no club other than the current top four and perhaps Liverpool will win the league for the next 30 years.

Boring shite. Can't wait for Rome to burn.

[PeterWithesShin]

I posted this before about the top 4, shows how it has changed recently thank to the CL.

Number of different clubs that finished in the top 4 in these decades.

1970/71-1979/80: 15
1980/81-1989/90: 13
1990/91-1999/2000: 12
2000/01-2090/10: 8 (3 clubs managed it once, otherwise every year it was the same 5 fighting it out)

So far this decade it is 6. And I wouldn't be surprised if that is the number at the end of it. Most of the top flight are just there to make up the numbers now. Ain't mod£rn football grand.

[Gregorys Boy]

Ever's a long time.  It could happen with the right investment, right manager, a long term vision and a bit of luck.  But it looks a million years away right now.  The better question would be with Football being even more of a dirty, evil business at the top end of the game.  Do we even want to be part of it?

[Fuse]

With the new TV deal the actual money available in the CL isnt the be all and end all anymore. Its sponsorship that the these clubs get that makes all the difference. Man Utd sign bigger sponsorship deals for being able to put your brand on the arse of their shorts than we do for a 5 year shirt deal.

I am ultimately bored of it all and quite like the fact that one of the sky 4 as it was miss out each season now that Man City are a permanent fixture. Quite easy to see one of them going into real financial meltdown if they went 3-4 years missing out. That would be great to see

[SirSteveUK]

Without another club getting serious financial backing, or the league going into complete and utter financial meltdown, no club other than the current top four and perhaps Liverpool will win the league for the next 30 years.

Boring shite. Can't wait for Rome to burn.

Only 30 years ??

[Legion]

Unlikely.

[old man villa fan]

In the last:-
10 years there have been 3 winners
20 years there have been 4 winners
23 years there have been 5 winners - formation of PL
30 years there have been 8 winners
40 years there have been 10 winners
50 years there have been 11 winners

The formation of the Premier League virtually closed the door on anybody outside Man Utd and Arsenal winning until the money bought it for Chelsea 11 years ago and then Man City 4 years ago.

One thing I hadn't thought much of is that Liverpool have never won the PL and their last title win is 26 years ago and, until the PL, Man Utd hadn't won the title for 26 years.

Unless a new owner comes in with around £500m as somebody else mentioned, the PL winners will only come from Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal unless the owners of Chelsea or Man City walk away from the game and they don't get an equally rich buyer.

Even breaking the monopoly of last seasons top four is looking more and more remote.  With the arrival of Man City, it looks as though Liverpool will struggle to make top four again unless they do it this year.  Their squad looks to be getting weaker as the years go on, even though they are pumping in a lot of money.  Arsenal look to be getting over their financial commitment of their move from Highbury and starting to buy players at the top end of the market.

A stepped change will be required to break the current monopoly.  The only possibilities are (i) new wealthy owner (ii) break up of PL (iii) amalgamation of clubs in different countries or (iv) corruption due to the vast amount of money coming into the game.

Will we ever make top four again?  Not unless there is somebody out there with £500m to burn.  Less if Lerner was to dilute is ownership value and bring in a partner/partners.