What makes a club big?

[Nem]

Oasis weren't very big in the 80s either.

I think you've got to give it to Chelsea at some point.

Very true. Only one other team has back-to-back premiership titles.

But as a big club how do you judge where they stand vs the others?

If Abramovich bought Tottenham instead and we won b2b EPL titles - would we be bigger than Arsenal, Liverpool?

No, I dont think Chelsea are now, but at what point do they become bigger?

Define who are bigger out of say Spurs and Newcastle? Or Arsenal and Liverpool?

Liverpool dominated the world for 3 decades, they were the biggest club up untill 1990's

Newcastle are like west ham in my eyes.

[thetank]

Or would you judge a clubs size by how much it's name has penetrated and registers in mainstream society.

Go round shopping centres up and down the country, asking teenage girls to name 5 premiership sides.

History is a factor, but I think often weighted too heavily in these evaluations.

[The Baron]

Surely the only way to find the biggest club is to judge it like a franchise in american football. Surely the biggest has to come down to the turnover. This shows which one makes the most from ticket sales, tv rights, merchandising, etc. It cannot be put down to wins, titles and so on whcih must be said to go hand in hand with increased profits. You will not see a successful team that consistently wins titles that isnt one of the richest in the world.

Benfica? Massive history and European titles but dont turnover much. Saying they aren't as big as say Valencia or Newcastle becuase of their inferior turnover is harsh.

[Nem]

Surely the only way to find the biggest club is to judge it like a franchise in american football. Surely the biggest has to come down to the turnover. This shows which one makes the most from ticket sales, tv rights, merchandising, etc. It cannot be put down to wins, titles and so on whcih must be said to go hand in hand with increased profits. You will not see a successful team that consistently wins titles that isnt one of the richest in the world.

Benfica? Massive history and European titles but dont turnover much. Saying they aren't as big as say Valencia or Newcastle becuase of their inferior turnover is harsh.

IMO Benfica and Porto are like Celtic and Rangers in stature.

[KingPoker]

The answer is so debatable and have to take in so many factorials that there can be no definative answer! I think its fair to say that liverpool has been the biggest club over the 30 year period but cannot say that it now stil holds that position. Man U are seen to be the most commercially successfully and chelsea the most successfull in titles and cups in recent years. No 1 team can be put on the podium!

Your right Baron. It cant be based on turnover alone. It is harsh to eliminate certain teams due to lesser turnover

[The Baron]

Or would you judge a clubs size by how much it's name has penetrated and registers in mainstream society.

Go round shopping centres up and down the country, asking teenage girls to name 5 premiership sides.

History is a factor, but I think often weighted too heavily in these evaluations.

But the view of teenage girls who aren't really part of the typical football fan demograph surely cant be considered a realistic measuring system over a club's history?

[The Baron]

The answer is so debatable and have to take in so many factorials that there can be no definative answer! I think its fair to say that liverpool has been the biggest club over the 30 year period but cannot say that it now stil holds that position. Man U are seen to be the most commercially successfully and chelsea the most successfully in titles and cups. No 1 team can be put on the podium!

I agree with this.

I'm interested to hear people's views on it though.

[thetank]

You asked for bigness though

Todays society likens big to fame. You'd probably be better going round the world, than round this country.

[The Baron]

You asked for bigness though

True. Popular culture (such as the clubs with the best looking WAGs, the players having the best weddings etc) will probably dictate who gets mentioned more though.

[thetank]

I have no problem taking a clipboard to Japan if anyone wants to pay my airfare.

[Royal Flush]

1 question, how can you "turnover a loss" turnover is just the money you have coming in.

[thetank]

True. Popular culture (such as the clubs with the best looking WAGs, the players having the best weddings etc) will probably dictate who gets mentioned more though.

I would think this works both ways though?
Will the best looking WAGs not gravitate to the bigger clubs.

Better get off the WAGs now I supppose, Nem will be blowing a gasket.

[KingPoker]

You asked for bigness though

True. Popular culture (such as the clubs with the best looking WAGs, the players having the best weddings etc) will probably dictate who gets mentioned more though.

Of course, why else would LA Galaxy sign Beckham up for 250m dollars. I know he has the skills but he is worth so much more to them off the pitch. It will be the downfall of football in the end. Give it 3 -5 years and there will be an even bigger gap between the top 5 premiership gants and the rest of the teams.  

[The Baron]

1 question, how can you "turnover a loss" turnover is just the money you have coming in.

Chelsea definately made a loss last year so that table wasn't turnover.

[Royal Flush]

1 question, how can you "turnover a loss" turnover is just the money you have coming in.

Chelsea definately made a loss last year so that table wasn't turnover.

eh?