Where do we stand?

[Guest]

I was driving the car to work at some ungodly hour this morning and thinking about the match tonight. Even though it's an away match I think we can win this handsomely. I was thinking about Everton and how their fans think they are a higher level team than us and how, if they wanted, they could buy our players - Vardy for example. I realised that imo after our title win we are actually a higher level team than them, which got me thinking about where we actually should rank.

 

Ranking is all about winning and before our Prem title I will happily admit that we were a low prem/top championship side but since we have now won the prem title and then followed that up last season by being the best British team in Europe, the landscape has changed. This is largely thanks to the cash infusion, stability and desire of our owners backed up by good management and players.  

 

We are not British elite - to be elite a team needs to have a record of titles, European success and Cup wins having said that, I only rate Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea Liverpool and Arsenal as top tier. i couldn't tell you the last time that Spurs actually won anything (is it 1 league cup in 25 years) and let's face it Arsenal look like they're on the decline. I think our Prem title and European exploit puts us in the second tier with spurs and ahead of third tier teams like Southampton, West Ham and Everton. A third tier which is very fluid.

 

It's important that we get a europa league spot this season to cement our position in the second tier and give us a platform to attempt to catch Arsenal and Liverpool whilst fixing our new found prominence in the minds of potential signings and to put the likes of Everton in their place.

 

So my question is do you think we are second tier or would you put us alongside Everton in the third tier or lower?

 

A 1-3 victory for the Foxes tonight and we can move closer to Arsenal and Europa league qualification.

[rn9013]

Based on your own definition of second and third tier, I would still put us in that third tier bracket. I genuinely believe we have the potential to enter the second tier group, however at this stage it is still exactly that, potential. 

 

To be genuinely considered among the likes of arsenal and Tottenham’s, we would have to experience a spell of regular European football via the Europa league. At present when you remove the freak 15-16 season we have finished 14th and 12th, so in my opinion we are still some way off being considered amongst that second tier of clubs. 

[Blue ROI]

On current form the great escape to the champions league quarter final run puts us in the 2nd tier bracket.

 

I would have said 3rd maybe last year but beating Sevilla and a very decent effort against atletico elevates us.Would any club outside the PL top 6 do likewise?

 

There is considerable dross below us and if it came to a club to sign for we would be the more attractive proposition than any club currently 9th to 20th.

 

All can change in an instant though....

[Captain...]

We're in a league of our own, we yo-yo dramatically between relegation fodder and champions. Really there is a top 6 and the rest and we should be looking to establish ourselves as the best of the rest and pick off any of the big boys when they have a poor season.

 

Spurs may not have won anything but they finished 3rd in 2016 and 2nd 2017, comfortably ahead of some of the ones you class as elite and have had some good results in Europe this season. I would currently put us in a battle with Everton for the 7th place and any other teams that are having a good season, West Brom and Southampton last year, Burnley this year. Arsenal are the most vulnerable of the top 6, but it is still a top 6.