first 'big 4' defeat by a 'little un' in a domestic final?

[DC_Boy]

I don't know when the concept of the 'big 4' came to be a wdely accepted term - perhaps about 2000?

it certainly didn't exist in its current meaning when Everton beat Utd in 95(?)

and I can't remember a domestic final since when a 'big 4 team' has been beaten except by their own kind

 

[michaelden]

Yeah we rock. Trend setters all the way.

 

[Krafty]

Its massive, especially for us. When we beat Chelski in the league they were missing a few players. When we thrashed the scum they had their 'kids'. This was a final. This was a full strength Chelski. No injuries. And we not only won, but we deserved it by a country mile.

 

[DC_Boy]

yep it's a great feeling - so many have tried and failed - but we've done it

 

[donny1013]

Everton beating Man Yoo after they beat us in the semis has to be the last time??

 

[tototoner]

I don't know when the concept of the 'big 4' came to be a wdely accepted term - perhaps about 2000?

it certainly didn't exist in its current meaning when Everton beat Utd in 95(?)

and I can't remember a domestic final since when a 'big 4 team' has been beaten except by their own kind

it was when Roman took over Chelsea in 2003, this this from Wiki.

"Big Four" dominance

Another major criticism is the development of the so-called, "Big Four" clubs.[49] In the past 12 seasons only three different clubs have won the Premier League title—Manchester United (seven times), Arsenal (three times) and Chelsea (twice). Blackburn Rovers are the only other team to have won the title in the Premier League's history. In addition, Manchester United have not finished outside the top 3 since the formation of the Premier League, with Arsenal finishing inside the top 5 in all but two seasons, while Liverpool without an English league title since the pre-Premier League era, have not finished lower than fifth since 1999. In recent years, the success of these clubs has led to these four teams being increasingly referred to as the "Big Four". This developed with Chelsea's rise in status after their takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003, which has led to multiple league and cup successes. The Big Four clubs have all qualified for the last four seasons of the Champions League and receive the benefits of such qualification. The benefits include increased revenue and this is believed to have widened the gap between the Big Four clubs and the rest of the Premiership.[49]

 

[DC_Boy]

Everton beating Man Yoo after they beat us in the semis has to be the last time??

hi Donny it could be argued like that - but as I say and the Wiki article tends to confirm there was no 'big 4' in its current meaning back in 95 when Everton won -

so yes Man U were 'massive' but not part of the 'big 4 machine'

it's splitting hairs in one way of course - but hey what are forums for?

 

[SpurSince57]

The 'Big Four' really only came into being with the Champions League in 1997-1998.

 

[DoublePivot]

The 'Big Four' really only came into being with the Champions League in 1997-1998.

I agree with the UCL, but the big four came into being when England's coefficient moved past Germany's so that there were four teams in the competition. I think that happened in 2000 after United's win.

 

[The Apprentice]

"The Big 4" name is manufactured for Sky's purposes. Makes the games between them sound epic. There is a definite turning of the tide in the League. With a lot of the lower clubs receiving large financial investments, hopefully it will lead to the League closing up a bit.

There is absolutely no reason why we can't finish above Liverpool next season.

 

[DC_Boy]

yep well most of the 'Big 4' dating seems to confirm us as the first 'Big 4 slayer' - whooh hoo

 

[Ironskull]

I still tend to think of the "big four teams" rather than the "big four clubs". Even having beaten Chelsea I can't find it in my heart to be jubilant for any other reason than we've won a trophy. I have never thought of them as a big four club at all really. What with RomanA in charge and the ludicrous losses they make I don't think they are a football club at all in the usual sense. They don't represent a location, they don't represent a tradition, they have no great history, their roots are a complete contrast to ours and those of dozens of other top clubs. Ah well, onwards and upwards.

 

[Pleat_Out]

"The Big 4" name is manufactured for Sky's purposes. Makes the games between them sound epic. There is a definite turning of the tide in the League. With a lot of the lower clubs receiving large financial investments, hopefully it will lead to the League closing up a bit.

There is absolutely no reason why we can't finish above Liverpool next season.

I think reports of the big four's death are always greatly exaggerated. And it is no manufacture. The four clubs have finished in at least the top 5 in the last 8 years. 9 years if Liverpool at least get 5th again. That is a long time to be up there every year.

We heard it before with Liverpool when Everton finished above them a couple of years back but then they came back from that and finished 3rd the following season, with a massive gap between them and Arsenal. And Arsenal themselves of course had a couple of years where they were holding onto 5th and look at them now.

I certainly think we can finish above Liverpool next season though. They look the most vulnerable. But you've only cracked it when you're finishing above them consistently and I think we're the best bet to do that.

 

[camaj]

A team that isn't part of the current "big 4" haven't won the FA cup since 95 (regardless of whether that term was in use then). However it's "only" been 4 years since Boro won the League cup and 6 years since Blackburn beat us. You have to go back to 1994 to see one of the big 4 lose to a team outside that group when Villa beat ManU.

So while it's nice that a non-big 4 side has won the league cup, it's not a competition the big 4 have had such a large monopoly on.

 

[DC_Boy]

A team that isn't part of the current "big 4" haven't won the FA cup since 95 (regardless of whether that term was in use then). However it's "only" been 4 years since Boro won the League cup and 6 years since Blackburn beat us. You have to go back to 1994 to see one of the big 4 lose to a team outside that group when Villa beat ManU.

So while it's nice that a non-big 4 side has won the league cup, it's not a competition the big 4 have had such a large monopoly on.

yeah but Camaj they didn't beat a big 4 team to do it

incidentally, breaking into the big 4 or extending it to a big 5 will obviously take, as people have said, a lot of consistency on the part of any team to do that -

for us iSun was a possible start - but we're at least another successful season away from even starting to thinking of breaking into the Big 4

 

[camaj]

yeah but Camaj they didn't beat a big 4 team to do it

That's what I said

 

[Koba]

I don't really see the big 5 ever happening, there are only 4 champions league spots, and as the wiki article states the big 4 has a lot to do with the benefits brought from that. I think it will always be a 4, but, having said that, which 4 they are could be changed over time, or the concept collapses and the monopoly of the champions leage stops, but i don't really see that.
But thats well off the point, and like I mentioned, to call it worthless is wrong, it is still a trophy teams would rather win than not.

 

[yanno]

Well, it looks like Liverpool could soon have new owners after Tom Hicks Jr was spat at in a scouse pub despite being surrounded by minders:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2259737,00.html

DC_Boy - I'm happy for us to a Big 4 Slayer for now. But by the end of next season, hopefully we'll be one of the Big 4 ourselves. :wink:

 

[TheChosenOne]

We have a Grand Slam Sunday coming up on 23rd March with Man U v Liverpool and Chelsea v Arsenal, both games live on Sky.


Fixture rigging or what ?

 

[Marty]

Of course it's rigged.