The Premier League Big Six are never far from our thoughts.
As Newcastle United fans we are constantly aware of the huge advantages they possess.
Whilst a decade and a half of Mike Ashley brought disaster, on and off the pitch. The Premier League Big Six were filling their boots, creating a financial chasm between themselves and Newcastle United.
Ahead of Mike Ashley buying the club, Newcastle United had played European football in ten of the previous eleven seasons.
In the 15 seasons that kicked off under Ashley’s ownership, European football was played in only one of those 15 campaigns.
Off the pitch the situation was even worse, not a penny willingly spent on the club infrastructure unless forced to, whilst the commercial revenues were at the same level when Mike Ashley left in 2021 as they had been when he arrived in 2007. At the same time, every other top tier club was experiencing stunning growth in their commercial revenues as it was boom time at the top level of English football, especially for the Premier League Big Six.
The October 2021 takeover
Four and a half years ago we finally saw a change in ownership of Newcastle United.
At last NUFC trying to make up for all those lost years.
The reality is of course, the Premier League Big Six had established such huge financial (and other) advantages over so many years, these current Newcastle United owners finding that this is going to be a very long job to catch the self-appointed elite in financial terms, if indeed they ever do.
No immunity
Much is being made of Newcastle United finding themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League, on 42 points with four games remaining of the 2025/26 season.
It hasn’t been great from a league perspective for Newcastle United but we aren’t alone.
Just look at Premier League Big Six clubs and the problems they have had in recent times, despite those huge advantages, particularly when it comes to money.
Manchester United were set to finish fourth bottom on 39 points in the 2024/25 season until a shock win over Aston Villa on the final day, that lifted them to a final position of 15th and 42 points.
Tottenham instead ended up fourth bottom (17th) last season on 38 points in the 2024/25 campaign, now Spurs are currently third bottom (18th) on 34 points with four games left to play. Tottenham the favourites to be relegated and join Burnley and Wolves for the drop.
Chelsea ended the 2022/23 Premier League season on 44 points in 12th place.
Whilst not seen as one of the Premier League Big Six, Aston Villa are of course along with Newcastle United, the two clubs trying to break the elite apart. During the time Eddie Howe and these Newcastle United owners have been in place, Villa managed a 14th place on 45 points in the 2021/22 season.
Going back to the two previous seasons, even Arsenal dropped lower in consecutive seasons than Newcastle United have done so far in any full season under Eddie Howe. The Gunners ended up eighth in the Premier League in both the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. Indeed, those two seasons completed a six season run of no Champions League qualifications and finishing outside the top four six years in a row.
I don’t this is the time to panic for Newcastle United, as the above examples show, no club is immune. With the possible exception of Manchester City (130+ Premier League charges waiting to be ruled on) and Liverpool.
This 2025/26 season has been a tough one for Newcastle United, with countless factors going against them.
I am very confident that Newcastle United can and will bounce back next season BUT as the example of Tottenham proves, even a club that is part of the Premier League Big Six is well capable of digging an ever deeper hole for themselves despite all the advantages they have over almost every other club.