The thread title is "Top 5 clubs" no mention of whether the thread's "about" success or anything else.
So, given that you mean "success" and "recent years", how do you define those measures (serious question)? If you're going to be that precise about your ordering of teams, you should also be precise about the criteria you use to do so...
"Success" - Stats prove Toon have won more games against Villa than they've drawn or lost.
"Recent Years" - If you assume Villa finish higher than Newcastle in the league this season, then over the last 16 seasons when both teams were in the Premier league, Villa finished higher 7 times to Newcastle's 9. That's despite the fact that a number of occasions throughout that time, Newcastle were involved in European competition & Villa weren't (so Newcastle had to play more fixtures).
I've got nowt against Villa, nothing at all, but just like the press love to demonize Newcastle (and they do) conversely Villa are very much flavour of the month this season. Pompey were last season, and before them it was Tottenham. Newcastle were that team, before Spurs.
Villa look a good team this season, no doubt. I love to see them gatecrashing the top 4. I also love to see players like James Milner doing well (although that pen wasn't his best lol). This isn't a "Villa bashing" post at all. But, they have nothing proven, and everything to prove. One season won't cut it. We need to look in 5 years time and see where they are.
At the moment if you think of Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool & Arsenal as the premier league's elite (which they are and have been for years) then even after all of the scandals and the bare trophy cupboard, thanks to Bobby Robson and Keegan 1 Newcastle have come closer to breaking in to that top group than any other team.
All the non-Toon fans will hate to read it, but it's a fact.
They (we) may not be able to say that for much longer, because if Villa manage to sustain their success over the next couple of years, they will quite rightly take their place at the top table. I wouldn't bet against them doing it. They have the right manager in place, that's for sure.
Villa have all the potential, no doubt. But they said that about Pompey... and Spurs... and Newcastle... Right now, out of those four, Newcastle have the better record, because on a number of occasions they've had top 6 finishes & European & Champs League football. Villa haven't. Yet.
So...
- Newcastle lead the head to heads.
- Newcastle have finished the higher of the two in the league more times
- Newcastle have played in Europe on more occasions during the Premier League era
If we now look at Deloitte's annual "Rich List" of clubs worldwide, we see
2) Man U
5) Chelsea
6) Arsenal
7) Liverpool
14) Spurs
17) Newcastle
20) Man City
No mention of Villa there either...
Ergo... Newcastle deserve their place ahead of Villa. I know they're my team, but that's based on facts, not just my opinion. In fairness I will say there's not much in it though!
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