Which 20 clubs would you pick to be in the Premier League?

simonhch

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Looking through the league tables you see some historically "big" clubs down the divisions, including one time rivals, and even European Champions. I think the answer to this question will vary considerably depending on how old posters are, but what would you pick as the 20 biggest clubs in English football?

I've been trying to figure out my selection, and this is what I have so far:


1 - Manchester United
2 - Liverpool
3 - Arsenal
4 - Everton
5 - Chelsea
6 - Manchester City
7 - Newcastle United
8 - Tottenham Hotspur
9 - Leeds United
10 - Aston Villa
11 - Nottingham Forest
12 - Southampton
13 - Sunderland
14 - Crystal Palace
15 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
16 - Blackburn Rovers
17 - Leicester City
18 - West Bromwich Albion
19 - West Ham United
20 - Sheffield Wednesday

In terms of fan base, trophies won, history, notable players and managers, I think this is the ultimate selection of clubs. Crystal Palace is by far the least successful side listed, but they've just always seemed to be in and around the premier league throughout my whole life. Plus the memories of our epic FA cup final (3-3 with Ian Wright terrorizing us) and replay against them, has left an indelible mark. Other teams I considered for places were:

Fulham, Sheffield United, Derby County, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Burnley, Bolton, Preston North End, Birmingham, QPR, and Swansea.

What other big teams do you remember from growing up that are nowhere today? One of my favourites was definitely Parma, a team that had Sensini, Asprilla, Zola, Dino Baggio, Crespo, Chiesa, Veron, Thuram, Cannavaro....fecking crazy. Or Sampdoria with Vialli, Mancini, Pagliuca, Vierchowod, Lombardo.

Talent seemed more spread out in those days. What random memories do you have from past eras? One thing that used to be really exciting was seeing a foreign player for the first time. Invariably you'd only ever heard magical tales of his feats, because there was no youtube, no 500 channels full of sports from around the world. I remember when Spurs signed Ilie Dumitrescu, and people went nuts like he was from another planet.
 

Hullyback

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West Ham
Southampton
Sunderland
Birmingham
Wolves
Derby
Coventry

Showing my age with a few of those teams but in my mind they're all bigger than a lot of teams seen in the Prem over the last decade or so despite wherever they're languishing now. Leeds, Bolton and Forest are 3 teams that really should be in the Prem as they're too big to be diddling around in the lower leagues.
 

Schneckerl

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Without Order

1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Liverpool
4. Everton
5. Arsenal
6. Chelsea
7. Tottenham
8. Newcastle
9. Aston Villa
10. Sunderland
11. Nottingham Forest
12. Sheffield Wednesday
13. Wolverhampton Wanderers
14. Leeds United
15. Blackburn Rovers
16. Derby County
17. Preston North End
18. West Bromwich Albion
19. Bolton Wanderers
20. Sheffield United

The first 10 are also 1. - 10. in the top tier alltime table.

Forest Alltime table #21 (League Winner: 1, Runner-Up: 2) (FA Cup Winner: 2, Runner-Up: 1)
Wednesday #14 (4, 1) (3,3)
Wolverhampton #15 (3,5) (4,4)
Leeds #20 (3,5) (1,3)
Blackburn #12 (3,1) (6,2)
Derby #16 (2,3) (1,3)
PNE #26 (2,6) (2,5)
WBA #11 (1,2) (5,5)
Bolton #13 (0,0) (4,3)
Sheffield #17 (1,2) (4,2)
 
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P-Nut

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1.Man Utd
2.Liverpool
3.Arsenal
4.Chelsea
5.Man City
6.Tottenham
7.Newcastle
8. Leeds
9. Wolves
10. Southampton
11. Sheffield United (For some reason my mind sees them as the bigger Sheffield club despite everything pointing to the contrary)
12. Aston Villa
13. Derby
14. Middlesbrough
15. Charlton
16. Portsmouth
17. Everton
18. West Ham
19. Notts Forrest
20. Blackburn
 

IRELANDUNITED

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Looking through the league tables you see some historically "big" clubs down the divisions, including one time rivals, and even European Champions. I think the answer to this question will vary considerably depending on how old posters are, but what would you pick as the 20 biggest clubs in English football?

I've been trying to figure out my selection, and this is what I have so far:


1 - Manchester United
2 - Liverpool
3 - Arsenal
4 - Everton
5 - Chelsea
6 - Manchester City
7 - Newcastle United
8 - Tottenham Hotspur
9 - Leeds United
10 - Aston Villa
11 - Nottingham Forest
12 - Southampton
13 - Sunderland
14 - Crystal Palace
15 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
16 - Blackburn Rovers
17 - Leicester City
18 - West Bromwich Albion
19 - West Ham United
20 - Sheffield Wednesday

In terms of fan base, trophies won, history, notable players and managers, I think this is the ultimate selection of clubs. Crystal Palace is by far the least successful side listed, but they've just always seemed to be in and around the premier league throughout my whole life. Plus the memories of our epic FA cup final (3-3 with Ian Wright terrorizing us) and replay against them, has left an indelible mark. Other teams I considered for places were:

Fulham, Sheffield United, Derby County, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, Burnley, Bolton, Preston North End, Birmingham, QPR, and Swansea.

What other big teams do you remember from growing up that are nowhere today? One of my favourites was definitely Parma, a team that had Sensini, Asprilla, Zola, Dino Baggio, Crespo, Chiesa, Veron, Thuram, Cannavaro....fecking crazy. Or Sampdoria with Vialli, Mancini, Pagliuca, Vierchowod, Lombardo.

Talent seemed more spread out in those days. What random memories do you have from past eras? One thing that used to be really exciting was seeing a foreign player for the first time. Invariably you'd only ever heard magical tales of his feats, because there was no youtube, no 500 channels full of sports from around the world. I remember when Spurs signed Ilie Dumitrescu, and people went nuts like he was from another planet.
No thanks, i like them where they are.
 

RoyH1

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It's mind boggling that Villa and Leeds (even though I detest the team) are where they are. Imagine if they'd had the luck of being bought by Arab oil money. Werner did a poor job as owner Villa.
 

marukomu

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I'd like Ipswich back. That Robson team was fecking great when I was growing up in the 70's.
 

KirkDuyt

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Leeds and Accrington Stanley. I always play those in FIFA season mode.

I know Leeds is a bad thing to say on a United forum, but feck it.

Some other random teams I somehow think should be in the PL:

Blackburn
Middlesborough
Sheffield
Bolton Wanderers
Blackpool (no idea why)
 

Andy_Cole

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Blackburn
Middlesbrough
Portsmouth
Leicester
Wimbledon (MK Dons)
 

Acole9

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No Norwich in any lists which is good, their owners are holding the club back. They get a manager, claim they're the next big thing and sack them a year later.
 

Nickosaur

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what would you pick as the 20 biggest clubs in English football?
I see what you're getting at but the biggest clubs does not necessarily mean those I would like to see in my ideal PL.

A lot of clubs have been poorly run and are rightly where they belong. Gives younger/fresh clubs a chance to compete.
 

Rafaeldagold

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Be good to see Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Ipswich, Preston, Norwich , Aston Villa, Wolves, Portsmouth and I suppose Leeds if absolutely necessary
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

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1 - Manchester United
2 - Liverpool
3 - Arsenal
4 - Everton
5 - Chelsea
6 - Manchester City
7 - Newcastle United
8 - Tottenham Hotspur
9 - Leeds United
10 - Aston Villa
11 - Nottingham Forest
12 - Southampton
13 - Sunderland
14 - Crystal Palace
15 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
16 - Blackburn Rovers
17 - Leicester City
18 - West Bromwich Albion
19 - West Ham United
20 - Sheffield Wednesday
That's a good group, hard to look past that for the most part. Though maybe I'd omit Sunderland, but I don't know for who. Possibly Middlesbrough. When I think of Sunderland in the Premier League era, I only ever think of them as a team struggling, yo-yoing up and down and generally being hopeless, I can't remember them ever being a good PL side. Middlesbrough had some success, played in Europe, reached the UEFA Cup final about 12 years ago, won the League Cup a few years before that too. They've had some good players over the years.

Wolves and Leicester are maybes for me too. Leicester probably have to be in there, as they've actually won the Premier League, but I still don't associate them as a top flight club. When I think of a 'Wanderers' in the top flight, I immediately think of Bolton moreso than Wolves. They've struggled a lot but they had some good years in the PL too. That Allardyce team was great.
 

Oaencha

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Arsenal
Liverpool
Man United
Man City
Chelsea
Everton
Tottenham
Aston Villa
Newcastle
Bolton
Notts Forest
Leeds
Sheffield Wednesday
West Ham
Southampton
Blackburn
Middlesbrough
Portsmouth
Leicester
AFC Wimbledon
Corrected. MK Dons are not the same club anymore.
 

NikSab

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West Ham
Nottingham Forest
Blackburn
Middlesbrough
Sunderland
Wimbledon
Crystal Palace
Birmingham City
 
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Robbo's Shoulder

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In no particular order, just trying to get a decent spread of regions.

Manchester United
Manchester City
Liverpool
Everton
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
West Ham United
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
Leeds United
Aston Villa
Derby County
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest
West Bromwich Albion
Newcastle United
Sunderland
Norwich City
Ipswich Town

Could argue for Middlesborough or even Bristol City for 1 of the East Anglia clubs.
 

Trizy

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1. Portsmouth (Soft spot after their financial situation)
2. Blackburn (Premier League winners)
3. Nottingham Forrest (x2 European champions)
4. Shrewsbury Town (My go to team when playing career mode in Fifa during my gaming days).
5. Aston Villa (European champions)
6. Sheffield Wednesday (Decent club and area)
7. Leeds (rivalry)
8. Tottenham
9. Derby
10. Arsenal
11. Chelsea
12. Manchester United
13. Leicester City
14. Newcastle
15. Everton
16. West Ham
17. City bastards
18. Liverpool
 

12OunceEpilogue

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I'd like Wigan back in purely because they're my local team, though I'm aware there are good reasons why other teams who can fill bigger grounds and have more history at the top are arguably more deserving.

So accounting for local biases mine would be something like:

1. Manchester United
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Leeds
5. Manchester City
5. Everton
6. Tottenham
7. Chelsea
8. Aston Villa
9. Fulham
10. Newcastle
11. Sunderland
12. West Brom
13. West Ham
14. Blackburn
15. Wigan Athletic
16. Wolves
17. Nottingham Forest
18. Sheffield United
19. Southampton
20. Sheffield Wednesday
 
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11101

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1. Manchester United
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Leeds
5. Nottingham Forest
5. Everton
6. Tottenham
7. Chelsea
8. Aston Villa
9. Sheffield Wednesday
10. Newcastle
11. Southampton
12. West Brom
13. West Ham
14. Blackburn
15. Bolton
16. Wolves
17. Wimbledon
18. Sheffield United
19. Sunderland
20. Middlesbrough
 

GeorgieBoy

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1. Manchester United
2. Leyton Orient
3. Mansfield
4. Bradford
5. Tranmere
5. Walsall
6. Stockport
7. Oldham
8. Dag & Red
9. Rochdale
10. Bury
11. Exeter
12. Truro
13. Crawley
14. Accrington Stanley
15. Fleetwood
16. Port Vale
17. Lincoln
18. Arsenal Ladies
19. Man City U12s
20. Stevenage U16s

We'd break all kinds of records that season.
 

12OunceEpilogue

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1. Manchester United
2. Leyton Orient
3. Mansfield
4. Bradford
5. Tranmere
5. Walsall
6. Stockport
7. Oldham
8. Dag & Red
9. Rochdale
10. Bury
11. Exeter
12. Truro
13. Crawley
14. Accrington Stanley
15. Fleetwood
16. Port Vale
17. Lincoln
18. Arsenal Ladies
19. Man City U12s
20. Stevenage U16s

We'd break all kinds of records that season.
Indeed, just imagine how easily Lukaku and Fellaini could bring down hoofs from our CBs against U12s and 16s :drool:
 

AlwaysRed66

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Interestingly no one seems to have picked Huddersfield. Yet, if you took the top 20 through how they have performed in the top division in their history, they would be 13th, above Spurs. A bit misleading I know as their three title wins were in the 1920's, but still three more than the likes of West Ham, Southampton, & Middlesboro
 

wythyred

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1 - Manchester United
2 - Liverpool
3 - Arsenal
4 - Everton
5 - Chelsea
6 - Manchester City
7 - Newcastle United
8 - Tottenham Hotspur
9 - Leeds United
10 - Aston Villa
11 - Nottingham Forest
12 - Southampton
13 - Middlesbrough
14 - Crystal Palace
15 - Wolverhampton Wanderers
16 - Blackburn Rovers
17 - Leicester City
18 - Norwhich
19 - West Ham United
20 - Bolton Wanderers
 

Santi_Mesut_Alexis_87

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Sunderland
Wimbledon
Wolves
Derby
Coventry
 

Chipper

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Preferred league. A mix of big teams and teams I find completely inoffensive:

1. Arsenal
2. Aston Villa
3. Blackpool
4. Bolton Wanderers
5. Blackburn Rovers
6. Charlton Athletic
7. Chelsea
8. Everton
9. Fulham
10. Ipswich Town
11. Leeds United
12. Leicester City
13. Liverpool
14. Manchester City
15. Manchester United
16. Nottingham Forest
17. Newcastle United
18. Sheffield Wednesday
19. Southampton
20. Tottenham Hotspur

Charlton, Fulham and Ipswich would be the most vulnerable. Ipswich's inclusion makes me feel slightly bad for not putting Norwich in there. Each other's local rivals, Norwich have been bigger during my time watching football but Ipswich beat them historically and their kits aren't as ugly.

QPR were close, some good games against them in the 90s and I've been to Loftus Road to watch United. Coventry too, there's nothing to hate about them, they were in top flight for years when I was small and was pleased they beat Spurs in the 1987 FA Cup final. I have an ever so slight soft spot for Swindon Town after randomly being assigned to be their 'manager' in a play-by-mail football manager style game in the 90's around the time they were in the Premier League. Never liked Wimbledon when they were in the league aprt from their FA Cup Final win but quite like the story behind AFC Wimbledon.

Big team league:

1. Arsenal
2. Aston Villa
3. Blackburn Rovers
4. Chelsea
5. Derby County
6. Everton
7. Leeds United
8. Leicester City
9. Liverpool
10. Manchester City
11. Manchester United
12. Newcastle United
13. Nottingham Forest
14. Sheffield Wednesday
15. Sheffield United
16. Sunderland
17. Tottenham Hotspur
18. West Bromwich Albion
19. West Ham United
20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
 
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simplyared

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Looking at the stadiums gives you a good guidline:
Manchester Utd
Arsenal
Spurs
Manchester City
Liverpool
Newcastle
Chelsea
Everton
West Ham
Aston Villa
Sunderland
Leeds
Shef. Wed
Middlesborough
Derby
Southhampton
Wolves
Leicester
Blackburn
Nottingham
 

Oyibo

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All former Premier League teams, no longer

Notts Forest
Sheff Weds
Sheff Utd
Millwall
Swindon
Wolves
Sunderland
Boro
Leeds
Blackburn
Wigan
Portsmouth
Charlton
Bradford
Blackpool
Birmingham City
Oldham
Villa
Coventry
Cardiff City
 

Ikon

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It always saddens me to see Forest languishing in the lower divisions, they were a top side when I was a lad.
 

RobinLFC

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Surprised at the amount of people picking Sunderland. Disaster and embarassement of a club imo.
 

Finn MacCool

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Man Utd
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WBA
Wolves
Derby
Forest
Leeds
Sheffield Wed
Huddersfield
Newcastle Utd
Sunderland
 

Grylte

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QPR used to be a regular in the top division when i grew up, would probably have them in my list.
Not seen them mentioned yet.
 

elnorte

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Manchester United
Manchester City
Liverpool
Everton
Arsenal
Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Newcastle United
Leicester City
Southampton
Aston Villa
Leeds United
Nottingham Forest
Derby County
Sheffield Wednesday
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Norwich City
Sunderland
 

Chipper

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Looking at the stadiums gives you a good guidline:
It does. Very close to my big team league. Only Middlesbrough and Southampton in there instead of my Sheffield United and West Brom as far as I can see.

As I'm doing this Wikipedia reckons Bramall Lane is slightly bigger than St. Mary's but that's not why I put Sheff Utd in. Both Sheff Utd and WBA have a league title, something 'Boro and Southampton don't. More cups for my picks too. Sheffield United's inclusion would also give Wednesday a derby.

The big negative for Sheffield United vs 'Boro, Southampton and WBA would be less recent top flight participation but I can overlook that.

Middlesbrough 34,742 1 League Cup
Southampton 32,505, 1 FA Cup
v
Sheffield United 32,702 , 1 League title, 4 FA Cups
West Brom 26,850, 1 League title, 5 FA Cups, 1 League Cup

Although league titles aren't the be all and end all for me as I've got West Ham in there who have never won one and have left out Huddersfield, Burnley, Portsmouth, Preston and Ipswich who have in my big league one. West Ham's fan base, coming from a big city, their stadium and more consistent recent top-flight participations over the last 30-40 years meant I went with them even though I don't exactly like them. West Ham were definitely missing out on my preferred league.
 
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