- Feb 26, 2014
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I'd say the 4 you mention are in a separate class of "super-clubs".Except that he hasn't and we aren't. It's just hubris to suggest so. Being a "big club" does not result from a couple of Champions League campaigns, nor even if we win the Premiership once or twice. It has to do with having a huge worldwide fanbase, a 60k+ stadium, a global "brand" [hate that word] and a history of dominance measured in decades. It also has to do with financial muscle and international marketing tie-ins.
We are in the throes of dealing with the first requisite for becoming a "big club " in the modern sense, which is to develop a big-club-sized stadium. We are also pursuing key global promotional partnerships, e.g., with the NFL, to increase our brand recognition. If we can manage to win a Premiership title or two and to compete in the CL on an every-other-year basis, as opposed to occasionally, then this will attract of millions of fans in other countries and will further increase our profile and our financial clout.
But it will take another decade to achieve, even with a fair wind and on-pitch success. Even if we achieve it, we will not be able to reach the level of Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, because they have too big a head start.
Barking out that "we are a big club" doesn't cut it; it doesn't convince anyone outside the Spurs echo chamber.