Best of the rest?

If the big four is the big four, what's below it?

I've been giving the whole thing some thought lately, and a very short conversation with Stuey planted in my brain the idea that a second wave is developing underneath the big boys. Stuey named Aston Villa (my club), Everton (his club) and West Ham United (someone else's club) as proper clubs he hoped would succeed.

Despite not being a fan of West Ham at all, from Harry effing Redknapp through "Pards" and "Curbs", my general despair has, quietly, enabled me to develop an appreciation for them. They are, as Stuey said, a proper club.

Villa, Everton and West Ham currently occupy fifth to seventh in the Premier League. Despite the disappointment of Villa falling short of fourth after a great start, that's not half bad.

Newcastle United, full of posturing, politics and delusions of grandeur, have fallen hilariously short of their ludicrous ambitions. Manchester City are learning that it's going to take more than just money to succeed. And Tottenham Hotspur have paid for their knee-jerk removal of Martin Jol in lost time. They're a realistic candidate to challenge that fifth spot, but how long before Redknapp gets bored and decides to screw them over?

So while Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal fight it out at the boring end of the table, what becomes of this battle bubbling below?

For a while, top six status (i.e. fifth and sixth) have been achievable for most clubs above the relegation dogfight. Everton's loyalty to David Moyes (and his to them) helped the club sneak into fourth not so long ago, and they're now a seemingly permanent fixture in the top six. Villa, thanks to their bloodying of Arsenal's nose this season, are perhaps generously seen as the top four's heir apparent despite being relatively new to the top six, at least recently.

But far from making them the bottom two clubs of the leading pack, I think this puts Villa and Everton at the top of the next. Philistine I may be, but I honestly believe these two clubs are a distance short of the so-called big four.

Who joins them in the (slowly) chasing pack? If I asked this question in a room with 19 other people, each of us representing the Premier League's clubs, the Tottenham Hotspur fan would now be sitting there with his hand in the air, arm supported by his other, shouting "Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, ooh ooh ooh, I know this one, Chrischrischrischrischris!" And he'd have a point.

Spurs have developed a knack of spunking money away on rubbish players, overloading positions of strength at great cost, and starting seasons worse than a tone-deaf Nigel Kennedy impersonator. But sooner or later, some bright spark will work out that matching their financial might with a good manager and a much-needed dose of stability would likely put Spurs in an excellent position.

I hope West Ham join them. While I am more fond of Fulham - and delighted at their progress under Roy Hodgson - the Hammers have found a new class and humility since Gianfranco Zola took over, and they continue to do many things right. Fulham do too, and I believe that they, along with one or two other clubs (perhaps Wigan if they keep Steve Bruce, sticking my neck out), could form the group of Europa League hopefuls.

That's all well and good. Wigan excepted (sorry, Wigan fans), these are good, solid football clubs. I just hope it never becomes a closed shop like the mini-league above it.