Forbes
Why Tottenham Hotspur Or West Ham United Must Be Relegated
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Since the Premier League was formed, the city of London has always had a stranglehold on the division.
Maybe it’s not surprising that England’s biggest city would produce multiple teams competing in the top flight.
After all, it already has some of the country’s biggest and most famous sides, like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
And while trophies have often been won by clubs in the North of England, the Manchester giants or teams from Liverpool, the shifting demographics and underlying problems of wealth distribution in the UK have led to an increase in the concentration of London teams.
As the Premier League grew, it became more cosmopolitan, and players were more likely to arrive from Brazil than Burnley. This new generation of international talent didn’t hold the same reverence for teams in Northern England and would often prioritise living in the bright lights of London.
Investment in the UK tends to focus on the capital, and super wealthy individuals, much like the players, tend to be attracted to the South East.
All of which meant that, in addition to traditional big players like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, traditionally smaller teams have sustained some of the longest spells in their history in the top flight.
Crystal Palace, for example, had never managed more than four years in the top division before regaining Premier League status in 2013, but is now on course for its 14th consecutive year in the division.
Likewise, Fulham, who were bankrolled by disgraced financier Mohamed Al-Fayed throughout the 2000s, also managed a 13-season streak between 2001-14.
The inception of the Premier League also brought record stays for Queens Park Rangers, Brentford and Wimbledon.
However, in the past four years, the balance of the division shifted more than ever before. Since 2022, there have been seven London teams in the top flight, a third of the division; before then, this had only occurred once in the 1990s.
The shift of power to the south of England is even more pronounced when you consider that Brighton and Hove Albion and Bournemouth have also been in the division during the period of London club domination.
Yet as far back as 2017, pundit Gary Neville was engaged in concerned discussions about the trend.
“What I will say is well done to Brighton but it is a shift to the south like you would not believe," Neville told Sky Sports Monday Night Football.
"You think about Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull potentially going down, that’s three more northern clubs. Then the Yorkshire clubs, the Sheffield clubs, Leeds and you think Newcastle might not come back up. It's a worry for the north of England.
"The investment is into the south and then the Premier League is attracting investment. The players want to live in the south.
"I heard a few weeks ago ridiculous talk of northern teams, north east teams and Yorkshire teams having London training grounds.
"That would be the most incredible thing but you can actually see it. The players would live in London in the week and then travel to games. It can’t happen can it? Suggestions like this are being mooted and that's scary.
“The idea of a departure from your territory to do these things is unbelievable, but if that's what's necessary to attract the players.”
Since Neville made those remarks, the stranglehold on the Premier League from London teams has become even more intense.
This is a historic shift. When the English first division was established in the 1800s, the most southerly team was Birmingham’s Aston Villa, with the majority of sides hailing from the Midlands and the North West.
Cold, blustery northern cities are the bedrock of the UK soccer culture, and it would be a shame if that changed.
Yet there is a real prospect that Millwall could be promoted this season, and if they are, we could end up with a league where nearly half of the teams come from the capital city.
That scenario depends on West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur avoiding relegation.
With the increasing concentration of London teams in the Premier League, perhaps for the good of competitive balance and the traditional regional diversity of the English game, it may be necessary for a London club to be relegated.
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The Ruthless Mistake Tottenham Hotspur May Live To Regret
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For five minutes, Tottenham Hotspur’s turbulent season seemed to turn.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side led 1-0 against relegated Wolverhampton at the London Stadium. Meanwhile, Everton grabbed an 88th-minute equaliser versus West Ham United.
As things stood, that meant Spurs would leapfrog their rivals out of the relegation zone.
Last weekend, a late lead against Brighton and Hove Albion became a 2-2 draw. Once again, circumstances turned against the North Londoners.
Callum Wilson’s cool finish in injury time earned West Ham United the points, and the day ended with Tottenham Hotspur two points clear of safety with four games remaining.
The outlook might be grim. At least, finally, under De Zerbi, Spurs look like a team that can win some games. That had become increasingly rare under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.
But really, that isn’t surprising. The squad at the manager’s disposal is largely comprised of players hired to match the attacking style of Ange Postecoglou, the boss who was fired in favour of Frank.
The Australian’s league form was little better than that of the two men who followed him. But the former boss could point to the first trophy in decades as proof he was making progress.
What looks ill-advised now was the hierarchy’s decision to appoint defensive-minded managers to replace a coach with an attacking ethos.
It’s rare to give fans credit for turning on a coach; in fact, amongst pundits and the media, there is usually disdain for supporters’ emotional reactions.
Tottenham supporters believed Frank was unfit for the role long before the board did.
The statement announcing his departure showed the board was willing to give him more time. This would have happened if it were feasible.
“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” it read.
“However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”
Sky Sports News Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol pointed this out shortly after the firing. The fanbase was distinctly not of this view.
“The vast, vast majority of Tottenham supporters for a pretty long time have come to the conclusion that Frank was the wrong guy for the job,” he said
“We’ve seen that and their reaction to him at the end of games when he's gone over to try and thank them for their support. They are just not having him, and the whole situation has become very, very toxic.
“But the main reason they’ve acted is the threat of relegation, because we know that Tottenham have one of the biggest debts in world football that is tied to their magnificent new stadium.
“Imagine what would happen to their finances if they were relegated? The shock would be incredible on and off the pitch.
“We’re talking potentially about Spurs losing hundreds of millions of pounds and that is another reason why they've decided to act.”
They chose his replacement poorly—an understatement.
The choice to hire another defensive-minded coach proved disastrous. Igor Tudor had a harsher edge than Frank, but it did not help.
Form did not improve, and Spurs found itself replacing the temporary replacement again.
Now the question is whether De Zerbi has enough time to save Spurs.
Only four games remain in the Premier League season. They likely need to win at least two, maybe more, if West Ham keep grinding out results.
Whether the club is relegated or not, the explanation for their poor season is simple. On paper, the team is far better than its table position suggests.
The club picked the wrong profile manager twice and corrected it too late each time.
All that is left is to hope that the words of Tottenham’s match-winner against Wolves, Joao Palhinha, prove true.
"This victory is much more than [three points],” he explained. “It means a lot to me, my teammates, the club, and especially our supporters. Leading all season is unusual.”
"We all have responsibility in this season, but the reality is we have four finals into the final of the league, and we need to do our job, and hopefully this win can change what happened in the past, give us a bit more motivation as well, because it’s been a long time without victories.”
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How Badly Will Xavi Simons Injury Hurt Tottenham Hotspur?
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Tottenham Hotspur desperately needed a win against Wolves and Roberto De Zerbi’s team got that even if the 1-0 victory was tighter than anyone from North London would have liked. With so many relegation rivals also winning, it was crucial Spurs put three points on the board to boost their chances of staying in the Premier League.
The win, however, came at a cost as Xavi Simons came off with what appeared to be a knee injury. The Dutch playmaker has been one of Tottenham’s brightest players under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, providing a certain creativity on the ball that nobody else in the squad is capable of doing.
James Maddison was back in the squad for the win over Wolves, but hasn’t played all season to this point. It is surely unrealistic to expect the England international to hit the ground running and perform the same role Simons was before his injury. Maddison will need time to find full match fitness again.
While Saturday’s win over Wolves was clearly a positive outcome for Spurs, wins for Nottingham Forest and West Ham means the North London side is no closer to moving out of the relegation zone. De Zerbi’s team is still fighting for its place in the Premier League for next season. Nothing is guaranteed.
“If you watch the game from the stand or TV, you can’t understand if they have the right spirit or if they have the right attitude,” said De Zerbi. “I work with them every day and all players are professional, good guys, and they are suffering for this situation. (I) just (need) to give them confidence and order on the pitch, because I didn’t like the second half at all. We could play better, we have to play better, much better than the second half. We have to play like the first 30 minutes. Maybe creating more chances to score and more shots on goal.”
De Zerbi is known for his front foot approach, but that will only count for so much if the former Brighton and Marseille manager lacks the personnel to make his system work. Simons was one of the most important figures in the team and now Tottenham must find a way to compensate for his absence.
Dominic Solanke was another Spurs player who went off in the win over Wolves, although his injury is thought to be less serious. Injuries have been a problem for Tottenham all season and it might now be hindering any hopes of finishing outside of the relegation zone and staying up.
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