That's not the issue-the issue is why you class the aforementioned clubs in the top 8 ahead of us given their attendances and honours are historically fewer than ours.
The answer, I suspect is, because there is no methodology to it beyond blind Mag obsession and ill-will.
If you answer this with another question, then I'm taking that as an "I can't answer the question".
ok ill try to answer you question as honest as I can.
"BIGNESS" is i think defined by success, revenue, tradition, world status, capacity/attendances.
Some clubs have all of these ie man u, liverpool, Arsenal.
Then you have chelsea and man city who are now in the modern game huge due to there financial backing this has resulted in success, albeit more for Chelsea as of now.
Spurs and villa whilst not getting the huge crowds of other clubs or generating big turnovers have had remarkable success including european cups, leagues and fa cups. This still places them in the big club brackett.
Newcastle, attract the 3rd biggest crowds in the country in the 3rd largest stadium and generate a massive turnover. We have played in the champions league, uefa cup, fa cup finals and premiership runers up, thus cemmenting a global image.
all of these clubs also a strong tradition.
Sunderland whilst a big club dont quite match these 8. This isnt an insult against sunderland its just the way I see it. I agree that the 6 league titles is more than most and whilst im not discreditting them they did all take place in the 1800's. Sunderland do have a strong big history but its more inline with Blackpool, stokes and Prestons.
Only being honest