It's just the way football has gone, sad really. Oh well, someone has to be the richest club in the world, might as well be us.
Thing is, before the first real money man came in (Abramovich) we were part of the original top 4. Man U and Arsenal were the top 2..we finished 3rd and 4th the two seasons before Abramovich came in (or somewhere around then) Not like we've never been up there. We've also won 4 league titles and 6 FA Cups. More of a history than Chelsea and Man City had before money, they aren't even big clubs.
Even if we do it's just a matter of time, we can't be stopped long term, that's not even arrogance it's just the case. When we get the revenue flow going to bypass FFP it's game over for everyone else.
In a few years time the league title will be just between us and Man City, no one else can compete with that sort of money, Arsenal are doing well this season but it's a one off.
It isn't really, 01/02 we finished 4th, 02/03 we finished 3rd. Season after we finished 5th (when Abramovich came in). We couldn't compete financially and lost our place in the top 4. Now we are doing that to other teams.
Didn't Chelsea finish 4th the season before Roman came in? I seem to remember them beating Liverpool on the final day.
And did it by spending money you didn't have, which is why you ended up with Ashley. And both those teams you're mentioning had both won the league & cup more recently than you had, long before they were bought by the uber rich.