Everton v Spurs â A Passing of the Baton? Thomas Cairns 11/02/2021 Itâs easy to forget in the âBig 6â era of the Premier League that Spurs were once like Everton. Perennial âbest of the restâ contenders, often punching above their weight but never truly challenging the top teams for European places or silverware. During the 2010s, however, Spurs have kicked up a gear. Spurred on by first Gareth Bale, and more recently Harry Kane, Spurs launched an assault on the teams above them, breaching the then Top 4 and reaching the promised land of the Champions League. Since then, they have finished in the Top 4 multiple times, been genuine contenders in the odd title race, and were involved in the small matter of a Champions League Final against our Merseyside neighbours. To the neutral, watching Spursâ rise must have felt somewhat heart-warming. To myself as an Everton fan, it has been at best bittersweet and at worst gut-wrenching.