Of course we can get there. Anyone with a solid starting position in the Premier League can; as long as they're ambitious and can manufacture the perfect storm of a good manager, good recruitment, good fortune and some momentum. It's difficult but not impossible.
Leicester City won the title in this era of superpowers, and could very easily finish as runners-up this season as well; meanwhile there's every chance two of the 'big 6' will not finish in the top 6. You'll always get the biggest teams there or thereabouts, but the 'apple cart' is barely even there to be upset. Certain stakeholders with visions of a profoundly different model of football may deviliously try to form a closed shop - and a status quo of elite clubs forever being in established positions - but the reality is, there
isn't a status quo, hence the necessity for ideas like Project Big Picture. There's been successful teams, less successful teams, and unsuccessful teams. It's fluid and changeable, particularly when dynasties like Ferguson and Wenger are a thing of the past, and with auto-winners like Mourinho (and Klopp?
) very much having had their day.
If a 2021 equivalent of John Hall and Kevin Keegan came along I've no doubt we'd be competitive and not so aware of the bottom half. If you've got competitive backing and competent individuals involved in the daily operations, you'll be fine, with every chance of competing for honours (CL qualification included). All the more reason why it's so f***ing frustrating that, in May 2018, we decided - whilst being stood on the springboard - we'd tumble back down the stairs instead. Horrible f***ing club.
