Graphic: Big Four striking fear into "small 16"

Fans, media, pundits - we've all been brainwashed into thinking the top four are untouchable. Everyone knows that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are the best sides in the country but that's no excuse for the timidity shown by the rest.

The tightest of races in mid-table has led many to label this Premier League as one of the most exciting for years, but the way managers set up their sides, it's as if certain fixtures are all but hopeless causes. It's as if boldness is something you try only when you're desperate.

The lesser sides are favouring cautious tactics more and more - not just against the elite but against each other. No wonder the Barclays Premier League table is so bunched up, it's full of teams of similar ability acting the same way. What's to separate them except a bit of luck, the odd flash of individual inspiration or a refereeing decision?

A pack mentality has developed among managers: “Let's all talk about how tough it is to break into the top four, so when we're only mid-table our chairmen will feel happy because we've convinced them it's the best a club such as ours can do.” Mid-table is a safe haven for managers now, especially when the division is so tight that a couple of wins on the bounce can send a club soaring up the ranks.

But while the accepted attitude is that getting into the top four is virtually impossible, it's not. It's just very difficult. Aston Villa outspent the “Big Four” this summer and Manchester City will surely do so in January. That must count for something, but there is too much pessimism around the league with expectations and tactics.

I watched two matches last weekend that depressed me. Everton created nothing for 75 minutes at Upton Park. Louis Saha was isolated up front, Victor Anichebe more like a wide man. They went a goal down, James Vaughan came on and for the equaliser there were four Everton players in the box. Previously there hadn't been four in the entire West Ham United half.

I was mentally preparing myself to hear David Moyes, the Everton manager, talk afterwards about how Upton Park is a tough place to come and it was a decent point, but then his side carried on attacking and scored two more. Against Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham, Everton offered nothing until they were losing. It was goalless against Fulham until Moyes finally brought Saha on and he scored a late winner. Where's the ambition? And this is the club that finished fifth last season.

On Sunday the rain was pouring at Ewood Park. A perfect chance for Blackburn Rovers to test Chelsea, to see if their players really fancied it in the cold and wet up north? Instead Paul Ince's team were defensive. Yes, Blackburn had injuries, but with only Jason Roberts up front they didn't have a hope of scoring. Managers would argue that it's easy for me to say that they should pick more attack-minded sides - I'm not the one under pressure - but the truth is that 4-5-1 often backfires anyway.

When the best teams such as Chelsea play with a lone striker, the full backs bomb on, there is support from midfield and bodies pile into the box. When the likes of Blackburn try it, they send the ball forward and there's no one within 30 yards of the striker, so even if he gets it, he's bound to lose possession. It amazes me how negative some clubs' starting line-ups are. Here's the standard Premier League substitution: if you are behind, bring on a forward; if you are winning, take off a forward. Managers either throw caution to the wind when there's little choice, or try to hang on to what you've got.

One reason Hull City have started so well is because they've played without fear. They've gone to Old Trafford and scored three times, they've visited the Emirates Stadium and won. Steve Bruce has tried to play attacking football at Wigan Athletic and Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur seems prepared to have a go and ask questions of the top four. We hope that more show some guts. There won't be variety at the top unless smaller sides stop rolling over and take more points off the big boys, helping the likes of Villa to catch them.