In the Premier League there is just the winner is the winner.  In the leagues below, there is a play off situation to get promoted to the league above, normally two are promoted automatically, and the next four teams play two further matches, one home and one away and the winner of these matches then go to a final match at Wembley and the winner gets promoted. 

 

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I said one last question but there's another- is there then a playoff system or is it just over and the winner is the winner? If there is playoffs, can you explain how it works- #teams in it , etc.?

 

The winner is the winner. The winner qualifies (as well as 2nd place and possibly 3rd or 4th depending on the country) for a prestigious league the following season called the Champions League.

 

To Americanize it a bit... it would be like creating a Champions College Football League where the two teams who played in their Conference Championship game qualify for an additional league next season.

 

Missouri

Auburn

Ohio State

Michigan State

Duke

Florida State

Arizona State

Stanford

 

These teams would play each other during the same time as the 2014 CFB season, but play against each other during the week. The results wouldn't effect their regular season record, but would factor in to this separate league.

 

It is possible to be in two leagues at the same time as well as a national Cup, or open tournament. Imagine EVERY college football team, 244 NCAA D3 + 125 FBS + 123 FCS + 169 D2 in a 661 team single elimination tournament.

 

If a team wins their Domestic League, the Continental League (i.e. Champions League), and National Cup in the same season, it's called a Treble. Bayern Munich, from Germany, did this last year in Europe.

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OK then, did I miss somebody explaining what the FA cup was in this thread? Because I'm watching a recording of Fulham vs Sheffield United (which started around 8 am) and don't have a clue what's going on.

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OK then, did I miss somebody explaining what the FA cup was in this thread? Because I'm watching a recording of Fulham vs Sheffield United (which started around 8 am) and don't have a clue what's going on.

 

It is a competition that is open to not only Premier League teams, but also to football clubs in England and Wales down  as many as 6 levels of their league ranking system. Essentially it is a tournament open to almost all clubs. The little guys get a shot at the big guys, though that rarely happens. Still, a pretty cool concept.

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If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.
- Bob Marley


 

It is a competition that is open to not only Premier League teams, but also to football clubs in England and Wales down  as many as 6 levels of their league ranking system. Essentially it is a tournament open to almost all clubs. The little guys get a shot at the big guys, though that rarely happens. Still, a pretty cool concept.

Fulham didn't seem to be very interested in winning the game. I don't understand the incentive.

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Fulham didn't seem to be very interested in winning the game. I don't understand the incentive.

 

For the teams in the lower ranked leagues, a chance to become giant killers. For all, the winner gets to compete in the Europa League's next season.

 

Last, but not least, national pride. That actually still matters there. Everybody has some connection to a local club that will participate. Every match is broadcast on TV. If you think we love sports here, their love of association football is on a different level.

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If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.
- Bob Marley


 

Fulham didn't seem to be very interested in winning the game. I don't understand the incentive.

These days, the F.A. Cup isn't as good as it used to be.  It has always been a chance for clubs from a lower league to go up against the bigger teams in a knock out competition with the chance for a big pay day!  These days the bigger teams field their younger players/reserve teams against the first teams of lower league opposition - they are either concentrating on winning the league (as I may have said previously only five teams have won the Premier League), getting a European place (the winner of the F.A. Cup also gets a place), or surviving relegation if they are down near the bottom of the league!  Sheffield United are two leagues lower than Fulham so they probably thought we could save our better players for the League which matters more as they are likely to make more money!

 

For the teams in the lower ranked leagues, a chance to become giant killers. For all, the winner gets to compete in the Europa League's next season.

 

Last, but not least, national pride. That actually still matters there. Everybody has some connection to a local club that will participate. Every match is broadcast on TV. If you think we love sports here, their love of association football is on a different level.

Unfortunately that's not the case.  There were 16 F.A. cup games this weekend, only five at the most were televised, eleven games kicked of at 3pm on Saturday.  There is a blackout type rule for games played mid afternoon on Saturdays http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_foo...lackout.22

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Unfortunately that's not the case.  There were 16 F.A. cup games this weekend, only five at the most were televised, eleven games kicked of at 3pm on Saturday.  There is a blackout type rule for games played mid afternoon on Saturdays http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_foo...lackout.22

 

You're correct, I misread my source.

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If something can corrupt you, you're corrupted already.
- Bob Marley


 

These days, the F.A. Cup isn't as good as it used to be.  It has always been a chance for clubs from a lower league to go up against the bigger teams in a knock out competition with the chance for a big pay day!  These days the bigger teams field their younger players/reserve teams against the first teams of lower league opposition - they are either concentrating on winning the league (as I may have said previously only five teams have won the Premier League), getting a European place (the winner of the F.A. Cup also gets a place), or surviving relegation if they are down near the bottom of the league!  Sheffield United are two leagues lower than Fulham so they probably thought we could save our better players for the League which matters more as they are likely to make more money!

For most, it's a simple economic equation. The millions earned playing Champions League are vastly more important than the relatively small payday of the FA Cup, so winning in their league is more important than in the Cup. Of course, if you're in a lower league you don't get a shot at the CL anyway so the Cup becomes the main price and moneymaker.

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You're correct, I misread my source.

If I'm being honest, I wish they overturned this now though!  I don't really watch Soccer much now as I'm fed up of players feigning injury etc but with the majority of Premier League games selling out there should at least be a Redzone type option to subscribe to.  The Championship (our second league) is supposed to be the fourth most watched league in the world and I don't think it would affect attendances of the two leagues below.

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Fulham plays Swansea City tomorrow (Tues) at 2:45 PM ET. This is a golden oppty for Fulham as Swansea is just ahead of them with 21 pts to their 19. The three teams currently in the "relegation zone" have 18 pts.

 

SI.com has the soccer standings/schedules if interested. Just click on Soccer and go to the English Premier League.

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Season Ticket holder since 2004.