(07-30-2017, 11:45 AM)PF* Wrote: I got a little bit interested in this when Mr. Khan took over and Fulham was in the Premier League but then lost interest when they were relegated to a lower league. Darlo, can you give me a brief synopsis of the league:
  - Season starts mid-August I see
  - When does it end?
  - How many matches in a season?
  - Are there playoffs? If so, what is the structure- # of teams, etc; #matches in a series
  - How many teams are relegated and to where?

On Fulham:
  - Where are they now, what league?
  - Is that league one notch below the Premier?
  - Can they be relegated to a lower league?
  - Does their season start now too?
  - Can they be elevated to the Premier and how?

Thanks.

Hi PF, with pleasure..

So the structure of the Premier League is that there are 20 teams. Each team play each other home and away (38 games over the season). Usually the season starts mid-August and finishes in mid-May. In the Premier League there are no playoffs. The team who finish top of the league win the Premier League trophy. Teams who finish 2nd, 3rd & 4th qualify for the European Champions League which, if you don't know, is a competition that runs during the season which will feature Europe's successful teams from the previous season. So realistically if you can't win the Premier League then the secondary goal (no pun intended) is to qualify for the Champions League. This is where the big money is at.

The bottom three teams at the end of the season get relegated to 'The Championship' - this is the second tier in the English professional game.

Now here's where it gets a little complicated. There are 3 leagues below the Premier League, they are called The Championship, League One & League Two. All of these leagues have playoffs for promotion. Let's stick with The Championship (this is where Fulham are): The top two teams at the end of the season will win automatic promotion to the Premier League. Thus filling two of the three spots vacated by the three teams relegated from the Premier League. The third spot is filled with the playoff winner. The play offs are between the teams who finish 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th with 3rd playing 6th and 4th playing 5th, both in two legged ties. So They will play each other home and away in the play offs. The winner of the ties will face each other in the Play Off Final at Wembley and the overall winner will join the other two teams already promoted. Does this make sense?

League One & League Two have the same structure with the League Two winners, second place, third place and play off winners advancing to League One and the League One winners, second place and play off winners advancing to The Championship. The Championship have three teams relegated, League One have four relegated and League Two have two teams relegated with that void being filled by the Winner and play off winner from the National Conference which is considered as non-league/semi-professional.

The three divisions below the Premier League have 24 teams, all of which play each other twice both home and away (46 games per season).

We also have cup competitions which run through the season which are additional games for the teams to play. The League Cup which involves all teams through the top 4 divisions, the FA Cup which is open to teams from the Premier League right down to the 10th tier in the game.. plus others.. Meaning teams who are successful in league, cup and European competitions will play in excess of 60 games per season. Including sometimes 5-6 games in 15-16 days!

Any team can be relegated through poor form or financial difficulties resulting in them not keeping up with their payments. For instance, Stockport County used to be in The Championship and now they are in the National League Northern Division which is the 6th tier of the game and are considered as part timers..

I hope this clears up your questions. Just let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.

FYI, Fulham are 11/4 to get promoted in the upcoming season.

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