Relegation, Playoffs, FA Cup, Champions Lg Final, Explained

Quick questions for anyone.
As a new fan watching EPL I am often confused by all the dynamics surrounding EPL standings.
First of all, standings in Premiership are a "single table", rather than different divisions (like US) - how does a single table work?
I also have questions surrounding relegation (how are you relegated, can any team be relegated)?
What are the disadvantages of being relegated?
How does the playoff system work?
Why do Champions League playoffs happen during the end of the Premier League Season?
What exactly is the FA Cup?
Can you lose the FA Cup but win Champions League (didn't Liverpool do that?)
How are the Champions League teams chosen?
How is the site of the Champions League final determined?

I really enjoy watching EPL, but understand the playoff details only when the announcer explains these things.

I need help.

Thank you!

AW

 

Re: Relegation, Playoffs, FA Cup, Champions Lg Final, Explai

Every game counts. There are no playoffs and the league winner is only determined by regular season performance.

The bottom three teams are relegated. Whether you are the most popular team in the league or a small team like Fulham, any team can be relegated if that team finishes in the bottom three of league.

In the case of being a Premiership team getting relegated has a lot of financial implications. It is estimated that being in the Premiership gives those teams in the league 20 million pounds each season from TV rights alone. When relegated this money is not coming in and makes it hard to come up with money to plan for the future. Some clubs have to sell their best players because of clauses in contracts which makes it for players to only play in the Premiership.

As for the playoff system to get promoted up a division, the top two teams that finish the regular season are automatically promoted. Last season Reading and Sheffield United were first and second respectively in the league and were promoted to the Premiership for this season.

After the top two, the third through sixth teams play a home and home series. 3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5. The winner on aggregate between the home and away ties goes onto the final of the playoffs against the winner of the other match. The winner of that goes toup a division. These playoffs hold true from the Coca-Cola Championship all the way down to the second division.

Champions League positions are rewarded for teams having good seasons in the domestic league. It is good motivation for teams to keep playing hard week in and week out with both Champions League and UEFA Cup spots on the line. A great example of this was the way Arsenal and Tottenham went down to the last week of the season to decide the fourth and final Champions League spot.

The FA Cup is one of the coolest and oldest competitions in English football. All league teams and even non-league teams can enter this competition that is a one-off NCAA tournament style affair. The big guns can play the small teams and the winners advance.

If teams tie, they will replay the match at the home field of the away teams from the first leg. If that ends in a tie, overtime and a shootout will happen to determine a winner.

The FA Cup can be really, really exciting. I really enjoy it.

Yes, this is possible. The FA Cup and Champions League have nothing to do with one another. There are five seperate competitions throughout the season.
1. The league
2. The Carling Cup (another domestic Cup similar to the FA Cup, but excludes non-league teams and is not nearly as prestigious)
3. FA Cup
4. UEFA Cup
5. Champions League

In England, Champions League spots go to the top four teams from the previous seasons's standings. Thus, for England, this coming season's Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal will represent the country.

Because Chelsea and Manchester United finished first and second, both teams automatically qualify for the group stage of the Champions League whereas Liverpool and Arsenal will have to play a qualifier round against smaller European opponent to make it to the group stages of the event.

However, in smaller coutries like Poland, the league only gets one spot in the Champions Leauge.

UEFA preselects this two or three years in advance.

I hope this info helps you out.

Let me know if you have more questions.

 

RE: Re: Relegation, Playoffs, FA Cup, Champions Lg Final, Ex

Similar thread a while back, lots of useful info.

http://www.fulhamusa.com/index.php?name ... pic&t=1389

Because the EPL is so compelling and fun to watch you'll be amazed at how fast you pick stuff up. If only other things in life were so compelling and easy to pick up......

 

RE: Re: Relegation, Playoffs, FA Cup, Champions Lg Final, Ex

Amazing information I will be consulting throughout the season.
Thanks y'all very much!

 

RE: Re: Relegation, Playoffs, FA Cup, Champions Lg Final, Ex

Well done Tom, that was perfect.