There's also the Isthmian League, and there used to by an Athenian League (until 1984). Not to mention two clubs with "Corinthian" in their names. I would suggest the revival of the Olympic Games at the end of the 19th century, with its sporting amateur ideals, was a bit influential.
The Hellenic and Isthmian leagues pre- dated the modern Olympics but they did reflect the amateur ethos. It's also reflected in team names from that era like Corinthian Casuals, Blackburn Olympic, Trojans etc. Several still exist. Corinthians of Sāo Paolo were formed by 5 Corinthian Casuals players who were working for a railway company in Brazil. There were a lot of ex public (private) school teams too like Old Etoninians, Old Harrovians, Old Salopians and Old Wykehamists and a few army regiments were prominent in the early days of the FA Cup. I think the current Hellenic League has some of the best team names: Bishops Cleeve, Longlevens, Hereford Lads, Brimscombe and Thrupp, Chipping Sodbury Town and Tuffley Rovers.
Was just looking at the table from the 98/99 season when Man City played at the third level... three (and possibly five) of the teams that season will play at the top level next season, two (and possibly three) will play at the fifth, one will possibly play at the sixth and Macclesfield are a phoenix club. Only two (and possibly four) of the teams at the third level then will be at that level next season. Interesting how things change.
That's the point. Things aren't changing. 6 teams own 67 of the 68 top spots in the last 17 years. In the 15 years before that 10 different teams finished in a top 3 spot (Wiki has a page showing the top 3 every year, easier than digging through individual pages to find the top 4, which would increase that number certainly). There were 13 different teams (including Man City) in the top 3 spots in the 15 years before that. Again, we know why this is. The changes made to the league structure (top division breaking away and forming the EPL) and European play is funneling more and more money to less and less teams, leading to a runaway rich get richer scenario. That is not (at least not directly) due to P/R. But to bury your head in the sand like our friend their and claim this always happens is ignoring the reality that the top tier in England (and Spain, and Italy, etc.) is not what it once was. The structure of league competitions have fundamentally changed, to their detriment.
I still think the real big four in England are Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. Man City and Chelsea are on borrowed money er...time.
i would rather see salernitana stay up after 2 late draws inlast two games basicly saying to them your faith is serie b then watch mls play offs
The top six have certainly been cemented either directly or indirectly through the expanded CL. The point of my post was to contrast that with just how fluid everything else is in the pyramid.
Yesterday's most remarkable story was Bristol Rovers' promotion from League Two in the third and last automatic promotion spot. Just before half time, Bristol were winning 2-0 and Nothampton Town 3-0, requiring a six goal swing to Bristol in those margins of victory. Which, thanks to three goals in the last 15 minutes of normal time, is exactly what happened: Bristol won 7-0 and Northampton 3-1.
Why are Salernitana throwing away the best draft choices like that? Six games ago they looked almost certain to finish bottom. Alternatively, yes that would be a remarkable escape.
Why is that nonsensical!!? Fact is Aston Villa are one of the biggest clubs in England, they're certainly much bigger than Spurs!!! You don't see it for one because you think football started in the year 2005 and for 2 because they aren't in the top 6!, that's the point! Nottingham Forest have TWO European cups/Champions Leagues! Aston Villa have been champions of Europe more times than Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester City put together!! Everton are a bigger club than Spurs! Arsenal have ONE European trophy - a pretty minor one, the Cup Winners Cup that's the same as West Ham! In your world the big 6 always finish top 6 because you simply associate whoever finishes in the top 6 as the big 6, now that is nonsensical.
I would rather watch MLS Next Pro than the Serie A and I’m not even sure how the former handles playoffs.
A total of eight teams, four from each conference, will qualify for the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. This includes the top team from each division and the two teams with the next most points in each conference.
The fact that MLS isn't cool and is disparaged by both mainstream "big 4" sports fans here in the States AND by many fans from soccer-centric countries is part of the appeal for me. I've never had a problem being a nerd.
People want MLS to get rid of the salary cap? I mean you can't be talking small teams getting entrance to the league because MLS actively prevents that.
People who suggest MLS should "take the gloves off" thinking this would make MLS more competitive, when in fact it would make our less competitive. The lack of pro/rel and the lack of a truly competitive continental tournament would exacerbate the issue.
Exactly. What they mean by taking the gloves off is eliminating or raising the MLS salary cap, but they don't seem to understand that this wouldn't put additional spending money in the pockets of MLS owners. Cap space and money are not the same thing. Players prefer to be paid in money.
You mean the idea of, or possibility of money wouldn't do it for them? Being able to dream of one day possibly maybe getting that money isn't enough? Hhhmmmm