In a sport laced with myths, it is one of the most enduring. But can a team really be too good to go down?
The weight of evidence suggests not, with clubs - in the Premier League at least - given a full 38 games over the course of a season to prove they can at least be 17th best and avoid dropping down a division.
Sure, there have been teams packed with strong reputations that have been relegated in the past. Stellar names such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have slipped through the trap door in the last 50 years.