TOTTENHAM and Leicester are exposing a truth which has long been buried beneath the bravado that soils the modern game - hard graft and teamwork still pay off.
Whatever happens in the last five games this season will change English football for the better and possibly for good.
Claudio Ranieri and Mauricio Pochettino are proving that attitude and effort count more than big reputations and nonsensical transfer fees.
The illusion that only four clubs can win the title is about to be shattered. And those clubs are going to spend longer than everyone imagines picking up the pieces as others come wading in for a bit of the action.
Leicester's story over the last year is incredible. Relegation certs to one hand on the title... it's Roy of the Rovers stuff. Brian Clough meets Alice in Wonderland.
But underpinning all of it is a set of players that respect the game and would run through walls for each other. They are prepared to listen to the ideas of their coach and stick to a game plan.
Not just for one big derby, not just for a cup run and not just to avoid the drop - but for a whole gruelling 38-game campaign. And that sends a strong message.
West Ham and Slaven Bilic will be thinking that, without a winless eight-game winter run, they could be chasing down the top two.
Stoke and Southampton must fancy - were it not for a few slip-ups or a bit of complacency - they could have been battling for a Champions League spot.
Everton fans are already starting to ask why they can't compete and why they have been fed a whole generation of financial excuses when, actually, the money isn't the issue.
Even Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, flying high in 11th, must think he is only a step or two off a team that can fight for Europe.
A lot of people expect the Premier League's financial giants to regroup, dive into the transfer market and come back next season to restore the status quo.
But with big transfer fees come big egos and big problems. City, Chelsea and Manchester United have all brought in cargo loads of big-time misfits that cannot pull together when the going gets tough.
Pedro, Diego Costa, Raheem Sterling, Memphis Depay cost a fortune, promised much and have all gone missing when it matters most.
That won't be fixed by another summer of throwing cash around. They all need major surgery.
And the success of little unfashionable Leicester has levelled the playing field as clubs begin to realise that with a bit of organisation anything is possible.
Fitness, determination and work rate will rise to the top of the scouts' worksheets above technique, skill or style.
Teams will not be looking for the next Wayne Rooney or Sergio Aguero to splash £35m plus on, they will be looking for the next Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli or Harry Kane.
Pochettino was brought in to make the most of Tottenham's thriving but underused youth system. He has shown faith in young homegrown players and it is coming up trumps for him.
The fans have something to be proud of - and what's more the bank manager is happy.
You can already see other top flight clubs looking to emulate him. City are showing faith in Kelechi Iheanacho, Louis van Gaal is fast-tracking Marcus Rashford, Donald Love and Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
Even Arsene Wenger is trying again with Alex Iwobi, despite claiming he was nowhere near ready earlier this season.
Poch was also quick to get rid of the dead wood with Andros Townsend, Emmanuel Adebayor and Younes Kaboul among those out the door - and all three are now battling relegation at their respective new clubs.
Ranieri has also been very careful in his choices, ensuring all squad members are team players and nobody is out to rock the boat.
As a result the top two have no night-club scandals, no training-ground bust ups and no social media gaffes. Instead there are stories of dressing-room harmony, banter and camaraderie, and friendships between players both on and off the pitch.
It all goes towards making this the best season for years.
It's the season that money was beaten by nous and working hard came above partying hard.
It’s the season that team spirit saw off rich-kid bravado, the academies became the new stars of tomorrow and top footballers once again became top role models.
Football is changing. Get used to it.
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