Celtic are through to the Champions League!
8.30.2007
8.25.2007
AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!
It's become everyone's favorite time of year again. As summer turns to fall, the winds get colder and the race for the MLS Cup intensifies.
This year's MLS season has been perhaps the league's most exciting to watch since the inaugural season of 1996. However, heading into the final third (or less) of the 30-game slate, about 6 teams look certain to make the playoffs, with another on the cusp. That's 7 of 8 playoff spots accounted for. In the East, there is a clearly defined strata, and right now, that strata is 30 points. New England (42 pts) DC United (39 pts), Red Bull New York (33 pts), and Kansas City Wizards (32 points)* are just about sure to be in the playoffs when they roll around in six weeks or so. *= The Wizards are my "iffy" team, but they are still 5 points clear of their nearest rival (Columbus). In the West, the dichotomy is even stronger. Houston Dynamo (38 pts), FC Dallas (36 pts) and Chivas USA (33 pts) are top of the conference. Colorado Rapids are the closest lookers at 24 points.
It will be a fierce battle for the 8th and final spot, and I see it coming down to three teams. Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, and Chicago Fire. Under MLS's new playoff format rules, the top two teams in each conference make the playoffs, followed by the next 6 teams pointwise regardless of conference. If the MLS Cup Playoffs started today, the pairings would be...
#1 New England vs. #8 (Columbus/Chicago/Colorado)
#2 Houston vs. #7 Kansas City
#3 DC United vs. #6 Red Bull New York
#4 FC Dallas vs. #5 Chivas USA
Chivas takes the 5 spot over RBNY because right now, they have matches in hand.
So how does the chase come down to the final three teams? What will determine how they will come out on top? Let's take a look.
Columbus Crew
(Through August 25, 6-7-9, 27 points, 4th place in the East)
Remaining Schedule
COLORADO, CHICAGO, @Kansas City, @Toronto, LOS ANGELES, FC DALLAS, @New England, @DC United.
Record vs. "The other two" Lost at Chicago 3-2 in June, Drew 0-0 at Chicago in August. Drew 0-0 at Colorado
Columbus is a young team that hasn't really been tested in playoff situations just yet. While their speed certainly makes them dangerous on the flanks, especially with the seemingly ageless Frankie Hejduk and bargain of the year Guillermo Barros Schelotto providing service, the Crew are not the patsy they have been the past few campaigns, but are not the league shakers they were in the early days of the league with Brian McBride and Brad Friedel. Columbus definitely controls their own destiny and at least 4 points against Fire and Colorado will go a long way to securing their postseason.
Chicago Fire
(7-9-5, 26 points, 5th place in the East)
Remaining Schedule: @New York, @ Columbus, NEW YORK, @FC Dallas, DC UNITED, @Chivas USA, NEW ENGLAND, @DC United, LOS ANGELES
Record vs. "The Other Two": Chicago drew at Colorado 1-1 in April, then 0-0 at Toyota Park in July. Fire beat Columbus 3-2 in June, and drew 0-0 in July, both matches at home.
Chicago technically doesn't control their destiny. They're behind on points, and it would really help should Columbus screw up down the stretch. However, the Fire have a match in hand on the Crew. That being said, it's a rough road. Only two of their remaining contests are against teams at the bottom of the pile. One of those games is against another team fighting for its playoff life, and the other is against David Beckham's traveling roadshow.
Mexican international Cuahtemoc Blanco has worked out in every way possible, scoring his second MLS goal in his 4th MLS game against KC on Saturday. With Justin Mapp and Chris Rolfe returning from injury, and new additions Paolo Wanchope and Wilman Conde should bolster the ranks. They're also hot, going undefeated in four of their last five. The backline however is VERY shaky, and Chris Armas and CJ Brown are showing their age. If the defense can keep the Fire in games long enough for Blanco, Wanchope, Rolfe, Mapp, and Carr to do their jobs, I like the Fire's chances. Of the three teams, they probably have the most talent. That September Fire-Crew game is HUGE in every sense of the word. The winner may not be in, but the loser will probably be out.
Colorado Rapids
(6-9-6, 24 pts, 4th place in the West)
Remaining Schedule: LOS ANGELES, @Columbus, @Los Angeles, CHIVAS USA, @Real Salt Lake, @New England, TORONTO FC, @Chivas USA, REAL SALT LAKE
Record against "The Other Two": Drew Chicago 1-1 in March at home, and 0-0 in Chicago in July. Drew Columbus 0-0 at home.
Colorado is in some deep shit, frankly. Of these three, I like their chances least. The team is in total chaos right now. Head Coach Fernando Clavijo may be on the chopping block. His job likely depends on the Rapids making the playoffs. Keeper Bouna Coundoul has a GAA of 1.19, but the Rapids as a team have only scored 20 goals in 21 matches, third-lowest in the league. They have little star power, little offensive firepower, and only have one game remaining against their playoff rivals Fire and Crew.
If there's one thing to save them, it's their schedule. While the Fire's schedule is packed with league-beaters, the Claret-and-blue is packed with patsies. Los Angeles twice, Real Salt Lake twice and Toronto FC. With that kind of schedule, if they can't make it work, they don't deserve to go to the playoffs.
I'm not making picks. Too bad.
This year's MLS season has been perhaps the league's most exciting to watch since the inaugural season of 1996. However, heading into the final third (or less) of the 30-game slate, about 6 teams look certain to make the playoffs, with another on the cusp. That's 7 of 8 playoff spots accounted for. In the East, there is a clearly defined strata, and right now, that strata is 30 points. New England (42 pts) DC United (39 pts), Red Bull New York (33 pts), and Kansas City Wizards (32 points)* are just about sure to be in the playoffs when they roll around in six weeks or so. *= The Wizards are my "iffy" team, but they are still 5 points clear of their nearest rival (Columbus). In the West, the dichotomy is even stronger. Houston Dynamo (38 pts), FC Dallas (36 pts) and Chivas USA (33 pts) are top of the conference. Colorado Rapids are the closest lookers at 24 points.
It will be a fierce battle for the 8th and final spot, and I see it coming down to three teams. Columbus Crew, Colorado Rapids, and Chicago Fire. Under MLS's new playoff format rules, the top two teams in each conference make the playoffs, followed by the next 6 teams pointwise regardless of conference. If the MLS Cup Playoffs started today, the pairings would be...
#1 New England vs. #8 (Columbus/Chicago/Colorado)
#2 Houston vs. #7 Kansas City
#3 DC United vs. #6 Red Bull New York
#4 FC Dallas vs. #5 Chivas USA
Chivas takes the 5 spot over RBNY because right now, they have matches in hand.
So how does the chase come down to the final three teams? What will determine how they will come out on top? Let's take a look.
Columbus Crew
(Through August 25, 6-7-9, 27 points, 4th place in the East)
Remaining Schedule
COLORADO, CHICAGO, @Kansas City, @Toronto, LOS ANGELES, FC DALLAS, @New England, @DC United.
Record vs. "The other two" Lost at Chicago 3-2 in June, Drew 0-0 at Chicago in August. Drew 0-0 at Colorado
Columbus is a young team that hasn't really been tested in playoff situations just yet. While their speed certainly makes them dangerous on the flanks, especially with the seemingly ageless Frankie Hejduk and bargain of the year Guillermo Barros Schelotto providing service, the Crew are not the patsy they have been the past few campaigns, but are not the league shakers they were in the early days of the league with Brian McBride and Brad Friedel. Columbus definitely controls their own destiny and at least 4 points against Fire and Colorado will go a long way to securing their postseason.
Chicago Fire
(7-9-5, 26 points, 5th place in the East)
Remaining Schedule: @New York, @ Columbus, NEW YORK, @FC Dallas, DC UNITED, @Chivas USA, NEW ENGLAND, @DC United, LOS ANGELES
Record vs. "The Other Two": Chicago drew at Colorado 1-1 in April, then 0-0 at Toyota Park in July. Fire beat Columbus 3-2 in June, and drew 0-0 in July, both matches at home.
Chicago technically doesn't control their destiny. They're behind on points, and it would really help should Columbus screw up down the stretch. However, the Fire have a match in hand on the Crew. That being said, it's a rough road. Only two of their remaining contests are against teams at the bottom of the pile. One of those games is against another team fighting for its playoff life, and the other is against David Beckham's traveling roadshow.
Mexican international Cuahtemoc Blanco has worked out in every way possible, scoring his second MLS goal in his 4th MLS game against KC on Saturday. With Justin Mapp and Chris Rolfe returning from injury, and new additions Paolo Wanchope and Wilman Conde should bolster the ranks. They're also hot, going undefeated in four of their last five. The backline however is VERY shaky, and Chris Armas and CJ Brown are showing their age. If the defense can keep the Fire in games long enough for Blanco, Wanchope, Rolfe, Mapp, and Carr to do their jobs, I like the Fire's chances. Of the three teams, they probably have the most talent. That September Fire-Crew game is HUGE in every sense of the word. The winner may not be in, but the loser will probably be out.
Colorado Rapids
(6-9-6, 24 pts, 4th place in the West)
Remaining Schedule: LOS ANGELES, @Columbus, @Los Angeles, CHIVAS USA, @Real Salt Lake, @New England, TORONTO FC, @Chivas USA, REAL SALT LAKE
Record against "The Other Two": Drew Chicago 1-1 in March at home, and 0-0 in Chicago in July. Drew Columbus 0-0 at home.
Colorado is in some deep shit, frankly. Of these three, I like their chances least. The team is in total chaos right now. Head Coach Fernando Clavijo may be on the chopping block. His job likely depends on the Rapids making the playoffs. Keeper Bouna Coundoul has a GAA of 1.19, but the Rapids as a team have only scored 20 goals in 21 matches, third-lowest in the league. They have little star power, little offensive firepower, and only have one game remaining against their playoff rivals Fire and Crew.
If there's one thing to save them, it's their schedule. While the Fire's schedule is packed with league-beaters, the Claret-and-blue is packed with patsies. Los Angeles twice, Real Salt Lake twice and Toronto FC. With that kind of schedule, if they can't make it work, they don't deserve to go to the playoffs.
I'm not making picks. Too bad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)