As one of the few leagues in the world that decides its champion by way of a Cup tournament, the MLS playoffs were always going to be suspect. To their credit, every year has featured a Final where at least one team was either the #1 or #2 team in their division.
But this year has demonstrated why the present system is broken. The Final between New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew features a match that should have taken place in the First Round. New York finished the regular season with a record of 10-11-9. Good enough for 8th place in the 14-team league. They grabbed the last playoff spot. They will face #1 seed Columbus Crew.
#1 vs. #8, #2 vs. #7, #3 vs. #6, #4 vs. #5
What is so difficult about this, MLS?
Presently, the top 3 teams in each conference make the playoffs, with the next two teams, regardless of recors qualifying as well. If one conference sends 5 teams, the 5th-seeded team switches over to the other conference. This happened last year when Kansas City made it to the Western Conference Final after finishing with the 5th-best record in the East. While the crossover rule has heresofar had little effect, this year, New York won the Western Conference Final, and a trip to the Champions League by going 2-0-1 in the playoffs. Champions League berths are handed out to both MLS Cup Finalists. Champions League for a team that finished sub-.500 in the regular season, and couldn't even finish in the top half of its own league. Two MLS entries in the region's competition will bear that unfortunate label next year (DC United is the other.)
Add to the fact that Chicago Fire, who finished with the third-best record in the league, as a reward were set to play the 4th-best team in the league, New England Revolution, and the #1 seed Columbus Crew before even GETTING to the Final.
This season, the playoff seedings in the first round SHOULD HAVE BEEN
#1 Columbus vs. #8 New York
#2 Houston vs. #7 Kansas City
#3 Chicago vs. #6 Real Salt Lake
#4 New England vs. #5 Chivas USA
This, on its own would have provided some compelling matchups. New England and Chivas USA would have a SuperLiga rematch, Kansas City would meet the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Small-market Columbus would go against Gotham.
The fact is, with MLS shifting closer towards a balanced schedule that could happen as early as next year, the conferences are taking on lesser and lesser meaning, so it's time to get rid of them for good.
Showing posts with label MLS Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLS Cup. Show all posts
11.15.2008
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.
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