The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[danielofthedale]

Seattle hosts Colorado tonight! Who ya got?

If you told me before the season started I would be taking Colorado to best Seattle in Seattle in the opening playoff game I would say you are crazy! But I like the young talent of Colorado. I also think all the pressure will be the Sounders and they have not looked good down the stretch. Rapids in a shocker 2-1.

 

[stevereigh]

Seattle hosts Colorado tonight! Who ya got?

If you told me before the season started I would be taking Colorado to best Seattle in Seattle in the opening playoff game I would say you are crazy! But I like the young talent of Colorado. I also think all the pressure will be the Sounders and they have not looked good down the stretch. Rapids in a shocker 2-1.

Grrr, I hate your comment but cannot argue much with it.

I feel about as nervous for this game as I did for the Pirates vs. Reds wildcard game a few weeks back. Hopefully it turns out the same and the Sounders route the Rapids, but honestly, who knows.

 

[Grannyknot]

Top of the league. 5 pts clear.

 

[hopstupid]

Top of the league. 5 pts clear.

I thought cazorla was spark plug that made the team go. It was a fun game to watch sturridge is a world class diver, bit since he's English I guess its ok.

 

[Grannyknot]

I thought cazorla was spark plug that made the team go. It was a fun game to watch sturridge is a world class diver, bit since he's English I guess its ok.

Cazorla did seem to be back on form. His goal was great as well.

 

[user 107007]

Can't argue even though I really want to. Gunners were the better side. Both goals were brilliant. Cazorlas was skill and hustle all in one.

LFC just didn't seem to have a spark and Gerrard was lack luster at the best. Was a poor showing all around.

Silver lining is maybe this wakes them up, the next couple fixtures hopefully show a little energy and desire.

 

[Grannyknot]

I'll open myself up once more.

If anyone cares to give me a verbal lashing for my comments on Aaron Ramsey this past summer, feel free.
Egg on face.

 

[danielofthedale]

Two fun MLS Playoff games tonight! No one should be surprised that NYRB weited the bed. SKC might have got the playoff monkey off their back with a thrilling game versus New England.

The Western Conference games will have some work to match the games from tonight.

 

[Grannyknot]

Ahhh the playoffs.
Where it doesn't matter how dominant you've been throughout the season.

 

[stevereigh]

Ahhh the playoffs.
Where it doesn't matter how dominant you've been throughout the season.

 

[Grannyknot]

Sorry, I just don't understand the purpose of the MLS playoffs.
Something like only 6 times the supporters shield winner has won the MLS Cup.
Columbus crew had some absolutely dominant teams that weren't crowned MLS champions.

Just my opinion (& I understand its not a popular one).

 

[stevereigh]

It's because this is MERICUH. All of our other sports have playoffs, why would the MLS not cater to the MERICUHNS?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I don't know, I just really like the playoffs. It adds a ton of drama and I really can't complain about more matches to watch.

But I'm still pissed LA got knocked out. They should have won their first leg by 3-0 or 4-0 but their finishing was terrible. The same thing happened on the return leg but this time RSL punished them for it.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I can't imagine a scenario where my team has battled all season long to achieve a good final standing (I can dream) Only, at the end of the season to participate in an equivalent to a penalty shoot out against teams that did less well........And for no good reason!!!

More concisely: What is a league system for?

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Chelsea was bailed out by the ref today. Got to feel terrible for WBA to be cheated from 2 points.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I can't imagine a scenario where my team has battled all season long to achieve a good final standing (I can dream) Only, at the end of the season to participate in an equivalent to a penalty shoot out against teams that did less well........And for no good reason!!!

More concisely: What is a league system for?

What can I say. It's a system that is punishing and tests a teams depth. But the fact that the playoffs exist create some really exciting and tense situations in the regular season. Towards the end of this season, the difference between 2nd place (qualifying for playoffs) and 6th place (getting knocked out) was a one-match difference in points. This was the case for both conferences. Just about every single match in October was an important one in which it was vital to get a result in order to qualify.

In leagues that don't have playoffs (read: pretty much every other one) by the end of the season there is quite often a distinct 1st place, negating the importance of many matches. On the other hand, it was pretty clear that NYRB was going to be 1st in the Eastern Conference but the rest of the playoff bracket wasn't even set until the very last day of the regular season.

On another note, in the Western Conference, the worst team (Chivas USA... who shouldn't even exist) still had an effect on the final outcomes of the playoff seeding seeing as their last two matches were against the two clubs jockeying for 1st and 2nd (Portland and RSL).

In conclusion to a not very well thought-out and organized defense of the playoffs, I just enjoy the playoffs. It's not for everybody but I just feel it gives MLS its own flavor, or as haters would say, "Americanized."

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Cup or bowl games exist for drama, league games exist to find out who the best teams are. I honestly can't see why the two should be mixed. Sorry.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Another thing to consider is America is friggin huge. In order for MLS to survive back in the beginning (and to be sustainable today) they had to reduce travel distances. The last couple seasons have been good about this by having an unbalanced system, that is you play in-conference clubs more than you do out-of-conference clubs. But this produces results that, on a single table, aren't really a true ranking. Essentially the only way to level the playing field due to difference in strength of schedule (i.e. the Eastern Conference was overall pretty weak this season) is pit the best of each conference head-to-head.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Another thing to consider is America is friggin huge. In order for MLS to survive back in the beginning (and to be sustainable today) they had to reduce travel distances. The last couple seasons have been good about this by having an unbalanced system, that is you play in-conference clubs more than you do out-of-conference clubs. But this produces results that, on a single table, aren't really a true ranking. Essentially the only way to level the playing field due to difference in strength of schedule (i.e. the Eastern Conference was overall pretty weak this season) is pit the best of each conference head-to-head.

I do understand that issue. I have mentioned it in the past.


Play-offs still suck though!

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

The Houston KC match was ugly. MLS has a very long way to go to catch up to the European leagues.

Graham Suzi looked like a man among boys on the pitch in terms of skill.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Meh, it's one match. Plus playing strategies can be very different in playoffs... sometimes those strategies aren't pretty.

 

[danielofthedale]

First, I don't know why people spend so much time bashing the playoffs. It is what is and the single is not perfect by any stretch so it is what its. The main thing is there will never a balanced schedule as MLS will push to 28 or 30 teams and with an unblanced schedule playoffs are the only fair way to crown a champion.

On to other things, man was Saturday night disappointing! The Silverbacks had plenty of quality chances and just could not find the back and Senna scored a goal of pure class that Nasco had not shot at stopping it. But I can't wait for season!

I was not really surprised by the SKC-Houston game. I thought Houston would try to pack it in and get to the second leg scoreless. SKC's lack of a fear inducing forward is a big problem as they no one to really threaten from the run of play.

RSL-Portland was a very fun game to watch. Shocked by how bad the Portland back line was. I thought for sure with Sabo out that RSL was going to have a very hard time breaking that back line down. I looked like the Timbers really just gave up after they scored that first goal and let RSL just take over the game. You have to think RSL is the favorite to win it all after the first legs.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah I'd say RSL is looking like the favorite right now. Portland definitely looked like playoff-virgins.

 

[Pappers_]

My Arsenal go down to bitter defeat against the hated United, and to top it off, on a header by RVP!!! Oh, the humanity!!!!

 

[stevereigh]

It definitely feels good to watch Portland lose.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

My Arsenal go down to bitter defeat against the hated United, and to top it off, on a header by RVP!!! Oh, the humanity!!!!

If Liverpool lose or draw, and Saints play well against the Gunners in two weeks, my lot could go top!!!

It's all a big ask, but here is hoping!

 

[Pappers_]

If Liverpool lose or draw, and Saints play well against the Gunners in two weeks, my lot could go top!!!

It's all a big ask, but here is hoping!

I'd forgotten you followed Southampton - what a great year they are having. Good year to root on the Saints!

 

[lgilmore]

"It definitely feels good to watch Portland lose."

Yes, it does, but I want Seattle to sign Kries as our next coach. RSL wasn't supposed to make the playoffs this season, let alone second place. Imagine what he could do with Seattle's talents?

 

[Grannyknot]

I was thinking Bob Bradley would be a good fit at Seattle.

 

[danielofthedale]

"It definitely feels good to watch Portland lose."

Yes, it does, but I want Seattle to sign Kries as our next coach. RSL wasn't supposed to make the playoffs this season, let alone second place. Imagine what he could do with Seattle's talents?

He is not leaving RSL for Seattle. The only places he is going is NYCFC but I still that is not all that likely.