MLS - 2012 Season

Lol! Good for you guys! Alla youse!
For me, the MLS season started and ended in the same week. When the Reds flamed out shortly after I started to get serious, I said.. hmm.. there would be a good story if the Crew clawed their way into the playoffs and did something.
But then Warzycha IS still the coach.. so the match in DC went according to the Script.

All that's left to wish for is the Buckeyes go unbeaten, End Season with nominal #1 ranking and nowhere to go, Braxton Miller wins the Heisman, and I sit here and smile.

But if none of that happens I aint gonna care overmuch. There other things matter more.

PS: Yay.. Sigi!!!! Salazar is an asshole, always has been. It doesnt matter if Sigi is wrong in this case or not. Something needs done.

 

Congrats to Wondo for tying the goal scoring record.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... rk?cc=5901


Playoffs about to heat up.

 

Playoff Schedule is Set

 

I found an interesting article a few weeks ago dealing with the playoffs and how the ambitious teams are at a disadvantage going into the playoffs. Whether you believe the theory holds water or not, it's still an interesting read.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zachslaton/ ... ous-teams/

p.s. I have to go with Vancouver pulling off the upset on thursday.

 

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Very interesting. Certainly teams playing across multiple competitions will feel the effects of those extra minutes come playoff time (which seems to be the big conclusion they reached in their statistical analysis--I probably could have saved them some time on that). The writer implies that a single-elimination format would lead to the "better" team winning more often. Again, fair enough.

Where I have an issue is with their assertion is that this represents poor judgment by the MLS, some sort of bunggled decision by the brass to appeal to an American sports sensibility. In fact, the two-legged playoff may be the most global rule MLS has in place. Short of not having playoffs at all, this is as close as MLS gets to a European-style competition. It adds a little more legitimacy to a league needing it.

Their suggestion that it could potentially penalize ambitious teams? No kidding. Again, this serves to make MLS more like the game played elsewhere in the world, not less (just ask Arsene Wenger). MLS has always had to walk a line between adopting more global standards for the game, while also catering to a unique sports market here in the States. I, for one, don't mind if they tip a little to the global side on this one.

And if that means a team like the Galaxy, which they use as their definition of "ambitious" doesn't win the MLS Cup every year, how is that a bad thing? It allows more parity come the playoffs. "Ambitious" teams still get the all the attention they deserve. And MLS becomes just a little bit more like other competitons around the world. Works for me.

p.s. While it goes against my philosophy of fanship in all other leagues and sports, I do actually hope the Galaxy wins tomorrow.

 

Agree with your comments completely Joe.

I'm pulling for LA too. Vancouver has been on a terrible run of late and, imo, dont deserve to be in the playoffs. I use to be a big fan of Martin Rennie, he coached Cleveland City to a USL championship, but I dont like what has happened to the Whitecaps since he took over. The team used to be fun to watch with players like Eric Hassli and Davide Chiummiento, but he got rid of them and replaced them with two fellow Scotts and they suck now. I cant even watch them for all the complaining, throwing up his arms and other antics of Brian Robson. Their team is also extremely old. He's playing guys like John Thorrington when he has young promising midfielders (one Canadian and god knows Canada needs to develop some talent) that he could be giving minutes to.

 

If LA can't beat Vancouver at home tonight they don't deserve to advance. The Galaxy v Quakes rivalry is intense and that matchup would be great for the league.

 

Galaxy managed to win this one despite the always dangerous Darren Mattocks giving Vancouver the early up.

Looking forward to the San jose v Galaxy match up. 16 goals in three games this season I believe. And Landy doesnt seem burnt out to me.

 

Nice victory by the Dynamo. As luck would have it, I will be out of town this Sunday for the home game. Would have loved to have gone to the 1st playoff game in the new stadium. Should be packed.

 

No surprise that Houston steps up in the clutch. LA dominated the stats, but looked in trouble. Fantastic goal by Mike Magee, and as Mo said Donovan looked real sharp.

 

Full disclosure: I intend to (partially) eat my words from last week. Also, there may be some bias here, considering I witnessed a very frustrating match tonight at the Home Depot Center.

While I still don't quite buy the reasoning behind the Forbes criticism of the MLS Playoff format, I will now lodge my own complaints. The current format heavily stacks the deck in favor of the higher seeded teams, almost to the point of making the entire structure senseless. While I appreciate the two-legged system and the fact that MLS clearly doesn't want these playoffs to drag on and on, the end result is a team playing three matches that are as meaningful as can be in a span of just seven days. Having won the play-in game last Thursday, the Galaxy were back in action tonight in their first leg against San Jose. Now, after a scant 2+ days of rest, they'll head up to SJ on Wednesday for the decisive leg. Please do correct me if I'm missing something, but the only other instance I can think of where a team would play three competitive matches in such a short span is in a Champions/Europa League tie with a league match in the middle. And in that scenario, most clubs would field a lesser squad in the league match. An MLS club in this instance has no such luxury as every goal in this setup is crucial.

It's a positively Herculean task and if a club can pull it off, all the more power to them (Houston managed to take their first leg 2-0...impressive--but even if they survive the second leg, they're back in action just three days later).

So why even have the play-in game? Why not just qualify four teams on each side and go straight to the two-legged conference semis? The play-in game format gives the #1 seed in each conference such an enourmous advantage it makes me wonder if it makes sense to even qualify that #5 team at all. Yes, I'm arguing in a vacuum where the revenue from that additional game doesn't exist. And yes, Houston getting by KC would pretty much discredit my argument. And yes, I may just be bitter from seeing the Galaxy surrender a horrendous late goal tonight. But I welcome your thoughts.

 

I agree that the play-in game seems pointless. I guess that you could have 6 teams per conference, but then 12 of the 19 teams would be making the playoffs and you begin to wonder what's the point of the regular season. I think there should be 4 teams per conference.

One advantage the Quakes have, relative to what was said in the article, is that they were so lousy last year that they don't have any non-MLS games like CONCACAF Champions League. Now that they've scored 10 goals in second-half injury time this year, I'm not at all surprised by the game winner against LA Sunday night.

 

Four teams per conference seems to make more sense. However Joe as you point out, Houston appears to be handling it and, most importantly, LA has no excuse. With the first or second highest payroll in the league and three DPs (correct me if I'm wrong), they should be able to rest some players and still compete. San Jose's entire payroll is probably less than what Beckham or Keane make. Also, I saw LA's reservers play a Cup game and they were excellent. I see no reason why Arena cant give some of those guys a chance in the MLS playoffs. This isnt the Champions League or premier league after all. MLS does need to develop players that go on to something greater if it is ever going to raise its profile. Basically all I'm saying is I'm never going to feel sorry for a team from LA or NY.

Ultimately, I would like to see two entirely separate leagues of 16 - 20 teams - an east league and a west league. The travel would be less for the fans and the players which I believe would address some issues. Then at the end of the season, you have a championship between the winner of each league. It would be epic.

 

Not sure how Bernardez' free kick reached the net, but that's the break that (eventual) champions receive - and not sorry to see the Galaxy lose to my 'Quakes at HDC. All 10+K will be rocking at Buck Shaw for the next match and I can't see the Galaxy winning there (knock on wood). COYQ

 

Well Joe your Galaxy came out on top after all. As did the Dynamo (yeah!!) I felt bad watching Wondoloski post game. . . . tough .. tough.

LA's DP show up, not so much for other teams. Keane has won me over for LA despite his continued ignorant dorkiness (cartwheels and summersualts?). Donovan has all the passion in the world. When he talks about retiring, something is rotten in Denmark.

 

Mo, can't take credit for 'my' Galaxy since my Timbers stink :cry: Tim deserves all the congratulations, since he is a true Galaxy fan and is a regular at the HDC. However, I will be rooting for them the rest of the way (can you say bandwagon :shock: ). Thanks Mo for only implying and not mentioning the person's name from a country close to Denmark. Landon still obviously has passion for the big games, I think it wanes for regular season games in places like Colorado or WCQ matches in the Antiguas of concacaf. The Galaxy remind me in a way of the Laker championship teams in the Kobe/Shaq era. Indifferent many nights, but got by on talent. Once the playoffs could be seen on the horizon, slowly but surely ramp up their game to peak at the right time. Not saying they'll win it again, but Landon, Keane, and Beckham are focused and that spells trouble for anyone in this league.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... all-fooled

 

You flatter me, sir. I don't know that four trips out this season qualifies me either as a true fan or a HDC regular, but I appreciate it notheless (and I did just buy into a small share of season tickets for next year). Was my friend's birthday last night, so caught the highlights, and I have to say I was genuinely surprised. As sluggish as they looked Sunday, they really managed to turn it on last night. Your Laker analogy is a really good one; a talented, veteran team with their backs against the wall finds ways to win. I hope it carries through the rest of the way.

 

Well the Dyanmo defined the bend, don't break saying yesterday. KC had the ball 71+% of the game. It was a full on onslaught. They should have at least got the two they needed to tie the series up but wasted numerous opportunities. A couple of WAY off target shots. Great cross and header for their lone goal. Absolutely frantic at the end. KC can't say they did not throw the kitchen sink at Houston but it appears that Houston is their bogey team, for sure in the playoffs.

Home game for the Dynamo this Sunday and as with last week, I have an unbreakable committement. I think it was originally scheduled for Saturday which I could have made but the other game got pushed back and so I think this one got bumped back. Not happy about that. Let's Go Dynamo!

 

The Galaxy started out like their backs were against the wall (since they were) and the Quakes took waaaay too long to wake up. Came close to sending it into extra time near the end but, ultimately, they were doomed by their poor start.

 

Ha, loving that DC won tonight and is moving on, or more correctly, love that fact that the energy drinks are out. What is there to like about that team? Henry, yes, but at some point I wish he would see that he could be in a better place. Tons of drama, quite an entertaining match all in all.