Comments on: MLS Review Week 30: Coming Next Week… Joy and Despair

By: melissa

melissa — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 05:53:32 +0000

I am sooo with you on the Chivas deal. If their season ends on Saturday… what a run eh? The goats really pulled off some fantastic fútbol this season when no-one was expecting it. And Laurie… its cool… I don’t think anyone is going to fault you for hoping Chivas advance in the playoffs.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 05:29:31 +0000

By the way, I understand the points made about the anticlimactic nature of the first game. But the first game was never meant to decide anything. It’s like the first game of a best of seven series. No one’s going to walk about with the trophy after playing it. The first leg is akin to the first half of a regular game. This is just a game that’s two times longer and with a really, really long halftime!

Also, I think there would be a greater sense of urgency if the “away goals rule” was used. Personally, I don’t like the “away goals rule” and am glad MLS isn’t using it, but if it were in effect, it would add a different flavor to the games and give the first leg more meaning. Right now, as it stands, the three home teams that won would be in better shape because if they score one goal in the away leg, their opponents would have to answer with three to advance. The Red Bulls, who couldn’t put one in at home, would be in decent shape too because any tie greater than 0-0 would be to their advantage.

I feel about the “away goals rule” as I do about PK tiebreakers, but they can be fun when used, although not always fair.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 05:23:10 +0000

Good points about the meaninglessness of most regular season games. Eight out of 13 teams qualifying for the playoffs is too much. Or at least, if 8 must qualify, at least some hierarchy should be used to separate the higher-ups from the lower teams. It’s unfair to a team that finished as the number one team playing level against a team that just made it into the second season by the skin of their teeth. Playing the second game at home is no advantage.

I understand why MLS wants the home-and-away series. It gives the fans of the weaker teams a chance to see their team at least once at home. But I say if you’re a number 4, you should just be happy you got into the playoffs and quit yer bellyachin’ about playing any home games. You want a home game? Great, then play better!! No, the number 1 should play BOTH games at their home field. Number 2 against 3 could follow this formula too or it could be home and home. But for number 4 to be equal level with number one just bothers me.

Now if MLS were a 24 or 32 team league with 8 playoff teams, the playoffs would be fine the way they are. But 8 out of 13 is more than half. It means a team that is below par is playing against the cream of the crop on level terms.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:28:09 +0000

I agree with you about pretty much everything here. Having two legs in the first round of playoffs makes the first leg really anticlimactic. I expected to be excited too, but…no.

I’m hoping for: Chicago, New York, Houston, and Chivas.

(Don’t tell my Galaxy folks about that Chivas thing.)