Comments on: What if the European Leagues had an MLS-style Playoff System? http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:53:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nolan http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72842 Nolan Thu, 01 Nov 2007 23:54:27 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72842 No. No.

]]> By: Shane http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72718 Shane Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:28:40 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72718 It's not that a playoff system would or wouldn't work in Europe or the Euro system would be better in the MLS. It's that every trophy means something in Europe. Winning the "league" in MLS is not important. The US Open Cup is not important. The league has to make winning important. It’s not that a playoff system would or wouldn’t work in Europe or the Euro system would be better in the MLS. It’s that every trophy means something in Europe. Winning the “league” in MLS is not important. The US Open Cup is not important.
The league has to make winning important.

]]> By: Mac http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72560 Mac Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:07:54 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72560 Playoff systems make more sense to me for sports like baseball, where there is a general progression throughout the season in which teams start off "rusty" (which is why Spring Training exists) and then progress to the playoffs if they've been good enough. By October, teams are usually playing on their full potential, and the Best Out of Seven playoff system helps ensure it's not pure luck whoever wins. Playoff systems make more sense to me for sports like baseball, where there is a general progression throughout the season in which teams start off “rusty” (which is why Spring Training exists) and then progress to the playoffs if they’ve been good enough. By October, teams are usually playing on their full potential, and the Best Out of Seven playoff system helps ensure it’s not pure luck whoever wins.

]]> By: Ian http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72553 Ian Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:43:23 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72553 Actually, the MLS system has grown on me a little. Since the playoffs don't really decide the champion anyway (that's the supporters' shield for the regular season), the playoffs are an exclusive cup competition. Unlike the FA or league cups in every European league, the MLS Cup is a cup that only the top eight teams in the league can enter. In that way, I kind of like it. I do think the season as a whole should be used to determine who goes to continental competition, though ... it just makes sense to always send your best team, and the best team is the one that is best over the whole season, not a short stretch. Actually, the MLS system has grown on me a little. Since the playoffs don’t really decide the champion anyway (that’s the supporters’ shield for the regular season), the playoffs are an exclusive cup competition. Unlike the FA or league cups in every European league, the MLS Cup is a cup that only the top eight teams in the league can enter. In that way, I kind of like it. I do think the season as a whole should be used to determine who goes to continental competition, though … it just makes sense to always send your best team, and the best team is the one that is best over the whole season, not a short stretch.

]]> By: Sam http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72539 Sam Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:35:10 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72539 Naw. It wouldn't make sense to crown Auxerre champs if they're on a lucky streak or something going into the playoffs, or because other teams suddenly come down with injurie crises, and so on. Notice that the Championship playoffs don't apply to the club that finishes first. Naw. It wouldn’t make sense to crown Auxerre champs if they’re on a lucky streak or something going into the playoffs, or because other teams suddenly come down with injurie crises, and so on. Notice that the Championship playoffs don’t apply to the club that finishes first.

]]> By: Thierry http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72538 Thierry Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:31:17 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72538 Well i think the play off system is good for MLS because of the special geography of USA(Gigantism). I don't imagine NY fans made a trip to LA a week then a trip to Dallas three day later then go to the Colorado...In smaller european country moves are easier. If we compare the winners of championship with the cups 'ones(two generally) in France we usually amators club or L2 club in finale, often the winner of the cup isn't the best team of the season. i think it's like the poker with one hand you can't make a difference between the quality of the player and luck, but with 300 000 hands the luck has no incidence. The more there are matchs the more the team with the better depth, the better trainer, the better manager, the better roster,... will win. Its for that reason Uefa get dropped the two round robins for one, to have more suspense. Well i think the play off system is good for MLS because of the special geography of USA(Gigantism). I don’t imagine NY fans made a trip to LA a week then a trip to Dallas three day later then go to the Colorado…In smaller european country moves are easier. If we compare the winners of championship with the cups ‘ones(two generally) in France we usually amators club or L2 club in finale, often the winner of the cup isn’t the best team of the season. i think it’s like the poker with one hand you can’t make a difference between the quality of the player and luck, but with 300 000 hands the luck has no incidence. The more there are matchs the more the team with the better depth, the better trainer, the better manager, the better roster,… will win.
Its for that reason Uefa get dropped the two round robins for one, to have more suspense.

]]> By: Zach http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72531 Zach Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:03:50 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72531 I love how Europeans act as though league playoffs are some insane invention of US money maniacs, when in fact leagues all over the world use them. I love how Europeans act as though league playoffs are some insane invention of US money maniacs, when in fact leagues all over the world use them.

]]> By: Jan http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72528 Jan Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:50:49 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72528 Interesting. Hamburg would have had a chance to win the title or at least make it into the Champions League with this system (as I suppose UEFA Cup and CL participation would also be decided this way). And I think they would have mounted a serious challenge. They were the second best team behind Stuttgart in the second half of the season. Anyway, will never happen. Not because it's a particularly bad idea, but because you already have a packed calendar. Impossible to do with either the Euros, Copa America and the World Cup scheduled for the summer. And coaches would generally not be happy with having their season preparation time cut by several weeks each year. Interesting. Hamburg would have had a chance to win the title or at least make it into the Champions League with this system (as I suppose UEFA Cup and CL participation would also be decided this way). And I think they would have mounted a serious challenge. They were the second best team behind Stuttgart in the second half of the season.

Anyway, will never happen. Not because it’s a particularly bad idea, but because you already have a packed calendar. Impossible to do with either the Euros, Copa America and the World Cup scheduled for the summer. And coaches would generally not be happy with having their season preparation time cut by several weeks each year.

]]> By: Christian http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72506 Christian Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:15:52 +0000 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/what-is-the-european-leagues-had-an-mls-style-playoffs-system.html#comment-72506 So Reading could have in theory been champions? Wow. Let's just let that one sink in. So Reading could have in theory been champions? Wow. Let’s just let that one sink in.

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