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World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
- Thread starter WeWantMore
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MountieBoyOz
Eater of Worlds
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
Gee, Scotland. What the hell are you guys doing? Seriously. Ugh. Can we fire the manager NOW?
Gee, Scotland. What the hell are you guys doing? Seriously. Ugh. Can we fire the manager NOW?
WeWantMore
New member
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
Rough start for the Belgians. Two games in and on 0 points, while Turkey and Germany both have 6.
Rough start for the Belgians. Two games in and on 0 points, while Turkey and Germany both have 6.
WeWantMore
New member
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
New Portland Timbers Billboard. Put up right outside Qwest Field!
New Portland Timbers Billboard. Put up right outside Qwest Field!
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
Why scrap the playoffs?
I know the attraction that a single table, double-round-robin schedule has - but this is America, and we have playoffs. Playoffs are good and exciting, and no North American league gives nearly as much kudos to their regular season champions as MLS does.
Also, the MLS schedule is only balanced this season because of luck. There is no desire to increase the number of games beyond the current range of about 30. Thus, when new teams enter the league, the schedule will become unbalanced again.
Long-term, I'd love to see MLS expand greatly and set up two separate, but related leagues that don't play much intersectionally - sort of like the old relationship between the AL and NL in baseball. That would add some spice to the playoffs, and also other competitions where MLS teams might meet - US Open Cup, CCL, etc.
Now, I would like to change the playoff format quite a bit - but that's another issue.
Why scrap the playoffs?
I know the attraction that a single table, double-round-robin schedule has - but this is America, and we have playoffs. Playoffs are good and exciting, and no North American league gives nearly as much kudos to their regular season champions as MLS does.
Also, the MLS schedule is only balanced this season because of luck. There is no desire to increase the number of games beyond the current range of about 30. Thus, when new teams enter the league, the schedule will become unbalanced again.
Long-term, I'd love to see MLS expand greatly and set up two separate, but related leagues that don't play much intersectionally - sort of like the old relationship between the AL and NL in baseball. That would add some spice to the playoffs, and also other competitions where MLS teams might meet - US Open Cup, CCL, etc.
Now, I would like to change the playoff format quite a bit - but that's another issue.
MountieBoyOz
Eater of Worlds
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
I'd like a league pyramid system like the European leagues, but that will never happen here.
I'd like a league pyramid system like the European leagues, but that will never happen here.
WeWantMore
New member
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
I don't know about never, but probably not for a while. It just doesn't make sense right now.
For example, last year New York would have been relegated. Instead, now they've signed 2 DPs and are challenging for a playoff spot.
I don't know about never, but probably not for a while. It just doesn't make sense right now.
For example, last year New York would have been relegated. Instead, now they've signed 2 DPs and are challenging for a playoff spot.
AMC
Registered User
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
I disagree that playoffs are good in any sport but the NFL- and only then because you can't have a true balanced schedule. The point of playing a season is figuring out who the best team is that year. Balanced schedules do that- a short playoff series doesn't. How ridiculous is MLB, where 162 games of dominance doesn't matter if you can't win an extra 11?
If the MLS went up to 20 teams, and played the 38 games with no playoffs, then add in the CCL, Cup and Superliga, that's no more games than they play in England.
I disagree that playoffs are good in any sport but the NFL- and only then because you can't have a true balanced schedule. The point of playing a season is figuring out who the best team is that year. Balanced schedules do that- a short playoff series doesn't. How ridiculous is MLB, where 162 games of dominance doesn't matter if you can't win an extra 11?
If the MLS went up to 20 teams, and played the 38 games with no playoffs, then add in the CCL, Cup and Superliga, that's no more games than they play in England.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
blockski... care to elaborate?
I am really pumped to see what the Portland/Seattle rivalry turns into in MLS.
blockski... care to elaborate?
I am really pumped to see what the Portland/Seattle rivalry turns into in MLS.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
The logic of what you're saying is very sound.
It's the culture we have for sports in America (where want every team to have something to play for at the end of the season or, as ESPN would put it, "nobody would care"), that's where things get a little hairy.
The logic of what you're saying is very sound.
It's the culture we have for sports in America (where want every team to have something to play for at the end of the season or, as ESPN would put it, "nobody would care"), that's where things get a little hairy.
Shirtless Guy
Old Dirty Basterd
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
I don't mind the culture of american sports, what bothers me was making the season so long in the NBA/NHL and then still having the playoffs involve over half the league. I would think both the NHL and NBA would be wise to go to a Home/Home round robin to trim down the regular season and then cut out one round of the playoffs but those things will never happen because of the $$$ lost.
ExileOnDaytonStreet
Drunkard
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
Single table, no playoffs works in Europe for several reasons: most teams have something to play for. Europe, promotion, relegation, etc.
Take the argument that you need to give more teams something to play for at the end of the season. Use the 2007 NFL season as an example. The Patriots were 16-0... I forgot how all the 13-3 teams finished, but effectively the last week or two the season would not have mattered one bit. With nothing else to play for (no relegation, no continental tourneys, no playoffs, etc.), NONE of those games would have meant anything. Several teams would've had meaningless seasons from like week 3 onward, even if they didn't know that New England would post a 16-0 record.
Obviously, teams would have local pride on the line, week in, week out, but that's about it.
Single table, no playoffs works in Europe for several reasons: most teams have something to play for. Europe, promotion, relegation, etc.
Take the argument that you need to give more teams something to play for at the end of the season. Use the 2007 NFL season as an example. The Patriots were 16-0... I forgot how all the 13-3 teams finished, but effectively the last week or two the season would not have mattered one bit. With nothing else to play for (no relegation, no continental tourneys, no playoffs, etc.), NONE of those games would have meant anything. Several teams would've had meaningless seasons from like week 3 onward, even if they didn't know that New England would post a 16-0 record.
Obviously, teams would have local pride on the line, week in, week out, but that's about it.
AMC
Registered User
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
Like I said, the NFL wouldn't work. But there is definitely stuff to play for in MLS:
-CCL spots (only top 3 go, plus Open Cup winner)
-Superliga spots (top 4 not qualified for CCL go)
-US Open Cup byes (top finishers start a round later I think)
Plus, in the MLS, with the SuperDraft, you play for draft position too.
Like I said, the NFL wouldn't work. But there is definitely stuff to play for in MLS:
-CCL spots (only top 3 go, plus Open Cup winner)
-Superliga spots (top 4 not qualified for CCL go)
-US Open Cup byes (top finishers start a round later I think)
Plus, in the MLS, with the SuperDraft, you play for draft position too.
AMC
Registered User
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNC-gvoZEFM&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNC-gvoZEFM&feature=player_embedded
joegrav
New member
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
The problem is that outside of Seattle, nobody in the US cares about CCL, SuperLiga or US Open Cup. The crowds tell the story. But MLS playoffs? People come (except in New England
).
Besides, having playoffs is an exciting finish to the season and a moneymaking bonanza. I can assure you that the reason why they don't consider having an EPL playoff is because the tradition there is such that there would be pushback against it, similar to how the tradition here is to have playoffs - people would be outraged if the NHL or NBA scrapped postseason play. But if they were starting the league all over again from scratch? You bet your ***** the EPL would have a playoff at the end of the year.
Give it 5 years and there will be a 4-5-6-7 playoff for the last Champions League spot.
The problem is that outside of Seattle, nobody in the US cares about CCL, SuperLiga or US Open Cup. The crowds tell the story. But MLS playoffs? People come (except in New England
).Besides, having playoffs is an exciting finish to the season and a moneymaking bonanza. I can assure you that the reason why they don't consider having an EPL playoff is because the tradition there is such that there would be pushback against it, similar to how the tradition here is to have playoffs - people would be outraged if the NHL or NBA scrapped postseason play. But if they were starting the league all over again from scratch? You bet your ***** the EPL would have a playoff at the end of the year.
Give it 5 years and there will be a 4-5-6-7 playoff for the last Champions League spot.
Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season
I do. Never. Period.
Too much money invested in the status quo. The European model grew organically out of a completely different business climate. It's got an awful lot wrong with it, too... I think it tends to enforce some horrific stratification within the top league, and it requires an attitude toward professional sports teams that simply doesn't exist in the U.S. (that role is filled by college football). Aside from Eurosnobby wistfulness about relegation battles, which we don't need to worry about with the playoffs anyway, there's no reason to even consider it.
I do. Never. Period.
Too much money invested in the status quo. The European model grew organically out of a completely different business climate. It's got an awful lot wrong with it, too... I think it tends to enforce some horrific stratification within the top league, and it requires an attitude toward professional sports teams that simply doesn't exist in the U.S. (that role is filled by college football). Aside from Eurosnobby wistfulness about relegation battles, which we don't need to worry about with the playoffs anyway, there's no reason to even consider it.
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