North American Soccer 2008

[Run DMB]

attendance has been pathetic for the playoffs so far. does MLS raise ticket prices for these games?

Official attendance is always lower for playoff games than it is for regular season games. The actual attendance is roughly the same. Regular season attendances are always padded (plenty of no-shows, many free tickets handed out that go unused). Not to mention that regular-season attendance averages are padded by double-headers and "Beckham games."

New England and Columbus have been the only disappointments in terms of attendance, but Chicago and Chivas USA performed beyond my expectations. The Fire drew 17,312 on a cold Thursday night, Chivas got nearly 20,000 yesterday. Those are actually phenomenal numbers. Houston should post strong numbers today as well. But arguably the best Columbus Crew team of all time only drawing 11,000 on a Saturday night is inexcusable. KC and the Red Bulls have a history of poor attendance, so there's no surprise in their low numbers (the KC game actually sold out, it's just a small stadium).

 

[$teauA]

See this is why the playoff system is flawed. There is no way in hell NYRB should have a chance to play for the MLS Cup and wouldn't you know it they are one win away from that.

 

[farmboy]

But that's the thrill of it all. Someone can come from nowhere and suprise us all.


....


Okay I can't keep a straight face while saying that. The playoffs are some poor attempt to garner more "american sports" fans. They're the last vestige of that whole deluge of stupid ideas MLS tried when it was first created. They really don't belong. At least not in their current form.
Stupid franchising fees making a promotion/relegation system impossible... grumble, mutter...

 

[$teauA]

But that's the thrill of it all. Someone can come from nowhere and suprise us all.


....


Okay I can't keep a straight face while saying that. The playoffs are some poor attempt to garner more "american sports" fans. They're the last vestige of that whole deluge of stupid ideas MLS tried when it was first created. They really don't belong. At least not in their current form.
Stupid franchising fees making a promotion/relegation system impossible... grumble, mutter...

I'm not asking for promotion relegation but the MLS season shouldn't have any more games after the 30 games in the regular season are over.

I've been following the MLS for almost 8 years and I've never been a fan of the playoff system. You're not gonna get any more fans by having a dumb playoff system.

 

[Deisler]

So, we came fifth in the East and are in the Western Conference final.

Great game, we hit them hard when they lest expected us to do so.

 

[$teauA]

Crew! Well deserved appearance in the final. I hope they win it all.

 

[Bobby]

Wait, if New York wins their game, they're the WESTERN conference champions. Is this right?

*head explodes*

 

[$teauA]

Wait, if New York wins their game, they're the WESTERN conference champions. Is this right?

*head explodes*

Yes.

The MLS Playoffs, they're faaaaaaaaaaantastic

 

[Deisler]

Haha, The worst team in the east (From the play off contenders at least) might be Western conference champs. In your face Beckham

If we beat Salt Lake i am positive we can beat the Crew. We kinda own them.

 

[Elber2k3]

Do you guys think that Donovan could make it at Bayern? Apparentely we want to sign him in winter.

 

[Deisler]

He is by far one of the best players in the MLS. He was just named league MVP and scored plenty. I am pretty sure he is a lot better physically and mentally from his early days in Leverkusen. Having said that i still believe we can do much better than him.

 

[Deisler]

Western Fvcking Champions

Boy that last second poll almost gave me a heart attack. Good thing it is over. We are western conference champions. Our first trophy ever. I can't wait till the final. The Crew is certainly a tough opponent but at this time we are hot as anyone in the league. Today we had luck in our side as well. About time after 13 years of bad luck and misfortunes we have won something relevant.

 

[Run DMB]

Osorio... that's what you get for leaving Chicago. Oh, I suppose a DC United collapse could still bail you out, but chances are you'll be the latest in a long line of illustrious coaches to fail at NY/NJ MetroBulls.

Traitor.

Chicago vs. Dead Bulls this season: 3 wins, 0 ties, 0 losses, 11-3 aggregate result. Sweet, sweet revenge.

This, my friends, is what is called "premature smack-talking."

In hindsight, I should have anticipated that:

1. DC United, playing for their playoff lives, were going to hit the post 3 times and miss countless other scoring opportunities, only to give up a goal on a 30-yard strike from Brad Evans, while playing against a Columbus Crew team which had zero incentive to win

2. The Red Bulls, coming off a spectacular late-season collapse and the season-ending suspensions of two of their regular starters, were going to defeat the two-time defending champions 3-0 in their own stadium, while being outshot 16-7.

3. The Red Bulls would become Western Conference Champions after keeping a clean sheet against RSL while giving up 24 (!) shots, 3 of which hit the woodwork.

Man, do I look silly now.

 

[MaestroZidane]

^^ Indeed, shame on you..

What a way to loose, shot after shot and not being able to get it in.. It's games like these that would drive a fan mad

 

[$teauA]

Deisler, Donovan wasn't named league MVP, he won the golden boot for finishing as the top goalscorer but the MVP hasn't been announced yet. He's in the running but his chances are pretty much null. It's 99.9% gonna go to Schelotto.

---

Dear Don Garber,

I absolutely hate, HATE, DESPISE, the current system of deciding the MLS champion. Guess what Garber, you already have a playoff tournament, it's called the US Open Cup, get some tv contracts if you want "playoff excitement" but please leave the league alone. Why can't the champion be decided at the end of the 30 matchdays so we don't have to waste an extra month to play some games that frankly don't really raise the profile of your league on a national level any more than it is in the regular season (is MLS more talked about now on tv then it was in the regular season?). Oh and yes, you know how you always say that you can't lengthen the season to allow for international matchdays? Here's a wild and crazy idea, did you know that if you remove the playoff format all together it would actually give you four weeks to work with? That's right, the four weeks that are now used for the playoffs could be used as international matchday weeks during the season. WOW, WHAT A CONCEPT! It's like it makes too much sense to actually be put into place. For one, you make every single one of the 30 games matter during the regular season (like you say you want to do yet you aren't making any steps in that direction; trust me, "shaking up" the playoff system won't do it) and second you fix one of the biggest, if not the biggest, problems with your league and one that your fans and season ticket holders constantly complain about, you have international breaks without even having to lengthen the season.

PS: Please don't tell me it was your idea to schedule the MLS Cup on a Sunday afternoon in the middle of the NFL season. You know you're only gonna get like 10 viewers right? I like soccer and I want to support your league but frankly I'm not going to watch the MLS Cup over the Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons match-up that's starting at 4:00 on that same day.

Sincerely,

Alex (a pissed off fan)

 

[Deisler]

Yes my bad. I meant the golden boot.

That e-mail to Garber is and inspiring. Share his address so i can send him a nice sequel as well.

 

[Run DMB]

No Morales or Angel in the Best XI, but Rogers and Blanco make it?

Rogers started out hot but disappeared halfway through the season. Blanco had some moments of brilliance, but had an unremarkable season overall.

You could also make a case for Ralston over Joseph. Sharlie brought his A-game to the playoffs, but I thought he had one of his weakest regular seasons since coming into the league.

The Morales omission is just criminal.

 

[Deisler]

Congrates to the Crew. The Red Bulls found a way to break my heart again. Our defense is a joke.

 

[$teauA]

It was pretty obvious the Crew were gonna win. They've been the best team all season long. Congrats to them and too bad nobody in the city of Columbus knows they just won their first pro sports title.

PS: Does Garber need to fine himself for getting the captain of the Crew wrong and announcing it to a live national audience only to be corrected by Rob Stone? I mean that deserves a pretty hefty fine doesn't it? And another thing, what is it with the HORRIBLE Americanized version of the trophy presentation? Let the freakin' players celebrate and then interivew them and have the commisioner speak. I'm pretty sure we all know the Crew just won't mr. garber, thanks for telling us

 

[Run DMB]

It was pretty obvious the Crew were gonna win. They've been the best team all season long. Congrats to them and too bad nobody in the city of Columbus knows they just won their first pro sports title.

Brian does. Speaking of which, he's probably out cow tipping tonight to celebrate. Congrats, man. You deserve it - as does the Crew.

Schelotto might be the best ever signing for MLS, on a quality-for-cost basis.