MLS Cup Playoffs 2016

[LionNYC]

Fun Fact: In the eastern conference finals since it was two Canadian teams playing, only "O, Canada!" was sung. However, it was sung in both French and English.

Not the version where to goes from English to French then back to English. But once in French then once in English. I guess they played the away (English) and home (French version).

Let's see if this continues on Wednesday.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I think we're addressing the same issue and reaching the same conclusions using different metrics and data. I think we both agree the team's record made it look better than it was. It was still a good team, but not very good and not likely to compete at the very top level despite finishing Top 4 in the overall standings. You're basing it on your analysis of the team's quality after watching the games and mine is based on comparing the W-L-D/Points record against secondary indicia that don't match up.
If our roster does not improve at multiple spots I expect the team will do worse in the regular season next year, but still make the playoffs.

Agreed. Here's what it boils down to for me: There's nothing we're really good at. We can be good at a few things from time to time assuming the other team doesn't plan specifically to take away our strengths. The teams left are all really good in at least one way that they can continue to go to or play off of.

 

[Falastur]

Fun Fact: In the eastern conference finals since it was two Canadian teams playing, only "O, Canada!" was sung. However, it was sung in both French and English.

Not the version where to goes from English to French then back to English. But once in French then once in English. I guess they played the away (English) and home (French version).

Let's see if this continues on Wednesday.

They should've done both versions at the same time, and gotten two singers to each sing a language and compete to see who could drown the other out.

 

[FootyLovin]

how much we "dipped" in "big games".

Okay. Obviously RedWedding is an outlier. But we didn't do so badly in big games this year.

My thoroughly unscientific spitball of which games were "big games" for us:

• Season opener (at CHI) - W
• Home opener (TFC) - T
• RedbullWedding - L
• At Seattle - W
• Derby 2 - W
• Derby 3 - L
• Colorado - W
• LAG - W
• Dallas - T
• Chasing conference title (at DC) - L
• Securing 2 seed (CLB) - W

Big game record - 6-3-2
20 points in 11 big games
1.8 PPG

What I think you are really pointing to is that there are lots of games that should be easier points for us where we fail to show up in the way we should. Our record against non-playoff teams:

Eastern Division: 4-4-4
Western Division: 3-0-1

Total is 26 points in 16 games for 1.6 PPG
But against the East (more games and matter more), 16 points in 12 games for 1.3 PPG

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Okay. Obviously RedWedding is an outlier. But we didn't do so badly in big games this year.

My thoroughly unscientific spitball of which games were "big games" for us:

• Season opener (at CHI) - W
• Home opener (TFC) - T
• RedbullWedding - L
• At Seattle - W
• Derby 2 - W
• Derby 3 - L
• Colorado - W
• LAG - W
• Dallas - T
• Chasing conference title (at DC) - L
• Securing 2 seed (CLB) - W

Big game record - 6-3-2
20 points in 11 big games
1.8 PPG

What I think you are really pointing to is that there are lots of games that should be easier points for us where we fail to show up in the way we should. Our record against non-playoff teams:

Eastern Division: 4-4-4
Western Division: 3-0-1

Total is 26 points in 16 games for 1.6 PPG
But against the East (more games and matter more), 16 points in 12 games for 1.3 PPG

Not really. I won't quibble over what is a big game, but my point has more to do with what other teams consider big games.

Basically, when other teams have reason or time to specifically plan against us, we do not have the quality to execute on anything. We're too easy to stop.

 

[FootyLovin]

Not really. I won't quibble over what is a big game, but my point has more to do with what other teams consider big games.

Basically, when other teams have reason or time to specifically plan against us, we do not have the quality to execute on anything. We're too easy to stop.

I get what you are saying now. I don't think then it's about teams considering the game a big game. I think it is about teams whose coach gameplans for us as opposed to sticking with his usual approach. Essentially, when teams decide to press us, we've been susceptible (to put it mildly).

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I get what you are saying now. I don't think then it's about teams considering the game a big game. I think it is about teams whose coach gameplans for us as opposed to sticking with his usual approach. Essentially, when teams decide to press us, we've been susceptible (to put it mildly).

I can agree with that. Essentially, if we are going to play out of the back, we have to be able to execute that or utilize an alternative tactic that is a spinoff of it. Every team remaining is comfortable with who they are because their respective quality and strengths match the players. So if we're going to bunker and play long balls in games that matter, get players to do that. Or, more likely, if we're going to really play out of the back all the time - and I think we probably should and will do that, then we have to have players better suited to it. Our roster is still incoherent and incongruous right now.

 

[BxLio91]

Is it me or is the way we play more suited to the Western conference? Eastern teams are more physical and less skilled.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Okay, with both Toronto and Seattle carrying one goal leads, who advances?

I am going to say Toronto and Colorado. I think Toronto waxes Montreal 3-0. I think Colorado takes a 1-0 win over Seattle and advances on away goals.

 

[FootyLovin]

Okay, with both Toronto and Seattle carrying one goal leads, who advances?

I am going to say Toronto and Colorado.

Yes please.

 

[LionNYC]

WESTERN CONFERENCE LEG 2 TODAY AT 4 PM EASTERN TIME.

SEATTLE (2) at COLORADO (1).

A COLORADO WIN AND A SEATTLE ELIMINATION, GETS US A BIRTH IN THE CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!

 

[Midas Mulligan]

I don't really know if I want the spot, so I'm taking the approach that I reserve the right to be pissed off either way.

 

[LionNYC]

I don't really know if I want the spot, so I'm taking the approach that I reserve the right to be pissed of either way.

Agreed. With the travel and lack of depth currently, I don't think we'd do that well. Moreover, MLS Cup is way more important for us right now.

 

[LionNYC]

Jordan Morris scores in the 56th minute to put Seattle up 3-1 on aggregate. Colorado needs two goals to send it to extra time.

 

[BossNYC]

This Colorado-Seattle game has been kinda anti-climatic.

Colorado never got in gear. Gotta wonder if Morris would score that goal on Tim Howard.

We'll never know.

 

[LionNYC]

Seattle advances to MLS Cup. We can't clinch our CCL birth yet and will have to wait until 12/10 where it will either be...

Seattle at Toronto or Montreal at Seattle.

Just root for the East. Root for Canada.

 

[Shawn Ryu]

Oh Canada, our home and native land, true patriot's love, in all thy son's command!

 

[mgarbowski]

The problem with the two game aggregate is the final game can too easily become a time waster. In 3 of the five so far this year the team that won Game 1 scored first in Game 2 and the result was never in doubt enough to be interesting. In another the score was 3-0 before the second game started and again the result was never in doubt.
I would maybe prefer one game playoffs. The ironic thing is that one big reason to have playoffs is to avoid final games that are anti-climactic, yet the playoff format generates exactly that. The final is one and done for exactly that reason. I know it would mean that teams give up playoff home games, but if the single game format is good enough for the final it's good enough for the quarterfinals.

 

[Ulrich]

The problem with the two game aggregate is the final game can too easily become a time waster. In 3 of the five so far this year the team that won Game 1 scored first in Game 2 and the result was never in doubt enough to be interesting. In another the score was 3-0 before the second game started and again the result was never in doubt.
I would maybe prefer one game playoffs. The ironic thing is that one big reason to have playoffs is to avoid final games that are anti-climactic, yet the playoff format generates exactly that. The final is one and done for exactly that reason. I know it would mean the teams lose playoff home games, but if the single game format is good enough for the final it's good enough for the quarterfinals.

Totally agree. This is why I harped on the format earlier regarding not enough favoritism is shown to the higher seed since every one found themselves behind the eight-ball after the first game and few actually progressed. The final 4 consisted of a #2, #3, & (x2) #4. That's pretty damn slanted, especially since a #4 has now advanced and quite possibly the other #4 will join them.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Totally agree. This is why I harped on the format earlier regarding not enough favoritism is shown to the higher seed since every one found themselves behind the eight-ball after the first game and few actually progressed. The final 4 consisted of a #2, #3, & (x2) #4. That's pretty damn slanted, especially since a #4 has now advanced and quite possibly the other #4 will join them.

Another Twellman playoff suggestion I agree with: get to 4 teams however you want, then its a group stage with top seed at home all 3, bottom on road all three. Winner goes to cup final.