MLS Week 6 - 2018

On the VAR reversal, the question is whether you can reverse a second yellow if you are already reviewing that event for some other reason. I bet that’s not explicitly in the rules. I wonder if they ever thought of it. I am fine with doing so in principle..
Yeah, I'm fine with this being handled this way in principle as well. Would have been a blow for Portland to lose a man so early, especially if you change the ruling in a manner that says the exact opposite of why the card was originally given.

The rules state that second yellows are not reviewable "unless the yellow was a clear and obvious error" and that yellow cards could be reviewed "if a potential red card was warranted OR in case the yellow was awarded to the wrong player".

The way I read this (and assuming the actual MLS rules don't differ from what is published), the second yellow could not have been rescinded. This situation reminded me of the Jesse James catch in the PIT-NE game in which we all could see was reasonably happened, but the rules got in the way, except in this case, it went the other way.
 
Even though we are the toughest opponent, we have had by far the hardest schedule so far in the Eastern Conference. We also have the easiest remaining schedule.

http://www.playoffstatus.com/mls/easternsosag.html

View attachment 8494
Good to know, but basing strength of schedule on winning percentage after 3-6 games is very iffy. We have 5 games left against Red Bulls and Toronto, both of whom are -- I think -- significantly better than their record to date, and that's 17% of our remaining games. Add in Atlanta and Columbus, and we have 9 out of our remaining 29 games against probably 5 of the best 6-7 teams in the league who aren't us. I realize other teams have similar schedules, but others have already played at least one of that group, or don't play any of them 3 times, and teams in the West play all of them only once each, With that, I can't think we can have the easiest schedule left.

ETA: I just realized your post is East only, but I still think the method is a bit iffy this early in the season.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JayH and SoupInNYC