the time span for MLS playoffs is ridiculously long. It will be a month tomorrow that we were knocked out. Really kills the interest level.
The goddamn international breaks are to blame for that.the time span for MLS playoffs is ridiculously long. It will be a month tomorrow that we were knocked out. Really kills the interest level.
The goddamn international breaks are to blame for that.
I don't even care about international teams or any of that anymore. Seems so pointless.
Yea, absolutely agreed. I think it'd be find someone to disagree actually haha. I can't recall how far in advance they announced it the last time they made a playoff format switch, but I'd assume they'll switch it soon. Based on coverage, articles, podcasts, etc... the TV partners aren't happy with the format, either, so I'm sure they'll push for some sort of switch.the time span for MLS playoffs is ridiculously long. It will be a month tomorrow that we were knocked out. Really kills the interest level.
I think you'd still run into the international break which would completely break-up the momentum of it.Could just make it like promotion playoffs in Europe - single-legged ties, higher seed (based on league finish) gets home advantage. You'd cut down the number of games by almost half just by doing that.
There's also another drawback to having the season potentially start a month earlier:For the record, I think I suggested earlier in this thread to move the season back a month to finish before the November international break, in order to avoid a two-week pause in the playoffs.
If I had properly researched, I would have known that there is another international break in October. In 2017, it will be October 2-10, and then November 6-14. That's only a four weekend window. Even if you condense and cram a postseason into that window, you still have the issue of top players being out for the final game or two of the regular season.
In other words, I'm thinking MLS probably has it right. The frequent international breaks during our autumn are just something we need to deal with so long as we are on a Spring-Fall schedule.
That said, I still would rather see a group stage pre-November break, and then a single-game knockout bracket after the break.
EDIT: Maybe the eventual solution, once MLS has fully matured and "made it" as a league, is to petition FIFA to slide the November break back 2-3 weeks, to give summer leagues like ours a chance to finish up before losing players to national teams again.
There's also another drawback to having the season potentially start a month earlier:
Mean temperature Montreal February: 20°
Mean temperature Montreal March: 32°
Mean temperature Minneapolis February: 26°
Mean temperature Minneapolis March: 41°
Mean temperature New York February: 37°
Mean temperature New York March: 46°
Source: https://www.wolframalpha.com/
What if they started the MLS season a few weeks earlier?? Season ends the weekend before the break (Last weekend of September instead of mid/late October). Group stage occurs between October and November international breaks, then have a single game knockout bracket after the November break.For the record, I think I suggested earlier in this thread to move the season back a month to finish before the November international break, in order to avoid a two-week pause in the playoffs.
If I had properly researched, I would have known that there is another international break in October. In 2017, it will be October 2-10, and then November 6-14. That's only a four weekend window. Even if you condense and cram a postseason into that window, you still have the issue of top players being out for the final game or two of the regular season.
In other words, I'm thinking MLS probably has it right. The frequent international breaks during our autumn are just something we need to deal with so long as we are on a Spring-Fall schedule.
That said, I still would rather see a group stage pre-November break, and then a single-game knockout bracket after the break.
EDIT: Maybe the eventual solution, once MLS has fully matured and "made it" as a league, is to petition FIFA to slide the November break back 2-3 weeks, to give summer leagues like ours a chance to finish up before losing players to national teams again.
What if they started the MLS season a few weeks earlier?? Season ends the weekend before the break (Last weekend of September instead of mid/late October). Group stage occurs between October and November international breaks, then have a single game knockout bracket after the November break.
This allows for a break before the group stage and the knockout rounds, instead of awkwardly splitting up the playoffs. This would be best with a group stage and knockout round, but may also work with the current home and away match-ups.
View attachment 6204
In the above image, the past years season (2016) ends on October 2nd (green), since MLS likes to end on a Sunday (instead of on the 23rd as it did this year). International break occurs, then the first of five group stage games happen on the 15/16, 18/19, 22/23, 29/30, and 5/6 of October and November. November break occurs, then back to the action with the knockout round that can incorporate either the top 2 or 3 from each conference's group stage month long battle.
Also causes the final to occur in late November or early December (depending on amount of teams), when the weather is definitely colder, but also not as bad as it can get in the middle or latter part of December.
If six teams make it, one game versus each of the other teams. I forget who brought it up, but the higher seed would be home and the lower seed away for the games. Makes earning a higher seed that much more valuable.Why 5 group stage gamedays?
If six teams make it, one game versus each of the other teams. I forget who brought it up, but the higher seed would be home and the lower seed away for the games. Makes earning a higher seed that much more valuable.
EDIT: Maybe the eventual solution, once MLS has fully matured and "made it" as a league, is to petition FIFA to slide the November break back 2-3 weeks, to give summer leagues like ours a chance to finish up before losing players to national teams again.
That would be in danger of backfiring, and it would certainly get shot down. FIFA has for well over a decade now advocated that it believes all top-tier leagues should consist of 18 teams, no more, no less. They actually tried to put their feet down and force all of Europe to comply back in 2006, but it didn't quite work out for them. They now tolerate associations going outside of this guideline but as soon as choices to do otherwise cause conflicts with FIFA then they get a bit uppity about it.
If MLS/USSSF were to go to FIFA and ask them to change their international fixture scheduling to help MLS fit its own schedule around a play-off system for a 22/24/28/32?-club league then they would almost certainly respond by simply rejecting the proposal and countering by pointing out that MLS could make their schedule far more concise if they reduced to 18 and then cut out the play-offs entirely.
While possible true, it's very narrow minded. They have to realize that not all leagues and markets are the same and sometimes unique (or extremely unique) models have to be implemented.
It's also why I said MLS will need to have a LOT more years under its belt before it would have the kind of power necessary to request something like that.
I thought it was 20. No?FIFA has for well over a decade now advocated that it believes all top-tier leagues should consist of 18 teams
I thought it was 20. No?
I think fitting the playoffs in between the October international break and November international break would be ideal, and feasible in the long run. Would be perfect... October international break would provide an ideal pre-playoffs rest period (for most players) and the perfect marketing tool to boost viewership going into the playoffs.For the record, I think I suggested earlier in this thread to move the season back a month to finish before the November international break, in order to avoid a two-week pause in the playoffs.
If I had properly researched, I would have known that there is another international break in October. In 2017, it will be October 2-10, and then November 6-14. That's only a four weekend window. Even if you condense and cram a postseason into that window, you still have the issue of top players being out for the final game or two of the regular season.
In other words, I'm thinking MLS probably has it right. The frequent international breaks during our autumn are just something we need to deal with so long as we are on a Spring-Fall schedule.
That said, I still would rather see a group stage pre-November break, and then a single-game knockout bracket after the break.
EDIT: Maybe the eventual solution, once MLS has fully matured and "made it" as a league, is to petition FIFA to slide the November break back 2-3 weeks, to give summer leagues like ours a chance to finish up before losing players to national teams again.