MLS Cup Playoffs 2018 - MLS Cup Final

Experimentation during a season is only valid if there’s a real probability of success and/or there’s nothing to lose, ie we’re gonna try something against this one opponent because we’ve not gotten it right in the past and continuing to play the same way is asking for a beatdown - that’s what Dome did against RB and it worked because RB wasn’t expecting it and it was just a small twist on the then current tactics. However, experimenting for 10 matches with no success is the same as driving a rudderless boat and expecting to work a slalom flawlessly - it’s wasteful and set up for failure, and at the end of the day didn’t advance the team or season at all.

Sorry, but the results of the experimenting carry the same weight as the “serious” matches and the cumulative results are somewhere between mediocre and downright trashy. The CCL lead we had should never have been blown, it was just about impossible to do, and yet it was done spectacularly with the finesse of a brain surgeon using a chainsaw.
I agree with you that experimentation was a massive gamble and negatively impactful. But I'm not arguing whether it was a good idea or not, just that our performance in that period isn't necessarily a good leading indicator of our future performance.
 
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I agree with you that experimentation was a massive gamble and negatively impactful. But I'm not arguing whether it was a good idea or not, just that our performance in that period isn't necessarily a good leading indicator of our future performance.
Ok, then those “meaningful” games we also lost, while looking aimless, are then the good indicators of our future performance???
 
Ok, then those “meaningful” games we also lost, while looking aimless, are then the good indicators of our future performance???
I'm not really sure which games you're talking about. We might have to get a bit more specific but it may not be worth it.

I think the two Philly and two Atlanta games are a better indicator. Even Dome's first 9 or 10. The last half of the Atlanta series in particular.
 
The numbers tell a bleak tale, but I'm still discounting the significance of the 10 game streak of experimentation in my forecast. Or at least trying to, for the sake of my emotional well-being.
I can't see forward to next year at all. There are too many roster spots open and Dome is a cipher. I'm still lamenting what happened this year.
 
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And actually, going a bit further, I know we all want the playoffs to be condensed a bit. There is so much momentum lost with the November international break and it really would be great to have it earlier.

But in terms of TV exposure, this last Saturday is probably the best night to have it. You have a primetime slot on a weekend night, and the only sports competition is early season college basketball, NBA, and NHL. Nothing really big enough to take away serious eyeballs. No NFL, no college football. The other sports are still early in their seasons, but not too early.
 
Hey man, I was actually in Milwaukee this last weekend. Went to the Marquette vs Wisconsin basketball game, and headed to a bbq place afterwards for some food and drinks. Nearly all of the TVs inside had MLS Cup on TV.

Later, we were able to get a bar to put on the Curling World Cup as well. :D

Can anyone here offer live reports from West Palm Beach?
 
they players took the MLS cup to a strip club in atlanta ? :tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy:

well played

I wouldn’t drink out of it anymore.

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