The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs

And yet, given the choice, assuming at least some players are exhausted or banged up at that point, wouldn't you always opt for the extra week? Seems like the lesser of two evils.
I’d actually rather be missing 1-3 guys that are exhausted/banged up if it means the other 14 are in sync and firing on all cylinders. That’s the point of having depth, to plug and play when needed. But if the entire team loses their rhythm, then being healthy and rested doesn’t really help matters.
 
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I saw some statistics that show that over the last few years, the seed that has reached the final the most is actually the second seed. (Of course RBNJ is responsible for quite a bit of that...)
 
And yet, given the choice, assuming at least some players are exhausted or banged up at that point, wouldn't you always opt for the extra week? Seems like the lesser of two evils.

Not when you're choosing to play a scrimmage/friendly anyway. Might as well play a few days earlier with everyone else.
 
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Does anyone feel any better about losing after TFC beat Atlanta too?

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Am I the only one who still dislikes Toronto? Go Seattle.

Im with you. Of the two, I want the sounders to win. I get visions of Jozy hacking down Callens that one game every time I think about them. And... they knocked us out so screw them. Go Sounders.
 
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Does anyone feel any better about losing after TFC beat Atlanta too?

No. Makes me feel worse. Atlanta was ripe for the picking, and Toronto really should have been a win. Not only should we have beaten Atlanta at Yankee Stadium today, but we would have hosted MLS Cup Final against a Seattle team we defeated rather handily in New York during the season.

Honestly, we should be going to MLS Cup right now. This makes it worse.
 
No. Makes me feel worse. Atlanta was ripe for the picking, and Toronto really should have been a win. Not only should we have beaten Atlanta at Yankee Stadium today, but we would have hosted MLS Cup Final against a Seattle team we defeated rather handily in New York during the season.

Honestly, we should be going to MLS Cup right now. This makes it worse.

Totally different Seattle team.. but yea. It would be nice to still be playing for the cup in the Bronx
 
Personally, I dont mind the playoffs, however there needs to be a better reward for the regular season. I think only the top 4 teams should make it.

I do like the MLB/NBA/NHL "best of" playoff system though. Even if you have one bad game, there is a chance to make up for it. Obviously thats much harder to do in MLS or the NFL.
 
My 2019 MLS playoff hot takes:
  • All the MLS pundits who caught grief for picking teams because they have experience winning in MLS playoffs can take a bow.
  • New England, Dallas, DC, Portland, the Red Bulls, and especially higher seed Minnesota would like a word with those who have decided it is a handicap to have a bye in the first round of the MLS playoffs because neither NYCFC nor LAFC are in the final.
  • At least MLS is not baseball where the home team never wins.
  • Toronto's success has convinced me we must spend huge amounts on our DPs so we can have 1 of them not play at all, 1 be as universally admired as Michael Bradley, and the third score all his playoff goals in one game, both gifted to him by NYCFC's back line. Well, that last one might not work for us.
 
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Personally, I dont mind the playoffs, however there needs to be a better reward for the regular season. I think only the top 4 teams should make it.

I do like the MLB/NBA/NHL "best of" playoff system though. Even if you have one bad game, there is a chance to make up for it. Obviously thats much harder to do in MLS or the NFL.
that "best of" system is annoying because half the time, when a team knows they are losing a game, they'll just give up and say 'there's always the next one'.