MLS Week 35 - 2018

[LionNYC]

SUNDAY - Decision Day Presented by AT&T (4:30 PM; Kickoff at 4:45 PM)
Seattle vs. San Jose
Columbus vs. Minnesota
Vancouver vs. Portland
New York City vs. Philadelphia
Toronto vs. Atlanta
Chicago vs. DC
Kansas City vs. LAFC (FS1)
LA Galaxy vs. Houston
New Jersey vs. Orlando
Colorado vs. Dallas
New England vs. Montreal

 

[SoupInNYC]

Last week of this. What's crazy is that all 5 teams that have clinched spots in the West technically have the ability to grab a bye week spot (All have realistic shots except Portland who would need to many things to happen, most of all, to make up a 10 goal GD on LAFC)

Eastern Conference (Clinched: Atlanta, NJ (first round bye), NYCFC, Philly, DCU; Eliminated: New England, Toronto, Chicago, Orlando)

• Atlanta clinches Supporter's Shield with a win at Toronto OR a NJ loss against Orlando OR a draw at Toronto and a NJ draw against Orlando OR a 1 goal loss at Toronto and a NJ draw to Orlando (Wins and GD would be tied, Atlanta currently has 8 more goals scored than NJ)
• NYC clinches the 3rd seed with a win/draw against Philly
• NYC clinches the 4th seed with a DCU loss/draw at Chicago
• Philly clinches the 3rd seed with a win at NYC
• Philly clinches the 4th seed with a DCU loss at Chicago and a Columbus loss/draw to Minnesota OR a draw at NYC and a DCU loss/draw at Chicago
• DCU clinches the 4th seed with a win at Chicago
• Columbus clinches the 4th seed with a win against Minnesota and a Philly loss at NYC and a DCU loss at Chicago
• Columbus clinches a playoff spot with a win against Minnesota OR a Montreal loss/draw at New England OR a draw against Minnesota and a Montreal win by 1 goal (Montreal is 2 back on GD and has a +7 advantage on goals scored.
• Montreal clinches a playoff spot with a win at New England and a Columbus loss against Minnesota OR a win at New England by 2 or more and a Columbus draw against Minnesota

Western Conference (Clinched: SKC (home playoff game), FC Dallas, LAFC, Seattle, Portland; Eliminated: Vancouver, Minnesota, Houston, Colorado, San Jose)

• SKC clinches the 1st seed with a win vs LAFC OR a draw against LAFC (have a 15 GD advantage on Dallas)
• SKC clinches a first round bye with a FC Dallas loss/draw at Colorado
• LAFC clinches the 1st seed with a win at SKC (have a 8 GD advantage on Dallas)
• LAFC clinches a first round bye with a FC Dallas loss at Colorado OR a draw at SKC and a FC Dallas draw at Colorado
• FC Dallas clinches a first round bye with a win at Colorado OR a draw at Colorado and a SKC win against LAFC and a Seattle loss/draw vs San Jose
• Seattle clinches a first round bye with a win vs San Jose and a FC Dallas loss/draw at Colorado
• LAFC has all but clinched a home playoff game (Portland would need to make up 10 GD)
• FC Dallas clinches a home playoff game with a draw at Colorado OR a Seattle loss to San Jose OR a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver
• Seattle clinches a home playoff game with a win/draw vs San Jose OR a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver
• Portland clinches a home playoff game with a win at Vancouver and a Seattle loss vs San Jose OR a win at Vancouver and a FC Dallas loss at Colorado
• LAG clinches a playoff spot with a win vs Houston
• RSL clinches a playoff spot with a LAG loss/draw vs Houston

A couple of other interesting tidbits.

• If current standings were to hold, NYC would only be able to host MLS Cup if LAG/RSL were to make the final. NYC could have a shot at hosting Portland depending on next Sunday, but any other team would be on the road.
• FC Dallas went from possibly clinching the 1 seed in the West (a win at home vs SKC basically would have done it) to now possibly slipping all the way to 5th
• The juiciest first round matchups in the league would possibly be in the West with LAFC hosting LAG and Seattle hosting Portland. For that to happen, there would need to be a FC Dallas win at Colorado, an SKC-LAFC draw, a Seattle draw to San Jose and a LAG win vs Houston. OR a SKC win vs LAFC and a FC Dallas win/draw at Colorado and a Seattle loss to San Jose and a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver. This doesn't seem likely to happen.

 

[LionNYC]

• The juiciest first round matchups in the league would possibly be in the West with LAFC hosting LAG and Seattle hosting Portland. For that to happen, there would need to be a FC Dallas win at Colorado, an SKC-LAFC draw, a Seattle draw to San Jose and a LAG win vs Houston. OR a SKC win vs LAFC and a FC Dallas win/draw at Colorado and a Seattle loss to San Jose and a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver. This doesn't seem likely to happen.

You underestimate the league office and PRO's ability to control games in order to boost TV ratings and ticket sales. Rivalries!

 

[adam]

Last week of this. What's crazy is that all 5 teams that have clinched spots in the West technically have the ability to grab a bye week spot (All have realistic shots except Portland who would need to many things to happen, most of all, to make up a 10 goal GD on LAFC)

Eastern Conference (Clinched: Atlanta, NJ (first round bye), NYCFC, Philly, DCU; Eliminated: New England, Toronto, Chicago, Orlando)

• Atlanta clinches Supporter's Shield with a win at Toronto OR a NJ loss against Orlando OR a draw at Toronto and a NJ draw against Orlando OR a 1 goal loss at Toronto and a NJ draw to Orlando (Wins and GD would be tied, Atlanta currently has 8 more goals scored than NJ)
• NYC clinches the 3rd seed with a win/draw against Philly
• NYC clinches the 4th seed with a DCU loss/draw at Chicago
• Philly clinches the 3rd seed with a win at NYC
• Philly clinches the 4th seed with a DCU loss at Chicago and a Columbus loss/draw to Minnesota OR a draw at NYC and a DCU loss/draw at Chicago
• DCU clinches the 4th seed with a win at Chicago
• Columbus clinches the 4th seed with a win against Minnesota and a Philly loss at NYC and a DCU loss at Chicago
• Columbus clinches a playoff spot with a win against Minnesota OR a Montreal loss/draw at New England OR a draw against Minnesota and a Montreal win by 1 goal (Montreal is 2 back on GD and has a +7 advantage on goals scored.
• Montreal clinches a playoff spot with a win at New England and a Columbus loss against Minnesota OR a win at New England by 2 or more and a Columbus draw against Minnesota

Western Conference (Clinched: SKC (home playoff game), FC Dallas, LAFC, Seattle, Portland; Eliminated: Vancouver, Minnesota, Houston, Colorado, San Jose)

• SKC clinches the 1st seed with a win vs LAFC OR a draw against LAFC (have a 15 GD advantage on Dallas)
• SKC clinches a first round bye with a FC Dallas loss/draw at Colorado
• LAFC clinches the 1st seed with a win at SKC (have a 8 GD advantage on Dallas)
• LAFC clinches a first round bye with a FC Dallas loss at Colorado OR a draw at SKC and a FC Dallas draw at Colorado
• FC Dallas clinches a first round bye with a win at Colorado OR a draw at Colorado and a SKC win against LAFC and a Seattle loss/draw vs San Jose
• Seattle clinches a first round bye with a win vs San Jose and a FC Dallas loss/draw at Colorado
• LAFC has all but clinched a home playoff game (Portland would need to make up 10 GD)
• FC Dallas clinches a home playoff game with a draw at Colorado OR a Seattle loss to San Jose OR a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver
• Seattle clinches a home playoff game with a win/draw vs San Jose OR a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver
• Portland clinches a home playoff game with a win at Vancouver and a Seattle loss vs San Jose OR a win at Vancouver and a FC Dallas loss at Colorado
• LAG clinches a playoff spot with a win vs Houston
• RSL clinches a playoff spot with a LAG loss/draw vs Houston

A couple of other interesting tidbits.

• If current standings were to hold, NYC would only be able to host MLS Cup if LAG/RSL were to make the final. NYC could have a shot at hosting Portland depending on next Sunday, but any other team would be on the road.
• FC Dallas went from possibly clinching the 1 seed in the West (a win at home vs SKC basically would have done it) to now possibly slipping all the way to 5th
• The juiciest first round matchups in the league would possibly be in the West with LAFC hosting LAG and Seattle hosting Portland. For that to happen, there would need to be a FC Dallas win at Colorado, an SKC-LAFC draw, a Seattle draw to San Jose and a LAG win vs Houston. OR a SKC win vs LAFC and a FC Dallas win/draw at Colorado and a Seattle loss to San Jose and a Portland loss/draw at Vancouver. This doesn't seem likely to happen.

OK, I'm going to simplify the East:

DCU will win. So...

ATL & NJ 1/2

3. NYC/PHI
4. DCU
5. NYC/PHI
6. CLB/MTL

Basically, we're either 3 or 5. We need a Draw or win for 3. We lose and we're 5 playing @ DCU again.

 

[Shwafta]

Bringing back the MVP discussion from earlier (idk where else to put this?) ...
I still don't think Josef Martinez is MVP material. Yes, he scored 30 goals and has a really insane combined total. But if you look, he hasn't scored in 4 games and the team is still winning by multiple goals (save the RB game). If you look at a player like Zlatan or Rooney, the team without them would literally fall apart, and to me that's what an MVP is. Not just a player that scores a lot, but one that is also irreplaceable, and leads the team in a way that without him it would not function. Martinez has been incredible yes, but is a replaceable player should they sell him this winter. Rooney however, since coming over from Everton, has been absolutely incredible and irreplaceable. He's got to be my MVP, taking a team that was looking like wooden spoon material and turning them into one of the biggest MLS Cup contenders of the year.

David Villa didn't win MVP two years ago because he got a lot of goals and assists- it's because he did exactly what Rooney is doing this season. And I think people overlook that point.

 

[Keith Putnam]

what Rooney is doing this season.

Yeah, given DC's turnaround following Rooney joining, I don't see how you give MVP to anyone else but Rooney.

 

[adam]

Yeah, given DC's turnaround following Rooney joining, I don't see how you give MVP to anyone else but Rooney.

Zlatan is single handedly doing the same for his team in the West. I have no issues with the award going to Zlatan or Rooney.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Bringing back the MVP discussion from earlier (idk where else to put this?) ...
I still don't think Josef Martinez is MVP material. Yes, he scored 30 goals and has a really insane combined total. But if you look, he hasn't scored in 4 games and the team is still winning by multiple goals (save the RB game). If you look at a player like Zlatan or Rooney, the team without them would literally fall apart, and to me that's what an MVP is. Not just a player that scores a lot, but one that is also irreplaceable, and leads the team in a way that without him it would not function. Martinez has been incredible yes, but is a replaceable player should they sell him this winter. Rooney however, since coming over from Everton, has been absolutely incredible and irreplaceable. He's got to be my MVP, taking a team that was looking like wooden spoon material and turning them into one of the biggest MLS Cup contenders of the year.

David Villa didn't win MVP two years ago because he got a lot of goals and assists- it's because he did exactly what Rooney is doing this season. And I think people overlook that point.

Agree, and the LAG post where they pointed out Zlatan's G+A/Min are a league record is good support.

 

[Shwafta]

Zlatan is single handedly doing the same for his team in the West. I have no issues with the award going to Zlatan or Rooney.

Well, the reason why I was thinking Zlatan shouldn't be is because he might just barely get them over the playoff line, and they haven't been able to get many results even with Zlatan. If he gets them over, it'll be potential MVP material. However... Rooney has single-handedly brought this team up to what could be 3rd place after today with a tie from us and a two goal win by them. LA is not going to win MLS Cup, but DC might just be able to because of Rooney's insane leadership.

Either way, I'll be happy with either one being MVP, but not Josef.

 

[LionNYC]

Well, the reason why I was thinking Zlatan shouldn't be is because he might just barely get them over the playoff line, and they haven't been able to get many results even with Zlatan. If he gets them over, it'll be potential MVP material. However... Rooney has single-handedly brought this team up to what could be 3rd place after today with a tie from us and a two goal win by them. LA is not going to win MLS Cup, but DC might just be able to because of Rooney's insane leadership.

Either way, I'll be happy with either one being MVP, but not Josef.

Zlatan took LA Galaxy from the Wooden Spoon to the Playoffs* (potentially).

Martinez is great like BWP is great. They are system players and system scorers. If you replace a striker of equal money or quality, and you'll get the same result.

Rooney and Zlatan took crap turns and turned them into a diamond. That's the definition of an MVP.

 

[Ulrich]

Zlatan took LA Galaxy from the Wooden Spoon to the Playoffs* (potentially).

Martinez is great like BWP is great. They are system players and system scorers. If you replace a striker of equal money or quality, and you'll get the same result.

Rooney and Zlatan took crap turns and turned them into a diamond. That's the definition of an MVP.

Has Martinez scored since Almiron got injured??? Leading the league in scoring on the best team isn’t as impressive as what Rooney and Zlatan have done.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Almiron > Martinez.

 

[Ulrich]

Almiron > Martinez.

If Zlatan was on ATLs team this year from the beginning, he’d have 50 goals.... that is if they didn’t play on artificial turf so he could go full speed without worry.

 

[Shwafta]

Zlatan took LA Galaxy from the Wooden Spoon to the Playoffs* (potentially).

Martinez is great like BWP is great. They are system players and system scorers. If you replace a striker of equal money or quality, and you'll get the same result.

Rooney and Zlatan took crap turns and turned them into a diamond. That's the definition of an MVP.

Exactly, which is why I'm okay with both winning it

 

[mgarbowski]

Maybe Rooney should win a road game before any MVP talk.
He has a chance today.

 

[Ulrich]

Maybe Rooney should win a road game before any MVP talk.
He has a chance today.

Road wins are worth as much as home wins, so it doesn’t matter where the points come from, what’s mattered is he’s taken a team that was one of the two worst and dragged them into the playoffs with a chance of hosting a home match.

 

[mgarbowski]

Road wins are worth as much as home wins, so it doesn’t matter where the points come from, what’s mattered is he’s taken a team that was one of the two worst and dragged them into the playoffs with a chance of hosting a home match.

Then measure the other candidates by their best 13 home games. Rooney's MVP talk is a joke.

 

[Ulrich]

Then measure the other candidates by their best 13 home games. Rooney's MVP talk is a joke.

An MVP is a player that lifts a team and the team wouldn’t be where it is without them. Atlanta is the best team in the league hands down, and Martinez is the beneficiary of that, and he’s not the same player without Almiron. Big deal he scored 30 goals, there are other players that could have done the same thing with his supporting cast: Zlatan, BWP, Villa, Giovinco, and probably Rooney. I’d even pose that Zlatan, BWP, and Giovinco would’ve easily eclipsed 30goals and pushed it closer to 40+ because they’re all more gifted talents.

LA and DC were dead in the water until those two showed up and lifted both teams on their backs. What they’ve done is true MVP effort. Doesn’t matter if it’s 13 games or more, they’ve both been more valuable to their respective teams’ success than Martinez has been to ATL.

 

[Seven]

An MVP is a player that lifts a team and the team wouldn’t be where it is without them. Atlanta is the best team in the league hands down, and Martinez is the beneficiary of that, and he’s not the same player without Almiron. Big deal he scored 30 goals, there are other players that could have done the same thing with his supporting cast: Zlatan, BWP, Villa, Giovinco, and probably Rooney. I’d even pose that Zlatan, BWP, and Giovinco would’ve easily eclipsed 30goals and pushed it closer to 40+ because they’re all more gifted talents.

LA and DC were dead in the water until those two showed up and lifted both teams on their backs. What they’ve done is true MVP effort. Doesn’t matter if it’s 13 games or more, they’ve both been more valuable to their respective teams’ success than Martinez has been to ATL.

Rooney has been a big part of United’s move up the standings, but they were always going to make some movement up, due to their schedule. Their schedule was back loaded with games, and most of them at home.

 

[Ulrich]

Rooney has been a big part of United’s move up the standings, but they were always going to make some movement up, due to their schedule. Their schedule was back loaded with games, and most of them at home.

You can’t say DC “was always” gonna move up - that’s like saying NYCFC was never gonna look like a crap team after PV left, and yet here we are.

Plus, even if they moved up, you really think they’d be vying for a home playoff game??? That’s all on Rooney.