Away - 06/14 Jersey

[Kjbert]

If my logic is silly than not caring where we are seeded because of past years MLS champions is downright idiotic. One USOC game won't make a difference? How about the other 4? At what point do one of these games get in the way of us winning MLS games?

BTW, I can only imagine how excited Maxi / Ring would be to play in a game like this. Check out the frustration levels from Ring at RSL and the Maxi against the Revs. Why in the hell would they want to play in the USOC? Because of the "hardware"?

You're assuming that there is a correlation between playoff seeding and MLS Cup victories. Let's look at the history:
2016: Seattle - 4th place
2015: Portland - 3rd place
2014: Galaxy - 2nd place
2013: Kansas City - 2nd Place
2012 - Galaxy - 4th place
2011 - Galaxy - 1st Place
2010 - Colorado - 5th place
2009 - Salt Lake - 5th place
2008 - Columbus - 1st place
2007 - Houston - 2nd place
2006 - Houston - 2nd place
2005 - Galaxy - 4th place
2004 - DC - 2nd place
2003 - San Jose - 1st place

Stopping there because the playoff format changed around that time. The #1 team in a conference has won 3 times in that time frame. #2 in a conference has won 5 times. #3 has won once. #4 has won 3 times and a 5th seeded team in their conference has won twice.

 

[JJJSMAC]

You're assuming that there is a correlation between playoff seeding and MLS Cup victories. Let's look at the history:
2016: Seattle - 4th place
2015: Portland - 3rd place
2014: Galaxy - 2nd place
2013: Kansas City - 2nd Place
2012 - Galaxy - 4th place
2011 - Galaxy - 1st Place
2010 - Colorado - 5th place
2009 - Salt Lake - 5th place
2008 - Columbus - 1st place
2007 - Houston - 2nd place
2006 - Houston - 2nd place
2005 - Galaxy - 4th place
2004 - DC - 2nd place
2003 - San Jose - 1st place

Stopping there because the playoff format changed around that time. The #1 team in a conference has won 3 times in that time frame. #2 in a conference has won 5 times. #3 has won once. #4 has won 3 times and a 5th seeded team in their conference has won twice.

Said a different way, teams that had a first round bye have won 8 times, a home single elimination game 4 times, and an away single elimination game 2 times. So with this small sample size, teams have a 4x likely chance of winning the cup as a 1 or 2 seed compared to a 5 or 6 seed and 2x more likely chance of winning the cup compared to a 3 or 4 seed.

Thank you for doing the research to prove my point so nicely. Just because a 5 seed has done it twice doesn't make it likely. Life is about playing the odds and the odds say securing a 1 or 2 seed matters quite a bit.

 

[dannd23]

BTW, I can only imagine how excited Maxi / Ring would be to play in a game like this. Check out the frustration levels from Ring at RSL and the Maxi against the Revs. Why in the hell would they want to play in the USOC? Because of the "hardware"?

Ring has been playing in tournaments like this since he was a pro with the DFB-Pokal and Maxi has been playing in them whether it was Coppa Italia, Copa MX, or Copa Argentina. So why now, where they are being paid the most ever, would they be frustrated about playing a game like this?

Also, you're acting like Ring and Maxi never had to play a midweek game in their lives. Looking at quick glance Ring played in 4 Tuesday games in his final season with FCK. Mid week games, especially Cup matches, happen in every league not just MLS.

 

[JJJSMAC]

Ring has been playing in tournaments like this since he was a pro with the DFB-Pokal and Maxi has been playing in them whether it was Coppa Italia, Copa MX, or Copa Argentina. So why now, where they are being paid the most ever, would they be frustrated about playing a game like this?

Also, you're acting like Ring and Maxi never had to play a midweek game in their lives. Looking at quick glance Ring played in 4 Tuesday games in his final season with FCK. Mid week games, especially Cup matches, happen in every league not just MLS.

I said "want" to play not "can't" play. Will they enjoy being the only starters on the field playing with the B team? As a former athlete, I would not.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Also, we have a team that features a ton more depth than last year.

If we were to go with a lineup of:
Lewis-Okoli-Harrison
------TMac-Maxi------
---------Lopez---------
Sweat-Brillant-Chanot-Allen
--------Johansen--------

Does anyone really think that lineup can't win? Fine, put Ring in for Lopez -- that backline is perfectly capable of holding serve. That midfield is perfectly capable of getting a result, and that front line is perfectly capable of scoring a few goals.

That lineup rests up to seven or eight starters, and still gives us a good chance to win.

So yes, I agree with you that we should take this competition seriously. I also agree with others that certain guys should get a rest (frankly, if we had another option I want Harrison rested; he looked gassed last game). This team can handle a back-up US Open Cup roster far better than the last two years.

Remember the lineups for the first two US Open Cup games:
2016:
Shelton-Mullins-Poku
Mix-Lopez-Ballouchy
Gomez-White-Mena-Martinez
Johansen

2015:
Poku-Mullins
Ballouchy-Mix-Jacobson-Alvarez
Allen-Brovsky-Hernandez-Facey
Johansen

This year's lineup is far, far, far more capable of getting a result than those two were.

This, and the guys you have in your lineup (I would have it slightly different with Callens in for Chanot with Chanot coming back from intl duty) should have no problem doing two matches in one week. They are young and fit enough to do it.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I said "want" to play not "can't" play. Will they enjoy being the only starters on the field playing with the B team? As a former athlete, I would not.

I don't think many of us here are calling for a complete B squad plus Maxi and Ring, but a much more competitive squad. Their previous gripes about the RSL match were not who they were playing with, but the effort that was given. I'm guessing that with Ring's comments along with whatever PV has said in the locker room behind closed doors, that won't be an issue.

 

[The Toe]

I like the idea of going for the USOC because, even with resting some of the squad during the MLS season, there's literally no reason this team shouldn't be able to make the playoffs and advance in USOC.

 

[Davo15]

So we're already so big time in our third year of existence we can view the USOC as "Mickey Mouse" and not be bothered about it?

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

You can buy two lottery tickets for trophies. To buy one, you have to be better than Philly, Montreal, DC, New England and one other team. To buy the other, your team has to play a double game week af ew times. (you have to earn the supporters shield) These guys are professionals, if they are not hurt, they can play. We do not have the depth to rotate the whole squad.

 

[Kjbert]

Said a different way, teams that had a first round bye have won 8 times, a home single elimination game 4 times, and an away single elimination game 2 times. So with this small sample size, teams have a 4x likely chance of winning the cup as a 1 or 2 seed compared to a 5 or 6 seed and 2x more likely chance of winning the cup compared to a 3 or 4 seed.

Thank you for doing the research to prove my point so nicely. Just because a 5 seed has done it twice doesn't make it likely. Life is about playing the odds and the odds say securing a 1 or 2 seed matters quite a bit.

You're impossible. But sure. If that's what you take away from that, great.

 

[D_RoyJenkins]

https://twitter.com/x/status/872864515247005697

This match is so important that it's not even on TV...

 

[Ulrich]

https://twitter.com/x/status/872864515247005697

This match is so important that it's not even on TV...

MSG probably doesn't want to show the majority of the stadium in blue.

 

[Jon]

https://twitter.com/x/status/872864515247005697

This match is so important that it's not even on TV...

Should we be surprised? Our games play second fiddle to anything Yankees related.

 

[gbservis]

Should we be surprised? Our games play second fiddle to anything Yankees related.

The home team owns the broadcast rights so this was MSGs call not YES.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

Cable and networks screwing themselves. The more they make people use streaming services who find out its easy, the quicker their demise comes. MLS are backwards trying to get the big ESPN/network contract. They should be streaming games free and keeping the ad revenue for themselves.

 

[JayH]

It makes perfect sense to me. Horse racing is on.

 

[LionNYC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/872864515247005697

This match is so important that it's not even on TV...

Still, who is calling the game? Do the people streaming the game have to suffer through Shep Messing?

 

[SoupInNYC]

MSG probably doesn't want to show the majority of the stadium in blue.

My guess is its actually NJ's attempt to force their season ticket holders to attend the match rather than stay at home and watch on TV.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Might be an issue with the U.S. Open Cup itself. Hard to know. There is no issue with YES as Yankee game isn't until 10.

 

[The Toe]

Might be an issue with the U.S. Open Cup itself. Hard to know. There is no issue with YES as Yankee game isn't until 10.

I think all are streamed without any on TV throughout the whole tourney, IIRC. Would be a good thing for ESPN to jump on and get onto WatchESPN, or even ESPN2.