CCL race

[FootyLovin]

Actually, Montreal winning gets us in too. Only Philly & DCU from the East hurts us. From the west there are 4 teams, so we'll need to root for Dallas and Colorado to come out of there. With byes and home field (and having better teams) they have the best chances.

True. I hadn't even considered the possibility of Montreal coming out of the East. First round's on me if that happens.

Of course, the nightmare scenario is this: NJ finishes season above us and we finish above LA. NJ and LA meet in the finals. Do you root for NJ to win, giving us CCL and them the MLS Cup or for NJ to lose knowing that takes CCL away from us?

 

[Ulrich]

True. I hadn't even considered the possibility of Montreal coming out of the East. First round's on me if that happens.

Of course, the nightmare scenario is this: NJ finishes season above us and we finish above LA. NJ and LA meet in the finals. Do you root for NJ to win, giving us CCL and them the MLS Cup or for NJ to lose knowing that takes CCL away from us?

Shit. Just start drinking early and hope for a lightning strike.

 

[canchon]

Shit. Just start drinking early and hope for a lightning strike.

I was thinking this could happen as well. RBNY wins the east and NYCFC is high enough in the overall standings that RBNY winning the cup opens up a spot for NYCFC. A distinct possibility as you have to think RBNY is favored to win the East.

 

[Ulrich]

I was thinking this could happen as well. RBNJ wins the east and NYCFC is high enough in the overall standings that RBNJ winning the cup opens up a spot for NYCFC. A distinct possibility as you have to think RBNJ is favored to win the East.

Not sure about that.... RB may have just beaten Philly 3-2, but Philly is teetering in the 6th spot and very likely will need a point or three in the final game versus RB. I like their chances to win at home.

If we take care of business and get 6 points, we are going to win the East.

 

[413Blue]

While it would be nice to play in the CCL, bottomline is it's not the UEFA CL, so I care MUCH less about qualifying for this tournament than I do about NOT seeing NJ win MLS Cup. So if that scenario comes to play, screw the CCL fuck the red bulls!

 

[adam]

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While it would be nice to play in the CCL, bottomline is it's not the UEFA CL, so I care MUCH less about qualifying for this tournament than I do about NOT seeing NJ win MLS Cup. So if that scenario comes to play, screw the CCL fuck the red bulls!

But eventually winning the CCL is the ultimate bragging rights. AND it means playing the winner of the UEFA CL in a meaningful match. We know how we'd stack up vs the Barcas or the Bayerns of the world, but damn it would be fun to watch. Especially if we have some of the other teams old players, or garber let's us add a few more DPs to be competitive. Believe me, you want CCL.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

While it would be nice to play in the CCL, bottomline is it's not the UEFA CL, so I care MUCH less about qualifying for this tournament than I do about NOT seeing NJ win MLS Cup. So if that scenario comes to play, screw the CCL fuck the red bulls!

Red Bulls are choke artists in the playoffs. They have only been to one final in 20 years.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Not sure about that.... RB may have just beaten Philly 3-2, but Philly is teetering in the 6th spot and very likely will need a point or three in the final game versus RB. I like their chances to win at home.

If we take care of business and get 6 points, we are going to win the East.

Fair enough, but heading into DC and getting 3 points is going to be tough. They have 1 loss in their last 12 (okay, it was at Yankee Stadium) and a total of 21 points over that span. They've won their last 3 in a row.

DC United are the typical MLS team that gets hot at the end of the season and makes a run through the playoffs. My biggest concern when thinking about seeding is not facing them in the 1st or 2nd round.

 

[Fabio]

If the NJ will win the East Conference and the MLS Cup ( I hope never.....) and if the NYCFC will arrive second in the East Conference, what spot will be opened up for the CCL ? Will be it the second place of the East Conference or the second place ( behind the FC Dallas ) in the MLS Supporers' Shield and therefore almost surely Colorado Rapids ? But isn't already allocated the second place in the MLS Supporters' Shield because the Dallas has won the MLS Open Cup ? Will be therefore good even the fourth place ( after Dallas, Colorado and NJ ) in the MLS Supporters' Shield ? What is the real situation ?

 

[Kjbert]

If the NJ will win the East Conference and the MLS Cup ( I hope never.....) and if the NYCFC will arrive second in the East Conference, what spot will be opened up for the CCL ? Will be it the second place of the East Conference or the second place ( behind the FC Dallas ) in the MLS Supporers' Shield and therefore almost surely Colorado Rapids ? But isn't already allocated the second place in the MLS Supporters' Shield because the Dallas has won the MLS Open Cup ? Will be therefore good even the fourth place ( after Dallas, Colorado and NJ ) in the MLS Supporters' Shield ? What is the real situation ?

If the Conference Winners qualify through some other means (Canadian Championship, MLS Cup, US Open Cup), then they go to the Supporters Shield race.

Toronto and FC Dallas are already in.

If the season ended today, NJRB would qualify as the Eastern Champs, NYCFC would qualify as the next in the table and the MLS Cup winner would qualify.

 

[Fabio]

If the Conference Winners qualify through some other means (Canadian Championship, MLS Cup, US Open Cup), then they go to the Supporters Shield race.

Toronto and FC Dallas are already in.

If the season ended today, NJRB would qualify as the Eastern Champs, NYCFC would qualify as the next in the table and the MLS Cup winner would qualify.

OK, but if in the MLS Supporters' Shield the Rapids ( they to have played only 30 games.... ) will finish ahead of the NYCFC and if the NJ will win the East Conference and the MLS Cup, the NYCFC will have the fourth CCL spot even with the fourth positition ( after Dallas, Colorado and NJ ) in the MLS Supporters' Shield ?

 

[LionNYC]

While it would be nice to play in the CCL, bottomline is it's not the UEFA CL, so I care MUCH less about qualifying for this tournament than I do about NOT seeing NJ win MLS Cup. So if that scenario comes to play, screw the CCL fuck the red bulls!

We're still a new club. So I can imagine the NYCFC intern working at Yankee Stadium the day our of CCL game plays the UEFA Champions League music. When his/her supervisor comes up to the gameday operations room, he/she flips out and says, "Why are you playing that?" And he/she responds, "It's the Champions League, obviously."

 

[Kjbert]

OK, but if in the MLS Supporters' Shield the Rapids ( they to have played only 30 games.... ) will finish ahead of the NYCFC and if the NJ will win the East Conference and the MLS Cup, the NYCFC will have the fourth CCL spot even with the fourth positition ( after Dallas, Colorado and NJ ) in the MLS Supporters' Shield ?

There are 5 CCL spots available for MLS teams right now. Two have been claimed by FC Dallas and Toronto FC.

Let's assume that FC Dallas clinches the Western Conference. The Western Conference spot then goes into the Supporters Shield Table automatically. Let's take Toronto out of the mix for now. They could still win the East or MLS Cup, but they qualified through the Canadian Championship.

That leaves the Eastern Conference, MLS Cup and the next best finish in the Supporters Shield. In your example, NJ wins the East (qualifies automatically) and wins MLS Cup. The Cup win then throws a spot back into the Supporters Shield. In your scenario, the Top Two teams in the Supporters Shield who haven't already qualified will qualify for CCL.

We should be rooting against NJRB, Colorado and LA Galaxy right now for CCL reasons.

 

[Fabio]

There are 5 CCL spots available for MLS teams right now. Two have been claimed by FC Dallas and Toronto FC.

Let's assume that FC Dallas clinches the Western Conference. The Western Conference spot then goes into the Supporters Shield Table automatically. Let's take Toronto out of the mix for now. They could still win the East or MLS Cup, but they qualified through the Canadian Championship.

That leaves the Eastern Conference, MLS Cup and the next best finish in the Supporters Shield. In your example, NJ wins the East (qualifies automatically) and wins MLS Cup. The Cup win then throws a spot back into the Supporters Shield. In your scenario, the Top Two teams in the Supporters Shield who haven't already qualified will qualify for CCL.

We should be rooting against NJRB, Colorado and LA Galaxy right now for CCL reasons.

Therefore our hopes are :
1) NYCFC wins the MLS Cup or at least wins the East Conference.
2) The NJRB or the Rapids win the MLS Cup and open up the spots in the MLS Supporters' Shield for the CCL.

 

[Kjbert]

Therefore our hopes are :
1) NYCFC wins the MLS Cup or at least wins the East Conference.
2) The NJRB or the Rapids win the MLS Cup and open up the spots in the MLS Supporters' Shield for the CCL.

Pretty much. At this point, we do not control our own destiny. Toronto, FC Dallas or NJRB winning the East means that any of those teams winning MLS Cup probably gest us into CCL right now.

At this point, if you want to get into CCL, root against NJRB as you usually would. Both of us are home to Columbus. I am hoping Columbus is eliminated when we play them. They finish at Philly Union.

 

[Gotham Gator]

There is no particular benefit to having NJ win either the East or the MLS Cup over other teams that could win it and throw one of those spots back into the SS standings. So, Toronto could win the East and the extra spot would be available, and any of Dallas, the Western Conference winner (if not Dallas), Toronto or Montreal could win the MLS Cup, and that spot in the Supporters' Shield standings would be there.

 

[413Blue]

If the Conference Winners qualify through some other means (Canadian Championship, MLS Cup, US Open Cup), then they go to the Supporters Shield race.

Toronto and FC Dallas are already in.

If the season ended today, NJRB would qualify as the Eastern Champs, NYCFC would qualify as the next in the table and the MLS Cup winner would qualify.

Just wanted to clarify, because i'm not sure if you are making this distinction, but the Canadian teams qualify separately for their spot. Had Toronto not won the canadian championship, the situation would still be the same, whereas if they won the east, it would go to the alternate order.
The determination for the 4 spots as assigned by USSF:
1. USOC
2. East Champ
3. West Champ
4. MLS CUP champ
T. Supporter's shield rankings.

The Canadian Fed determined how the Canadian clubs can earn their spot.

 

[Gotham Gator]

By the way, all this is why I was happy to see Dallas beat LA over the weekend. Even if Dallas had lost, a run to the Supporters' Shield was still going to be a longshot. But, the Dallas victory put LA 3 points behind us with 2 games to play, and we hold the tiebreaker. If we finish above LA, not only does that help with a potential CCL spot, but it means we would host the MLS Cup if both we and they win our conferences.

 

[adam]

There are 5 CCL spots available for MLS teams right now. Two have been claimed by FC Dallas and Toronto FC.

Let's assume that FC Dallas clinches the Western Conference. The Western Conference spot then goes into the Supporters Shield Table automatically. Let's take Toronto out of the mix for now. They could still win the East or MLS Cup, but they qualified through the Canadian Championship.

That leaves the Eastern Conference, MLS Cup and the next best finish in the Supporters Shield. In your example, NJ wins the East (qualifies automatically) and wins MLS Cup. The Cup win then throws a spot back into the Supporters Shield. In your scenario, the Top Two teams in the Supporters Shield who haven't already qualified will qualify for CCL.

We should be rooting against NJRB, Colorado and LA Galaxy right now for CCL reasons.

Pretty close, but slightly off. USSF is allocated 4 spots and the CSA is allocated one spot. Canadian teams can only qualify through the Canadian (Amway) Cup, even if they win their conference or the MLS cup. If they are in a spot that earns a USSF CCL berth, its allocated to the next US team in line in the MLS supporters shield rankings.

Having it that way allows non-MLS Canadian teams to also play for a CCL berth in the Canadian cup. We also know that American non-MLS teams play for a USSF bid in the USOC.

Kind of crappy for a Canadian team who finishes first in their conference, or even the league to not make the CCL. But on the other hand they only have to beat out 2 other top tier (MLS) teams (sometimes 1 if the other 2 play first) to get a bid. It's a much easier route then for a US team.

 

[FootyLovin]

By the way, all this is why I was happy to see Dallas beat LA over the weekend. Even if Dallas had lost, a run to the Supporters' Shield was still going to be a longshot. But, the Dallas victory put LA 3 points behind us with 2 games to play, and we hold the tiebreaker. If we finish above LA, not only does that help with a potential CCL spot, but it means we would host the MLS Cup if both we and they win our conferences.

This.

Bottom line.
We get in IF we win the east or MLS Cup
We almost certainly get in IF we have a better record than NJ at season end or any of TOR, MTL, DAL, COL, NJ win MLS Cup