MLS Cup Playoffs - November 7 - Charlotte (Away)

[dark knight]

There is a scenario where we tie the game, lose in penalties, we are undefeated in the series and yet also lose the series.

Would much prefer each game go to extra time before penalties, or at least a combined points scenario. Even if it's 2 points for a SOW and 1 point for a SOL, it would still protect from that scenario happening. This is a crappy way to decide postseason games.

I’m confused what you mean by your scenario - if we have a win and two ties we go through. They would have to win game 3 as it currently stands. Only game 3 would go to extra time and pks if even on points by either 3 ties or 4 points each.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Intrigued by this. I take it if the 3 games go 1-1-1 and each team has 4 points then you have PKs?

This is my preference.

 

[mgarbowski]

I'm very liking the first to five idea. Keeps game integrity instead of the single 180 minute contest stuff I always hated. But adds back soccer trad elements like ties and points, and relegates PKs to a last resort.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I’m confused what you mean by your scenario - if we have a win and two ties we go through. They would have to win game 3 as it currently stands. Only game 3 would go to extra time and pks if even on points by either 3 ties or 4 points each.

So under my scenario we would still play PKs in every game -- 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for a SOW, 1 point for a tie/SOL, 0 pts for a regulation loss.

Under this scenario, we are currently on 4 points, Charlotte is on 2 points. If Game 3 is tied after regulation under my scenario, we wouldn't need to go to penalties; NYCFC will already have 5 points and won the series. If Charlotte wins in regulation, they win the series.

The main reason they would never go to this system is it's too confusing for casuals; it would take too much education to make fans understand it. But there would still be a chance to end the series after 2 games (even a regulation win & SO win would do it), and there would even be a chance that we wouldn't need penalties in a decisive Game 3. Obviously a team only needing a tie to advance could lead to a boring Game 3, but teams already play for penalties now so I don't think that would look too different.

I really do think the Race to 5 would work in this round and be a more equitable formula than what we have now, where NYCFC could go undefeated in the series and still lose the series.

 

[moogoo]

So under my scenario we would still play PKs in every game -- 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for a SOW, 1 point for a tie/SOL, 0 pts for a regulation loss.

Under this scenario, we are currently on 4 points, Charlotte is on 2 points. If Game 3 is tied after regulation under my scenario, we wouldn't need to go to penalties; NYCFC will already have 5 points and won the series. If Charlotte wins in regulation, they win the series.

The main reason they would never go to this system is it's too confusing for casuals; it would take too much education to make fans understand it. But there would still be a chance to end the series after 2 games (even a regulation win & SO win would do it), and there would even be a chance that we wouldn't need penalties in a decisive Game 3. Obviously a team only needing a tie to advance could lead to a boring Game 3, but teams already play for penalties now so I don't think that would look too different.

I really do think the Race to 5 would work in this round and be a more equitable formula than what we have now, where NYCFC could go undefeated in the series and still lose the series.

What you've just explained as your scenario is the MLS next pro point system.

 

[413Blue]

So under my scenario we would still play PKs in every game -- 3 points for a regulation win, 2 points for a SOW, 1 point for a tie/SOL, 0 pts for a regulation loss.

Under this scenario, we are currently on 4 points, Charlotte is on 2 points. If Game 3 is tied after regulation under my scenario, we wouldn't need to go to penalties; NYCFC will already have 5 points and won the series. If Charlotte wins in regulation, they win the series.

The main reason they would never go to this system is it's too confusing for casuals; it would take too much education to make fans understand it. But there would still be a chance to end the series after 2 games (even a regulation win & SO win would do it), and there would even be a chance that we wouldn't need penalties in a decisive Game 3. Obviously a team only needing a tie to advance could lead to a boring Game 3, but teams already play for penalties now so I don't think that would look too different.

I really do think the Race to 5 would work in this round and be a more equitable formula than what we have now, where NYCFC could go undefeated in the series and still lose the series.

I guess I like that better than the current silly format, but I still don't like relying on penalties in an unnecessary situation. Penalties should only be used as a final decision maker in a decisive elimination game.

Or we should go back to single elimination!

 

[canchon]

The three game series is bonkers (especially when the games afterward are single elimination).

Going straight to PK’a is also bonkers - making a PK win exactly the same result as winning a game in regulation. I like the group stage / first to five.

We are at a point where a team could not lose any of the 3 games and go home, or a team could not even score a goal nor win a game (a very real scenario given how the first 2 games have gone) and win the series.

Every other football league does either single elimination or 2 game aggregate series.

Under single elimination - NYCFC wins the first game and moves on:

Under 2 game aggregate series - it’s 1-0 combined after both legs and NYCFC wins. You could also argue that under that CLT would have gone more all out to score and opened up the end of game 2 instead of just playing for penalties.

Why would any team play attacking football in this dumb game 3? Risk aversion is more likely.

Fix this MLS.

 

[moogoo]

The three game series is bonkers (especially when the games afterward are single elimination).

Going straight to PK’a is also bonkers - making a PK win exactly the same result as winning a game in regulation. I like the group stage / first to five.

We are at a point where a team could not lose any of the 3 games and go home, or a team could not even score a goal nor win a game (a very real scenario given how the first 2 games have gone) and win the series.

Every other football league does either single elimination or 2 game aggregate series.

Under single elimination - NYCFC wins the first game and moves on:

Under 2 game aggregate series - it’s 1-0 combined after both legs and NYCFC wins. You could also argue that under that CLT would have gone more all out to score and opened up the end of game 2 instead of just playing for penalties.

Why would any team play attacking football in this dumb game 3? Risk aversion is more likely.

Fix this MLS.

the 3 game system will stay until at least the schedule flip.

but i think they should get rid of the shootout after every tie game. it's not a great way to decide games. i'd much prefer teams take risk in the 90.

 

[ZYanksRule]

The only reason MLS changed to this 3-game format for the first round was to give Apple more postseason inventory. This round is literally a made-for-TV event, which is why it's so deeply flawed. The rest of the playoffs are great, but this round is a joke.