We're probably making the playoffs.
With 5 games left for all the relevant teams, NYC has a 7-9 point lead on DC, ATL, NSH and MTL just below the playoff line. It roughly means that if NYC gets no more points one of those teams needs to win 3 games in the final 5 to pass us (MTL needs 3 wins and a draw) to push us below them and all of CLT, TOR and PHI currently sitting in spots 7-9 need to climb over us as well. If NYCFC gets just 2-3 more points it gets even harder to knock us out. The Playoff Status site gives us just a 1% chance to miss the playoffs.
But I don't think that will have much effect on whether Cushing or Lee are let go or come back. When they fired Kreis they said it was because they did not make the playoffs, and a lot of people took that literally. I think it meant "we'd rather give no reason but that does not seem to be an option so we will say this because we don't want to say he's just not that competent, nobody likes him, and he comes off as a bit of sociopath in our new movie."
But again, people took it at face value and fair enough, and then when they did not fire Cushing after no playoffs last year, some seem to have taken this to mean the bar for firing the coach is now miss the playoffs twice, unless you seem like a sociopath, then it's still one maybe.
Personally, I don't think there's any rules. They will fire people when they think it is likely to lead to improvement, and maybe give made up reasons. Torrent probably came close to being fired early in 2019 based on 18 points in 19 games and being real whiny before things turned around dramatically. I sometimes wonder whether maybe Deila does not last absent the 2021 playoff run.
I think that barring a late burst and solid showing in the playoffs then CFG will look at 2 straight years of failing to meet expectations and shake up local management. That's my best guess anyway. If not, I think it's because they cannot line up anyone as a replacement they believe will be better. These are not desirable jobs right now. For the coach/manager, the roster does not look especially promising to work with. For a new sporting director, there's little flexibility for the next 1-2 years given contract dates and roster rules. Sure there's always someone who will take a top level job and someone always thinks I can do what the current people cannot, but that does not mean CFG will think those people are the right people. But my guess is if season ends pretty much with the current status quo then somebody goes.
mgarbowski. Can you give a small refresher on magic number? I was thinking it must be points related but it’s impossible to get 7 points out of 2 games. But then I know Orlando has to drop points for us to pass them so maybe that has something to do with it. But I’m clearly missing something. Thank you in advance.
