Race for CCL Spot 2019

[adam]

Okay, I think the plan is now...

- Beat New Jersey in this table.
- Root for an Atlanta (or Philadelphia) vs. SKC (or Houston) MLS Cup, should we not win MLS Cup.

So, I'm rooting for Atlanta to beat New Jersey.

If you enjoy sports irony. Our CCL hopes may rest on Khiry Shelton’s right foot.

 

[The Toe]

It also feels pretty important to finish above the best of the West in the SS, too. I wouldn't want to concede home field in the Finals, should we make it.

 

[SoupInNYC]

So I went to sleep as soon as Wondo scored to make it 4-1. I turned off the TV with a smile on my face thinking Atlanta lost one, maybe they can lose again on Saturday. Then I wake up at 3am, probably because my stomach was all messed up from fasting to read what happened right after. No words. At least the Portland win helped us in the regular season. Anyway, here's the latest scores and standings:

WEDNESDAY 9/19:
CLB 2 @ POR 3
ATL 4 SJ 3*

SATURDAY 9/22:
TOR @ NJ 5:00
RSL @ ATL 7:00
COL @ CLB 7:30
NYC @ MTL 7:30
POR @ MIN 8:00

SUNDAY 9/23:
DAL @ VAN 7:00

*asterisk on account of bullshit

View attachment 9173

At one fell swoop of of the VAR; Portland, Columbus & Dallas were all eliminated last night from CCL contention. Technically Portland can tie Atlanta if Atlanta loses all 5 remaining matches and Portland wins all 5 remaining matches. But Portland would have to outscore its opponents by 45 goals over the next 5 matches to catch up on GD. I didn't check the record books, but I'm willing to wager no MLS team (or any modern pro soccer team on a top level) has ever gone 5-0-0 and won every one of those matches by 7 goals or more. So, for all intents and purposes Portland can no longer catch Atlanta. I sure hope Toronto's dumbass match versus Tigres last night didn't wear them out for Saturday's draw versus NJ. It seems like all the cards are stacked against us, at least we're almost in the playoffs and that's a brand new season.

I think showing them in red is good, but still keep them on as finishing second may still be important as we have all discussed here.

 

[SoupInNYC]

So I went to sleep as soon as Wondo scored to make it 4-1. I turned off the TV with a smile on my face thinking Atlanta lost one, maybe they can lose again on Saturday. Then I wake up at 3am, probably because my stomach was all messed up from fasting to read what happened right after. No words. At least the Portland win helped us in the regular season. Anyway, here's the latest scores and standings:

WEDNESDAY 9/19:
CLB 2 @ POR 3
ATL 4 SJ 3*

SATURDAY 9/22:
TOR @ NJ 5:00
RSL @ ATL 7:00
COL @ CLB 7:30
NYC @ MTL 7:30
POR @ MIN 8:00

SUNDAY 9/23:
DAL @ VAN 7:00

*asterisk on account of bullshit

View attachment 9173

At one fell swoop of of the VAR; Portland, Columbus & Dallas were all eliminated last night from CCL contention. Technically Portland can tie Atlanta if Atlanta loses all 5 remaining matches and Portland wins all 5 remaining matches. But Portland would have to outscore its opponents by 45 goals over the next 5 matches to catch up on GD. I didn't check the record books, but I'm willing to wager no MLS team (or any modern pro soccer team on a top level) has ever gone 5-0-0 and won every one of those matches by 7 goals or more. So, for all intents and purposes Portland can no longer catch Atlanta. I sure hope Toronto's dumbass match versus Tigres last night didn't wear them out for Saturday's draw versus NJ. It seems like all the cards are stacked against us, at least we're almost in the playoffs and that's a brand new season.

Also, just realized that Seattle is on 97 cumulative points right now with 6 games remaining.

We eliminated them so long ago from this (rightfully so) but then they won 9 in a row.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

If you enjoy sports irony. Our CCL hopes may rest on Khiry Shelton’s right foot.

I'm sure the guy that has played a total of 10 minutes since the end of June will be great at cheering his team on from the bench.

 

[adam]

Also, just realized that Seattle is on 97 cumulative points right now with 6 games remaining.

We eliminated them so long ago from this (rightfully so) but then they won 9 in a row.

97 points with 6 to play also puts them at max 115. Same situation as Portland with GD and needed Atlanta to lose out. I'll add them in for shits and giggles, but 2nd place will go to either NYC or NJ.

 

[mgarbowski]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1044633582843703297

I'm just waiting for NYCFC to reduce the number of seasons sabotaged by someone arriving late or leaving early, in midseason, and without any compensation to the club, down below 50%.

 

[adam]

WEDNESDAY 9/19:
CLB 2 @ POR 3
ATL 4 SJ 3*

SATURDAY 9/22:
TOR 0 @ NJ 2
RSL 0 @ ATL 2
COL 1 @ CLB 2
NYC 1 @ MTL 1
POR 2 @ MIN 3

SUNDAY 9/23:
DAL 2 @ VAN 1

*asterisk on account of bullshit

Damn this is getting depressing. We're now an Atlanta draw or a lost point away from elimination. We really fucked this one up. NJ is also an Atlanta win or a loss away from elimination.



WEDNESDAY 9/26:
CHI @ NYC 7:00
USOC FINAL - HOU @ PHI 8:00 (root for Philly!)

SUNDAY 9/30:
NJ @ ATL 1:00

No other matches matter anymore for CCL. I'm done following this shit except to see if we can sneak back in to 2nd place. I'll be there tomorrow to cheer us on. And then I suggest we all root for Philly in the USOC Final. We then should root for Atlanta on Sunday so we can maybe catch NJ for 2nd place. Fuck this shit, seriously.

 

[mgarbowski]

And then I suggest we all root for Philly in the USOC Final. We then should root for Atlanta on Sunday so we can maybe catch NJ for 2nd place.

Why root for Philly? If you like them, sure, but is there a strategic reason? I'm rooting for extra time, so Philly has to play either a heavily rotated or exhausted squad in Columbus on Saturday. A Union loss there goes a long way to securing no worse than 4th place for NYC.

 

[adam]

Why root for Philly? If you like them, sure, but is there a strategic reason? I'm rooting for extra time, so Philly has to play either a heavily rotated or exhausted squad in Columbus on Saturday. A Union loss there goes a long way to securing no worse than 4th place for NYC.

Can't Phlly Win on Wed & lose on Sat? Especially if they exhaust all their players in the win.

Strategically, We want Philly to win USOC because Houston does nothing for us CCL wise. If Philly wins USOC and makes playoffs, then any one of 3 Eastern teams (ATL, PHI, NYC) win the MLS Cup and we get a CCL gets a spot (if we can finish 2nd on CCL table, which doesn't look too promising right now).

 

[mgarbowski]

Can't Phlly Win on Wed & lose on Sat?

Sure. I said I don't care who wins USOC, not that I'm rooting against them.

Strategically, We want Philly to win USOC because Houston does nothing for us CCL wise. If Philly wins USOC and makes playoffs, then any one of 3 Eastern teams (ATL, PHI, NYC) win the MLS Cup and we get a CCL gets a spot (if we can finish 2nd on CCL table, which doesn't look too promising right now).

Yeah, this requires way too much optimism for me RN.

 

[adam]

WEDNESDAY 9/19:
CLB 2 @ POR 3
ATL 4 SJ 3*

SATURDAY 9/22:
TOR 0 @ NJ 2
RSL 0 @ ATL 2
COL 1 @ CLB 2
NYC 1 @ MTL 1
POR 2 @ MIN 3

SUNDAY 9/23:
DAL 2 @ VAN 1

*asterisk on account of bullshit

Damn this is getting depressing. We're now an Atlanta draw or a lost point away from elimination. We really fucked this one up. NJ is also an Atlanta win or a loss away from elimination.

View attachment 9187

WEDNESDAY 9/26:
CHI @ NYC 7:00
USOC FINAL - HOU @ PHI 8:00 (root for Philly!)

SUNDAY 9/30:
NJ @ ATL 1:00

No other matches matter anymore for CCL. I'm done following this shit except to see if we can sneak back in to 2nd place. I'll be there tomorrow to cheer us on. And then I suggest we all root for Philly in the USOC Final. We then should root for Atlanta on Sunday so we can maybe catch NJ for 2nd place. Fuck this shit, seriously.

WEDNESDAY 9/26:
CHI 0 @ NYC 2
USOC FINAL - HOU 3 @ PHI 0

SUNDAY 9/30:
NJ @ ATL 1:00




With Houston wining the USOC and a place in next year's CCL, there is only one chance of a Double available with SKC. We also moved ahead of NJ back into 2nd place. If Atlanta can win on Sunday, we'd keep our 1 point lead with 3 matches to play. Also, if Atlanta gets even 1 point Sunday, they would Clinch CCL title since we could only draw on wins and not make up the 30GD they have on us.

CURRENT CCL SPOTS:
2017 USOC: SKC
2018 USOC: HOU
2018 MLS CUP: ?
2017-2018 AGG: (probably) ATL

Teams who could win MLS Cup and open a 2nd spot on CCL table: SKC, MTL, (probably) ATL

 

[LionNYC]

Teams who could win MLS Cup and open a 2nd spot on CCL table: SKC, MTL, (probably) ATL

Montreal?

 

[adam]

Montreal?

Yes, if they make the playoffs. Just like Toronto last year, it would mean a Canadian team won the MLS Cup and the spot will have to go to the 2nd best record over 2 years, aggregate.

 

[Fabio]

WEDNESDAY 9/26:
CHI 0 @ NYC 2
USOC FINAL - HOU 3 @ PHI 0

SUNDAY 9/30:
NJ @ ATL 1:00

View attachment 9197


With Houston wining the USOC and a place in next year's CCL, there is only one chance of a Double available with SKC. We also moved ahead of NJ back into 2nd place. If Atlanta can win on Sunday, we'd keep our 1 point lead with 3 matches to play. Also, if Atlanta gets even 1 point Sunday, they would Clinch CCL title since we could only draw on wins and not make up the 30GD they have on us.

CURRENT CCL SPOTS:
2017 USOC: SKC
2018 USOC: HOU
2018 MLS CUP: ?
2017-2018 AGG: (probably) ATL

Teams who could win MLS Cup and open a 2nd spot on CCL table: SKC, MTL, (probably) ATL

Why SKC and not HOU?

 

[adam]

Why SKC and not HOU?

Because Houston will not be competing in the 2018 playoffs, they cannot achieve a double, triggering the need to turn to the CCL table once more.

 

[Fabio]

Because Houston will not be competing in the 2018 playoffs, they cannot achieve a double, triggering the need to turn to the CCL table once more.

You are right. It is almost 100% sure that Houston will be out from the 2018 playoff.

 

[The Toe]

Need ATL to win this weekend. They're rolling and a great road team. That second spot in CCL is so big.

 

[adam]

Need ATL to win this weekend. They're rolling and a great road team. That second spot in CCL is so big.

I would love for us to get 2nd place in CCL and then a NYC-ATL conf final. That’s our best case scenario. Throw in SKC in their Conf final too and it’s 75% CCL chances.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Would we rather match up with NJ or Atlanta in the 2nd round of the playoffs?