Win MLS Cup The guy really doesn't know how to manage a team well for a long stretch, but if you give him MLS Playoffs he is suddenly a genius.
I know 15 has already addressed this, but I don't think you can say this was an even match. SKC was very unlucky not to have scored, and RSL barely threatened. RSL "won" by getting 1pt. SKC "lost" by not getting all 3. A draw was only reasonable for RSL. We got dominated.
Wacky game. We dodged a bullet in some ways. Union have a fair complaint on the no-call that should have been a penalty. But, I don't know that the outcome of the game changes. Both teams were putting it on the line. 6 games undefeated! We've never had 10 points at 6 games.
We've also never had 38 points at 34 games, but I feel we're gonna make some new history if we don't learn how to close out games soon. (dumb postgame overreaction)
On the bright side... The year we are trending closest too is 2009... And we all know how that finished! Ignore the fact that we lucked out to make the playoffs at all that year.
I figured this is the best place to put this since this is where the stat nerds hang out. I was curious about the schedule strength and the Sagarin rankings have RSL with the 2nd hardest schedule so far. There's some other stuff on here that doesn't make a lot of sense to me but I think it also has RSL winning the shield. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mls/sagarin/
I really like the Sagarin ratings when it makes my team look good, otherwise it's just some guy's numbers.
By the way, being the last unbeaten team of MLS 2014, RSL should enjoy the following odds: 1. 41.17% chance of winning the Shield. 2. 85.00% chance of making the Playoffs.
This was not a pretty soccer game, but both teams did leave it all on the field. RSL rarely plays a team that breaks down their passing game so well, that gets the best of them for large portions of the game in possession. But, RSL elevated their game to get the goal. That Portland didn't score, however, is solely due to Nick Rimando being a Keeper God. They will build shrines to him. That ball off the crossbar, he got a finger on it, too; the ball probably goes in without that tiny touch. We've never had 13 points after 7 matches, we are still undefeated. The last time we had 13 points was in 2010 after the 8th match.
Alright, as you wish: 13 points after 7 games -> 63 points after 34 games (=15W-1L-18T). Note: 1. The current record of Least Losses in Regular Season is 4: Set by S.J. in 2005 (32 games) & Dallas in 2010 (30 games). 2. 63+ points were usually sufficient to win the SS, except in 2011-12: Seattle & K.C. both finished as Runners-up to SS (with 63 points too).
Actually, other than being the coach with the most MLS Cup wins (4x in 1996, 1997, 2011 & 2012), Bruce Arena has won the most number of Supporters' Shield too (3x in 1997, 2010 & 2011).
I'm not going to let silly little things like facts get in the way of me making broad, ignorant generalizations.
On the other hand, Bruce did win 2 of his MLS Cups after unspectacular Regular Seasons: 1996 D.C.: Started off with 4 opening losses, then 1W-6L, eventually finished at 16W-16L. 2012 L.A.: Started off with 1W-3L, followed by 3W-8L-2T, eventually finished at 16W-12L-6T.
Interesting Article: "The EoS MLS Forecaster: Predicting The League … And Week 8 Fixtures" http://www.empireofsoccer.com/forecaster-predicting-fixtures-25164/ RSL to finish 1st at 84 points with 25W-0L-9T.