RSL Offseason News Thread 2011-12

Now we know. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/20/big-changes-mls-cup-playoffs-format-2012 and http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/20/mls-reveals-2012-conference-based-schedule-format.

 

two leg conference finals?
so, just how long is this season going to be!?!

 

I'd much rather have two rounds of home/away than the way it was now. I think it helps ensure the best teams make it to the final. I'll be upset if the final goes to the seed number and not point total. I have a feeling it'll go seed number, then tie breaker as head to head, *then* overall points.

 

The other article linked says that it will be roughly the same as this past year:

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/20/mls-reveals-2012-conference-based-schedule-format

 

I like how there is no wild-card next two years. Each conference has playoff among top 5 times in each conference to determine MLS Cup teams. #4 and 5 play to determine who plays against #1 seed within each conference.

 

SS winner with a bye to the cup is not a great reward for having the most points. Taking 3-4 weeks off and then be expected to play against a team that has probably hit it's stride in the playoffs is a recipe for disaster.

 

I like this part as well
If you are going to have conferences, go all the way with them. Don't bend it so that more of one conference can get in. Especially with the unbalanced schedule

 

So next year LA will have two home games against Seattle, Dallas, RSL and Colorado, due purely to a random draw. Then the year, when they'd have to reverse it, MLS will change the schedule plan again.

I'm expecting this.

 

The only real positive I see with the unbalanced schedule is getting that extra RMC game.

 

I wonder if SJE are set to host the final if they'd play at the Coliseum or Candlestick instead of Buck Shaw. Not sure the Don would want to have a 10k seat stadium host the marquee event of the year.

 

Forgot about Stanford and I think Cal's stadium renovation is done by next fall. That gives SJE 2 venues that should be available on a Sunday.

I know the Giants stadium hosts football games, so I'm sure it could host a soccer game as well, but I'm not sure how good that would look as a tv product. I'm sure it would still be better than 10k fans at Buck Shaw.

 

Really, Random, Really, More likely something to do with a huge T.V. deal, say 55mil.

 

they'll change the name from "MLS Game of the Week" to "LA Galaxy vs..."

 

15 your probably to young to remember but we used to be able to watch the Irish every week when I was a kid. who says money can't buy you love?
L.A. just got the first goal, hope Houston can come back.

 

What time do the expansion draft protection lists come out tomorrow?

 

so when did logic and common sense hit Garber and the MLS exec committee.

This is an April Fool's joke, right?

 

They were required to be submitted to the league by 3pm - just a few moments ago. When they will become public, I'm not sure.

 

the RSL twitter made it sound like they were submitted earlier today and that they were supposed to go public at 5ET (3MT)

It's MLS, so no matter what they'll be later than the time they announce

 

I'm sure many, if not all, submitted them earlier in the day, but the deadline was 5pm ET. In the past it seems like it took half hour to an hour to make the league website, but many of the lists had leaked out in the meantime.

 

They probably like to confirm that the lists are correct on the press releases. They've had some misstatements on past protect lists that had to be corrected.

 

i'll give it to MLS, they have improved their 60-90 day standard for being late though.