It's one extra game, plus the disadvantage of playing on the road in a potential MLS Cup. You're blowing it way out of proportion.
He's talking about the new playoff format, which was only implemented last year. By adding a play-in round for the 4 and 5 seeds, it puts them at a distinct disadvantage. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is impossible for a 4/5 seed to win it all, but the new format makes it harder than it used to be. 2011: NY beat Dallas in one wildcard game, then lost both legs to LA (3-1 aggregate) COL beat CMB in the other wildcard game, then lost both legs to KC (4-0 aggregate)
I understand what he's saying. I just disagree with his sentiment that a wild card team will never win the Cup given the current format.
Challenge accepted. Using only top 5 picks in the last 8 years (2005-2012) I found 15 players that I thought were worthy of the All-SuperDraft Team (Year Drafted, overall pick): Darren Mattocks, F VAN (2012 - #2) Chad Barrett, F LAG (2005 - #3) Darlington Nagbe, M POR (2011 - #2) Sam Cronin, M SJE (2009 - #2) Brek Shea, M DAL (2008 - #2) Danny O'Rourke, M CMB (2005 - #4) Maurice Edu, M --- (2007 - #1) Ike Opara, D SJE (2010 - #3) Omar Gonzalez, D LAG (2009 - #3) Tony Beltran, D RSL (2008 - #3) Sean Franklin, D LAG (2008 - #4) Bakary Soumare, D PHI (2007 - #2) Marvell Wynne, D COL (2006 - #1) Ugo Ihemelu, D DAL (2005 - #5) Brad Guzan, GK --- (2005 - #2) To be honest, this team is not as impressive as I expected it to be, None of the last five #1 picks made it.
That team would beat the Revs 4-0. The Back 4 is weak, but I doubt Brettschneider would be able to even get the ball to Guzan
Saying teams have an advantage is very different from saying odds are against something and saying it will never happen.
I hate the idea of trying to tank to get a draft pick (in any sport, but especially in MLS where picks are about 30% as valuable as in leagues where most talent comes through the draft). When you don't play every match to win, you are reinforcing in your players the mindset that winning isn't all that important. You can easily draw a parellel between that methodology and that which brought us the Joe Public debacle. I'd argue that that was the "beginning of the end" for the Nicol-era quality core.
Agreed completely. I've said this for a while, the willingness to forego Joe Public game and the USOC semifinal in DC in the same year ... that's where the down-fall started.
It's not so much the SuperDraft as it is the Allocation Order. That seems to be the only way this front office can attain decent players.
But that's a Catch-22 -- attain decent players, say Benny, train them to fit the team, don't achieve results, don't put forth an effort to win once you're out of it, see decent players' attitude self-destruct.
What's interesting, is the Allocation Order hasn't worked out that great for teams that need talent either recently- it's definitely a 50/50 proposition. Charlie Davies - on paper a success (although a significant % of his production was through PKs), but seriously hurt his playing reputation with his diving and complaining. Kenny Cooper- underwhelming in Portland, solid production alongside Henry but it's tailed off. Benny - solid 2011 season, disaster 2012 season. Freddy Adu - honestly the biggest bust of the whole process, a complete nonfactor for the Union. Bakary Soumare - has been injured most of this season Luis Robles - spot starter for NYRB, nothing that impressive so far. The successes have been Jay DeMerit and Eddie Johnson, and the jury is still out on Toja.
We'll have three 2nd round picks this year. We acquired Chivas' 2nd round pick in the Shalrie trade and DC's 2nd rounder for the rights to Fred last season. This means that our picks will be 2 or 3, 21, 22, plus DC's 2nd rounder as well. Picks 21 and 22 should be a decent enough package to trade up to the early to mid teens IMO. Should be an interesting draft from a Revs perspective.
And they said the USA would not beat the Soviets in 1980 They said in 2002 with the new NFL playoff format that no wild card team (#5 and #6 ) would ever win the Super Bowl by having to win 3 straight on the road. Guess what 3 of the last 7 have done that.
I'd add the UConn 2011 Men's Basketball team's Big East Tournament performance to that list as well. Five days, five games, five wins. I'm sure there were plenty of people who were saying that it would never be done when they expanded the BET.
I would seriously consider drafting that GK from UConn. If Shuttleworth isn't the heir apparent, and nothing he's done this season or last season has indicated he is, then it's time to find the new netminder. Reis isn't getting any younger, and the flaws in his game are growing with age. I would vote we pick up that GK, waive Shuttleworth, give the new kid a year to learn under Reis, let Reis retire at the end of 2013, and install the kid.
I really like Blake and think he could be a stud, but do you really want to waste the second or third pick on a foreign GK? You could also argue that the Revs won't use the SI spot anyway and probably are incapable of finding a quality GK on their own.
You're no different that JDEsq. If you don't have anything to offer on the topic, or simply don't enjoy talking about it, then don't visit the thread. Seems easy enough.
I tend to agree, and I kind of hope it's the case. Offer him a job as a GK coach and have him mentor a young GK (not Shuttleworth).