Wow. Did I miss something? Is the team with the best record hosting MLS Cup this year? No more neutral site?
I think it's the team with the best record actually playing in the game. (so Seattle wouldn't play NY in say SJ if they are SS winners).
Some perspective: On this day in history, Chicago played their week 25 fixture of the 2011 season. They beat Toronto 2-0, and earned their THIRD win of the season. Chicago play this season's week 25 fixture tomorrow, and have a chance to win their THIRTEENTH game of the season
We had such bad luck last year. So many posts and crossbars hit. So many Draws that could have been wins.
Good to know. I work Wednesdays and Saturdays so I'm psyched to be going to the Houston game. Staying optimistic!
I hope so too, but we're going to have to play better than that to do so. But the optimistic spin to last night is, if we were to lose to a team, DC was the one to lose to. We play them again, which means we can still over take them in points again, even if we both win out until that game. We can also still overtake Houston and tie NY by virtue of head to head games. But now we have to get help to catch SKC. If we had won, we would be able to overtake them with our head to head. Now, even more before, our chances come down to the 3 SKC-NY games. We need those teams to drop points, and those are the easiest place for it to happen. As long as neither team sweeps, we can make up serious ground. If SKC drops at least three points (but fewer than 9), we regain the ability to win our way into first place.
According to wiki we went 8-5-10 under FK last year, which makes us 20-13-15 (after last nights loss) total. He took over on May 30, 2011 Don't know where that ranks us, but I'm going to say a lot lower than first. That means we went 2-3-9 between May 30 and August 22. Which isn't good. I always forget just how many draws I was forced to watch last year
Optimistic fact for the day: Frank still has a week to figure out what went wrong before we have to play a game.... >_> I hate bye weeks. Couple of big games this weekend though. DC makes up their game in hand, which decides if we finish the week in 4th or 5th, NYC and SKC play each other, and Houston plays after having traveled to central america midweek. Things could look bad if all the results go against us, or they could look great. I hope for the latter
Optimism for the day. We are still in 4th place, as Montreal beats DC 3-0. Pontius and De Ro both started on the bench, in an ill-advised attempt at resting them. They both came on at around 60' but it was too late by that point.
I happened to watch the game and even when they came on they made little to no difference at all. Our chance with getting farther ahead lies in DC has to play something like four or five games in next fourteen days.
Higuain with two free kick goals as NE squanders a 2-0 lead. 3-2 columbus at half. Tough to tell which team I want to see do worse here. Though, three points for Columbus puts them a little more in the playoff picture, whereas I'm pretty convinced NE has no chance.
And you thought our defense was bad. Check out this "effort" by Houston, which leaves them only a point above us with a game in hand. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-08-25-hou-v-tor/highlights?videoID=197901 And yes, I have turned this into an unofficial "general Eastern Conference update thread." I'm going stir crazy with a bye week at a time this crucial. Feel good about the results though. DC loses, Houston draws against two of the weaker teams in the conference. Columbus moves into serious playoff consideration, but I don't think we have to worry about that. Montreal also pushing, but they have played 3-4 more games than everyone else, tough to tell, but I don't think they will be around when it all plays out. Now onto SKC-NY tomorrow. Best I can figure, the best result is a draw, or a NY win. We need Sporting to drop 4 points, and NY to drop 1, in order for us to catch them. As long as the DC game was a fluke, I am still very optimistic, at least for first in the East. I think San Jose has all but wrapped up the supporters shield. They should breeze through the rest of their schedule, only one or two difficult teams left for them.
Code: TEAMS GP PTS PPG 1.Kansas City 25 46 1.84 2.New York 25 44 1.76 3.CHICAGO 25 41 1.64 4.Houston 26 42 1.62 5.DC United 25 40 1.60 6.Columbus 24 36 1.50 7.Montreal 28 39 1.39 New York at Kansas City....Best case would be a tie, if not a New York win....
SKC scores in the 3rd minute off some awful defending from NY. Not sure how NY will do here, no Henry, Lindpere on the bench, and , perhaps worst of all, Conde making a surprise start at Leftback.
SKC helps NY out with an own goal. 1-1 at halftime. NY without a single shot. To be fair though, Sporks haven't threatened too much since their goal either. Game is really chippy. I expect a red card at some point
Game is tied 1-1 on a Kamara own goal.......Defend, defend and defend some more and get out of there with a 1-1 tie.