Schedule Congestion

[John L]

Just when we're grateful for no StuperLiga this season, we get hit with Schedule Congestion every bit as bad as last year - Here's the remainder of our season (I'm sticking with Wed as our standard mid-week game day, even though in some cases its Tuesday or the day's haven't been set):

MLS Regular Season - BLACK
USOC Games - BLUE
CONCACAF Prelim & League - RED
Exhibition - GREEN


WED............................SAT
06/17 @ Seattle.............06/20 @ Rapids

06/30 vs Real MD...........07/04 @ Crew
07/07 - USOC QuF.........
...................................07/18 vs Rapids
07/20 - USOC SmF..........07/25 @ San Jose
07/29 - Pre CCL A...........08/01 @ Houston
08/05 - Pre CCL B...........08/09 vs Real Madrid (SUN)
...................................08/15 @ Toronto
08/19 - CCL #1..............08/22 vs LA Gals
08/26 - CCL #2..............08/29 @ Chicago
09/02 - USOC Final.........09/04 @ Dallas
09/09 vs KS City.............09/12 @ Seattle
09/16 - CCL #3.............
09/23 - CCL #4.............09/27 vs San Jose (SUN)
09/30 - CCL #5.............10/03 vs Chivas
..................................
..................................10/17 vs Crew
10/21 - CCL #6..............10/24 @ KS City



Somebody please tell me again why we're playing Real Madrid? - Sure its a bit in a soft spot in our schedule, but we're going to need all the soft spots we can get - Part of the problem is that CCL starts in August and takes weeks off for FIFA International dates (which gives us a 2 week break at the beginning of Oct) and is over before the MLS regular season - IF we make the playoffs, this time we won't have to worry about anything else

[blockski]

Do you really need to a$k why we're playing Real Madrid?

[Rjbatzler]

29 games in 19 weeks.

This is a better situation that last year because we are much deeper and we are doing well in the MLS standings. We can play a good amount of "reserves" in Champions League and Open Cup this year and still be fine. Soehn is good at managing minutes and this year he has a team that is deep enough that he has lots of flexibility with his lineups. Still is a tough situation though.

[rugman]

29 games in 19 weeks.

This is a better situation that last year because we are much deeper and we are doing well in the MLS standings. We can play a good amount of "reserves" in Champions League and Open Cup this year and still be fine. Soehn is good at managing minutes and this year he has a team that is deep enough that he has lots of flexibility with his lineups. Still is a tough situation though.

The situation is also much better because we aren't playing in Stupidliga. Imagine what it would be like with that on the schedule.

[nobletea]

29 games in 19 weeks.

This is a better situation that last year because we are much deeper and we are doing well in the MLS standings. We can play a good amount of "reserves" in Champions League and Open Cup this year and still be fine. Soehn is good at managing minutes and this year he has a team that is deep enough that he has lots of flexibility with his lineups. Still is a tough situation though.

I wouldn't be too excited about our improvement in the standings yet. I can't deny it's better, but we're like 6 points from second to last place, and we have 6 of the next 7 matches on the road.

After we get these next 7 games out of the way, let's see if we're still excited. At that point, and when this schedule crowds up, we'll see how important it is.

[revelation]

29 games in 19 weeks.

This is a better situation that last year because we are much deeper and we are doing well in the MLS standings. We can play a good amount of "reserves" in Champions League and Open Cup this year and still be fine. Soehn is good at managing minutes and this year he has a team that is deep enough that he has lots of flexibility with his lineups. Still is a tough situation though.

If DC United is going to play "reserves" in the Open Cup and "Champions League", why are we bothering to participate. If we can get away with playing reserves and still win, then you do that but if not then you have to play your first team and hope for the best.

We've got a crowded schedule against tough opposition - salary cap's not large enough to have two first teams (as do those squads in Europe and Mexico). This is going to be tough for Tom to balance. And the best is that as a "reward" for making it through the Concalaugh group stage, we get a February/March date with a team from Mexico... Can I say again how much I hate the "Champion's League"?

[Cweedchop]

I wouldn't be too excited about our improvement in the standings yet. I can't deny it's better, but we're like 6 points from second to last place, and we have 6 of the next 7 matches on the road.

After we get these next 7 games out of the way, let's see if we're still excited. At that point, and when this schedule crowds up, we'll see how important it is.


I tend to agree with you. However, as United is plowing ahead through the next few weeks, a lot of MLS teams are not playing that many games. In fact, the StuperLiga teams aren't playing until July 4th. So basically, those 4 teams (Chicago and NE come immediately into focus; Dallas and Chivas USA not so much) can't make up any ground on us.

In fact, only either KC or TFC will be able to pass us in the next two weeks. Worst case scenario will show that United will be no worse than 3rd place heading into the July 4th matchup at Columbus.

[nobletea]

I tend to agree with you. However, as United is plowing ahead through the next few weeks, a lot of MLS teams are not playing that many games. In fact, the StuperLiga teams aren't playing until July 4th. So basically, those 4 teams (Chicago and NE come immediately into focus; Dallas and Chivas USA not so much) can't make up any ground on us.

In fact, only either KC or TFC will be able to pass us in the next two weeks. Worst case scenario will show that United will be no worse than 3rd place heading into the July 4th matchup at Columbus.

A fine point, though that only takes us 2 or 3 games into the 7 game stretch. With 4 games remaining, that's about 12 points to be won or lost by us or someone else after July 4th. Still a pretty thin advantage we're in.

But your point holds considerable weight with me, primarily because I see that you are smart enough to live in Howard County, which is wonderful, AND smart enough not to live under the Iron Fist of the Columbia Association. You are obviously very wise.

[Cweedchop]

But your point holds considerable weight with me, primarily because I see that you are smart enough to live in Howard County, which is wonderful, AND smart enough not to live under the Iron Fist of the Columbia Association. You are obviously very wise.

I would like to add to my list of wise decisions in that while I don't live under the Third Reich (Columbia Association), i do have a membership card through my brothers former workplace being in Columbia. So essentially I still reap the benefits of the CA without having to deal with them in any way.

How bout that?

Oh BTW, I am revising my initial point and I forgot that Kansas is in StuperLiga (not Dallas) and that is another team who won't be able to pass United over the next few weeks.

Silly....

[fatbastard]

For whatever reason, I thought CumBlowUs still had a shot to overtake us while we take our almost-month-long vacation so we can pack all those games on top of each other later :rolleyes:

[rugman]

If DC United is going to play "reserves" in the Open Cup and "Champions League", why are we bothering to participate. If we can get away with playing reserves and still win, then you do that but if not then you have to play your first team and hope for the best.

Rev,

As much as I agree with you regarding the stacked deck for next round of Champions league, I have to disagree on the reserves comment. We have had a lot of success in all competitions playing guys like, Boyzz, N'Silue, Barklage, Jacobsen and McTavish. As long as TS is able to find a good balance between the starters (first 14 or so) with these guys we should do well. I would expect we would see more of these players in the Open Cup and league games as opposed to Concacaf unless we go down fast in Champions league. I think having some of these younger guys on the field (to include Wallace and Pontius) makes us a bit unpredictable. We are very predictable with all of our veterans playing and coaches know how to prepare for our veterans.

It will definitely be a balancing act but we have much better players further down the bench this year than last.

[Bootsy Collins]

This is a very presumptuous thread.


Just when we're grateful for no StuperLiga this season, we get hit with Schedule Congestion every bit as bad as last year.
No. Your premise is flawed because the schedule you've posted is flawed -- it contains nine matches that are not currently in our schedule.

Our schedule is only so congested if we 1) win not just one but several games in the USOC, something that from our past history is unlikely; and 2) win the play-in pairing against CD Chalatenango. In particular, fail at the last one and six of those matches you have cluttering up our schedule go bye-bye.

It is way way WAY too early to be complaining about fixture congestion -- it's complaining about matches that do not exist.

[revelation]

Rev,

As much as I agree with you regarding the stacked deck for next round of Champions league, I have to disagree on the reserves comment.

We have to win to continue to play. If we don't win, we are out and none of this matters. Therefore you have to go with the best line up possible to win. Particularly with the Open Cup and the "Champions and their close friends and others we simply like league" play-in matches. Once in the group phase, we can blow off some matches but in the one-off or two-off competitions, it is win or go home. Which is what Bootsy was implying...

[DC06]

I hope we have fixture congestion, means we are doing well.