2010-2011 Concacaf Champions League - [R]

[usafan12]

First off: for the record, this is in no way an attempt to "steal thunder" from the threads for the current tournament - in fact, I'd expect this one to show up sporadically until it becomes more consistently useful.

But...

http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/201011/0,,12856,00.html

Since CONCACAF itself confirms (implicitly) that the changes to the format of the tournament will take place after this version, and since I know you guys will be a lot faster than our dear federation - sorry, hold up a minute, let me grab a tissue for that water I just spit out - at updating everyone else with the latest qualifier, here's a space for recognizing the next team in.

The first berth will be decided tonight in about 2 hours (or more depending on if the game reaches extra time):

USA4: US Open Cup Winner - DC United or Seattle Sounders FC

[It's called FOOTBALL]

So, DCU-Seattle is a 2010-11 CCL pre-preliminary match. Good luck to the T&T Pro League's next victim.

[usafan12]

So, DCU-Seattle is a 2010-11 CCL pre-preliminary match. Good luck to the T&T Pro League's next victim.
Perhaps, but usually that honor goes to whoever loses the MLS Cup Final (New England in 2007, New York in '08).

[It's called FOOTBALL]

Well, NE initially qualified for the 08-09 CCL by winning the USOC.

But anyway, I hope someone steps up to report all the qualified teams as they qualify. That means you'd have to follow all the obscure CONCACAF leagues, but I think it'll be worth it.

[usafan12]

And there you have it, the first qualifier for the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League:

USA4: Seattle Sounders FC

I'm guessing the next one would be USA2 (the Supporter's Shield winner), and then does any Apertura season in Mexico or Central America finish before the MLS Cup Final?

[It's called FOOTBALL]

September 2, 2009. Seattle Sounders qualify for the Preliminary Round. (1 of 24)


Congrats to Seattle. The CCL is a fun experience where you play teams you've never played before, thus learning about new leagues and expanding your football horizons. Qwest should be rocking next summer for the CCL.

[ZeekLTK]

I am excited about this. I think, unlike the rest of MLS (other than Houston), Seattle will actually be competitive in the Champions League. I think they will be excited to play in it and really try to do well. I also think the fans will provide great atmosphere for the games.

It should give a big boost to the tournament having this team in it.

[It's called FOOTBALL]

I'm guessing the next one would be USA2 (the Supporter's Shield winner), and then does any Apertura season in Mexico or Central America finish before the MLS Cup Final?
No.

Actually, the Seattle Sounders are the 1st club worldwide to qualify for continental competition. The last continental qualificants (AFC or CAF) for the 2011 CWC will qualify at the end of next year.

[CrewFan1]

Seattle v. D.C. was a great game marred by the red card D.C. goalie Josh Wicks received for stepping on Freddy Montero of Seattle after he scored the first goal. It was definitely intentional on Wicks' part.

[usafan12]

Seattle v. D.C. was a great game marred by the red card D.C. goalie Josh Wicks received for stepping on Freddy Montero of Seattle after he scored the first goal. It was definitely intentional on Wicks' part.
Since you're a Crew fan, I just have to ask:

Given your team's schedule of CCL games for this month (@ Saprissa, vs. Cruz Azul, vs. Saprissa) and the fact that just about all your MLS games from here on in are going to be tough, do you think that Columbus will put in a fight for the Supporter's Shield or just do enough to get to the playoffs?

[CrewFan1]

Since you're a Crew fan, I just have to ask:

Given your team's schedule of CCL games for this month (@ Saprissa, vs. Cruz Azul, vs. Saprissa) and the fact that just about all your MLS games from here on in are going to be tough, do you think that Columbus will put in a fight for the Supporter's Shield or just do enough to get to the playoffs?

That's a great question. I've heard in interviews with the coaching staff and players that it is a priority to advance through to the quarterfinals of the CCL. The games this past week kind of showed that with the lineups that the Crew put out. They want to be the first MLS team to go to the CWC very badly and i think they'll do just enough to make the MLS playoffs, because i do believe the Crew and Houston are the 2 best teams in MLS, no matter home or away.

[nfiniti]

another guaranteed soldout for the CCL.. good for seattle. congrats.

[GammaTec]

September 2, 2009. Seattle Sounders qualify for the Preliminary Round. (1 of 24)


Congrats to Seattle. The CCL is a fun experience where you play teams you've never played before, thus learning about new leagues and expanding your football horizons. Qwest should be rocking next summer for the CCL.


You're on a roll.

By the way, to the MLSers, what's the supporters shield?

[CrewFan1]

You're on a roll.

By the way, to the MLSers, what's the supporters shield?

The MLS Supporters Shield goes to the team that has the most points during the regular season. Columbus won it last year, as well as the MLS Cup. This year Houston has a one point advantage over Columbus right now.

[GammaTec]

The MLS Supporters Shield goes to the team that has the most points during the regular season. Columbus won it last year, as well as the MLS Cup. This year Houston has a one point advantage over Columbus right now.


Cool, so it's basically the round robin champ before the playoffs. Good to know.

[usafan12]

Seattle's qualification confirmed by CONCACAF:

http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4913

[EvanJ]

Cool, so it's basically the round robin champ before the playoffs. Good to know.

The schedule isn't exactly balanced though. This year with 15 clubs and 30 games you play two teams three times and twelve teams two times. When there were 12 clubs in two conferences of 6, you played each club in your conference four times and each club in the other conference two times for a total of 32 games. With Philadelphia becoming the 16th MLS club next year we'll see if MLS goes to a double round-robin schedule.

[usafan12]

With Philadelphia becoming the 16th MLS club next year we'll see if MLS goes to a double round-robin schedule.

And they have - although it will probably disappear as soon as it showed up, what with MLS planning on expanding to 20 teams in the near future.

And for the next qualifier: in the last few weeks, Columbus has taken no less than 7 points from 3 games against their closest rivals for the Supporter's Shield (Houston, Chicago and LA), so at this point it looks as if we're just waiting for results to confirm that Columbus will be back to the group stages next year (no official confirmation yet, though).

[It's called FOOTBALL]

Just be sure to confirm it here the very second that the Crew clinches that Group Stage berth

[It's called FOOTBALL]

If Goats USA loses on Thursday night, Columbus clinches a Group Stage berth for the '10-'11 CCL.

If they win or tie, they'll still be alive.