Four matches in eight days?

[Bootsy Collins]

Do I have this right? Because of the RSL match rescheduling, we now have four matches in eight days to end August/begin September?

I wonder if we'll have any players that aren't injured. That's a lot worse than the beginning of April when we were all disturbed about the packed schedule.

[Sanguine]

I'd hope/expect to see a whole lot of reserves in that Monday game...

[onefineesq]

Do I have this right? Because of the RSL match rescheduling, we now have four matches in eight days to end August/begin September?

I wonder if we'll have any players that aren't injured. That's a lot worse than the beginning of April when we were all disturbed about the packed schedule. If that's the right, you are correct that it's a brutal schedule. However, no excuses. We have a larger roster. We have to use it. Period.

[rugman]

We better be getting one big fat paycheck from the game vs. Chelsea for this. Enough to purchase a pure striker in addition to our Argentine defender this summer. This scheduling is ludicrous. Worse than April with the Concacaf mess. We played 4 in 12 and 5 in 14 days. A total of 7 games in April (doesn't include the reserves). Now we are playing 8 games in August including 8 in 4 days??????? Holy Crap!
Wilson couldn't go over 135 minutes over four days this past week. It could be very ugly if we have any injuries.

[Sanguine]

A total of 7 games in April (doesn't include the reserves). Now we are playing 8 games in August including 8 in 4 days???????


It's not quite that bad. ;)

[Bootsy Collins]

If that's the right, you are correct that it's a brutal schedule.
August through early September looks like:

Saturday, August 6 -- @Chicago
Wednesday, August 10 -- Metros
Saturday, August 13 -- Goats
Tuesday, August 16 -- @Harrisburg City Islanders
Saturday, August 20 -- LA
Saturday, August 27 -- @Revs
Monday, August 29 -- Crapids
Wednesday, August 31 -- RSL
Saturday, September 3 -- @Crapids

It was already a busy month with a game on every weekend, plus mid-week matches (one a friendly) in two weeks, and a home match TWO DAYS after an away match. What genius at MLS does the fscking scheduling? Even without the RSL match, we whould have had an away match against the Revs, a home match against the Crapids two days later, then an away match against the Crapids immediately after that. And now the RSL match is jammed in there too. That's four matches in eight days, and eight matches that matter in 29 days.

That's. Fscking. Insane.

Oh, and we have the second half of September off, before matches start again in October. Who comes up with this sh1t?

[Sachin]

Next time anyone says MLS favors United, show them this season's schedule and then kick them really hard.

Sachin

[Mikey mouse]

Sounds like you guys are adopting a USL style schedule.

[Sachin]

Anyone have Garber's home phone number or his cell phone? We need to start a phone bombing operation until the schedule gets changed.

Sachin

[rugman]

It's not quite that bad. ;)

did I invert those numbers? oops.

can't think straight when ranting.

[Sundevil9]

August through early September looks like:

Saturday, August 6 -- @Chicago
Wednesday, August 10 -- Metros
Saturday, August 13 -- Goats
Tuesday, August 16 -- @Harrisburg City Islanders
Saturday, August 20 -- LA
Saturday, August 27 -- @Revs
Monday, August 29 -- Crapids
Wednesday, August 31 -- RSL
Saturday, September 3 -- @Crapids


I don't see the big problem. At first glance, there are a lot of fixtures, but throw out the reserve squad match against Harrisburg, and throw out the Aug 29 Hall of Fame game against the Rapids.....both non-league games, and not scheduled by MLS. And the schedule breaks down to:

Saturday, August 6 -- @Chicago
Wednesday, August 10 -- Metros
Saturday, August 13 -- Goats
--------------------------------Fairly typical 3 games in 7 day stretch.

Saturday, August 20 -- LA

Saturday, August 27 -- @Revs
Wednesday, August 31 -- RSL
Saturday, September 3 -- @Crapids
----------------------------------- Another 3 games in 7 days.


That's not as bad as it could be......but wait, what about the Open Cup?

Fourth Round Aug. 3 Third Round winners vs. 8 MLS
Quarterfinals Aug. 24 Fourth Round winners
Semifinals Sept. 14 Quarterfinal winners
Final Sept. 28 Semifinal winners

Now those two groups become four games in a 10 days. And the second group has the added pressure of stressing the reserves with the Rapids HOF game.

With or without the Chelsea influence, there's a lot of soccer to be played.

[JayRockers!]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Sundevil9 again.

Beat me to it.

Thx,

Jay!

[Bootsy Collins]

I don't see the big problem. At first glance, there are a lot of fixtures, but throw out the reserve squad match against Harrisburg,

Yeah, that I'd considered; so it didn't affect the "four in eight days" or "eight that matter in 29 days" numbers.


and throw out the Aug 29 Hall of Fame game against the Rapids.....both non-league games, and not scheduled by MLS.

This one does, however. I somehow hadn't caught on that it was the HoF match. Is there any historical/traditional expectation that teams playing in the HoF game start/give major minutes to their starters?

So it becomes three in eight days -- not quite as crazy -- but seven that count and two that don't in 29 days, which still seems like a lot to me. And a lot of travel; so put together, not a lot of rest.


That's not as bad as it could be......but wait, what about the Open Cup?

Oh wow, I completely forgot that, too. Man, that's a lotta games.

[Th4119]

The Hall of Fame game has typically been a mish mash of starters and reserves, depending on scheduling.

Like Sundevil said, this shouldn't be that big of a deal. Not many key players are going to see more than very limited action in the HoF game or the Harrisburg match.

Hell, if the team is flying and scoring goals along with some good defense, a lot of games over a month is great news. Think about if they go on a hot streak and win most of them? It's a shame that they've only got three games against Eastern Conference teams if this does happen, because DC could have set themselves apart.

Keep in mind in addition to the HoF game and the Harrisburg matches not really counting, two games are against expansion sides as well. Obviously they're MLS games and you have to play them hard, but there's a good chance DC will have a lead of a goal or two with some time left and can sub off some key players that need rest.

[Saltenya94]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Sundevil9 again.


Covered.

[scaryice]

The Fire played a reserve team last year. Eric Wynalda actually was a sub.

[spidergoose]

The Fire played a reserve team last year. Eric Wynalda actually was a sub.

I bet Nowak has stayed in pretty good shape... Too bad we don't have collars on our jerseys, he could wear his tie out there :)

[LN - Dougg]

It will be very tough for the team....

But for us, as fans... man we're going to have a blast watching so many home games... :D

[beltwayrob]

I remain cautiously optimistic.

[AndyMead]

Next time anyone says MLS favors United, show them this season's schedule and then kick them really hard.

Sachin

It's not like other teams can't pull out similar scheduling. It all comes out in the wash.

This stretch got off to a bad start with the Wizard players getting food poisoning in Mexico
7/29 - Kansas City (Revolution)
8/1 - Kansas City (Sporting Cristal - CM)
8/4 - Kansas City (Crew)
8/8 - Mexico City, Mexico (Santos Laguna - CM)
8/12 - Denver (Rapids)
8/15 - Kansas City (Galaxy)
8/19 - Kansas City (Rapids)
8/25 - Dallas (Burn)
8/30 - Guayaquil, Ecuador (Barcelona - CM)
9/1 - San Jose (Earthquakes)

Or how about 5 games in 10 days or 9 in 25:
8/7 - Morelia, Mexico (Monarcas Morelia - CCC)
8/10 - Washington, DC (United)
8/14 - Chicago (Fire)
8/18 - Kansas City (Crew)
8/21 - Los Angeles (Galaxy)
8/24 - Milwaukee (Rampage - USOC)
8/26 - Rochester (Raging Rhinos)
8/28 - Kansas City (Monarcas Morelia - CCC)
8/31 - Kansas City (Fire)

and you guys aren't even leaving the United States

But I will tell you, these kind of stretches are brutal on teams. The Wizards never recovered from the 2001 stretch (the first list). Between the food poisoning, jet lag, and twice a week schedule, the season went from kick-ass in July to crap in September.

Good luck.

EDIT: The Wizards were actually in Peru on 9/11/01. They played the following day as one of the few American sports teams to play in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. I believe their return to the U.S. was one of the very few flights allowed in the entire country that following week. If I recall, the US-U17s were in Trinidad for the U-17 WC that following week.