Rank the Silverware: 2006 edition

[BigKris]

We asked this question last year, but since then a few things have changed:

-United is playing in fewer competitions (no CCC, no Sudamericana)
-MLS has (perhaps) changed the relative importance of the competitions by declaring that the supporters' shield winner, not the MLS cup runner up, gets the second CCC spot for next year.

So the question to you is this: rank the silverware, in order of importance. This means, how should the team's effort be skewed towards winning each of these:

-MLS Cup
-Supporters' Shield
-US Open Cup

[Colonial717]

The order you have is the correct order. Espeically if we can win the Shield by a ridiculous margin.

[ursula]

Agreed

[JoeSoccerFan]

The order you have is the correct order. Espeically if we can win the Shield by a ridiculous margin.


yup - that's right, mls, supporter, us open

[Diceson]

I'm the lone dissenter. I go with Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup Winner, Open Cup Winner.

The rest of the world, as far as I know all the leagues around the world, do it that way. Arena was correct in saying that 2/3rds of the season is a waste, and something needs to be done.

Bad teams can make one or two roster moves to improve their squad enough to make the playoffs, then go on a run of four games to be declared champions. Sounds silly to me.

[spidergoose]

Agreed, but that's the way it is.

I'm of the view that, like every other piece of tin in this 2-bit league it's up to us to make the Supporters Shield matter. :D

[spidergoose]

By the way, I want a pact from United fans. If we win the Supporters Shield but manage to flame out in the playoffs (Impossible! :D) I want to see no bitching and moaning that the playoffs need to be abolished like we saw from the San Jose people last year.

Honestly, if their team hadn't moved I don't think they ever would've shut the ******** up about it. These are the rules of the competition. We need to accept that shit happens if it comes down to it.

[Th4119]

By the way, I want a pact from United fans. If we win the Supporters Shield but manage to flame out in the playoffs (Impossible! :D) I want to see no bitching and moaning that the playoffs need to be abolished like we saw from the San Jose people last year.

Honestly, if their team hadn't moved I don't think they ever would've shut the ******** up about it. These are the rules of the competition. We need to accept that shit happens if it comes down to it.

I agree with this in principle, but did San Jose really have fans bitching about it? I guess they were all at home on BigSoccer when the Quakes games were going on?

NOTE TO NEW SAN JOSE FRANCHISE: HAVE WI-FI AVAILABLE AT STADIUMS FOR POSITIVE ATTENDENCE

[McOwen]

While I have always admittedly blown at word problems....

(what time DID that f-ing train ever arrive at the station by anyway!?)

WHAT happens if the Supporter's Shiled winner ALSO wins the MLS Cup? Who gets the second birth then?

(I ask this only hypthetically of course... ;) )

[McOwen]

p.s. I apologize for all of the typos. Apparently Huss thinks that preventing people from editing their posts after they type them is the best way to REALLY make people feel the pain of their horrible little cards :rolleyes:

[Th4119]

WHAT happens if the Supporter's Shiled winner ALSO wins the MLS Cup? Who gets the second birth then?

(I ask this only hypthetically of course... ;) )

We gain double-elimination status.

[Section106]

...WHAT happens if the Supporter's Shiled winner ALSO wins the MLS Cup? Who gets the second birth then?...



The universe implodes?

I was all for the MLS Cup being the most important title until the new Concacaf Champions League thingy. The Supporters' Shield is the one to shoot for because you can still compete internationally if something bad happens in the playoffs.

Besides, if you are the best team you should win the league anyway. If the CCL was this year, can you imagine having the Lala Gals represent MLS as the Champs? SS is now #1.

[Colonial717]

WHAT happens if the Supporter's Shiled winner ALSO wins the MLS Cup? Who gets the second birth then?

(I ask this only hypthetically of course... ;) )

I believe it goes to the other team in the MLS Cup. The team it would have gone to before the rule change.

[mcontento]

The universe implodes?

I was all for the MLS Cup being the most important title until the new Concacaf Champions League thingy. The Supporters' Shield is the one to shoot for because you can still compete internationally if something bad happens in the playoffs.

Besides, if you are the best team you should win the league anyway. If the CCL was this year, can you imagine having the Lala Gals represent MLS as the Champs? SS is now #1.

CCC and CCL are different though, I think it is possible to be in both.

MLS Cup is still the holy grail of MLS followed now by the SS and last the USOC. Last year I would have said MLS Cup, USOC, SS.

[AMERICANS SC]

I'm the lone dissenter. I go with Supporters' Shield, MLS Cup Winner, Open Cup Winner.

The rest of the world, as far as I know all the leagues around the world, do it that way. Arena was correct in saying that 2/3rds of the season is a waste, and something needs to be done.

Bad teams can make one or two roster moves to improve their squad enough to make the playoffs, then go on a run of four games to be declared champions. Sounds silly to me.

I wholeheartedly disagree.

Have you ever thought that perhaps the rest of the world has it wrong?

Although taken together as a whole the world has it right, i.e. the World Cup.

The World Cup is nothing but playoffs MLS style!

You think Italy having tied lowly USA (did I just say that! ;)) or France having tied two lower level team (Switzerland & South Korea) will not feel like true World Champions? "Sounds silly to me" :D

Having said that, this year under the circumstances right now, the Supporters Shield seems like the most likely to be accomplished, so DC United should shoot for that target first (The Supporter's Shield winner going to the CCC).

Then MLS Cup, the US Open Cup.

[asitis]

Since the MLS Cup playoffs begin after the Supporters Shield is decided, I see no conflict for our efforts. Between the Supporters Shield and the Open Cup, imo, the Supportes Shield is much more important. I just hope we don't blow off the early rounds of the Open Cup. I also hope we will have a chance to play Sept. 27.

If we're rating the trophies in the abstract: MLS Cup, Supporters Shield, and then Open Cup.

asitis
4/10...5/11

[Sachin]

By the way, I want a pact from United fans. If we win the Supporters Shield but manage to flame out in the playoffs (Impossible! :D) I want to see no bitching and moaning that the playoffs need to be abolished like we saw from the San Jose people last year.



How about no whining at all? We just leave that to Liberal Bill Archer and the rest of his Merry Menschs.

Sachin

[seahawkdad]

The order you have is the correct order. Espeically if we can win the Shield by a ridiculous margin.That's got it. And let's be the Reading of MLS this year (of course, promotion is not our reward, as was theirs).

[BBBulldog]

Shield, cup, open cup.

I think goal should be all 3.

But main goal should be every next game. Which would be squashing Columbus on Saturday. Feel free to join us, La Barra Brava will be in section 112 at CCS :D

[mkpage]

Since when did the Atlantic Cup cease to be a desireble piece of hardware? Surely an oversight in the original suggestions. :p