Revs news 10/30

[patfan1]

FDA pens a piece about the away goal (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/10/30/away_goals_rule_could_help_mls_get_shows_on_road/) rule.

[RedRevs]

groundbreaking.

[KaptPowers]

Honestly, would putting in European-style away goal rules really matter that much?

Then you'd have teams on the road get the goals and then sit back at home, using his cynical/sophisticated argument.

[Chowda]

Honestly, would putting in European-style away goal rules really matter that much?

It would take away any semblance of homefield advantage.

I'd rather use the Mexican system where the tie goes to the higher seed than the away goal rule.

[Mick7184]

I might be alone in this, but I hate the away goals rule. It's something that MLS does different that I love. I know Euro-types hate penalties, and that's probably why they roll with the away goals rule, but personally I hate it. Like last year, with the away goals rule, the Revs get eliminated by Chicago in the first round. If the score is tied after 2 legs, it should go on to extra time, the team that happened to score more on the road shouldnt win, at least in my opinion.

[KaptPowers]

It would take away any semblance of homefield advantage.


Which, IMHO, is bad...

[JMMUSA8]

Like last year, with the away goals rule, the Revs get eliminated by Chicago in the first round. If the score is tied after 2 legs, it should go on to extra time, the team that happened to score more on the road shouldnt win, at least in my opinion.

Yes but I'm sure the Revs would have played different if the away goals rule was implemented.

[Chowda]

Away goals is the perfect tiebreaker for a stand alone cup competition where everyone is equal. In a playoffs that you need to play 30-32 games for 6+ months to get the best seed possible, you want some sort of advantage for the higher seed. Away goals would erase that completely. Since MLS Cup is far and away the most important cup, that would be a step backwards, IMO.

[ToMhIlL]

To complain that the first round games were dull is like leaving a game at halftime when it's 0-0. I'll go on the record to say that at least 3 of the remaining fixtures will be what the boys at Univision will describe as "i el dramatico finale!"

Away goals only mean something when the place you are playing is a difficult stadium to play in. Giants Stadium hardly counts, despite the best efforts of the ESC.

MLS should leave the current setup well enough alone, with one exception. Instead of PKs, use the old shootouts. They are less of a crapshoot, and both the keeper and shooter have at least a couple of strategic options to consider that involve more than being lucky enough to pick the correct side of the net. Just for any Chicago Fire fans or other illiterates who read this, I am NOT advocating bringing back the shootout as it was once used. Just use it instead of PKs when the score is still tied after ET.

[rkupp]

Instead of PKs, use the old shootouts.
Please, no. PKs may be bad, but any move to replace them with something else that's also not *real football* is no better. Plus it would take us back to laughing-stock status with the international community - with our "American" rules.
I'd rather use the Mexican system where the tie goes to the higher seed than the away goal rule.
I like this idea on a fairness basis, but I think it would probably make the higher seeds play even more conservatively.

[ngower]

Regarding PK's, I do like the NASL shootouts more than the current method.

As for the away goals rule, I'd like to see it tested in Superliga or something, try and see if it really encourages the away team to attack more, and if successful implement it into the playoffs.

[REV-OKe]

To complain that the first round games were dull is like leaving a game at halftime when it's 0-0. I'll go on the record to say that at least 3 of the remaining fixtures will be what the boys at Univision will describe as "i el dramatico finale!"

Away goals only mean something when the place you are playing is a difficult stadium to play in. Giants Stadium hardly counts, despite the best efforts of the ESC.

MLS should leave the current setup well enough alone, with one exception. Instead of PKs, use the old shootouts. They are less of a crapshoot, and both the keeper and shooter have at least a couple of strategic options to consider that involve more than being lucky enough to pick the correct side of the net. Just for any Chicago Fire fans or other illiterates who read this, I am NOT advocating bringing back the shootout as it was once used. Just use it instead of PKs when the score is still tied after ET.


I'm illiterate, but i disagree. I think the crapshoot aspect of PKs plays into the psychology of how teams play.

if you think you can win on the pitch, you push hard to not go to PKs.

[ToMhIlL]

Please, no. Backpassing to the keeper and having him pick it up may be bad, but any move to replace that with having him try to kick the ball back to a team mate is also not *real football* and it's no better. Plus it would take us back to laughing-stock status with the international community - with our "American" rules.Fixed your post. You could say the same thing about how it used to be 2 points for a win. Remember when teams could sneak by the group stages of a WC with 3 draws? Not anymore, and that's a good thing.

Yeah, if some guy named Nigel or Klaus-Dieter disapproves, I'm jumping off the lighthouse bridge. :rolleyes:

I am saying that the game itself would be better if they used shootouts instead of PKs. This means the World Cup, Copa America, EuroXX, and every other knockout tournament where you must have a winner of a game. If Mr 51 bad ideas a day talked this one up, it would actually be the best idea he's mentioned since he took over Joao Half-a-lung's personal fifedom.

[Argyle]

Away goals is the perfect tiebreaker for a stand alone cup competition where everyone is equal. In a playoffs that you need to play 30-32 games for 6+ months to get the best seed possible, you want some sort of advantage for the higher seed. Away goals would erase that completely. Since MLS Cup is far and away the most important cup, that would be a step backwards, IMO.

Which is why the two-game format is wrong for the playoffs.

Though I admit, tie-breaker goes to the higher seed idea sort of intrigues me.

[John Lewis]

Well, it's on topic...

http://www.soccer-new-england.com/OPINION-Wheres-the-Home-Field-Advantage.html

[Chowda]

Which is why the two-game format is wrong for the playoffs.

Well, one game is too few after a 30+ game season and best of three is too long and would require definite results in each game (or use that ridiculous four points out of two they used to use.

Two games allows teams to keep playing at the normal pace, but away goals would negate the home field "advantage".

Though I admit, tie-breaker goes to the higher seed idea sort of intrigues me.
I really don't know if that's the answer either.

When more teams enter the league and only "good" teams make the playoffs instead of "mildly competent" teams, it'll solve itself.

[Mick7184]

Yes but I'm sure the Revs would have played different if the away goals rule was implemented.

They might have played differently, as in they would have pushed harder for another goal at the end of the second leg, but that dosent mean they would have gotten it w/o Dempsey, w/o Shalrie etc.

[GOREVS3000]

FDA pens a piece about the away goal (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/10/30/away_goals_rule_could_help_mls_get_shows_on_road/) rule.

Did anyone see the full page ad the Krafts took out for the Sox? No mention of the Revs.

[The Perfesser]

Guys, there's a whole thread on the playoff format here:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615431

[The Perfesser]

...MLS should leave the current setup well enough alone, with one exception. Instead of PKs, use the old shootouts. They are less of a crapshoot, and both the keeper and shooter have at least a couple of strategic options to consider that involve more than being lucky enough to pick the correct side of the net. Just for any Chicago Fire fans or other illiterates who read this, I am NOT advocating bringing back the shootout as it was once used. Just use it instead of PKs when the score is still tied after ET.

Hillie, you don't want me to break out my 1996 "No CrapShootouts/Let Ties be Ties" scarves do you? I really don't want to have to fight a battle that's already been won.

The first problem MLS would have with the old "CrapShootouts" is that FIFA wouldn't approve it. So I think the conversation stops there.

If you guys don't like the away goals rule -- and there have been some reasonable objections here -- then there's the second option, the Mexican "Liguilla" system described here:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=615431

There are 2 legs in their postseason playoffs (Liguilla). But there is no extra time, and no PKs. So what do they do if the aggregate is level? The team with the higher seed goes through. It actually rewards the regular season and forces the lower seed to come out and attack since, over the two legs, they've got to get one more goal than the higher seed to advance.

Elegantly simple and crystal clear.