[R] Low Scoring Playoffs + Playoff format discussion

The Perfesser · 27 Oct 2007, 10:15 PM

OK, gang with 3 of 4 of the first legs of the conference semis going to the home team 1:0 and the other going 0:0, prepare yourselves for both soccer bashers gloating and league officials wringing their hands about what to do.

We'll soon see recommendations from MLS officials to go back to "Doug Logan style" formats such as "best of 3" and "first to 5", both of which were relegated to the dustbin of history with the CrapShootouts, and rightfully so.

What do do?

Why do American soccer officials insist on trying to re-invent the wheel? there are two solutions that have been used for two leg competitions in other soccer leagues for decades and have a much better chance of avoiding producing only 3 goals in 4 games:

Away goals as the first tiebreaker (widely used around the world)
Higher seeded team gets the first tiebreaker (Mexican "Liguilla" system)

Both create the incentive to score, not hope for 0:0 in the first leg and then take it home.

Come on MLS, look around and see what works in the world's game.

socluis90 · 27 Oct 2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Perfesser

Higher seeded team gets the first tiebreaker (Mexican "Liguilla" system)

I love this format. It rewards the higher seed making the season more valuable and it also eliminates the extra time or PK's.

scaryice · 27 Oct 2007, 10:35 PM

Of course, the best option is to decide the championship over the course of the ~200 game regular season, since then the excitement or lack of for any one game or series won't be magnified.

(runs)

And also of course, you can't judge this season's playoffs based on the first weekend. According to MLS playoff history, we can expect this year's postseason scoring to be 6.9% less than the regular season. So with an average of 518/195 = 2.66 in the regular season, we should see 2.47 goals a game in the playoffs. Or 27 in 11 games. Probably won't hit that now, but let's just see.

monster · 27 Oct 2007, 10:36 PM

Or they could do one-off matches like a few unimportant tournaments that happen in four-year cycles do.

The Perfesser · 27 Oct 2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

Or they could do one-off matches like a few unimportant tournaments that happen in four-year cycles do.

That's what they do for the conference final. The reason for not doing this in the conference semis is so that ALL the playoff teams can have at least one home match.

Michigan Bayern Fan · 27 Oct 2007, 11:37 PM

As a traditionalist, it took me many years to accept the playoff system that MLS uses to determine their champion. I understood that the two-leg aggregate goals setup was established because it is a fairer method of deciding the better team. If this is so, why isn't the two-leg series continued in the conference championship? Having a one-game championship subjects the competition to luck, which is what the two-leg series was supposed to prevent. I understand that the final is a one game affair due to TV, but why isn't the conference championship a two leg series?

ThreeApples · 27 Oct 2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Bayern Fan

As a traditionalist, it took me many years to accept the playoff system that MLS uses to determine their champion. I understood that the two-leg aggregate goals setup was established because it is a fairer method of deciding the better team. If this is so, why isn't the two-leg series continued in the conference championship? Having a one-game championship subjects the competition to luck, which is what the two-leg series was supposed to prevent. I understand that the final is a one game affair due to TV, but why isn't the conference championship a two leg series?

Because home field advantage is a reward for regular season success.

UNION S.C. · 28 Oct 2007, 12:03 AM

I like the home and home series. I think the league should do it in the next round too instead of just 1 game.

MasterShake29 · 28 Oct 2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michigan Bayern Fan

As a traditionalist, it took me many years to accept the playoff system that MLS uses to determine their champion. I understood that the two-leg aggregate goals setup was established because it is a fairer method of deciding the better team.

That's not correct. The 2 leg system was established so that there would be schedule certainty over the best-to-something format used previously, while still ensuring every team in the playoffs got a game at home.