https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/13/2019-mls-playoff-structure Seven teams from each conference, and only the conference's top seed gets a bye. And each round is single-elim, at the home of the higher seed. They're probably looking ahead to having 28 or 32 teams, but even there, 14 is too many IMO.
Personally I think this puts more importance on the Shield as a trophy. The one offs are a complete crap shoot.
Personally I'm in favor of the single elimination format as I think it will allow the postseason to more closely mimic that of the NFL. It should also engender more casuals to pay attention and get butts in the seats. I also like the idea of not having a FIFA international date interrupting the middle of the playoffs. Whether or not there should be 6, 7 or more teams involved is rather immaterial to me. I'd lean toward 6 but I know they want TV content. We shall see how this evolves.
But why is that a good thing? Especially when you have such a huge difference between the sports in the comparative difficulty/ease in which one scores? My fear is this will lead to even more bunkering in the playoffs.
Agreed. This is a complaint often heard of World Cup matches. The absence of wiggle room promotes highly conservative play. Play to make no mistakes. Take it to penalties if you must.
I disagree. I mean, the one-offs ARE a crapshoot, but MLS has already told us what the Shield is worth (as much as I wanted us to win it, because it's a trophy) by using a postseason playoff to begin with. A playoff effectively says, "This is for the title, period", and all this did was make it kinda wacky. MLS can convince me of the Shield's value by eliminating the playoff altogether and allowing the league title to be determined by the season's results. But that won't work without relegation to keep the bottom teams honest.
Spot on. I think every match up should be a home and away series... but the MLS Cup does make for a nice spectacle for most of America that only watches one game a year ($$$$). This NCAA tournament idea is stupid.
The Supporters Shield is for people that understand the game. The Cup is all glam for the rest of America. Nothing is going to make the Supporters Shield shiny enough for the casual fan to take notice. I hate to say it but I think NYRBs are the real league champs. That said I think it is more fun to win the Cup.
I think we're seeing bunkering in the current format, too, which is why I don't suspect that will change all that much. I could be wrong and we will see but the spectre that everything will be resolved within the few hours at least raises the hype for the casuals. I think this is where we have to accept it's an imperfect answer to an imperfect situation. League size and American nature demands a playoff, but season scheduling and trying to remain true to the game run against that grain. Nothing we ever propose will be perfect, but so long as we're hoisting a trophy at the end...!
As an MLS old-timer, this. We've struggled with the international calendar since the league's inception. Glad that we're finally taking it into account in the league's schedule.