http://www.3rddegree.net/ this will not be a shocking story to some of you, but the USOC format is out and FCD is in as a top 6 from MLS 06 qualifier.
Has the USOC said why they're limiting the number of MLS teams? To be an "Open Cup", it seems to me that every pro club and "serious" adult amateur club should have a shot at the championship. Whether they get byes and enter the competition at Round 3. Or whether they have to win many qualifying stages to merely make Round 1.
Have you actually read the story to understand the new format? MLS teams that don't auto-qualify WILL be going through a qualifying round just like the amateur clubs and USL-2 clubs, etc.
Man, you and Buzz enjoy busting poor Rocket's balz every chance you get. Guys like me and Rocket don't need to read the fine print. That's a nerd's job, ( God bless them). Vague, unsubstantiated, and highly opinionated statements require creative genius. Can't you guys get that through your thick eggheads?
I was able to read an article on the new format until later that day. The format seems quite convoluted to me, it almost looks like there are two round 1's and 2's: one for non MLS teams and one for the MLS also-rans from last season. I guess the reason for it is so that MLS teams can't earn an excessive number of spots in Round 3, but it seems a bit unfair to me. The FA Cup and League Cups, for instance, don't go through such convolutions to make things more "equal" for the small clubs.
Yes, convuloted would be a decent way to describe it. No, they don't. Do we HAVE to do everything exactly the way they do it in England for soccer fans to accept it? Is anyone else sick of the "but...but...that's not the way they do it in England" complaint? MLS is attempting to lighten fixture load in the summer when a bunch of stuff is going to cause issues. 1. Gold Cup 2. Copa America 3. SuperInterLiga of Champions 4. European friendlies 5. USOC By having some teams qualify in April and May, that will lighten the fixture load and player availability issues to some extent. Clearly MLS is sensitive to this issue and they are attempting to relieve some pressure before it builds. Can we give them some credit for that?
Think about the logistics of playing those extra games - especially costs and time commitments - and I think you'll have a better idea of why we can't just "do it like the Europeans do it" at the drop of a hat. Think of it this way - MLS has a budget for its travel costs. In the USOC, how much money do you think they give to the teams to help pay for those costs? Now ask yourself how much it costs to fly a team of, say, 20 (plus coaches and equipment) to, say, Kansas City or vice versa. Of course, we are dealing with those darn pesty facts and objective conditions again.
I actually like the new format quite a bit since David vs Goliath matchups are usually more interesting than , say, a 3rd round Rapids vs Crew matchup. However, it is biased a bit against MLS clubs. But if the MLS clubs are happy to go along with it, then that's all that really counts.
Clubs like the New England Revolution that regularly play weak rosters in the first USOC matches and have proven to not give a flip about the tournament? Yeah...they are ALL for it. Bottom line, would you rather play a few extra rounds of the USOC on Tuesday and Wednesday nights to 4k crowds getting in for free, or would rather use those dates to play Euro clubs here on summer break in front of packed houses for $40 a ticket? Hmmm...that's a toughie.
All the Fourth Round winners will find out their next opponent at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 7 when U.S. Soccer conducts the Round of 16 Draw, which will reveal the final bracket for the 2018 U.S. Open Cup. The Draw will take place at U.S. Soccer headquarters in Chicago and will be streamed live on ussoccer.com. Geographic Grouping of Teams Prior to Round of 16 Draw Midwest Region FC Dallas Houston Dynamo Minnesota United FC Sporting Kansas City East Region D.C. United NYRB Orlando City SC Philadelphia Union West Region LA Galaxy Los Angeles FC Portland Timbers Sacramento Republic FC Mideast Region Atlanta United FC Chicago Fire Louisville City FC Nashville SC
Lol a draw. There is no need for a draw. It s always Houston or SKC away. It seems like KC always plays at home too. I think the last time FCD won in Kansas was in 2011. So long US open cup.
The best part of this ✌draw✌ is that it was also for the quarterfinals, too, and the winner of this game goes to the winner of the Houston-MNUFC game. It's pretty amazing how a ✌random draw✌ always has FCD going to either Kansas or Houston. I mean, what are the odds?
Lol, its better for my health. Sports are stressful when you have high expectations, so it’s better not to have them.