Congrats. Ya got screwed by the new rule last year, and now this year you benefit from the new C'CAF rule, which I don't agree with, tbh. Turnabout is fair play.
Funny how things turn out, we get rear-ended by a BS rule change last year and now we're the ones benefiting from it this year. Hopefully we can put this to good use, I'm at least excited to go to those games, hopefully they include them in the STH package.
Here's the thing: while I would not trade winning MLS Cup and being in this year's CCL - eliminated even - I do think we'll be better off in next year's edition than we were in this one. A more experienced coach plus a retooled team - with half the season in which to gel before the CCL starts - is better for us IMO than what 2014 would have been.
Similar parallels: SEA benefited from the (some say BS) Away Goals Rule in the Conference Semi this year, yet got rear-ended by it in the Conference Final later. And both instances involved LA.
Is this really 3 for RSL? http://www.ksl.com/?sid=32659252&nid=857&title=rsl-clinches-3rd-ccl-bid-following-galaxys-cup-title
This is really disappointing, I hope we still get a few top notch friendlies against teams like Sacramento next season.
Yes. That second time was the first year of the three-team group stage and only first place in the group moved on.
Here's the part you don't want to hear... use the allocation funds the way LA does. Play well enough to get to the second season to get the allocation funds for 2016, also. Then tank out immediately in the knock out rounds in 2016 so that you can use that extra money (higher paid, presumably more talented players) to make a run to MLS Cup or division top spot, or USOC Championship. That gets you allocation funds for 2017, and if you make it through the group stage, 2018. Rinse and repeat. In the odd number years you may not win any of those, but in the even number years you should win at least one of them. Rinse and repeat. Do NOT, really, never, go for the championship in Champions League. It will wear the team down too much and result in not qualifying the next year. Use the extra money only to improve position in domestic competitions. Rinse and repeat.
I secretly agree with this. And hey if we win the CCL or do well accidentally with Fernandez in goal and Sandoval and Garcia up top, I'm also all for it. (unless of course Cassar doesn't protect Garcia on Wednesday and Kreis takes him).
Heck, it doesn't even need to be as complicated as I made it sound. Just tank out and make sure you qualify every season via domestic competition.
I wonder if RSL being in the CCL will help keep Garth interested in sticking around? At least it can't hurt, right?
Don't get the "tank out" type of talk regarding this tournament. I would hope we try to duplicate our last performance in this tournament. It cannot hurt to have some more meaningful matches at Rio Tinto that allow the club to generate more income.
The reason to talk about exiting quickly from CCL is that the allocation money is not enough to really make a team competitive in the tournament (RSL's first time performance notwithstanding) while still being competitive in domestic competitions. But, that allocation money is awesome for bolstering the team to be very competitive in several domestic competitions. Therefore, play to get in, get the money and run away.