MLS revamps playoff format to feature a single-elimination bracket and condensed schedule https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/ne...e-elimination-bracket-and-condensed-schedule/ The New MLS Playoff Format Is A Disaster In Waiting https://deadspin.com/the-new-mls-playoff-format-is-a-disaster-in-waiting-1831157713 Union for MLS and NWSL referees takes strike authorization vote, claims PRO is delaying CBA talks http://www.philly.com/soccer/mls-referees-strike-nwsl-pro-cba-howard-webb-20181217.html "Tata" Martino reveals why he left Atlanta United https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/17/tata-martino-reveals-why-he-left-atlanta-united Gerardo Martino leaves Atlanta with ‘great affection for the fans’ https://www.ajc.com/sports/soccer/home-where-the-heart-with-gerardo-martino/gMZMzQ6x3sK4vtjs6LOziO/ Ignacio Piatti: This is my last year with Montreal Impact https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/17/ignacio-piatti-my-last-year-montreal-impact Houston Dynamo acquire defender Chris Duvall from Montreal Impact https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/ho...e-defender-chris-duvall-from-montreal-impact/ Pity Martinez: Atlanta United were the most eager to sign me https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/17/pity-martinez-atlanta-united-were-most-eager-sign-me New England Revolution re-sign Juan Agudelo https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/new-england-revolution/new-england-revolution-re-sign-juan-agudelo/ Zlatan Ibrahimovic has unfinished business with LA Galaxy in MLS http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the...has-unfinished-business-with-la-galaxy-in-mls Former Sounders captain Brad Evans retires from professional soccer https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...-brad-evans-retires-from-professional-soccer/ Korea Republic midfielder Hwang In-beom wanted by MLS team – Reports https://www.foxsports.com.my/footba...der-hwang-in-beom-wanted-by-mls-team-reports/
Re: Deadspin article So playoff wise 6 teams out of a 11 team conference is okay, but 7 teams out of a 12 team conference is a "disaster waiting to happen?" He's concerned about a low seed taking advantage of the format and making a Greece-like run in the postseason, yet this year's Cup final featured a 5 seed! Oy.
I've seen on Twitter that with the new playoff format change the regular season will be pushed up in 2020 but couldn't change this year because of time constraints with stadium scheduling. So if they start the season February 9, 2020 that would give them about 35 weeks for the season. This would be the first week after the Super Bowl held in Miami and the first year debut of Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami & Nashville SC. The problem is just nine teams would be considered weather favorable. Miami, Nashville, Dallas, Houston, L.A. (2), Orlando, Atlanta & Vancouver. I would guess San Jose, Portland, Seattle & Montreal (using Olympic stadium) would have to be in the mix and after that it would be a crap shoot with any other city left. The positives of starting the season earlier for the league is they would have a little more spotlight to start the season as the NBA & NHL are in mid season and college basketball hasn't reached March madness yet. It would also give CCL teams two or three regular season games under their belt before starting the round of sixteen. The negatives are almost half the teams in the league would start on the road for two to three weeks if not more to start the season. Plus when do you start camp for the coming season? Is it somewhere in December with a break for the holidays? Should be interesting to say the least with what they decide.
Nashville is not weather favorable in early February. And Montreal has 8,000 holes to fill in the roof of the Olympic Stadium.
I would be very surprised if MLS pushed the regular season start all the way up to February 9. A week or two earlier would be within the realm of possibility. That is all they would need to do to make up for ending the season a couple of weeks early. It would also fit in with the CCL. In 2020, the Saturdays in that time period are: February 8 February 15 February 22 February 29 March 7 The 22nd seems to me to much more possible than February 8 or even 15.
According to Google Nashville average weather in February is 52° to 33°. Granted it's not idea but they don't usually get that much snow compared to the rest of the cities left. http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/a-mixed-bag-what-to-make-of-the-new-mls-playoff-format
I live in Northeast TN and February and early March is often when we get the most of our snow. It may not be as much as some of the other cities but he is right in saying February is not a soccer friendly month here normally. Granted where i live is a slightly different winter climate than Nashville because of the slighty higher elevation, but it isn't a drastic difference. Do I need to break out my amazing geographical fact again to blow minds and let everyone realize that TN isn't' as far south as you may think?
From the Deadspin article: "No amount of home-field advantage will ever guarantee that a favorite wins, and reducing the amount of games makes it more likely that an underperforming team could hit a stroke of form that takes it all the way to the title, further lowering the regular season’s value." God forbid we have upsets and cinderella teams reaching MLS Cup. That might lead to unpredictability and, dare I say it? excitement! We should have a system that guarantees that only the favorites win because... Greece in 2004. The word that comes to mind is drivel.
Yeah who ever wants to see a 16 seed UMBC beat 1 seed Virginia??? oh wait, everyone but Virginia fans. It was one of the biggest sports stories ever, but yeah its terrible for NCAA basketball...oh wait that is wrong too.
Yabbbut, people in Nashville listen to country music and say things like "y'all." I rest my case, your honor.
Looks like one of our own has failed to make the step up to a top 5 league. Report: Matt Miazga exit from Nantes is “unavoidable”
San Jose is weather favorable year round. Has not snowed here since 1976. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/loc...ezer-for-40-Years-and-Counting-368377141.html
I remember visiting San Francisco and thinking that some of those streets are so steep that it could be an intermediate level ski slope. I thought what a nightmare it would be in the winter, and then I remembered that it doesn't (typically) snow there. Still, even if it happens once in a blue moon, that must be scary as hell. Especially since people there aren't used to driving in it.
To people in real cold weather cities, average temps over 50 (highs) and lows above freezing is just not that cold. Not ideal. But tolerable.
He asked... I live in Northeast TN and I live ~60+ miles closer to the Canadian border than I do Memphis TN. I live ~15 miles closer to the closest town in Canada than I do Memphis. I also still live 50 miles from the northeastern most tip of TN. So people that live in the very tip of TN live ~110 miles closer to Canada than Memphis.
Oh course it is tolerable. However, the point is you never know what weather you will get even as far south as Nashville in Feb. As I have stated multiple times, I live in Northeast TN. We just got 10 inches of snow a week and half ago...in the freaking beginning of December...10 inches. Some places very nearby got 17+. Most of the areas along the TN/VA border got over a foot.
That's average low. The actual temperature dropped below 20 degrees last February but also exceeded 80.