http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2410630,00.html With the preliminary rounds being over, the group stages are set. I'd like to start a new thread for it, as well as include more details about the group stage teams.
This is also the first time in this edition of the Champions league where all MLS teams participating are in the group stages.
The Galaxy have never been in the Group Stage. Last year we "Shizz the bed" before we even got to the group stage....
If they care. We'll see. They were the ones that should have gone the farthest last year too, considering their amazing record at that point in the year, but we all know how last year went.
Dallas has by far the better draw--Tauro FC and Toronto FC against your Alajuelense and Motagua. Alajuelense > TFC and Motagua > Tauro.
I could see anywhere from 1 to 3 MLS sides going through. FCD would have to screw up massively to not go through, IMO.
Seattle gave it a decent effort last year, didn't they? They started some subs, but you pretty much have to. Seems to suggest how easy it is for an MLS team to bomb out, even if they did have the eventual champion and a semi-finalist in their group.
Here is my prediction: both FC Dallas and Colorado will make it to the CCL finals and the game will be decided by an own goal.
When does the rest of the group stage schedule come out? Besides the first two games, we don't even know which weeks are the home games, right?
You'll be seeing plenty of him next year - unless he ends up a victim of their personnel changes, he'll be the starting keeper for the expansion Montreal Impact.
Considering the way Montreal's been doing this year, I'd think everyone will be a victim of their personnel changes.
Ouch, Colorado finishes with games @Isidro Metapan and SANTOS LAGUNA. Hopefully they're at 9 points before those two games...
the only thing that worries me about the Galaxy's chances is their draw - Motagua is legitimate and could definitely finish second there. if they get out of group stage, I agree that they'll be a good choice to win a round or two. obviously, one of Dallas/TFC advances. it's not impossible for both, but seeing as TFC took 4-of-6 points from Cruz Azul last year and still ended up in third... Seattle should finish second in that relatively straightforward group, and I'm not particularly worried about Colorado, either. an all Mexico+MLS final eight would not surprise me that much, though I don't think I'm optimistic enough to take the Over on a hypothetical O/U of 3.5 MLS teams advancing. 2.5, though? definitely.
Seattle finally gets a chance to avenge their 1997 loss to Comunicaciones: http://seattlepitch.tripod.com/matches/97/july15.html At the time, Comunicaciones was a rich team by Central American standards and fielded several Honduran and Costa Rican internationals alongside the core of the Guatemalan NT. Seattle probably did well to lose only 2-0.
There are some mouth-watering fixtures there. It kills me that that so many of the games overlap. CCL beats regular-season MLS by a mile.
"You must spread some rep..." For me, the worst is the 10pm slot on the first matchday. Alajuelense-Morelia, Galaxy-Motagua, and Sounders-Comunicaciones at the same time?
MLS has improved in some way in every edition of this tournament. First time around none of our teams qualified for the group stage and TFC lost to USL Montreal in the NCC. Second year TFC won but didn't make it to the group stage and we had one team qualify through the prelims. We also came close to qualifying a second team to the Knockouts in two separate groups. The third year we had TFC and Seattle qual through the prelims and two teams make the Knockouts with RSL making the final. So far we've qualified all of our teams through the prelims and make the group stage. So if the trend continues we should have at least three teams make the Knockouts and at least make the finals again. Nothing to be counted on, but any team can be beaten.