Or, more appropriately - Who ya want? For the uninvolved parties, the race for the 7th and 8th playoff spots is still interesting to watch. So, with 2 (technically 3, but I don't think Chicago is going to miss out) spots left in the playoffs, who do you want in? Right now we have: 7. Colorado - 40 pts 8. Toronto - 39 9. New England - 39 10. D.C. United - 39 11. Dallas - 39 12. Salt Lake - 37 Matches of interest: Saturday, October 24 Toronto @ New York D.C. United @ Kansas City Colorado @ Salt Lake Dallas @ Seattle Sunday, October 25 New England @ Columbus I'd like to see Toronto beat New York (I don't care how people judge that, Toronto fans deserve a playoff team), D.C. lose to Kansas City, Colorado and RSL draw, Dallas beat Seattle, and New England lose in hilariously heartbreaking fashion to Columbus. That would send Toronto and Dallas through, and with the tear that Dallas has been on lately, would definitely add a different layer to the playoff picture. Plus, Dallas plays pretty wide-open soccer, and will most certainly make their games interesting. So, who do you want to take those final two playoff spots, besides your team, obviously?
Colorado (obviously) and New England. The Midnight Riders ahve always treated me well so they deserve it.
I was going to say something about Dallas's terrible attendance but then they go and put 15k up in their last game if they make the playoffs id be intrigued. but really I think TFC will make it and so will New England.
I'd definitely like to see Chicago and TFC in the playoffs. Chicago because I'd like to see Blanco play and TFC for their fans.
As far as Fan base and key markets go ..........we should all hope for Toronto and DC United to go. If DC united has any hope to build that World Class Stadium/Arena than they at least need play-off winners again to get some buzz back in DC. Semi-Finals LA Galaxy vs Seattle Toronto vs DC United Finals in front of 66,000 Seattle dressed in green fans= Seattle vs DC United + the Final would be a re-match of the heated US open cup Final. MLS has too much parody not to base your likings on key markets getting the wins.
That's good and all, but none of the teams mentioned will meet LA in anything but the MLS Cup Final, since all the remaining teams are fighting for a Eastern Conference playoff spot.
I think New York will pull out the win in the last-ever soccer game at Giants Stadium before it is demolished. DC United won't be able to pull out a squeaker at KC who have nothing to play for but will make it interesting and force a draw. RSL will beat Colorado in front of the home fans. Seattle will beat Dallas as FCD is forced to play for the win on the road and gets punished on the counter-attack. Columbus will beat New England to secure the Supporters Shield. final standings: 7 - 40 - Real Salt Lake 8 - 40 - Colorado ----------------------------- 9 - 40 - DC United 10 - 39 - Toronto FC 11 - 39 - New England 12 - 39 - FC Dallas three-way tiebreaker standings: 8 - Real Salt Lake (2W-2D-1L) 7 - Colorado Rapids (2W-1D-2L) 4 - DC United (1W-1D-2L) Eastern bracket: Columbus - Colorado Chicago - Real Salt Lake
Include Chicago in the list. If Chicago lose to CUSA this Thursday, as many as 5 way tie at 42 points is possible. Chicago is not in good position for tie breaker.
Chivas @ Chicago: Chicago's at home, where they suck, Chivas is on the road, where they are mediocre. Draw Toronto @ New York: New York is mediocre at home, Toronto lays steamers on the road, but Toronto is playing for a playoff spot. Draw. DCU @ Wizards: KCW is out of it, so playing only for pride. DCU doesn't seem to hold up well under pressure. KCW win. Colorado @ RSL: RSL is solid at home, Colorado is very weak on the road. RSL win. FCD @ Seattle: Seattle has been weak at home of late, but last game of the season, so may play hard to rectify the last three months of suck at home. FCD is weak on the road, but playing for a playoff spot and in need of a win. Draw. San Jose @ Los Angeles: LA is in need of a win to keep their chances of winning the West alive. San Jose is playing for pride against their biggest rival. LA win. Houston @ Chivas: Chivas rocks at home, needs a win to be the Western champs. Houston needs the win to have a chance at Western Champ and could fall to fourth with a loss and Seattle draw. They'll also be without Ching. Draw as Chivas goes bunkerball all the way. New England @ Columbus: Columbus has the best home record in MLS, New England has a mediocre road record. Columbus should have the SS sealed up by the time they play and NE will know what they need to do to get in the playoffs Columbus stomps the crap out of New England. Western: #1 Los Angeles vs #4 Seattle #2 Chivas vs #3 Houston Eastern: #1 Columbus vs #4 FCD #2 Chicago vs #3 TFC
I'll take Dallas and Toronto. I can't see New England or DC going on the road to lock up their spot after horrible inconsistency through the whole season. I think Columbus is out to dash another team's playoff hopes, just as they did last year. Colorado has cooled off quite a bit lately and is facing an RSL team who will be galvanized by the home crowd. Toronto gets the weakest team in the league and I really hope that one of the best fan bases in the league can finally get playoff soccer. And Dallas is unquestionably the hottest in the league, but don't have to deal with the same type of distractions that the 2007 Galaxy did. It will kinda suck if Columbus is forced to play them right now.
Dallas always puts up bigger numbers when we win. The fans didn't have anything to cheer about earlier this season, thank you.
FSL is very good at home partially because of the altitude advantage, which they don't hold against Colorado. Colorado is also traditionally pretty good when on the road against FSL. I'm not saying Colorado's going to win, but in a rivalry game anything can happen and its a little too easy to just look at the home/road records and make a prediction on this one.
Traditionally RSL has sucked donkey balls, so having a pretty good record against them at RSL isn't exactly a unique thing for Colorado. It wasn't until 2008 that they actually finished above third to last in the league. Since the start of the 2007 season, Colorado is 1W-2L-1D at RSL.
I'm not sure this is a spelling error! The word is parity, but a 5 way tie sure is a great parody of a tiebreaker!
1. Chicago loses. 2. DCU wins. 2. NE and TFC draw. DCU is 2nd place in the Eastern Conference. I sort of like this mediocrity in MLS. Any random thing can happen in MLS at any time!!!
I want to see FCD get in. They're the hottest and most fun team to watch right now in MLS and without a hometown team to root for, I'm rooting for the most entertainment value. Plus I like their kits. As for the 2nd place team in the East and the other wild card, who the heck knows? I bet Chicago comes up with at leatw a draw v. Chivas and maybe Toronto will find a way to win on the road in New Jersey, though I wouldn't count on it.
I want Toronto and Dallas. Toronto because they have had great fan support and the fans deserve a playoff game. I want Dallas because they have been very entertaining to watch the last month. But I really do not want Seattle to lose their last home game.
If you don't have a hometown team and can only watch TV footall, for most entertainment value, watch Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, ManU, Bayern, etc.
Naw, MLS fan first and foremost. Drive up to Home Depot for a 1/2 dozen games a year and will be there once or twice (or thrice) for the playoffs this year.