Once again for the second straight year we've got 5 teams from MLS, L.A., Columbus, Seattle, Real Salt lake, and representing Canada, Toronto is in. Last year was pretty bad, not quite as bad as 08-09, but it was not good at all. We started with 5 teams and only 3 made the group stage. Those 3 teams did put up a good fight though, none of them took last in their group, but only one, Columbus, got into the knockout rounds where they lost to Toluca in the quarterfinals. So basically, MLS is going to have to step up their game and I feel like we've got the teams to really make a run this year. LA is possibly the greatest team in MLS history right now, Seattle isnt doing great, but they might have the biggest crowds out of any other champions league team so that will help. Columbus is first in the eastern conference right now so once again they've got a great team. RSL is 2nd in the west behind LA so they're also doing great. And Toronto has the best team in their club history. So in this years tournament, we've got the 1st place teams in the eastern and western conference, the 2nd place team in the western conference, and the 3rd place team in the eastern conference. And Seattle kind of stinks, but they also average 36,000 fans per game. And speaking of fans, Seattle, Toronto, RSL, and LA have the highest average attendances of all the MLS teams in the past couple years. So I feel like at least 2 or 3 MLS teams will make the quarters this year. Am I crazy or do you agree?
I'd believe this, except it seems that in MLS, Seattle is almost handicapped by their crowd. Exhibit A: the ghastly number of times they've been shut out at home. Hopefully the players on Metapan aren't as "galvanized" by playing in Qwest Field as domestic opponents have been. And it's really too bad for Toronto that the wildcard situation has them playing a team that would have been the Supporter's Shield winner in Honduras, if such a trophy existed. RSL got what I'd call a deceptive draw - Arabe Unido aren't a well known team, but other than the thrashing they took at Houston last year, they had some strong showings. Cruz Azul speaks for itself, and again, I'm pretty sure Motagua is a strong team (Toronto even more so if they beat the Hondurans). And for Columbus, I'd say they got the easiest draw, except that Municipal are back-to-back domestic champions, and they got Manuel Kosseian, the mastermind behind the Marathon that terrorized DC United two years in a row (notice that after he left, Marathon didn't make the playoffs domestically and got torn apart @ Pumas). So I'd say that the LA Galaxy (surprise, surprise) are MLS's best bet to make the quarterfinals, and I'd expect two teams to make it (them and one of Columbus/RSL).
After seeing the draw, I think: Galaxy will beat Islanders and will also go through the group... later, everything depends on draw in further rounds. But, if they keep this team, semifinal is minimum. Sounders will have tough opponent in qualifiers, and if they go through, there is hard group waiting. I dont believe they will go through the group. My prediction is 3rd place in group. Real has tough group, strong opponents... will be the most competitive group in this years CL. I think they wont go further. I predict 3rd place. Crew has easy group, I think they are stronger then Municipal, both TT clubs, and Brujas... only competition will be Laguna. Semifinal (at least) for Columbus. Toronto wont qualify to Group Stage.
predicting 2 mls teams in the semifinals considering no mls team has ever reached the CCL semifinals....interesting
God, not to pick on you, but I hate when people to this, as if Mexican and American teams haven't been matching up with each other in CONCACAF competition since 1962. THEY JUST CHANGED THE NAME FROM CHAMPIONS CUP TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. And that was 2 years ago. Some history. And, for the record, American teams have hit the SF or better a bunch of times, but I'll narrow it down to MLS only. 1. DC: 1 Win (1998), 2 T3rd (1997, '98), 1 4th (2000, done in '01) 3 SF (2005, '07, '08) 2. LA: 1 Win (2000, finished competition in 2001), 1 2nd (1997) 3. Chicago: 1 T3rd (1998), 1 SF (2004) 4. Houston: 2 SF (2007, '08) 5. KC: 1 SF (2002). 6. Seattle Sounders (USL): 1 4th (1996 got to final 4 team group, finished last). I mean, except for these 15 times since 1996, it's never happened. Spot on.
There is another, major difference, though: now we have 4 Mexican teams playing in the tournament. And as we've seen in the last two years, with the exception of Marathon-PR Islanders in the first CCL, it's pretty much a given that if you don't win your group, you're going to run into a Mexican team in the quarterfinals. And not being able to beat them at home hurts a hot.
with all due respect the CCC when mls teams won it were a complete joke. The entire tournament was held in the U.S. I have a question, in 1998 and 2000 was the CCC held outside LA and DC at all. I mean did DC united and the Galaxy even have to leave their home stadiums to play? Now I`m not saying that their trophies should not count or anything but certainly the Concacaf Champions League is a much better much fairer competition with Home and away format than it was in 2000 and before. and MLS teams have yet to reach the Semis during the CCL era so I`m not lying nor am I wrong
Sadly (as I want all the MLS teams to do well), I think that 2 of the 3 MLS teams that are in the qualifying series will get bounced. I just see Seattle and TFC bowing out. Of the 3 MLS teams that are in the group stages, I think 2 of them will make it thru. At that point, it's just a crap shoot of who has their roster set and in shape when the knockout rounds begin in March.
Well, five of the best MLS teams are in. I do include Seattle here because they are a far more dangerous team with Nkufo. Here are my expections: All three teams win in the playoff to reach the round of 16. Four of five into the Round of 8. One in the semifinals.
I think that you're confusing the gold cup and the ccc. The ccc was home and away prior to changing to the group format. I hate when people post and don't really know what they're talking about. The champions league format is better and more in line with the rest of the regional events for club futbol competitions. But the old tournament did not favor U.S. teams in any way. We had to go to mexico and where ever else the home of the other teams were that we had to play. Just that it was a knock out league. You don't have to thank me for clarifying it for you.
Wiki is your friend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions%27_Cup In 1997 all but two of the eight games played in the final tournament were played in Washington D.C.. You don't think the MLS teams had an advantage? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_CONCACAF_Champions'_Cup When DC United won in 1998, they played single game elimination for all teams from the quarter finals on in Washington DC. You don't think DC United had an advantage? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_CONCACAF_Champions'_Cup In 2000, when the Galaxy won it, all quarterfinals were played in Fullerton California and after that all games were played in Los Angeles. You don't think MLS teams had an advantage? DC lost to LA in the semis btw. 1999, finals held in Las Vegas.
Maybe, but fortunately the only person in these forums who is more condescending was on the receiving end of that.
I have a feeling ESPN will sweep tonight's Galaxy result under the rug, and not even mention it tomorrow. Yet, they'll mention the KC-Man U match like 50 times.
Of course! Cuz beating a weak fielded Man U is considered the best that's ever happened to MLS since a USL team, Puerto Rico Islanders, beat LA Galaxy 4-1. My opinion... So fackin what!? Pumas beat Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu stadium 1-0 in 04 but are they considered to be on par with RM? Pffft...no. So in the end...so fackin wut.