Code: # Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD W1 LA Galaxy 61 30 17 3 10 44 22 22 W2 Seattle Sounders FC 54 30 15 6 9 49 32 17 W3 Real Salt Lake 51 29 15 8 6 42 27 15 E1 Houston Dynamo 42 31 10 9 12 39 39 0 E2 Columbus Crew 41 30 11 11 8 35 38 -3 E3 Sporting Kansas City 41 30 10 9 11 44 38 6 ========================== 7 FC Dallas 46 30 13 10 7 36 33 3 8 Colorado Rapids 42 31 10 9 12 41 40 1 9 Philadelphia Union 40 29 9 7 13 37 31 6 10 New York Red Bulls 39 30 8 7 15 46 41 5 ========================== 11 D.C. United 38 28 9 8 11 43 41 2 12 Portland Timbers 37 30 10 13 7 37 44 -7 13 Chivas USA 35 31 8 12 11 39 38 1 14 San Jose Earthquakes 31 30 6 11 13 32 39 -7 15 Chicago Fire 30 28 5 8 15 33 37 -4 16 Toronto FC 30 31 6 13 12 32 55 -23 17 New England Revolution 27 29 5 12 12 32 46 -14 18 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 22 29 4 15 10 29 49 -20 as of 9/25/2011 Portland didn't do us any favors, but NY's win drops the magic number by 2, down to 4. If we lose today, a draw by NY next Saturday eliminates us.
So looking at the upcoming matches, we could be officially eliminated 9/29 when Philadelphia hosts DC or more likely 10/1 when Toronto hosts NYRB.
Code: # Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD W1 LA Galaxy 61 30 17 3 10 44 22 22 W2 Seattle Sounders FC 54 30 15 6 9 49 32 17 W3 Real Salt Lake 51 29 15 8 6 42 27 15 E1 Houston Dynamo 42 31 10 9 12 39 39 0 E2 Columbus Crew 41 30 11 11 8 35 38 -3 E3 Sporting Kansas City 41 30 10 9 11 44 38 6 ========================== 7 FC Dallas 46 30 13 10 7 36 33 3 8 Colorado Rapids 42 31 10 9 12 41 40 1 9 Philadelphia Union 40 29 9 7 13 37 31 6 10 New York Red Bulls 39 30 8 7 15 46 41 5 ========================== 11 D.C. United 38 28 9 8 11 43 41 2 12 Portland Timbers 37 30 10 13 7 37 44 -7 13 Chivas USA 35 31 8 12 11 39 38 1 14 Chicago Fire 33 29 6 8 15 36 39 -3 15 San Jose Earthquakes 31 30 6 11 13 32 39 -7 16 Toronto FC 30 31 6 13 12 32 55 -23 17 New England Revolution 27 30 5 13 12 34 49 -15 18 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 22 29 4 15 10 29 49 -20 as of 9/26/2011 With the loss to CHI, magic number is down to 1. The Revs need to go 4-0-0, have NY go 0-4-0 and DC go 0-5-1, just to have a chance with the tie-breakers. The fat lady is singing, time to focus on catching Vancouver. Hey, at least we scored more goals in 30 games than last year. Woo hoo!
Unfortunately, Montreal will have the #1 pick as an expansion team, so even if we're the worst team in the league this year we still won't end up with it.
That site is incorrect. There is one scenario where we can make the playoffs. NFLPat hit it on the head: It's going to be tough to catch Vancouver. They have some winnable games, but so do we. We're really going to have to choke hard. It's time for us to channel our inner "fail." I'm predicting this for the end of the season: LA Seattle RSL FCD Phili NYRB DC KC Houston Crapids ------------ Cbus Portland Chicago Chivas SJ Smurfs Toronto NE Vancouver (tied for points with Revs, but we win the head2head )
We've got these 4 games left: Seattle at home San Jose at home Columbus at home Toronto away Realistically, Toronto looks like a good shot at 3 points since they are roughly as bad as we are. If it were home, I'd like our chances, but since we don't play well on the road, I'd give it a draw at best. Seattle and Columbus are pretty good teams and I don't realistically see us beating either of them. San Jose is still fighting for a playoff spot and will be hungry. Plus, we don't play very well at home. I can see us taking 3 or 4 points at best from the 12 possible points up for grabs.
Agreed. We're really going to need some luck on our side in this one. Hopefully Nicol has a lapse of reason and puts Boggs or Phelan out there. That should give us our best chance. I agree Seattle will destroy us and San Jose will win out of desperation. I'm a little more worried about the Cbus fixture. They've been dreadful recently, and it's going to be extremely tough. Hopefully some of their inconsistent players hit a good run of form and shred our inexperienced defense.
Explain this to me then. The minimum points required to get into the wild card slot as of right now is 39. That can't go down, it will be 39 at the minimum. The maximum points the revs can get is 39. New York is currently on 39. They beat us on head to head. That is the tie breaker right there. EDIT: Never mind, I see it. if games go that way then all 3 teams will be on 39 and the mini-head-to-head table will shake out like so: NE 6 NY 5 DC 4
The very fact that we're still (mathematically) able to makeup shows just how ridiculously absurd the MLS post-season qualifying process is.
Amen!! Mediocre League Soccer, I really wish they simply said "win the league" like virtually all of the top-flight leagues do and were done with it. Maybe it would put some pressure on clubs like the Revs to put effort in the entire year, rather than extending pre-season until after the season ticket holder campaign kicks off because they can.
Couldn't agree more. Whatever team qualifies as #10 seed is the team I am cheering for. These next few weeks are shaping up to be exactly what MLS wanted: "exciting" finishes down to the wire to keep fans interested and consuming the product. Two problems: 1. The playoffs are being watered down by including way too many undeserving teams, not that the league cares, and 2. The league is made up teams that either draw or don't draw regardless of on-field performance, so these 'down-to-the-wire' fights for playoff positions don't sell any more tickets. SEA, POR, VAN, TOR seem like they'll always bring the fans. People buy tickets for LAG to see the stars and to KC to see the stadium. Nobody goes to Revs or Dallas or Chivas games no matter how good or bad the team or the stadium is. So who do these extra playoff places benefit?
Well if playoffs and competition for playoff spots don't increase attendance, maybe we should just play exhibitions all year. Screw crowning a league champion.
The owners of the last 2 teams who make the playoffs will benefit from it. They will be able to sell tickets, parking and concessions etc. it's all gravy for them. Too bad it waters down the reg. season which is bad for the fans.
It's actually since wins are 3 points. NE 7 - 6 (2-0) vs. DC, 1 (0-1-1) vs. NY GD = (+1) +2 vs. DC, -1 vs. NY NY 7 - 4 (1-0-1) vs. NE, 3 (1-1) vs. DC GD = (+4 ) +3 vs. DC, +1 vs. NE DC 3 - 0 (0-2) vs. NE, 3 (1-1) vs. NY GD = (-5) -2 vs. NE, -3 vs. NY http://www.settingthetable.info/home/index.php/2011/06/09/tiebreaker-update-june-9/ The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is also head-to-head, but it is determined via points-per-game versus the other two teams. If two teams are tied in points-per-game head-to-head, the next tie breaker is goal difference. Revs and Red Bulls make it through the 1st then Red Bulls wins on GD. So that means since the Red Bulls have 39 then NE is eliminated since any scenario eliminates the Revs.
I think it's overall goal difference that serves as the second tiebreak, but NYRB is +5 and the Revs are -15, so the Revs are effectively eliminated.
Unless the Revs score 15 goals in their last 5 games and NY concede 5 goals. Then the Revs go through.
Fixed your post - to be precise for a calculation that will never have to be made!! (Note the specific numbers aren't as important as that they add up to 21....)
I agree in principle, but who are we kidding. All North American leagues have playoffs. If we are going to have them, I was OK with it being 8 of 18, which is actually a better ratio than the NHL and NBA. It is all gravy if they are teams who break even or make money. So that means everyone else but us, where the gate and concession revenue for a playoff game will not offset the game day expenses, even if the players and coaches are essentially playing for "free." Off the top of my head, maybe Chivas also might lose money and DC, because of the high rent and littel concession money they get, might be in a similar situation, but everyone else should be happy with a home playoff game.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't a DC win tonight officially eliminate us since that would put them at 40 points.
You're absolutely correct. We need DC to lose every game except 1 draw and NY to lose every game, coupled with us winning every game, to get into the playoffs. It's elimination day, boys! Or maybe we can put it off until Saturday
Are you suggesting that fans might not show up to see what has been a dull team for most of the season that now has nothing to play for? FWIW, they are offering discounted seats to youth soccer organizations in an effort to get someone to show up.
Only playoffs and springtime games have bad attendance. The Rev Girls will be bringing in college kids to drink and play video games on the party deck so that will boost attendance I'm sure.
College Night won't bump attendance nearly that much. It's usually the selling of highly discounted tickets to youth soccer organizations that does the trick in September and October. I'm looking forward to getting my kicks with some soccer smiles for the rest of the season... EDIT: After re-reading your post I'm guessing a strong whiff of some sarcasm. I missed that the first time around...