we got Dallas who could be our most dangerous opponent fighting for their playoff lives, i HATE playing opponents like that. We would do well to dent their playoff chances too. Colorado away who im not worried about LA as our rivalry game, and the matchup i want most in the playoffs, always a tough tame playing them. and close out in a tough away game to Portland who is one of the few teams that seems to have a counter foil to us. we really only got one easy game the rest of the way out. They are all teams who i feel we should beat though. Would like us to clinch the shield early though. need those eastern conference teams to start dropping points.
KC has it tough for the next couple of matches. Home Against Chicago At Columbus At NY Home against Philly We are still in the drivers seat.
After tonight, I feel like I have been to the mountaintop. . .and I'm not fearin' any man! I may not get there with you. . .but we WILL get to the promised land!! (sorry, MLK!)
yeah im not just looking at KC though, im keeping a keen eye on chicago right now. thats a rough schedule for KC though for sure, thats way worse than ours.
We also have to start monitoring Chicago. With 5 games in hand, the Fire's maximum possible point total (53 + 5*3 = 68) is higher than SKC's maximum possible point total (55 + 4*3 = 67). Chicago's remaining games: Away at SKC (hoping for a draw here) Home against Philly Away at NYRB Away at NER Home against DCU Quakes' SS magic number is essentially 8 since San Jose has the first tie-breaker (GF: goals for) all but wrapped up. SJE, currently with 60 points can win the SS with 68 points or more. Quakes GF=62 Chicago GF=42
Below are the magic numbers* for the supporter shield (and western conference champions for western conference teams) Chi 8 KC 7 Sea 3 NY 2 DCU 2 SLC 1 Hou 1 gals 1 *If the number is 0 at the end of the season it goes to the tiebreaker, goals scored which the closest team to the Quakes have 8 less goals
Which will make it even sweeter when we do get it. We're in the driver's seat on the Shield race. With four games remaining, KC have to make up 5 points on us. That is, KC needs to win two games more than we do in the final four matches. So ... If we win one and lose three, KC must win three and lose or tie only one. If we win two, KC must win out. We're almost there kids!! And we just swept Shittle!! #$%& Yeah! GOOOO QUAAAAAKES!!!! I want the shield!! - Mark
KC defeats Chicago, 2-0. Magic number is 8 vs. KC and 6 vs. Chicago. So 2 wins out of 4 for the Quakes combined with any non-win by KC will clinch the Shield.
A win tonight also would effectively clinch first place in the West. Technically, Seattle could still tie for first at 63, but the Sounders would need to make up a goal deficit of 17 to win the tiebreaker. A win tonight combined with any points lost by the Sounders would clinch first place officially.
Quakes are now guaranteed to finish at least tied for first in the west. One more point would mathematically clinch first place in the west. Realistically, with the huge lead in goals scored (11 over LA, 20 over Seattle, 21 over RSL), the Quakes will win the west even if they lose all the rest of the their games. As for the shield, the magic number is still 7, although realistically 6 points will suffice, due to a huge (26 goals) lead over Sporting KC in the tie-breaker. So, three games left, and we need two wins. Let's do this!
Chicago's loss to Philadelphia pretty much ends their outside shot at the Shield. Magic number to eliminate them is 2, or 1 when you assume the tiebreaker advantage. KC is the only team left with an imaginable chance.
Yes, practically speaking it's 1 for Chicago and NY now. It is not outside the realm of possibility that they win out and the Quakes lose out, in which case they could still catch the Quakes. But if the Quakes lose out, KC would likely get the SS anyway. However, the Quakes should want to finish with a higher point total than as many teams as possible to have the greatest chance to host the final, should they make it. Seems like a slam dunk that the Quakes would get at least 1 point in 3 games, but they are playing 2 of 3 on the road, and sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way. And ask the Texas Rangers how easy it is to "just" win one 1 out of 3. Don't say I didn't warn y'all. :--)
Well, here's my question: If a miracle happens and KC wins the SS, but get eliminated before the MLS Cup, and the Quakes win the Western Division AND go all the way to the Cup, wouldn't the Q's still host?
I think it goes by points, so I think the answer is "yes". But in your scenario they still need to make sure they finish ahead of NY and Chicago, which is likely - magic number 1, but not yet in the bag.
A win or tie against the Rapids tomorrow night would effectively wrap up a 2013 CCL berth for us. It would guarantee, assuming our goals scored tiebreaker, at least a 2nd place finish for us in the supporter's shield standings. Either we'd get into the CCL as supporter's shield winners or we'd receive SKC's US Open Cup berth, if they were to win the shield.
I came in here to bring this up. I'm not sure how the relegation works.... if SKC "gives up" their Open Cup berth and goes with the SS berth, why wouldn't the Open Cup runner-up get that spot?
Assuming MLS uses the same reallocation rules it used last year, the berth should go to whoever's next in the supporter's shield standings that doesn't have a berth yet. Last year, LA won the shield and the cup, so their second Pot A CCL spot went to Seattle, who finished second in shield standings. Since Seattle already had a Pot B berth from winning the US Open Cup, that Pot B spot went to RSL, who finished third in shield standings.
Quakes have locked up a 2013 CCL spot and our Magic Number for the Shield is down to 3*! If Sporting loses tomorrow, it's all ours.