Put together my usual late-season table: Code: Team Pts L Max Schedule (HOME games in caps) ---- --- - --- -27 -31 -3- -7- -10 -24 WAS 32 5 47 Orl --- WNY SEA Sea Chi POR 29 5 44 Sea --- BOS HOU WNY Sky WNY 26 5 41 HOU --- Was Bos Por Bos CHI 25 5 40 Sky --- SEA FKC Fkc WAS SKY 22 5 37 CHI --- Fkc ORL Orl POR SEA 20 5 35 POR --- Chi Was WAS Hou FKC 18 5 33 BOS --- SKY Chi CHI Orl ORL 16 5 31 WAS --- Hou Sky SKY FKC HOU 12 6 30 Wny Bos ORL Por BOS SEA BOS 7 6 25 Fkc HOU Por WNY Hou WNY Predictions: WAS: T-WTLL -> 37 points - Somewhat pessimistic POR: L-WWTL -> 36 points - Trying to be realistic WNY: W-LWTW -> 36 points - Get to play Boston twice CHI: L-WWTW -> 34 points - Trying to be realistic SKY: W-TWLW -> 32 points - Possibly optimistic SEA: W-LTWW -> 30 points - Trying to be realistic FKC: W-TLTT -> 24 points - Trying to be realistic ORL: T-WLWT -> 24 points - Trying to be realistic HOU: LWLLWL -> 18 points - Get to play Boston twice BOS: LLLLLL -> 7 points - Sorry, Boston Notes at this point: - Washington needs two more wins to mathematically clinch a playoff spot. - The September 11 Thorns-Flash match may loom large in determining which of the teams hosts a semifinal.
Washington could clinch a playoff spot this weekend. If they beat Orlando, and Chicago beats SkyBlue, and Portand beats Seattle, then that would lock it up for the Spirit.
Although, I have to say that I'm surprised you're so pessimistic about the Washington/Chicago game. That is one series that the Spirit have owned. And I wouldn't be so confident about the Flash beating the Dash. The Dash have a near stranglehold on that matchup, and it took two late Flash goals last game just to get a draw.
I wasn't trying to be hugely clever about my predictions, more just win at home, draw on the road, adjust a bit to make the results realistic and to allow for Washington's tendency to pull a clunker about every fifth match or so.
Updated for this week and fixed a couple of mistakes I made the first time around: Code: Team Pts L Max Schedule (HOME games in caps) ---- --- - --- -31 -3- -7- -10 -24 WAS 35 4 47 --- WNY SEA Sea Chi POR 29 4 41 --- BOS HOU WNY Sky CHI 28 4 40 --- SEA FKC Fkc WAS WNY 27 4 39 --- Was Bos Por Bos SEA 23 4 35 --- Chi Was WAS Hou SKY 22 4 34 --- Fkc ORL Orl POR ORL 18 4 30 --- Hou Sky SKY FKC FKC 16 4 28 --- SKY Chi CHI Orl HOU 13 5 28 Bos ORL Por BOS SEA BOS 10 5 25 HOU Por WNY Hou WNY Predictions: WAS: -WTLL -> 39 points - Still going strong CHI: -WWTW -> 38 points - In a good position POR: -WWTL -> 36 points - Will have to work to catch WAS WNY: -LWTW -> 34 points - Get to play Boston twice SEA: -LTWW -> 30 points - Trying to be realistic SKY: -TWLW -> 29 points - CHI loss hurt ORL: -WLWT -> 25 points - Trying to be realistic FKC: -TLTT -> 19 points - Playoff chances fading fast HOU: WLLWL -> 19 points - Get to play Boston twice BOS: LLLLL -> 10 points - Signs of life but too late
Updated based on this week's results with a few adjustments based on teams' recent form. Code: Team Pts L Max Schedule (HOME games in caps) ---- --- - --- -7- -10 -24 WAS 36 3 45 SEA Sea Chi POR 32 3 41 HOU WNY Sky CHI 29 3 38 FKC Fkc WAS WNY 28 3 37 Bos Por Bos SEA 24 3 33 Was WAS Hou SKY 22 3 31 ORL Orl POR FKC 19 3 28 Chi CHI Orl HOU 19 3 28 Por BOS SEA ORL 18 3 27 Sky SKY FKC BOS 10 3 19 WNY Hou WNY Prediction adjustments: SEA @ WAS changed tie to WAS win WAS @ CHI changed CHI win to tie POR @ SKY changed SKY win to POR win Predictions: WAS: WLT -> 40 points - Clinched spot, looking for more POR: WTW -> 39 points - Will have to work to catch WAS WNY: WTW -> 35 points - Get to play Boston twice CHI: WTT -> 34 points - In a good position SEA: LWW -> 30 points - Need strong finish and help SKY: WLL -> 25 points - Two straight losses hurt ORL: LWT -> 22 points - Eliminated HOU: LWL -> 22 points - All but eliminated FKC: LTT -> 21 points - All but eliminated BOS: LLL -> 10 points - Eliminated
have to say Im a little disappointed in the schedule makers. With three matches left Washington has a home n home with Seattle and Orlando the same with SkyBlue. Some other teams also have the same team twice in three but in those cases it's the rivalry matches. In Orlando case it's a big shrug but the Spirit and the Reign offers the awful possibility that the two teams could also meet in the playoffs making three meetings in a very short time.
The possibility for a WSH-SEA playoff game is quite the long shot. SEA would have to bump off either CHI or WNY - who, respectively, have 2x's against KC and BOS. It's a bit of a schedule quirk that the WSH-SEA and ORL-NJ series haven't had a single match yet, but I don't think it's horrible - every schedule will have quirks in it unless every team has 100% control over its stadium situation. Besides, it's not like WSH-SEA isn't a "rivalry" series already in a strong sense: 2013: bottom two teams, fighting off the wooden spoon 2014: met in the SF 2015: met in the SF @ SEA immediately after the final home game of the season had them meet @ WSH; WSH also had only victory over SEA after their slow start that year If these two teams meet three times in just about a month, I'd say "full steam ahead". That said, it won't happen, since there's no essentially no way SEA makes up 4+pts against WNY or CHI (SEA loses the tiebreak in both cases to boot) with the strength-of-schedule remaining.
My point being that having the teams playing a pair of matches so close to a possible play off meeting is just bad planning. While ur never going to get a perfect schedule Id much rather see them get as close to having teams meet once in the first half and once in the second as they can. Similarly I was very disappointed that the 12 team Olympic schedule lead to two repeats of group matches for the semi finals. Another reason to get to 16 teams ASAP.
*shrugs* I guess I just don't see how it's a big deal. Yes, would've been nice to split first-half-second-half of the season, but honestly I'm much, much happier about the fact that almost the entire season was balanced (originally, before the rainout game) than I am about one or two series not crossing the midseason mark.
So now, both the last playoff spot and the Shield are still up for grabs in the last week of the season. Unless BOS can pull through with a win at home, though, that last playoff spot won't be alive for the TV game.
So... what I'm hearing is everyone should be rooting for Boston this weekend? Haha. Edit: Not this weekend, but still!
Code: Team Pts L Max Schedule (HOME games in caps) ---- --- - --- -24 WAS 39 1 42 Chi POR 38 1 41 Sky CHI 30 1 33 WAS WNY 29 1 32 Bos SEA 27 1 30 Hou SKY 26 1 29 POR FKC 23 1 26 Orl HOU 22 1 25 SEA ORL 19 1 22 FKC BOS 11 1 14 WNY Prediction adjustment: In the hopes that Gabarra was gearing up for this, changed WAS-CHI from tie to WAS win. But if he starts Ali Krieger at forward, all bets are off. Predictions: WAS: W -> 42 points - Making battle for Shield interesting POR: W -> 41 points - Right there if WAS falters WNY: W -> 32 points - Wins tiebreak with Seattle CHI: L -> 30 points - Wins tiebreak with Seattle SEA: W -> 30 points - Must win, WNY must lose vs. BOS SKY: L -> 26 points - Eliminated FKC: T -> 24 points - Eliminated HOU: L -> 22 points - Eliminated ORL: T -> 20 points - Eliminated BOS: L -> 11 points - Eliminated
Tickets went on sale today for the Thorns for October 2 to season ticket holders. Same price as regular season tickets in my section.
To add, game time is TBA. Price in my section is $19 per seat, and I consider our seats to be among the best in Providence Park, though not the most expensive.
Yeah, you can't beat that price. That's basically $0.21 per each minute of soccer (21.111 cents per minute to be exact). And then if you're not satisfied with the cost, then they'll throw in "stoppage time" for free. Long distance phone calls used to be more than 21 cents per minute back when WUSA launched. That whole "stoppage time" free bit kind of reminds you of the 8th minute in your workout being included for free ....
Sad that I can't make it to the Final Weekend, due to other plans - but here is a great way to support attendance and do a mitzvah at the same time: Some of today’s #USWNT roster will reach @NWSL final. If you can’t go, why not send a @GONZOsoccer girl to the game? https://t.co/QREQiksFye— Keeper Notes (@keepernotes) September 19, 2016
Quick and easy call to make. Got the scarf option for my collection too. I'm taking a guess that next year is Orlando. I'm hoping I can swing that trip as it's cheaper flight for me. Part of the problem is the date/time takes too long to be announced and I couldn't take either Friday or Monday off
Probably Orlando, and then Toyota Park or an expansion team's venue the following year. I doubt we'll ever see it hosted at Sky Blue, as their attendance isn't exactly the league's best.
Yeah, that needs to happen. The venue would be better, bigger attendance, and just a better overall environment for this league.
Just went on the Buy Tickets site for the Championship game and this is what I saw: SOLD OUT Field Level Seats VIP Club 100 Level Seats 200 Level Center Circle 200 Level Sideline 200 Level Corner Flag 200 Level Endline 200 Level General Admission SINGLE SEATS ONLY President's Club Good Availability 100 Level West Sideline $43.00 VIP Club 200 Level Seats $41.00 100 Level East Sideline $35.00 100 Level Endline $31.00 100 Level General Admission $23.00 That looks pretty good with 2.5 weeks to go and the Final Participants still undetermined (although we can probably put some money on who the participants will be without feeling like we are taking big risks).
If you go to the Portland site for the semi, it is sold out also, with a couple exceptions of standing GA in the upper bowl or the 221-222 areas reserved for opponents. They won't go on sale until after the weekend. You have a better view of the MAC club workout room than the pitch from those seats. The lower bowl is a complete sellout. That includes the $90 field seats.
If they work it like they do for their regular season ticket sales, is that they will show the 200 upper deck seats as sold until they sell-out most of the lower bowl, then open it up.