It really does look easier to get in than to lose out. Perhaps "playoff chase" isn't the most accurate phrasing here, as it implies forward momentum. Between us and the other clubs you mention, it's more of an Upper Class Twit of the Year kind of competition this year:
Kids today may not have heard of the time when MLS teams got an extra allocation when they missed the playoffs. This allocation was appropriately named the "You Suck Allocation" because the team truly had to play like ass all season long. It's still generally true that teams have to suck all season long to miss the playoffs. Because of our ties and occasional wins, I do think we'll squeak in.
I'm not sure about you all, but I can't wait for the Porter sycophants to throw a parade when the Crew limps into securing the 7 seed.
We can clinch the seventh seed, mere points behind Cincinnati, without even winning two in a row all season, and some of you will never be happy. Smh....
I'm not sure if anyone is aware of this "massive" achievement, but I've just compared our current record with that of our glorious Supporters Shield 2004 season; the lowest point total of any SS winner in league history: 2004: 30 games, 12W, 5L, 13D 2022: 30 games, 9W, 7L, 14D After the same number of games, more ties than in 2004, when it seemed all we could do was draw. 14 draws in one season (unsurprisingly) is the most in team history. Sorry, I'm obviously just grasping at straws to come up with something to talk about this season.
Not that we'll take advantage but Atlanta just gave us a gift by shutting out Orlando at home to wipe out their game in hand.
Wednesday, 9/14 ORL 0:1 ATL Points Wins GD (Games remaining, Max Points) PHI 63 18 +46 (3, 72) MTL 56 17 +9 (3, 65) NYRB 50 14 +10 (3, 59) NYC 46 13 +12 (3, 55) ORL 42 12 -2 (4, 54) CIN 42 10 -+5 (4, 54) CLB 41 9 +5 (4, 53) ------------------------------- MIA 39 11 -12 (4, 51) ATL 39 10 -4 (3, 48) NE 38 9 -3 (3, 47) CHA 35 11 -9 (5, 50) CHI 35 9 -9 (3, 44) TOR 34 9 -8 (3, 43) Atlanta beating Orlando is a good thing for us in the short term. But all of a sudden, we have another team in our rear view mirror.
I haven't watched Orlando in over a month. Has anyone else watched them? What seems to be happening there? They've been stuck in neutral, seemingly like us or even worse, for a while now.
I haven’t, but if I had to guess: • Pareja is a good but not great coach • It seems like Gallese in goal hasn’t been as good • Their signings haven’t worked out all that well
At this point i think we need to win and be in a spot to maybe control who our potential match up is obviously you don’t want to play at Philly and the weakest top4 is NYCFC but they might fall from the spot so if 4 is possible who would that match us up with the first 2 rounds ?
Stuck in neutral? I don't agree with that assessment. They won THE CUP seven days ago, ran into the buzzsaw that is Philadelphia (what?!) three days later, and had a bit of a hangover against Atlanta last night. Prior to THE CUP Final, they had been on a four-game winning streak in league play. I would kill for the Crew to attain that level of neutral. Aside from the result against Atlanta, they look like they're rounding into form. From the bit I've watched, they can be like the Crew in the attack: a little too slow, giving the defense time to get organized. They also don't shoot a ton. When they do have good chances, they are a bit wasteful, but they also take a lot of low-chance opportunities. On defense, I think their CBs are poor. They're really vulnerable to being caught upfield and don't seem to read direct play very well. Still ahead of us in the standings AND have a trophy (the only one that matters, too).
So which 2 seeds play which sends the winner to Philly ? those are the seeds to avoid is that the 4v5 ? i assume 3 plays 6 and is it Philly plays the lowest seed that makes the next round . This 7 team thing is new so i need to remember this stuff. thanks in advance
If we're the 7th seed and beat the #2 seed in the first round, then we'd face Philadelphia in the second round. Is it still home and home, starting at the worse seed?
For a team that's 1-6-2 in its last nine, NYC have come out firing against the Red Bulls. 2-0 with goals in the 1st and 23rd.
Chicago and Toronto can both be eliminated from the playoffs today with losses. (There are other scenarios as well, but too many to type.)
Also, apparently the Red Bulls have clinched a playoff spot somehow. Miami still has enough points available to catch them, as do all the teams between those spots, so there must be matchups between those teams that mean not everyone can max out. Three down, four to go.
I would like to thank New England for being so incredibly inept and impotent down the homestretch of this season, allowing the Crew to potentially back into the playoffs.