Why in MLS do teams think playing a for Tie is acceptable when they are on the road. I hear coaches, players and announcers talking about a tie on the road as being some sort of an accomplishment, being acceptable. Why?? In MLS, why would a team play differently on the road than they would at home??
I guess the concept of home field advantage is foreign to you? Generally teams play better at home. Possibly because they are comfortable with the dimensions and particulars of their home pitch. Maybe because they are spurred on by the support of their home fans. Maybe because they have enjoyed a nice rest at home vs an evening at a hotel with another teammate in the same room. Probably a combination of the three. Anyway, over history home teams tend to perform better. Therefore, it is considered a moral victory to at least take something away from games when you aren't at home. Now, this isn't true when a much stronger team visits a real weak team. But all things being equal, a draw on the road is something to be moderately proud of. And drawing at home is something to be dissapointed with.
I was watching the Columbus v Colorado and game and there was pretty much inconsequential. Literally no atmosphere whatsoever. But yet Andruless was talking about playing for a tie cause they were on the road. So being there was no real crowd, He decided this because of the field dimensions and the fact his players had to sleep in a hotel the night before??? Seems like a pretty weak argument to me. In this league, the way its structured, the lack of weight placed on the regular season, the parity and the lack of any real intimidating crowds, teams should always play to win. In other leagues, maybe, but in MLS, play for the win already will ya, there is no real reason not too..
Well, its a long held convention....and not one limited to MLS either. Perhaps Andrulis was letting that theory get in the way of his coaching.....I wouldn't be suprised, he couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. I also watched that match and I thought Andrulis' attitude towards the end was ridiculous. The Crew were finally putting some offense together when he made the sub for Maisoneauve and basically gave up. This is why I propose that MLS give no points for goalless draws. Neither team deserved anything after that game......and normally they don't after goalless draws.
Totally agree. That game was horrific.. Goaless ties no pints.. hummmm i'll buy that... In general i wish teams would just play for the win.. The reasons not too are far from compelling and a little chancyness would be a welcome sight in a world where negative soccer seems to dominate.
I think this change would, in fact, induce teams to go for the win.....well, in scoreless games anyway. I think teams that score one or more goals, yet end up in a draw do deserve something. The difference between 1 point and 3 points can be big....so there is enough incentive to go for the win normally. I just HATE teams that sit on a 0-0 draw.....afraid to push forward thinking they will give up the winner. Too damn bad....go for it. I think this change will do force them to push forward late in the game......why not??
the #s (percentages anyway) that have been shown a few times point to a similarity in the percentage of draws in MLS (compared to other leagues) However, what numbers will probably never be able to decipher is how often NEITHER team plays to win, waiting (in vain) for the other team to have the ballZ and attack....Could be from the beginning (like in C-bus/Colorado, hence the 0-0) or while being 1-1, 2-2 ,etc, and i see teams giving up going for the win way too early (at times, like 40 minutes before the end) That is what at times is dissapointing in MLS....At the same time, this weekend, outside of (lucky ESPN2 viewers) C-bus-Colorado, the other games were not bad at all ....Shame not as many people have MLS Direct kick as they do ESPN2 ....
Playing for a tie on the road seems to be the mantra for many middle-of-the-pack and poor teams, causing them to play conservative soccer that helps increase the odds that they go home with at best a draw. The better teams in a league, on the other hand, expect to win on the road and play accordingly. Chelsea, for instance, had a 12-3-4 WLT record at home last season and was 12-4-3 on the road.
But in this league, Is there any real reason to ever play for a draw. In other sports i can see it, in other leagues around the world i can see it, but here in the MLS i cant see one reason why being on the road would make u change your tactic. Come on, the 11 people in denver this weekend really had columbus on the heels??? I just dont see it as a real concept, but yet every week someone or another talks about road this or road that.. its really just silly and an illegitimate point at that...