So we avoid MLS clubs. We get Santos again. Group 1Santos Laguna (MEX)Toronto FC (CAN)Aguila (SLV)
Ugg.....Santos will know us and not take us for granted. The best hope is for us to play down there first and have the last game be here between us and them. But, I have my doubts as to whether Santos would accept that.
Only 3 in a group this year Poly. 8 groups of 3. Group winners make the knockout stages where everyone is then seeded 1-8 by points then tiebreakers.
Seems like TFC is screwed this year...given the new format. I wonder if Winter tries to play for two 0-0 ties against Santos, and then go for max points against the Salvadorian club. Kind of funny on the MLS website...they make it seem as though RSL got a tough draw as they ended up in a group with two clubs from Central America. Sure it's not exactly pleasant playing in Central America, but I'd take that draw any day.
I see this as win win. If we can get by this group that is a huge moral boost based on the fabric of the competition. Should we fail to advance we can then concentrate fully on the remaining part of the league. A project which many will jest call "playoff mission improbable". It's seems tough to suggest that we could compete in the league and yet gain much needed points while stretching our roster in the CCL. Allowing key players to be subjected to injury and subsequently losing them for critical playing times...cough ...Kovermans....cough....Frings.
That's how I see it too. If we make it out of that group, we have something to be proud of. If not, whatever, no need to be ashamed We had a good run last year (well, this year too technically) anyway, and I'd like to concentrate on something we've never had before, success in MLS. I fear if we make it into the quarter-finals again it will only be a distraction, a lot it was a couple months ago. Yeah, we made it to the CCL semis but we went 0-9 in the league. And as awesome as the CCL run was, it clearly didnt have an effect on our usual MLS performance, if anything it made us worse. So honestly I hope we dont make it through, and we can concentrate on finding success in non-cup competitions. I wouldnt mind seeing that little Salvadoran club makes it through as long as it's Santos who finish last (that'll never happen, I know)
TFC is screwed by default drawing into a Mexican team that happens to be the one that already know the Canadian team. It doesn't mean TFC can't beat Santos though as long as they are well-prepared. Also, Mexican teams have lost to lower Central American teams from time to time. So, there is always a chance. I would love to see them win more MLS games instead of CCL though.
It was a poor draw for us, what we wanted was to avoid the Mexicans teams but I find it odd and funny how none of the American MLS sides were paired up with a Mexican side Not impossible to make it through to the next stage but very tough, need to play our best and have a little luck along the way
I think the cancellation of Super Liga means that Concacaf had to find a new way of getting 4 USA v. 4 Mex clubs every season.
They very specifically made it so US and Mexican teams would not play each other. If you look at the rules of the draw, that was set up.
Well there is always a feeling that they are trying to make it that way. The way the pots were set up Galaxy and Sounders could of been paired with Monterrey and Chivas. Houston and RSL could of been paired up with either Santos or Pumas but didn't happen.
the pots make it look like they could be drawn that way but rules, as indicated above, specifically prohibit MEXvsUSA in the first round. i also mentioned this months ago but everyone thought i was incorrect. it's practically legalized rigging and i can't believe something like that would actually be approved but it is now reality.
The whole idea of Pots A and B really had no meaning, since the American teams could not be drawns with each other anyways. The real "A seeds" were the Americans and the Mexicans. The jerryrigging of the draw is transparent. But to be honest it's not unexpected from CONCACAF. It basically favours Americans teams to make the playoffs in an unjust manner, when really only the Mexican teams have "earned" their seeding.
Funny how many people are saying we got screwed ending up with Santos. As nlsnand mentioned, they earned their seeding. All we did was come up on top against MLS expansion teams. I don't see how we got screwed...you have to play good teams (and/or win regularly) to get easy competition in the group stage.
The thing is with the new format there is almost no way for Toronto or whoever the Canadian representative is to get an easy group (avoiding the Mexican squads). Canada has traditionally done well at the CCL last year Toronto did better then any of the American MLS teams yet the 4th seeded USA team automatically gets to avoid a Mexican team while even if Canada were to again make the semifinal the Canadian representative could still potentially face a Mexican squad while the lowest seeded American team is guaranteed not to. The 4th seeded American team hasn't earned that type of advantage.
Right but you can only face the competition that is in front of you. Tfc shouldnt be penalized because they face weaker teams like montreal and vancouver. (and for the record, i thoroughly enjoyed typing that last sentence)
Then don't think of it as a penalization. Think of it as the Mexican teams earning their "A pot" ranking. They have to play a whole season in the best league in Concacaf versus Canadian teams having to play 4 games, not to mention of the 4 teams are semi-pro at best. Personally I think it's a bi-product of a bigger problem which is the CCL expanding to a 24 team group stage. They just opened the door to marginal teams. I'd like to see the pre-group stage qualifying round to determine the rest of the group stage participants...and that's where the Canadian champ deserves to start. Just my opinion. It's similar to the Oceania group in WCQ. Just because you win the weakest tournament in FIFA WC qualification, you shouldn't automatically make it to the WC finals.
Well, for the competition in question - it was. MLS, not so much. Edit: Also - it's not like we couldn't be paired with a US team. Which IMO would be a better chance than against Mexican teams.
3 first division canadian teams 1 second division canadian team sorry i'm finding it difficult to locate the 4 semi-pro teams from that^
He was missing the word "one". I'm curious about how Canadian teams qualify for this. I think there is only one spot regardless of anything else right? So, for instance, if Vancouver wins the MLS or Supporters Shield they still don't qualify because they didn't win the Canadian Championship. I'm sure I read somewhere that that's the case.