<snip> The solution for MLS is to embrace soccer culture and play a total goals home and home series, or in soccer vernacular, a two-legged tie with away goals counting double ... the classic soccer format. It is a bit of a stretch to call it the classic soccer format. There are plenty of competitions worldwide that do not conform to this “classic” soccer format such as the Toyota Intercontinental Cup played every year in Tokyo between the European champions and the South American Champions. Single game elimination is probably a more viable option for the American consumer. I also would be an easier format to manage from the league’s perspective because it would reduce the amount of scheduling conflicts with venues. And finally, it would give the front offices of the league more time to market and sell these games. <snip> 1. There is nothing more tension-filled and exciting than the second game of a home-and-home series with the result hanging in the balance. How about a single game with the result hanging in the balance without having to bother with the preliminary 90 minutes that it took to set up the second game of a home-and-home series? <snip> 2. The away-goals tiebreaker puts more emphasis on coaching strategy. A single elimination game is the ultimate coaching strategy battleground. Just ask anybody that watched coach Arena win the strategy battle over coach Aguirre in the wc quarterfinals earlier this year. Real time strategies had to be resolved within 90 minutes because there was second game to make an adjustment. <snip> 3. Every second counts in a two-game, home-and-home series. A home-and-home format doesn’t guarantee close games, but it does remove the potential for accusations that a team eased up its efforts during a game in order to save its energies for the next game. This argument can be used against the current MLS playoff system. It is a moot point in a single elimination game. <snip> 4. A two-leg series gives the playoffs definition for the fans and the media. For a playoff system to capture the attention of fans and media, it must be easy to understand and embrace its sports’ traditions. NFL playoffs and NCAA march madness are the two biggest spectator events in the USA. Can somebody remind me what easily understandable format these two events follow? <snip> 5. Home-field advantage is even more valuable. In a single elimination system, the reward for an outstanding regular season is the right to play these games at home in front of their fans. I can’t think of anything more valuable than that. <snip> 6. Two-leg ties are the classic soccer format Soccer thrives on passion and tradition. And MLS would be well served to tap into the tradition of the game more. As the World Cup demonstrates every four years, this country is teeming with soccer fans. That fan base needs to be embraced – and an MLS Cup Playoff format styled in the classic soccer format of two-leg series will go a long way to stimulating interest among those fans. If the FIFA World Cup playoff system is played in a two-leg format then so should the MLS Cup. If the UEFA Champions League Cup incorporates a two-leg format in the later stages then so should the MLS Cup. The list of tournaments goes on and on. And MLS Cup should be added to the list. As Mr. Young states, the only soccer event that draws out the American sports fans is the World Cup. This makes the answer to this question so simple that it is easy to dismiss. The road to the MLS Cup should follow the format that the World Cup uses: Single elimination.
I agree that it should 'eventually' go to single elimination. However, in order to harness the interest of fans and media, all the suggestions listed by this journalist are solid points that are aimed at 'growing' the league. Home-and-home should be built upon even further by taking advantage of existing and growing rivalries within the MLS. Divisions should be drawn that can add an additional home-and-home for a total of four matches between rivals. Instill passion and the media will follow. Growth is good. Very good.
Well why not try the 2 game series next season and see how it goes, hell it's better than "first to 5 points" crap. I guess a one game series would be pretty exciting, but I wouldn't mind the playoffs like they were from 97-99 ('96 did a strange away-home-home series) and someone has to win (no ties!) but instead of a shootout, just play golden goal 'till someone scores. ___________________________________________ ~Ryan BURN TO BURN
If they do decide to change formats, they need to stand by that decision until TV revenue is so great that they dictate a format change. The league is only 7 years old, and we have had to endure no less than 4 different ways of getting to and playing the post season. This is going to be very hard to explain to my grandchildren 30 years from now. See, MLS already has messed up the minds of the youth of our great country. Golden goal is the resolution of a single elimination game that ends in a draw. If no golden goal is scored, then penalty kick shootouts take place. The whole point is that somebody is moving on or winning it all, and somebody else is done today. The MLS version of the golden goal allows for a draw if no golden goal is scored. If they are going to allow multiple game series to end in draws, the golden goal is not necessary. They can follow the rules outlined by Mr. Young in his article.
But thats the thing, I don't like the fact that there is ties in the playoffs, so that being said, why not just play a best of 3 series and if the game ends in regulation a tie, then go to golden goal until someone scores, I just hate any kind of shootout. But if we had to stick with one system for a few years, then I think maybe the single elimination is the best way to go. There is bad things about the single elimination and 2 game series. The 2 game series I don't like because one team can have a bad game and then be screwed for leg 2, and the bad thing about single elimination is our whole GD issue with the Refs, they can screw a team over in one game (us Burn fans should know) so until the refs get better, I don't think anyone will be comfortable about that one.
Golden goal until someone scores does not work. That is why FIFA limits the OT to two 15 minutes periods (a total of 30 minutes) before resorting to the pk shootout. If somebody has not scored by then, they just are not going to score. and the biggest drawback to your sugestion is that to subject players to potentially play three 120 minute games within the span of a week would absolutely kill the spectacle of the MLS Cup.
Advocating the 2 game home-and-away series for MLS smacks to me of classic soccer Euro-snobbery. And more to the point it devalues the regular season down to almost nothing. If you look at the competitions where home and away is used, it is used specifically in competitions where there is to be NO home field advantage. You can argue that getting to host the second game is getting a slight home field advantage, but the whole system is desgined to minimize this. The MLS regular season is largely meaningless as it is, but would become even more meaningless if a true home field advantage for the playoffs was no longer up for grabs. I do favor a multigame format from a competition point of view, simply because the chances that the better team comes out on top are much greater. LA is far and away the best team in their half of the playoff table, but they could lose a one off game and then we all get stuck watching Kansas City or the like competing for the MLS Cup. (And NOBODY wants to see that) So I am actually a fan of the 3-game series. The winning team almost always deserves to go on, and from my standpoint as a fan there are more games to enjoy. I actually prefer the first to 4 format though. I think a win and a tie in the first two games should be enough, but the league wanted more decisive game threes, and I can't complain too much about that sentiment. I realize that this format makes it difficult on those who have to promote games with little advance notice. If going to a single elmination format helps alleviate this problem, that'd be fine with me. The home field advantage that teams fought for during the regular season would be preserved. (and even more important than it is now) But home and away for MLS would be a farce. I'd cancel my Shootout package. Who wants to see so many games that mean so little?
I think the only way to have playoff games not potentially involve any kind of shootout or PK tiebreaker would be if a single-elimination playoff system were used. While it would be difficult for a team to recover after a 120+ minutes match, if games are spaced out with a minimum of 1 week between matches, it would be workable. However, in a best of 3 series format, teams typically play 2 games a week on average. So if no PK or shootout tiebreakers were used and a game went deep into overtime, it would be difficult for a team to recover since there's relatively little time between matches under this type of playoff format.
yea thanx for pointing that out, I never realize that they play so close and there is no way they could go 120+ minutes. So heres a question, which is more fair? The FIFA style PK shootout or the Old MLS style shootout (circa '96-'99)? We were so quick to ditch it, but what if it was used only in the playoffs, becuase frankly I think it's more of a show of a players/teams skill than one kick from a spot in front of the goal. Thoughts...
Personally, I'd prefer to see the shootout used as a tiebreaker rather than PK's. The shooter still has the advantage over the goalkeeper in a shootout, but not inordinately so. One of the main things I dislike about PK's is that any player who misses one will often end up taking much of the blame should his team lose. And with PK's you get too much cheating by goalkeepers who'll step off of their line before the ball is struck in order to increase their slim chance of stopping the shot.
I hope desparately that they don't go to a home and away with away goals tiebreaker. I'd rather see first to 4, single elimination, or 2 out of 3 with games decided on PKs. Home and away is designed to not favor one team over the other, but I think one team deserves an advantage. And as far as shoot outs you have to say no. Go with world cup type rules.