I can understand people's concern. I don't personally put much stock in past encounters, particularly since both teams have undergone coaching changes and extensive roster shake-ups, but I don't mean to characterize the issue as silly. The two games DC has left against Chicago will tell us if my lack of concern is justified or not. If DC wins those, Chicago will be unlikely to end up 4th. If not, then I probably should have been worried.
We just gained two points on Chivas for the SS. NE can still reach 60. Chivas 62. FCD maxes out at 57 now. Houston still on 59.
That's the same exact thing that people told me in 2005, before the 2nd leg match, telling me that it would be an easy victory ........ you know, right before the team got rolled 4-0 at home. The fact of the matter is that whomever is in charge of that team can point to their teams results against us (while the underdog no less) as a rallying cry to pump them up against DC again. Noone who is in charge in DC's locker can say anything positive about matching up with Chicago. Plus, the team has to answer questions all week about why they can't beat Chicago in an elimination situation. The psychological can be just as important as the physical, and until this team scraps out a win when it matters against Chicago, I'm going to continue taking Chicago seriously.
Just to note that we max out at 64. Our magic number to eliminate Chivas is 14 and our magic number to eliminate New England is 12. We have 5 games to go, for a maximum of 15 points. Chivas upcoming matches: KC Chicago @RSL @FCD Colorado Houston Total matches = 6 New England Upcoming Matches @ RBNY Colorado @ Chicago Columbus @Toronto Between Colorado and Chicago is the USOC final in Dallas. Total matches = 6 Our schedule @Chicago Toronto @KC Chicago Columbus Between Chicago and Toronto we have Chivas (Guad.) at home and then play them away between Toronto and KC. Total matches = 7 with 4 in a 13 day span. Analysis: We have the most difficult schedule down the stretch, with two matches against Chicago, a tough visit to KC and a jacked-up Columbus team probably playing for their playoff lives. October 20 (out last game and Chivas' as well) could be a tense day, with all of us running out to RFK and then finding a TV to catch Chivas-Houston.
The only positive thing I could hope for having Chicago in the playoffs is that in the current format, they will have to head out West to play someone out there... Better one of them than us. Much like Dallas dreads Colorado, the last team I want to come up against in the playoffs is the Fire. Period.
So compared to Sundevil9's post of 12 September, we have: New England keeps pace Metrodonkeys drop two KC keeps pace Cowlumbus drops three Chicago drops two Toronto drops two Houston keeps pace Dallas drops three Chivas drops two Crapids drops two RSL drops two LA drops three Wednesday brings us LA@RSL, which is meaningless. Thursday brings us Chicago @ Dallas. From the point of view of the SS, a Chicago win would be best. From the point of view of keeping Chicago out of the playoffs, a Dallas win would be best. So maybe a draw is the best. Next Saturday: - Cowlumbus @ Toronto -- a Cowlumbus win fscks with Chicago. - New England @ the Red Metrodonkeys -- a Metrodonkey win would probably be best, but it's hard to root for that; so a draw so they both lose points compared to us, please. - Colorado @ RSL -- the only meaning here is in Colorado v. Chicago for the 8th playoff spot and 4th in the west. - KC @ Chivas -- a KC win here helps us against Chivas' SS hopes, plus helps keep Chicago from finding a way to sneak into the Eastern bracket.
Question: Did Houston clinch today (the playoffs that is) IMO I'd really like to see them drop in the western standings, so that they do not have home court advantage in the playoffs.
Updated 16 September 2007. Summary: United is currently idle. Chicago eliminated themselves from catching United on 15 September with their tie with NY. Code: Eastern Conference: Team Magic Number New England 12 NYRB 4 KC 3 Columbus -5 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007 >> Chicago 0 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 15 Sept 2007 >> Toronto -9 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> Western Conference: Team Magic Number Houston 9 FC Dallas 9 Chivas USA 14 Colorado -4 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> Salt Lake -11 <<Can Not catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> LA -7 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> The week ahead: United will remain idle until Sunday. But either a United win or KC loss will eliminate KC from catching United. Also NYRB is teetering on making United impossible to catch. 5 teams must be eliminated to clinch a playoff berth. << 12 Sept 2007 >> 5 Eastern Conference teams must be eliminated to clinch a #2 Seed. All Eastern Teams must be eliminated to clinch the conference. All Teams must be eliminated to clinch the Supporters' shield. The magic number is the combination of points needed to be won by United or dropped by other teams. When United wins a game, 3 points are deducted from all teams magic number, when another team loses 3 points is deducted from it's magic number. A United tie results in one point deducted from all, other team ties result in 2 points deducted from it's total. A particular team can no longer catch United when their magic number reaches 0. Around the league: New England, Houston, and Chivas have clinched playoff berths.
My biggest fear right now is that our games with Chivas (Mexico) would end up tiring us out, allowing Chivas (LA) to catch and pass us for the SS. I don't want to see a tired DCU team lose to both Chivasses and get bounced in the playoffs. I hope we have enough gas in the tank for what promises to be a challenging stretch run. Maybe not pretty, but that's my concern...
Not that it matters to our possible outcomes, but how did RSL drop from -5 after our match on the 12th to -11 now? We haven't played since then, and they only played once, and drew that game. Was there a mistake in your post from the 12th? What did I miss?
Agreed. Sometimes it may not make sense but one team seems to have the other team's number during playoffs and unfortunately Chicago has ours. They just match up or play a style that we just can't seem to overcome. I would be just as soon ok with Chicago going out west or playing New England.
Actually, the -5 was wrong. If you find my post before that, you'll see RSL at -3 entering the game against United. So -3 for United winning, -3 for RSL losing and another -2 for their exhilarating tie with Toronto, and you get -11 now. Also, RSL has 19 points now, with a maximum of 37, while United currently has 49 points. 37-49+1 = -11 Purely academic. But I missed it on my last update.
Honestly everyone being afraid of Chicago has gotten old. If the team plays afraid they deserve to lose. I have full confidence in this team and I am not afraid of them meeting Chicago in the playoffs.
Not half as old as our getting our nuts stomped into a pulp by them every. single. time. we play them in a meaningful match. When our team gives me a reason to think that Chicago doesn't have our number, I'll stop wanting to avoid them in meaningful matches.
Yea!!! You never know what he is going to do. Makes his team a very big danger in the playoffs. I would be very worried to play them... but confident none the less
Chivas would have to lose 3 more points than Houston to finish in 2nd in the Western conference at this point. Chivas controls their destiny in the Western conference. Not Houston. Although Houston still plays RSL and LA to finish out the season and have 3 of 4 on the road. I believe it will come down Houston playing Chivas in LA for the conference title.
I want Chicago for the playoffs opener in RFK. If we cant handle them at home, then we are not good enough. Also, I much rather play them than Colorado or Columbus. Those teams are barely watchable, so I wouldnt be so inclined to go to the stadium for that game. I guess it is a matter of preference, but hypothetically, if we beat Chicago in the playoffs opener, I feel much better about our MLS Cup chances than after eliminating other teams...
I'm going to pretend that this is what you posted so I don't have to put you on my ignore list. Do you really decide whether to go to RFK based on who we are playing????
Just wanted to note, Chivas has actually not yet clinched a playoff berth. Colorado has a maximum of 44 points, which is even with Chivas, and if they were to beat Chivas when they play them they would be tied in head-to-head (leaving the differential, which they could obviously still succeed on). So basically, if Chivas was to lose every one of their next games, and Colorado win every one and get the correct GD, they would beat out Chivas. Unlikely? EXTREMELY highly so. Impossible, no. Just wanted to point it out, makes me feel better somehow that they don't actually have it clinched (although realistically they do).