I'm too tired to put much thought in to it, but as I understand it, we are 3 points up on Chivas with one more game played. We can top out at 62 points, same as Chivas, but we own the tie break.
That's my understanding as well. And I protest the use of the term "Mathlete". We prefer the term "Mathematically able".
Updated 23 September 2007. Summary: United Ties Chicago, knocking a point off of everyone's total. KC's loss eliminated them from catching United. FC Dallas stumbled against LA, and NE tied NYRB. Code: Eastern Conference: Team Magic Number New England 9 NYRB 1 KC -1 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 21 Sept 2007 >> Columbus -6 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007 >> Chicago -5 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 15 Sept 2007 >> Toronto -13 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> Western Conference: Team Magic Number Houston 8 FC Dallas 3 Chivas USA 13 Colorado -8 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> Salt Lake -14 <<Can Not catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> LA -10 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> The week ahead: No important games until the weekend, when United hosts Toronto, Chicago visits Chivas, Colorado visits New England, and Houston visits FC Dallas. Only FC Dallas and NYRB can be eliminated from catching United this upcoming week. Around the league: No team has yet been eliminated from post-season play, but the magic numbers for the teams looking up at Chicago are: Code: Columbus 12 Colorado 10 Salt Lake 4 Toronto FC 5 Los Angeles 8 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.
Kim, I am 99% sure NYRB has already been eliminated from catching DC and we locked up a Superliga spot this weekend. NY can only tie DC and even in the event of a three way tie with NE we still take the tiebreaker over NY.
You're right. I changed my formula from years past so that the magic number is outright clinching a spot, so I don't need to be concerned with the ever-changing MLS tie-breakers. The magic number of 1 indicates that the best that NY can do is tie United in the standings, but then it all comes down to tiebreakers.
In terms of SuperLiga, isn't it still possible for 4 teams to catch us -- Dallas, Houston, Chivas, New England? Or have we clinched it due to some of those teams (the Western conf ones) all playing each other? Seems to me that it's still possible, albeit unlikely, for us to not make SuperLiga for 2008.
Is there a set "formula" for qualifying for the Superliga for the next year? This is a "TV money tourney" and I wouldn't put it beyond the organizers or the league to make some arbitrary reasoning to select whomever they wish.
The rules have been established as the top four teams in the final standings go to Superliga. My understanding was it was the top 2 in the East and top 2 in the West rather than top 4 from a single table but I could be wrong on that point. http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070402&content_id=87043&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp The four MLS teams with the best regular season records in 2007 will qualify for SuperLiga 2008. Starting in 2006, the Supporters' Shield winner for best regular season record receives one of the United States' two spots in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Enough wiggle room to be interpretted to suit MLS's best interests I am sure.
So simple - ugh, yeah, we meant the top four teams as if it were a PGA tournament and have low score. Yeah, thats it.
They should just call it an invitational tournament and be done with it. Then they can invite whichever teams they want to, for whatever reason they want to: performance on the field, media or fan appeal, purty uniforms, whatever...
Find a way? I figured it was already obvious. Previous year's finalists automatically qualify the next year, duh. They'll announce it in January.
Exactly, my friend. Not only did i root for NY, but I was in NJ AT THE GAME rooting for NY, with my cousin visiting from England. When Angel scored to tie the game, i was hi-fiving people like I was a lifelong Metros fan. I love DC far more than I hate any team, in any league.
I'm a little confused, is this some sort of confession thread? If I ever become that type of mercenary, I hope someone has the common sense to put me in front of a firing squad and put me out of my misery!
So, with the win tonight, it looks to me that we have certainly locked up a SuperLiga berth for 2008. And the Chivas tie against Chicago is a nice result. We can't let up, but if my calulations are correct, two wins and a tie guarentees us the SS regardless of what everyone else might do. I think that's doable even with the Sudamericana concerns.
Updated 29 September 2007. Summary: United beats Toronto, Chivas drops two points by tying Chicago, NYRB is now guaranteed (again) to finish below United, and New England keeps pace. Code: Eastern Conference: Team Magic Number New England 6 NYRB -4 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 28 Sept 2007>> KC -1 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 21 Sept 2007 >> Columbus -6 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007 >> Chicago -5 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 15 Sept 2007 >> Toronto -13 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> Western Conference: Team Magic Number Houston 5 FC Dallas 0 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 28 Sept 2007>> Chivas USA 8 Colorado -8 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> Salt Lake -14 <<Can Not catch DC United - 8 Sept 2007>> LA -10 <<Can Not Catch DC United - 12 Sept 2007>> The week ahead: 29 Sept 2007 - Houston v Dallas :: Dallas has already been eliminated, they could knock some points off of Houston's total, though. LA v Columbus :: Columbus needs points to stay in the playoff hunt. Around the league: No team has yet been eliminated from post-season play (surprisingly), but the magic numbers for the teams looking up at Chicago are: Code: Columbus 11 Colorado 6 Salt Lake 1 Toronto FC 1 Los Angeles 7 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. <<29 Sept 2007>> 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.
Actually both RSL and TFC were eliminated tonight. Check the note here: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12870259&postcount=62
basically eliminated, but their magic number is 1. They both can get to 33 points. Chicago only has 33 points. if Columbus wins today then they are eliminated.
Yeah. The way I've done it is that a magic number of 1 means that the best they can do is tie. And I'm not going to go into the gory details of MLS tiebreakers to see if someone's eliminated, I'm just looking at the simple case of points that a team can earn.
Well, according to the gory details they have already been eliminated. And it doesn't matter at all what Columbus does today.