The Supporters' Shield outcome comes down to the upcoming match between the LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes. It's very simple: If San Jose wins, they win the Supporters' Shield, as the two teams will be even on points, and San Jose will have superior goal differential. Any other result means the trophy goes back to the first site where it was presented, Los Angeles. Full press release later this week.
yes i would like to believe it was my threats of sending a crack team of stoners, drunks, and idiots to florida that made them return it... and we'll never know if it was otherwise
I think you meant: If SJ wins, LA and SJ are tied on points and the series is tied between LA and SJ, so it goes to goal differential as the third tie-breaker (and SJ would win). If LA wins or ties, it's theirs. Small difference...me and my big mouth...
Zar, are you sure the way ties are broken is through head-to-head results? And Sam, is there an all-you-need-to-know -about-the-Supporters-Shield website anywhere? I can't find anything via Google.
zar, the supporters shield might go to goal differential as it's first tie breaker... the playoff spots going first to head to head however, until sam pipes in, i can't say as i know for sure -jim
http://www.mlsnet.com/about/regulations/ First tiebreaker is head-to-head, but if there is a tie to be broken, then they will be tied in head-to-head, so the 2nd tiebreaker is goal difference. The Shield is awarded according to whatever rules MLS institutes to determine its #1 team. Interestingly, if the Quakes win, it will be the third consecutive year that the season ends with two teams even on points at the top of the table.
When is the Supporters Shield given to the winning team? Is it given immediately after the decidding game or is it presented a week or two later, maybe at the winning teams next home game?
ummm... the supporter's shield is handled by the fans, not the league... we don't have to follow their tie breaker method if we don't want to, and i believe it was established with different tie breakers than what the league currently uses as for when it is handed out... it's been handed out at the supporter's summit to the winning team's supporters -jim
It probably should be based on the way the MLS handles ties. Only because then it will be the number 1 seed in the playoffs. Otherwise, we might run into a situation where one team wins the Supporters Shield, another team finishes in the 1st Seed, and third team wins the MLS Cup. (Not to mention a fourth team winning the US Open Cup) Just my two cents -r
Noah's correct. The Shield is based on whatever criteria MLS uses to determine the #1 postseason seed. We the fans certainly don't have to do it that way, but that is the way it has been done. It's also the simplest and least controversial, if you has my opinion. Thems the rules.
dat's fine... i had a post somewhere in here saying that i wasn't sure although from sam's post it did seem that goal differential was the first tie breaker
I just reread Sam's post. I see what you mean. I remember the debates from 2000, and it was explained that the shield follows MLS criteria. Of course, I'm willing to let Sam decide things based on whatever criteria he deems sufficient!
If the teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, then the respective supporters groups should play a one-off to decide the tiebreaker. injury-fest! - Paul