Metro win means they keep pace to put a damper on the chance of home field advantage through the playoffs, but the SJ loss means we're only 3 points behind for the Supporters Shield.
Actually, it's 2 points behind. Anyway's, it's good news to me. If we get the shield, we get home field. Only in america!
momentum? Actually, I think that the SJ loss is good for us. 2 points behind in the Supporters Shield with 2 games with Columbus. The only possible down side is....Does the win give the MetroScum added momentum and confidence going into the 15th, the Open Cup final? Actually maybe it works to our favor..they win today, play the Burn next weekend and get over confident for the foloowing Wed Cup final game. Actually I doubt Bob lets that happen... but it's a nice scenario.
The run in for the supporters shield looks like this: SJ 49 pts: away to Colorado, Away to LA, Home vs. LA Fire 47pts: Home to Columbus, Away to Colorado, Home vs. Columbus. I think the Fire can win at least 2 giving us 53 points, which means SJ can win, loose, draw for 4 points and we still loose on goal differential. The Fire need to win 2, draw 1 to at least give us a chance. We should have Mapp, Brown & Ralph back to help the cause.
What else I like about this result: SJ got beat, at home, by the Metros. And not just the Metros--by the kids and extras: Regan, Gaven, Magee, Bartolomeu, Leitch. No Mathis, no Richie Williams (not that that would hurt them. The Fire should take heart from that. I mean, after the last two blowouts, everybody was ready to hand SJ the trophy. Dave, study the film--Bob may yet help us to the Championship! (Well, maybe to all three!) Downside/regrets: look where we'd be if we'd just held on against the Rapids!
Well, if SJ is only winning one game, while we win two, our goal difference will go up at least two. As long as one of those Fire wins is by a larger margin than the hypothetical SJ win, we'll at least tie on goal difference. The Head to Head tie breaker is held by the Fire, so if Colorado has a good game on Wednesday, we're in complete control of our own fate as regards the Supporters Sheild. Unfortunately, the last time that was true we were headed to play the Burn.
should be: home to crew, home to colo, away to crew Think of it this way. We need to win one more than SJ.
Optimistic To elaborate on what FireAddict was saying... At this point on paper (I know it doesn't mean all that), but we're in great shape for the Supporters Shield. Chicago: 10.10 – CLB 10.18 – COL 10.26 – @ CLB San Jose: 10.10 – @ COL 10.18 – @ LA 10.25 – LA San Jose's good, but in the 3 remaining games we have two home games to their one; and, in addition we play Columbus twice instead of Los Angeles twice. No question we have the easier of the matchups. We still do have those 2 points to make up, but San Jose's schedule should benefit us, assuming we make the most out of our remaining matches. (oops, just noticed I looked over Paul D's post...exactly what I was thinking )
Re: Optimistic As I look at the schedules, the Fire look to have a less arduous task than the Quakes. The one thing that worries me, though, is Columbus. Those guys will likely be desperate to make the playoffs and give the Fire a ton of trouble. Colorado doesn't concern me quite as much as they can't catch San Jose or fall behind KC at this point. The only thing that will give the Fire a clear shot at the shield is L.A.'s determination to leapfrog the Wizards and avoid the Quakes in the postseason. A draw and a loss from the Quakes could well be enough for the Men in Red.
I have not had much luck with jinxes recently, people...somebody do some serious woodknocking, quick!
tie breakers I believe that goal difference is irrelevant as far as the race with SJ for the supporters shield because we already own the first tie-breaker. That is we already won the head-to-head match-up with them. Didn't we tie KC in 2000 for the SS, but loose it on head-to-head?