Basically it looks like this, with the Fire/Crew game tomorrow and the following raminifications: Crew win - They win the Eastern Division, get #2 seed and get home field advantage thru playoffs, first playoff series vs the Whizzers. Chicago eliminated from playoffs, get 2 "you suck" allocations, Ultras contemplate performing their hooligan tactics at WhiteSox games. Crew tie - They win the Eastern Division, get #2 seed and get home field advantage thru playoffs, first playoff series vs the Whizzers. Metros and Fire tie for 8th spot, and Fire advance on head to head (3-1 overall vs Pukes), Mathis goes to see shrink, MetroStars get 3 "you suck" allocations. Crew lose - They get the #6 seed, and have to go out west to play the loser of tonights Galaxy/PuffQuakes game, without home field advantage. Not desireable at all, either having to play on that 4x6 patch of grass in SJ, or having to face Ruiz and Co. in a best of 3 with LA having home field...
Even better than that a Crew win or tie means we get a first round date with KC. If the Crew doesn't want the Fire in the playoffs they are going to have to beat them. A tie puts them in the 8th spot and leaves Metrosucks out.
A tie will be just fine...Chicago won't get past either California team. I'd rather win the conference and have Chicago in the playoffs than finish 6th.
Who would we rather have get those "you suck" allocations? The Fire or the Metros? The Fire have a good coach with a lot of good players on injured reserve... The Metros have a small group of over achievers, a small group of veterans that played questionably, Diallo the goalie mauler, Mathis the head case, and Tim Howard... Hmmm......................................