MLS 2004 Schedule and WCQ in 2004 and 2005

I would have highlighted the following matches...

2004
Saturday/Sunday, 17-18 January, Preliminary Round – Date 1
Wednesday, 21 January, Preliminary Round – Date 2
Wednesday, 18 February, Preliminary Round – Date 3
Wednesday, 31 March, Preliminary Round – Date 4
Saturday/Sunday, 12-13 June, Preliminary Round – Date 5
Saturday/Sunday, 19-20 June, Preliminary Round – Date 6

Wednesday, 18 August, Semi-Final Round – Game 1
Saturday/Sunday, 4-5 September, Semi-Final Round – Game 2
Wednesday, 8 September, Semi-Final Round – Game 3
Saturday/Sunday, 9-10 October, Semi-Final Round – Game 4
Wednesday, 13 October, Semi-Final Round – Game 5

Wednesday, 17 November, Semi-Final Round – Game 6

I'd image that MLS could schedule around 1 Wednesday game per month for the Aug, Sep & Oct games. So we could only be looking at conflicts with First round dates 5-6 and Semifinal round games 2 & 4.

Perhaps, most importantly, the Semifinal game 6 conflicts with the Playoffs. It's not a direct conflict, but this Wednesday game will either fall between the first round and the Conference Finals or it will fall between the Conference Final and the MLS Cup. Either way any US Nats in the those games would play an MLS playoff game the previous Saturday, then this US Nat game Wednesday and then either the Conference Final or MLS Cup the following Saturday/Sunday.

Hopefully, we're at a point by Game 6 that we've wrapped up advancing so that Bruce can leave anyone involved in these playoff games off the roster.

 

I think it's more likely they push back the schedule a week or two so the MLS Cup is on the preceeding Sunday.

 

OK admit it, how many of you are busy entering these days into your day planner/PDA/other scheduling device?

I know I am.

Sachin

 

Or they could do it like 2000 when there was a qualifier on a Wednesday squeezed between the semifinals and the final on the surrounding weekends.

Or MLS could choose to have MLS Cup in October like it has been 6 out of 8 years.

 

The schedule could go like this:

Weekend of 10/2: End of MLS Regular Season
10/9-10: Semi-Final Round Game 4
10/13: Semi-Final Round Game 5
Weekend of 10/16: MLS Play-offs 1st Rd. 1st Leg
Weekend of 10/23: MLS Play-offs 1st Rd. 2nd Leg
Weekend of 10/30: MLS Play-offs 2nd Rd.
11/7: MLS Cup 2004
11/17: Semi-Final Round Game 6

Therefore, Bruce could have plenty of time for training camp before the last match (just in case we haven't clinched yet.) Plus, the 2004 MLS season could start in mid to late-March again yet still be able to take a small break around the two matches in June.

 

Keep in mind that we only play on 4 of the first 6 dates, and by the time MLS makes their schedule, they may know which four they will be playing.

 

All I know is that there's some Carribean or Central American nation's gonna be hating life in the US and Canada in January and February.

[Cool Runnings]What you been smokin' mon?![/Cool Runnings]

 

Actually, in the semi-final round, we play on all six matchdays. I'm assuming because that's what we did last time.

 

You are correct, but I think Blong was referring to the preliminary round- 6 dates have been set aside, but only 4 games will be played in the first round.

 

Right, but even when the US is NOT playing, Honduras, Canada or someone else with players in MLS WILL be playing. Bottom-line: MLS has to schedule around the FIFA int'l dates if they ever want anyone to take the league seriously. It's not hard. In fact its much easier for MLS to schedule around FIFA than it is for European leagues that have much busier fixture schedules and whose players have to travel greater distances to get to their WCQ matches