MLS Cup 2004 champion and runner-up to represent United States in 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup Do we get just the 2 spots? I understand the rationale but it would nice to see teh US Open Cup winner or a the Supporters Shield Winner get a shot at one of these sopts - if only to add a measure of importance to each effort. If a team happened to win both - I think the MLS Cup runner-up would then make a fine choice.
isn't there another Concacaf Cup competiotion ? where this other teams get to play in, for some reason i thought Concacaf had 2 of this competitions, one for Champ and runnerup and the other for this Open Cup and SShield
This is supposed to be a "Champions" cup, though. My vote goes to the MLS Cup champion and the US Open Cup champion.
True dat Brian, but do we really want to see Doctor Khumalo, Pete Marino and Mike Lapper represent MLS in this tournament?
I'd like to think the regular season champ desrves something. I love the Open Cup. I wish it meant more too, but I think we shouldn't have two tournament champions go when a regular-season champ sits at home.
Absolutely. But MLS HQ knew there'd be trouble which is why they included this at the end of the PR: "Aside from the 2002 and 2003 editions of the CONCACAF Champions Cup which saw four MLS teams participate, the MLS Cup Champions and runner-up represented the United States in all previous tournaments since 1997. The 2003 MLS Cup Champion San Jose Earthquakes and runners-up Chicago Fire participated in the 2004 event." Thanks MLS.
At least Andrulis will not become an internationally known fool that will embarrass the Columbus faithful who deserve so much more (or did he do that in their last CC appearance?). With his low international profile, I'd like to see him take the gig in Mexico after Lavolpe is gone....they won't know what hit them!!!
I don't think they should have it set who goes, for example they shouldn't say SS winner, cup winner, cup runner-up, etc. go. They should pick them based on intangible things. Like San Jose didnt go far in the playoffs or have a great regular season, but are still a dangerous team. I'm not saying they should go, but I'm using them as an example. Anyway, how'd KC get in in 2002? We sucked that year. Also what other teams will be in the CONCACAF Cup?
I disagree. When you have playoffs, the regular season primarily serves to weed out the really bad teams from having a chance at the championship. The playoffs are what matter. So reward that. I'd like to see the Open Cup winner get the 2nd spot, but apparently that's not happening. It would be nice however for MLS to decide and announce this at the beginning of the season, so at least everyone would know ahead of time. I can understand why Columbus fans are upset.
Yes. There are only 8 spots in the entire tournament now. As I understand it. 2-US, 2-MEX, 2-CARIB, and 2-C. AM make up the bracket. Discression (I'm using the word loosely) is left to the federations in determining the 2 eligible. The KC argument for being screwed is similar in that KC is still involved in the playoffs, had the same points and more wins than CLB, and took the USOC. CLB won the shield, sure. Whatever the selection process, 2nd place in anything shouldn't get squat. You have to wonder why any team from the East is truly deserving. Only the East 3 and 4 seeds are even eligible for inclusion in this tournament. dc sucked the entire beginning of the year. NE managed to suck even longer. If this is the way things will be then say so before the year starts. As is it just looks like yet another gift to either dc or NE.
I'm with you monster. the idea that the MLS regular season CHAMPION deserves to go less than the 2nd place team in a 4 game tournament (playoffs), or the winner of a short one off tournament (US Open Cup), is ludicrous. Crew are getting shafted. MLS has blown yet another one. As an aside, everyone does realize that next years Champions Cup winner goes to the World Club Championship next year in Japan ....... competing for 15 million smackeroos, right? What a screw job.
And of course, you have screwed the pooch too. DC IS the East number 2 seed. Get your facts straight before you spout off a bunch of nonsense. By the way, you do realize that this helps KC out as much as it helps DC or NE, right?
This new plan is such bull sh$t. The team that wins the MLS Cup should get a Champions Cup slot, and the teams that wins the US Open Cup should get a Champions Club spot. MLS just did this to make sure Freddy Adu plays in the Champions Cup.
Did you even bother to read the article? You do realize that this is the same format that they had last year, right? You also realize that EVERY year in which we've only had 2 entrants, MLS has used this format? So if they have done that every year MLS has only had 2 entrants, how can you claim that they are ONLY doing it this year for Freddy. The bottom line is that I think allowing the runnerup in MLS Cup to get in is just plain dumb. it was wrong when they used it in the past and it continues to be wrong now. the conspiracy theories are foolish though, when you see that the league has done it this way every other comparable year before this.
You know folks there is precedent about the MLS Cup winners AND runner's up being the two US entrants. As long as MLS is deciding on who's going, why the hell would they take pity on the USOC? And please don't tell me that the USOC is deserving or has been around so long, etc, or that it should be included. The CCC is about the best of MLS competing against the best of CONCACAF and that is only determined by the playoffs. It doesn't want to include a champion of a competition that could be from some backwater D3 league or one that even has to play against said competition.
In a perfect world, the Revs would win their next 2 games, but decline the invite to a tournament their ownership has no interest in. Otherwise, they may get drawn against some crap Caribbean side who doesn't have $25,000 to buy the Revs "home" leg. Tom
Actually, I believe the U.S. Soccer Federation officially names the entrants... PS: I also think the USOC winner should get a spot.
The continental place was one of the few tangible carrots for winning the Shield. If this is the case that it won't happen next season, that's particularly sad.