It's that time of year again when the supporter in me wishes there were a third place game in MLS. Right now, the Fire are one of the top four teams in MLS. If there were a third place match at the same date and location as MLS Cup, Fire fans could already be booking flights and preparing for game day. With as many new tournaments as we have, couldn't a third place match become more important? Wouldn't a double header be more fun for the random MLS fans that show up simply because they enjoy the league? And obviously, wouldn't it help supporters make arrangements?
No. "Americans will never tolerate a loser. I wouldn't given a hooten hell about a man who lost, and laughed."
That's a pretty interesting idea since it helps people make travel arrangements earlier. It could work if they tied winning 3rd to something like CCL or Superliga.
This is exactly my thought. It would help 'supporters', but also sideline sitters who are interested in the final. To be able to see their team play would just be a bonus.
I agree that it would have to lead to being in a tournament if you won third place. Even in the WC no one really cares about third place.
Related Threads: (not just MLSC, but USOC as well...) 3rd-placed Finish in USOC, will they matter? 3rd-placed Finish in MLS Cup, they might matter... And yes, I agree that they should lead to the qualifications of some other tournaments (be it international or domestic), in order to be meaningful...
I wasn't suggesting that it is. I'm suggesting that a third place game that has some value, would make life easier for supporters and fans to support their team at MLS Cup. I would have bought my ticket to LA last week if I had known the Fire were playing in LA at MLS Cup. Instead, I'm waiting. If more people travel to see their team, more people will learn to appreciate MLS Cup as an event. Having more supporters at the event will help make it more of an event. I was at one MLS Cup that the Fire weren't in and it was still a good time.
Well, the point of MLS Cup is to have only 2 teams play. I don't think you'd get much TV time (which is really key) or attendance for the 3rd place game. That said, the supporters have been great for the past two years (if I may say so ) despite long distance travel on short notice. Even before that MLS Cup has been a great place and traveling support was always good. IIRC in 2006 and 2007, every club was represented and I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon. Some go only for their team...the majority show up for the event. It's not dissimilar from the All-Star game. This is a celebration of MLS and the _____ season. It's also a great chance for the SGs to meet, hand off the SS and to talk with the various suits about SG problems, concerns and desires and to hang out with other soccer fanatics from across the country. Then go to this one regardless. A good time will be had, regardless of who is playing. Celebrate the league you support.
It's a pointless exercise for both the players and the fans. The only reason why the WC keeps its third-place match is because it makes money.
I do, a third place game just seems like a way to make it easier for people to do. I would love to go to MLS Cup this year as I DO celebrate the league. I can only afford to go if the Fire go though. There's a cost of time and money to every trip and it's not realistic to think everyone can always make it. One day MLS Cup will (hopefully) be as tough a ticket to get as any other pro final in this country. Until then, I think the league should keep doing things to make it that popular and half time shows aren't going to do it. Soccer, on the other hand, is going to do it.
you have 8 playoff spots to determine a champion along. win you move on. i never liked the idea of 3rd place games in anything other than an ultimate singular championship like world cup, world basketball championships, olympic tourneys, etc. doesn't seem necessary on a league level. lose and go home. winning earns you the right to take the trip to that championship city and if you are lucky, you are that city and it's a home game.
If you're going to change the cup final then get rid of the neutral venue, let the team with the highest points host it. Gives more value to the regular season.
DCU hasnt learned that last season the players like frackin Benny Olsen was still drunk off the SS Kool aid lol
For the record, Chicago has finished 3rd in 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, base on their more superior G/D versus RSL: Yr: 3rd-place-- W-L-T GS-GA 4th-place-- W-L-T GS-GA 08: Chicago---- 1-1-1, 4-2 (Salt Lake-- 1-1-1, 3-3) Note that: 1) Chicago have now finished 3rd in 3 of the past 4 seasons (05, 07 & 08). 2) Chicago are now tied with Columbus for the most number of 3rd-place finishes (3 each). 3) It's a pity that they'd narrowly missed out on CCL '09/10, having also finished 3rd in 2008 Regular Season.
Just an update: Seattle Sounders now have the scant consolation of finishing 3rd in MLS Playoffs 2012, ahead of D.C. United, with reference to the "playoffs standings" (thru. Nov-18) as below: