Based on the similar threads for 2011 & 2012... It seems the most likely teams to win it would be those in the bottom 3 as at 18-July, namely D.C., Toronto or Chivas, though Chicago and Columbus may not be totally out yet. Let's vote!
I think it would be the capper if my team, DC United, can get the Wooden Spoon AND the Dewar Cup this year. Total Jekyll & Hyde season. Then I want a full apology from ownership about this season, but they are all absentee, so we'll get nothing.
I'm sure the apology will come with a season ticket renewal form outlining price increases for next season.
I know that theoretically a number of teams are still in it, but, really, isn't this a two horse race between Toronto and DC? Chivas certainly brings the suck, but they they've made some changes that I think will see them avoid the spoon. As between DC and Toronto, I'm going with DC, for no particular reason.
I think it's way too early to say that Chivas will be out of the spoon zone. That team is walking disaster this year. But it's not just the product on the field, it's all the chaos happening at the front office level that is infecting the rest of the club. Things at that club will get a lot worse before they get better.
Snapshot of Poll through July-21: * D.C. United 7 vote(s) 63.6% * Toronto FC 2 vote(s) 18.2% Chivas USA 3 vote(s) 27.3% Chicago Fire 0 vote(s) 0.0% Columbus Crew 0 vote(s) 0.0%
"Love it!!" http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Kevin-Keegan-love-it-rant-has-topped-a-poll-of-fans-favourite-moments-of-football-manager-madness-article725855.html
The best part about this spoon race is that both of the top contenders have a decent chance of being relegated after this season.
In separate thread(s), it was noted that D.C. United could be on something special this season, finishing with the Wooden Spoon, yet winning the USOC (similar to Wigan A.F.C. of EPL 2012-13, which were relegated, yet won the FA Cup in the same season: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigan_Athletic_F.C.#Honours). Coincidentally, D.C. United were the ONLY team to-date to have WON the USOC yet MISSED the league PLAYOFFS in the same season. On this note, IIRC, the Best Finish ever in USOC by a Wooden Spoonist should be Runners-up, by Chicago Fire in 2004: Reference 1: USOC Winners & Runners-up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Hunt_U.S._Open_Cup#MLS_Honors Reference 2: Wooden Spoon Winners & "Runners-up": https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/time-for-a-wooden-spoon.1983374/page-3#post-27694196 List of USOC Finalists from MLS that did not make the playoffs in the same season: Season USOC Finalists Position in SS Standings Remarks[/INDENT] 2000 Miami 9th/12 teams2001 N.E. 9th/122004 Chicago 10th/10 The only MLS Wooden Spoonist to-date2006 L.A. 9th/122008 D.C. 10th/14 The only USOC Winner to-date2009 D.C. 10th/152011 Chicago 11th/18
Snapshot of Poll, through Aug-11: D.C. United 16 vote(s) 69.6% Toronto FC 2 vote(s) 8.7% Chivas USA 6 vote(s) 26.1% Chicago Fire 0 vote(s) 0.0% Columbus Crew 0 vote(s) 0.0%
By the way, D.C. United are now a few steps closer to becoming the First Wooden Spoonist to win the USOC... "Best of Luck"!!
Was browsing my favorite Monte Carlo simulation tool for MLS (http://www.sportsclubstats.com/USA/MLS2.html) and this weeks "50-50" simulation has hit the 16.5 Billion iteration mark. This simulation (probably more accurately called a "33-33-33" simulation, because it assigns an equal chance to W-L-D, without any weighting) has found a single mathematical chance of RSL winning the wooden spoon, or as it stands now: 1:16,582,491,274. Now that's what I call long odds. In fact, the only thing it hasn't found at least one chance for, is a way for DCU to win the East. Another Nugget: Both Chicago and Dallas could in theory win the spoon with a 43 point total. Edit: Spoke too soon: After 21 Billion iterations, it has found 3 chances for DCU to win the East. Still sits at 0:21 Billion for the Supporters shield, however.
The odds of D.C. (and Toronto) winning the SS seemed to have officially diminished this week... (their odds are no longer "0.0", but a straight "No") Chivas are on the brink too. Better luck next season(s)!!
Laugh all you want now. DC's going to be the Champion Of The United States Of America come October. And then I shall laugh.
Sincerely hope they can achieve that and set a new records for the best finish in USOC by a (potential) Wooden Spoonist...
Snapshot of Poll, through Sep-1: D.C. United 27 vote(s) 79.4% Toronto FC 2 vote(s) 5.9% Chivas USA 6 vote(s) 17.6% Chicago Fire 0 vote(s) 0.0% Columbus Crew 0 vote(s) 0.0% SportsClubStats put D.C. at 95% to win the 2013 WS... http://www.sportsclubstats.com/USA/MLS.html
It's done, D.C. United have won the USOC and captured the Wooden Spoon with the 0-3 home loss to Chicago on Oct-4. D.C. United remain the ONLY team to have WON the USOC yet MISSED the PLAYOFFS in the same season, TWICE no less (2008 & 2013). Updated List of USOC Finalists from MLS that did not make the playoffs in the same season: Season USOC Finalists Position in SS Standings Remarks 2000 Miami (Runners-up) 9th/12 teams 2001 N.E. (Runners-up) 9th/12 2004 Chicago (Runners-up) 10th/10 The only other MLS Wooden Spoonist to-date 2006 L.A. (Runners-up) 9th/12 2008 D.C. (Winners) 10th/14 The only other USOC Winners to-date 2009 D.C. (Runners-up) 10th/15 2011 Chicago (Runners-up) 11th/18 2013 D.C. (Winners) 19th/19 The only Double Winners (USOC + Spoon) to-date
The focus will now be on which team shall secure the "Runners-Up" spot after D.C. Snapshot of Poll, through Oct-6, favors Chivas USA: D.C. United 29 vote(s) 78.4% Toronto FC 2 vote(s) 5.4% Chivas USA 7 vote(s) 18.9% SportsClubStats indicate 51% for TFC and 49% for Chivas on the 2nd-last spot: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/USA/TorontoFC.html http://www.sportsclubstats.com/USA/ChivasUSA.html
It's done: With TFC's 1-0 surprise 1-0 win over Montreal, Chivas USA have successfully defended their position of "Wooden Spoon Runners-up" to D.C. United in 2013, having finished 2nd last in 2012 as well: http://aragon.ws/soccerdb/league/latest.php?stageId=1312 Coincidentally, the Bottom-2 of 2013 looks the same as 2010, where D.C. & Chivas finished as Winners/Runners-up of the Wooden Spoon too: http://aragon.ws/soccerdb/league/latest.php?stageId=863 Bravo!!
Kudos to Chivas for their "achievement." In my book Chivas wins the title of Sultans of Suck this year because even though DC officially won the Spoon this year, at least they won the Open Cup to offset it a little. Chivas however had no redeeming quality to it this year whatsoever, it was a complete clusterbomb from beginning to end. It makes my head spin just thinking about it.