OK this my last poll for a while. I promise. This is easier to predict than the winner of MLS Cup, b/c who knows who will get the lucky bounce in the shortened playoff tournemant or who will have the hot keeper. Sorry, but due to Big Soccer Poll limitations I could only pick 8 teams. Colorado was an easy ommision in my opinion. San Jose has been hit with a rash of player defections due to injuries and guys going to Europe. That and my east coast bias.
I voted for the Metrostars. With Bradley in control and Moreno, Mathis, and a healthy Pope leading them to the regular season title. I don't think it will matter though because the Galaxy talent, and style of play will be too much to overcome in the playoffs and they take MLS Cup.
I think LA Galaxy will win the Supporter's Shield, but I have a funny feeling that they won't win the MLS Cup. I think they could go down in one of those home and homes. Concacaf Champions Cup anyone? That being said they are definately the most talented team in MLS.
It definately looks like Columbus has replaced LA as the team to beat for the Supporters Shield. At least in people's minds.
I don't think they'll win the Shield, but I think you eliminate them too easily. I predict them to finish no worse than 3rd in the West (Probably 2nd), and in the top 4 overall in the league. I think the obvious ones (If there is such a thing) to leave out would have been 2 of SJ, Metros, or DC.
Re: Re: Supporter's Shield prediction Colorado won't be bad. They'll be mediocre. They have a decent chance to make the playoffs, but they won't be at the top of the table at the end of the season. United on the other hand, given their roster and Hudson's history with Miami Fusion, could take it all the way to the top. Then again they could blow up and finish lands. But the fact remains they have a better chance than Colorado to win the Supporters Shield. Now the Metros? Well they're my team, so I can't very well leave them out can I? Also Bob Bradley has proven he can succeed. Colorado Rapids are a more steady team, but with less of a chance for greatness.
With teams playing division rivals four times and non-division teams twice (and a few more games to make 30) the SS seems easier to win for a team in the weaker division. But last year proved that theory wrong. As teams get into mid-season form, LA will have more home games than the average side. That gives them a pretty solid advantage if they can keep this tie on the road thing going. Columbus is clearly the strongest team in the east, and with DC and NJ (and the Fire? Hope not.) to beat up on all season, they might out do LA--who will have Colorado and SJ to toy with for eight games. And Dallas, whose plastic sadness will prevent from amassing any home field advantage. A tougher poll might be to pick this season's version of DCU 02.
ok uneducated fools, the Supporters Shield winner is whoever is at the top of the WHOLE league as far as points go.
I'm actually surprised that KC has the 3rd most votes. I take that as more praise than any column writer's prediction. I voted for LA, because as long as they dont start out with their first 8 games on the road they'll have 14 of their last 20 at home. That creates a real easy chance to get on a roll and let your fans help you keep it going. Not to mention they are a very talented team. Also surprised that 5 Eastern teams were included and 3 Western. Considering the West has been the stronger division in recent years and DC hasnt made the playoffs three straight years it would have made more sense to inlcude SJ (a recent champ) or Colorado (semifinalist last year) than DC. "Colorado is an easy ommision" makes no sense. Yeah, the original poster is a Metros fan, but the Rapis made it further last season than NY, DC or Chicago. Granted, its no big deal, and you could only include 8 choices.
Come one and all and vote in the only Supporters Shield Winner Prediction Poll without the current leaders, San Jose Earthquakes........oops. And it appears I was right about the Crapids. Again, easy ommision.
Well, I was going to vote for San Jose becacuse they looked pretty good last Saturday. I know, not much to go on, but what can I do? The supporter's shield is flawed, however, because MLS does not play an even table. Last year was easy to justify, but that might not always be the case. Besides, even with an even table, it is still not the same. Teams use different strategies when playoffs are involved. See how NHL teams treat the regular season. Leagues with playoffs force teams to build towards the end of the season. It's nothing but a tournament seeding and consolation prize if you lose the tournament.
You can't compare the NHL with MLS. The NHL plays an 80 game regular season, where you have to take nights off if you are going to be ready for the playoffs which are another 25 games give or take. Whereas the MLS season is 30 games, played once a week. Hardly a grueling season where you would need to save yourselves. And save yourselves for what? The grueling 4 game MLS Cup tournament? Common.
Well, I suppose you are right in that MLS teams would not react in the same way that NHL teams do. I was not thinking in terms of 'saving themselves' anyway. I was thinking that an MLS team with decent talent might spend the first part of the year trying different combinations and different players to see what works bests. There is no big penalty for doing so since 80% of teams make it to the playoffs. While this makes sense for teams to do, teams that do this may not win the supporters shield. And, in fact, since winning the playoffs is the goal, who would care? No coach that wins the MLS cup would ever be fired, but would you be as confident of a supporter's shield winning coach who's team got knocked out in the first round?
The thing about soccer is that there are many goals. There is the MLS Cup, the Supporter's Shield and the US Open Cup. Not to mention Concacaf Champions Cup. All of them are valid trophies and "goals" in their own right. This isn't the NFL or NBA where winning the playoffs is the only thing you can win. MLS and soccer in general, with its emphasis on national team play, is more diverse than that. And in my humble opinion much better for it.
Actually, I agree with all of what you said. In fact, I often tell my (non-soccer watching) friends about that key difference. I talk about how other soccer teams can play MLS teams in the US Open Cup, how MLS teams often play against foreign teams and enter other tournaments, etc. However, we need to recognize a priority here. There is no doubt that the MLS cup has priority over the US Open Cup. And, there is no question that the MLS Cup has priority over the Supporter's Shield. In fact, winning the supporter's shield is just a side effect of the attempt to capture the MLS Cup (just like the mostly bogus Atlantic Cup between DCU and the Metros.) Now, just because it is a lesser priority than the MLS Cup doesn't mean you can't have it, or remember who won it. But don't expect coaches or management to sweat it too much if they don't win it. It's the MLS Cup they're after. Just remember that the rules are set at the beginning of the season. You don't win at Monopoly by buying the most properties; you win by being the last one standing.