EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. ATL - 45PTS - 26GP - 9GR (8MLS) - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/23 @ Orlando 8/27 vs Minnesota (USOC) 8/31 @ Philadelphia 9/14 vs Columbus 9/18 @ FC Cincinnati 9/21 vs San Jose 9/25 @ NYCFC 9/29 @ Montreal 10/6 vs New England 2. PHI - 45PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/24 vs DC United 8/31 vs Atlanta United 9/14 vs LAFC 9/22 @ NYRB 9/25 @ San Jose 9/29 @ Columbus 10/6 vs NYCFC 3. NYCFC- 41PTS - 24GP - 10GR - 6 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/21 vs Columbus 8/24 vs NYRB 8/31 @ Vancouver 9/7 vs New England 9/11 vs Toronto 9/14 vs San Jose 9/22 @ FC Dallas 9/25 vs Atlanta United 9/29 @ New England 10/6 @ Philadelphia 4. DCU- 39PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/21 vs NYRB 8/24 @ Philadelphia 8/31 @ Montreal 9/15 @ Portland 9/22 vs Seattle 9/29 @ NYRB 10/6 vs FC Cincinnati 5. NYRB - 38PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/21 @ DC United 8/24 @ NYCFC 8/31 vs cRapids 9/15 @ Seattle 9/18 @ Portland 9/22 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs DC United 10/6 @ Montreal 6. NER - 35PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 4 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/24 vs Chicago 8/31 vs Toronto 9/7 @ NYCFC 9/14 @ Orlando 9/21 vs RSL 9/25 @ Portland 9/29 vs NYCFC 10/6 @ Atlanta 7. MTL - 34PTS - 27GP - 9GR(7MLS) - 5 HOME - 2 AWAY 8/24 @ Toronto 8/28 vs Vancouver 8/31 vs DC United 9/14 vs FC Cincinnati 9/18 vs Toronto (CC) 9/21 @ LA Galaxy 9/25 @ Toronto (CC) 9/29 vs Atlanta 10/6 vs NYRB 8. ORL - 34PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/23 vs Atlanta 8/31 @ San Jose 9/7 vs LAFC 9/14 vs New England 9/21 @ Houston 9/29 @ FC Cincinnati 10/6 vs Chicago 9. TFC - 34PTS - 26GP - 10GR(8MLS) - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/24 vs Montreal 8/31 @ New England 9/7 @ FC Cincinnati 9/11 @ NYCFC 9/15 vs cRapids 9/18 @ Montreal (CC) 9/21 @ LAFC 9/25 vs Montreal (CC) 9/29 @ Chicago 10/6 vs Columbus 10. CHI - 33PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 2 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/24 @ New England 8/31 @ Columbus 9/14 vs FC Dallas 9/21 @ FC Cincinnati 9/29 vs Toronto 10/6 @ Orlando 11. CLB - 27PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 2 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/21 @ NYCFC 8/25 @ FC Cincinnati 8/31 vs Chicago 9/14 @ Atlanta 9/21 @ Vancouver 9/29 vs Philadelphia 10/6 @ Toronto WESTERN CONFERENCE 1. LAFC - 58PTS - 25GP - 9GR - 6 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/21 vs San Jose 8/25 vs LA Galaxy 9/1 vs Minnesota 9/7 @ Orlando 9/14 @ Philadelphia 9/21 vs Toronto 9/25 vs Houston 9/29 @ Minnesota 10/6 vs cRapids 2. MINN - 42PTS - 26GP - 9GR(8MLS) - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/22 @ Sporting KC 8/27 @ Atlanta (USOC) 9/1 @ LAFC 9/11 @ Houston 9/15 vs RSL 9/22 @ Portland 9/25 vs Sporting KC 9/29 vs LAFC 10/6 @ Seattle 3. LAG - 41PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/25 @ LAFC 9/1 @ Seattle 9/11 @ cRapids 9/15 vs Sporting KC 9/21 vs Montreal 9/25 @ RSL 9/29 vs Vancouver 10/6 @ Houston 4. RSL - 40PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 4 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/24 vs cRapids 8/31 @ Portland 9/11 vs San Jose 9/15 @ Minnesota 9/21 @ New England 9/25 vs LA Galaxy 9/29 vs Houston 10/6 @ Vancouver 5. SEA - 40PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 4 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/23 @ Portland 9/1 vs LA Galaxy 9/7 @ cRapids 9/15 vs NYRB 9/18 vs FC Dallas 9/22 @ DC United 9/29 @ San Jose 10/6 vs Minnesota 6. SJE - 38PTS - 25GP - 9GR - 4 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/21 @ LAFC 8/24 vs Vancouver 8/31 vs Orlando 9/11 @ RSL 9/14 @ NYCFC 9/21 @ Atlanta 9/25 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs Seattle 10/6 @ Portland 7. POR - 37PTS - 25GP - 9GR - 8 HOME - 1 AWAY 8/23 vs Seattle 8/31 vs RSL 9/7 vs Sporting KC 9/15 vs DC United 9/18 vs NYRB 9/22 vs Minnesota 9/25 vs New England 9/29 @ Sporting KC 10/6 vs San Jose 8. FCD - 37PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/25 vs Houston 8/31 vs FC Cincinnati 9/14 @ Chicago 9/18 @ Seattle 9/22 vs NYCFC 9/29 @ cRapids 10/6 vs Sporting KC 9. HOU - 31PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 3 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/25 @ FC Dallas 8/31 @ Sporting KC 9/11 vs Minnesota 9/14 @ Vancouver 9/21 vs Orlando 9/25 @ LAFC 9/29 @ RSL 10/6 vs LA Galaxy 10. SKC - 31PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 4 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/21 vs Minnesota 8/31 vs Houston 9/7 @ Portland 9/15 @ LA Galaxy 9/21 vs cRapids 9/25 @ Minnesota 9/29 vs Portland 10/6 @ FC Dallas
EAST: Although the Union have more remaining home games than Atlanta United, their’s is the tougher remaining schedule. NYCFC’s sets up favorably. The race for the 6 & 7 spots will be a dog fight. WEST: 7 teams battling for 6 spots. Basically the chances are good for each of the 7. One will be left out. The order of finish for the 6 is completely up in the air. It’s going to be very entertaining.
I think we have the easiest remaining schedule followed by LAG. The remaining playoff teams have pretty rough schedules. Portland does have 8 home games but against all playoff teams (except FU KC - ha ha). It's quite realistic that we can grab the #2 or #3 spot.
I think it’s now realistic to think that RSL can/may make the playoffs. Anything above #4 I would see as hopeful/wishful thinking.
That sounds about right: If the team continues the season average home (2.15 ppg) and away (0.92 ppg) form (source), we'll add 12 points to end of the season. With 52 points, SportsClubStats gives us a 100% chance of making the playoffs, with about 25% chance of making a 2 or 3 seed (1 is impossible, obvs), 39% chance of #4, and 35% chance of lower than #4.
Final score: 4-0 win for LAFC. As much as I hate, hate, HATE LAFC and their coach, T-shirt Man Bradley, as long as they win against all Western conference opponents who are above the playoff line until the end of the season, that's good by me. LAFC still has to play LAG and Minnesota (twice!), so Go LAFC!!!
6 weeks ago I had us missing the playoffs. While it theoretically can still happen, we are in 2nd place on 8/24. It’s pretty incredible.
Kinda cool how a new coach is willing to play a certain player and that player when given a chance steps up!
Crazy tight race in the west. If Dallas wins today and they should, their would be 6 teams between 43 and 40 points. No way are we a safe bet to make the playoffs yet.
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1. ATL - 48PTS - 27GP - 8GR (7MLS) - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/27 vs Minnesota (USOC) 8/31 @ Philadelphia 9/14 vs Columbus 9/18 @ FC Cincinnati 9/21 vs San Jose 9/25 @ NYCFC 9/29 @ Montreal 10/6 vs New England 2. PHI - 48PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 vs Atlanta United 9/14 vs LAFC 9/22 @ NYRB 9/25 @ San Jose 9/29 @ Columbus 10/6 vs NYCFC 3. NYCFC- 47PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 4 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 @ Vancouver 9/7 vs New England 9/11 vs Toronto 9/14 vs San Jose 9/22 @ FC Dallas 9/25 vs Atlanta United 9/29 @ New England 10/6 @ Philadelphia 4. NYRB - 41PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 vs cRapids 9/15 @ Seattle 9/18 @ Portland 9/22 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs DC United 10/6 @ Montreal 5. DCU- 39PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 @ Montreal 9/15 @ Portland 9/22 vs Seattle 9/29 @ NYRB 10/6 vs FC Cincinnati 6. NER - 38PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 vs Toronto 9/7 @ NYCFC 9/14 @ Orlando 9/21 vs RSL 9/25 @ Portland 9/29 vs NYCFC 10/6 @ Atlanta 7. TFC - 37PTS - 27GP - 9GR(7MLS) - 2 HOME - 5 AWAY 8/31 @ New England 9/7 @ FC Cincinnati 9/11 @ NYCFC 9/15 vs cRapids 9/18 @ Montreal (CC) 9/21 @ LAFC 9/25 vs Montreal (CC) 9/29 @ Chicago 10/6 vs Columbus 8. MTL - 34PTS - 28GP - 8GR(6MLS) - 5 HOME - 1 AWAY 8/28 vs Vancouver 8/31 vs DC United 9/14 vs FC Cincinnati 9/18 vs Toronto (CC) 9/21 @ LA Galaxy 9/25 @ Toronto (CC) 9/29 vs Atlanta 10/6 vs NYRB 9. ORL - 34PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 @ San Jose 9/7 vs LAFC 9/14 vs New England 9/21 @ Houston 9/29 @ FC Cincinnati 10/6 vs Chicago 10. CHI - 33PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 @ Columbus 9/14 vs FC Dallas 9/21 @ FC Cincinnati 9/29 vs Toronto 10/6 @ Orlando 11. CLB - 30PTS - 29GP - 5GR - 2 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 vs Chicago 9/14 @ Atlanta 9/21 @ Vancouver 9/29 vs Philadelphia 10/6 @ Toronto WESTERN CONFERENCE 1. LAFC - 62PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/1 vs Minnesota 9/7 @ Orlando 9/14 @ Philadelphia 9/21 vs Toronto 9/25 vs Houston 9/29 @ Minnesota 10/6 vs cRapids 2. RSL - 43PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 @ Portland 9/11 vs San Jose 9/15 @ Minnesota 9/21 @ New England 9/25 vs LA Galaxy 9/29 vs Houston 10/6 @ Vancouver 3. SEA - 43PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 4 HOME - 3 AWAY 9/1 vs LA Galaxy 9/7 @ cRapids 9/15 vs NYRB 9/18 vs FC Dallas 9/22 @ DC United 9/29 @ San Jose 10/6 vs Minnesota 4. LAG - 42PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 9/1 @ Seattle 9/11 @ cRapids 9/15 vs Sporting KC 9/21 vs Montreal 9/25 @ RSL 9/29 vs Vancouver 10/6 @ Houston 5. MINN - 42PTS - 27GP - 8GR(7MLS) - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/27 @ Atlanta (USOC) 9/1 @ LAFC 9/11 @ Houston 9/15 vs RSL 9/22 @ Portland 9/25 vs Sporting KC 9/29 vs LAFC 10/6 @ Seattle 6. SJE - 41PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 vs Orlando 9/11 @ RSL 9/14 @ NYCFC 9/21 @ Atlanta 9/25 vs Philadelphia 9/29 vs Seattle 10/6 @ Portland 7. FCD - 40PTS - 28GP - 6GR - 3 HOME - 3 AWAY 8/31 vs FC Cincinnati 9/14 @ Chicago 9/18 @ Seattle 9/22 vs NYCFC 9/29 @ cRapids 10/6 vs Sporting KC 8. POR - 37PTS - 26GP - 8GR - 7 HOME - 1 AWAY 8/31 vs RSL 9/7 vs Sporting KC 9/15 vs DC United 9/18 vs NYRB 9/22 vs Minnesota 9/25 vs New England 9/29 @ Sporting KC 10/6 vs San Jose 9. SKC - 34PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 vs Houston 9/7 @ Portland 9/15 @ LA Galaxy 9/21 vs cRapids 9/25 @ Minnesota 9/29 vs Portland 10/6 @ FC Dallas 10. HOU - 31PTS - 27GP - 7GR - 3 HOME - 4 AWAY 8/31 @ Sporting KC 9/11 vs Minnesota 9/14 @ Vancouver 9/21 vs Orlando 9/25 @ LAFC 9/29 @ RSL 10/6 vs LA Galaxy
Thoughts Big game in the East this weekend as red hot Atlanta take on Philly. Atlanta will be coming off the USOC final at home earlier in the week, so curious how they handle that congestion Philly's remaining schedule, outside the Columbus game, is brutal. There is a real possibility that they don't get above 50 points despite already being at 48 with 6 left to play. NYC has a run of games that they should max out on and jump to the top, or near top, of the East. They have a rough stretch to end the season, though, so not sure if they will take the top seed. Hard to see them finishing below 3, though. Especially since there is a pretty big drop to the next group of teams who all seem not able to play any sort of consistent soccer. NYRB and DC seem to not want to play at the level they could, TFC is TFC this year, I'll never trust a NER team (especially with that rough of a schedule), and Montreal has a schedule that could jump them all the way to 4th but they're Montreal and could finish 11th just as easily. Out west, LAFC still can't figure out the Galaxy. If anyone wants to have a chance in the West to make MLS Cup, they have to hope the Galaxy and LAFC play early on.. and then you'll have to deal with Zlatan, so not sure what to expect there. Minnesota show just how tight the West is. Last week they were second, this week they're fifth. All they did was lose a single game. It's insane how close spots two through eight are. I expect us to suffer a similar fate as Minnesota this week and fall out of the two spot by quite a bit. I think we'll see LAFC beat Minn, SEA & LAG draw, with both SJ and FCD picking up wins. In that scenario, if we were to lose to Portland, we would drop to 4th in a 3 way tie with LAG and FCD - which I'm not sure how that tiebreaker would be decided. This is a big weekend in the West. I have a feeling the 2nd spot is going to become cursed and teams will never occupy it for more than a week or two at the most
Among serious contenders, at least we host the Galaxy and the Quakes (though San Jose has out played us at home a lot lately). On the road against a struggling Portland. Means nothing but it could be worse.
To me at a glance, each remaining team playing for the 6 remaining playoff slots are going to face some tough matches. No one’s path looks too easy. Let’s hope our new coach can lead a motivated team, and that team can continue what has been a pretty decent run this past few weeks.
I'm mostly interested in seeing if RSL can continue its run of fantastic defense. RSL is now up to 4th in the league for goals against, primarily on the post Gold Cup run of games. All 3 of RSL's center backs are in good form and Herrera, while still limited offensively, can really defend. Toia is still the weak link, but as long as Plata isn't playing in front of him, he is at least competent. Let's see if RSL parks the bus at Portland as effectively as they did against the Quakes. If they can get the tie, that further hamstrings the Timbers and puts RSL in a nice position going forward to get a home game in the playoffs.
I do not think this weekends results could have been worse for RSL. With LAFC losing to Minnesota it seems I could be wrong.
Think sending thoughts and prayers to Colorado will help them get some big results in their next couple matches? If they win their next two, we need to send thank you cards.
That's all fine and good, until they start kicking our asses perennially...Be careful what you wish for. I wish for universal mediocracy!
After the weekend we are 5th in the West. 7 teams with points 46-40 gunning for the 6 remaining playoff spots. RSL would have done itself a big favor by getting a result against PTFC. They are below us, but have a game in hand and a favorable home schedule. We have a game in hand over Dallas, whom we are just above due to one more win. Minnesota’s win over LAFC was a big surprise even without Vela in the lineup. The home stretch will see fireworks!
IMO the final two games are soft-ish. If we get 3 points or more in the next two - SJ Home and @ Minn I think we'll make the playoffs. Get 4-6 points and you start to think home field.