OK. I don't think we'll ever solve the which trophy is more important or prestigious question. But how about which one is the hardest to win.
MLS Cup. Among leagues, there is no greater parity than in MLS, so anyone can, to a degree, win it. And you play more games for the MLS Cup than you do the Supporter's Shield, and, in theory, more challenging and hungrier teams in the playoffs. It's more or less easier to win a national club competition like the USOC if your first few games are against lesser clubs. The real test comes late in the tourney, and by then it's probably too late to present much of a challenge.
Supporter's Sheild. You truly have to WIN MORE GAMES. The problem with MLS CUP is that 8 out of 10 teams is in the playoffs. An under .500 team made it to MLS Cup last year due to the simple fact that ON ANY DAY, A GREAT TEAM MAY FAIL, AND A SORRY TEAM MAY SUCCEED. I'm sorry, but the MLS Playoffs are more hype than a substantive marker in which to judge a team. I feel the same way about the Open Cup and Champion's Cup. Of course, I dig the fact that we do them all, and I'm also fortunate that my team has won them all. But in the end, I really like going to a game knowing that there's a better chance of my team winning at the end of it. Oh yeah, we lost 5-0 to New York last year. 'Nuff said. tm
Amazing new development: 4 > 30. Actually, when I first looked at the title of this thread, I was only thinking of MLS Cup and the Open Cup. Of those two, MLS Cup is clearly harder to win. But the Supporters Shield is by far the toughest of the three.
Bleah. I was thinking the four in addition to the thirty from the regular season. Only the bottom two get dropped from the playoffs, but you still have to play the regular season to get in.
How can this even be a question? More importantly how can so many people be voting for MLS Cup? Think about it. You can "save yourself" for 28 games and slide in to the playoffs as the eigth best team in the league. If you get a few lucky calls you can win the Cup. Especially now, when you only have to play 4 games to win the Cup. Bunker for the away draw, win at home, win the semi, win the Cup. Easy, no. But not near as hard as a long season. Over 28 games, luck is overpowered by skill and the best team almost always prevails. I cheer for the Cup because any hardware is to be celebrated. But in 2000 I was more proud that we lead the league in points than I was of squeaking out an OT win vs. LA and holding on for dear life vs. Chicago.
Agreed, Ben C. The Revs came within thge width of a hair of winning MLS Cup last year. In the early part of the season, they were crap. In the middle part, they were better, but were struggling to gel. Overall, they'd play a decent game, but 1-2 breakdowns somewhere down the line would cost them. In the final third of the season, the Revs were actually a good team, and their playoff run was no fluke. They were clearly the better team in both playoff series. The supporters' Sheild is infinitely tougher since you have to play like that the whole year. As for the Open Cup, the 2001 Revs, a truly awful team, was 35 minutes away from winning it, and perhaps could have if not for some bad substitutions and coaching. The Revs have never even come close to sniffing at the Supporters Shield, although they were in 2nd place in the East for a few weeks in 1997. Nuff Said. Tom Nuff said
I would definately say the Supporter's Shield is harder to win because you have to bring it for the entire season, as well as deal players being called away on National duty meaning you need a good manager and a deep team. However, in a way MLS Cup might be more difficult b/c you need a good deal of luck with a couple of one and done games and the new home/away first round format. A team could run up against a team like Chicago Fire who is used to playing in a unique stadium and lose a lopsided decision and not be able to get the goals back at home. Also what can you do when you run into a hot keeper? So in the Supporter's Shield you control your own destiny more. And in MLS Cup, and US Open Cup for that matter, your team is subjected to a good deal of luck.
C'mon. You Quake fans need to join the Roger Itaya Fan Club and get over it. Tommy Mack PS: Um... which club is still under the salary cap? Oh yeah... the Galaxy.
I wonder what would have happened to Miami Fusion FC if there was more emphasis on the Supporters Shield.