In MLS, 56% of teams made the playoffs this year, meaning your team had a pretty good chance to make at least the 4 v. 5 game of the playoffs (except you, Toronto fans, sorry). &nbsp;Of course, at the end of the season, 44% of teams didn’t. &nbsp;Some just fell short, like Montreal and FC Dallas. &nbsp;Some were a little farther away. &nbsp;But the fact remains that if you are a soccer fan and your team didn’t make the playoffs, even these tantalizing match-ups can be at times hard to watch as you wonder what if.
Except that the playoffs give fans a chance for a little bit of schadenfreude. &nbsp;Even the most kindhearted of fans can admit that seeing a certain team lose or drop out of the playoffs gives them a good feeling and a rooting interest in the playoffs. &nbsp;Living in the DC area, I know the past five years DC United fans rooted hard against the Red Bulls every year to drop out and not break their&nbsp;trophy-less&nbsp;streak.
Teams outside the top 10 have rivals they’d love to see fail; New England fans have plenty of teams to root against in the first round. &nbsp;MLS and soccer fans in general may also root against the Galaxy and Red Bulls as the two most high-profile MLS teams with the biggest stars. &nbsp;Or some fans may root against teams because of players; Steven Lenhart certainly has his detractors and the sight of him raising the Cup may rankle some people.
But there are some positive storylines as well. &nbsp;Maybe you want to see New York FINALLY win a trophy, or see a final of MLS superscorer Chris Wondolowski versus the stout Kansas City defense. &nbsp;Or maybe you want Brian Ching, if he is actually retiring, to hoist the Cup one more time.
Let’s hear from those whose teams aren’t in the playoffs: who are you rooting for or against, and what is your reasoning?

ALL POSTS TAGGED "2012 mls playoffs"

Leagues: MLS

The Eliminated: Who Are You Rooting for in the Playoffs?