<div id="attachment_6798" style="width: 225px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MLSCup.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6798" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-6798" src="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MLSCup-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300"></figure></div></a><p id="caption-attachment-6798" class="wp-caption-text">The MLS cup is up for grabs</p></div>
<p>During the 2010 MLS Cup game, Commissioner Don Garber went on the ESPN halftime show to answer some questions about the state of the league. &nbsp;The major issue circulating in the media&nbsp;was the playoff structure – a team from Colorado had just been named the Eastern Conference champion and, with two more teams entering the league next year, fewer than half of the teams playing in MLS would qualify for the playoffs under the existing format. &nbsp;Garber <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/colorado-beats-dallas-to-win-mls-cup-but-empty-seats-cast-a-dark-shadow/10868" target="_blank">announced that MLS would change the playoff system</a> for the upcoming year to reflect the criticism coming from U.S. soccer fans and to ensure what had happened during the 2010 playoffs (i.e., a West Coast team winning the Eastern Conference) would not happen again.</p>
<p>In February, <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/new-playoff-format-cements-role-of-conferences-in-mls/11753" target="_blank">the playoff plan was finally announced</a>. &nbsp;The top three finishers in each conference would get into the playoffs as seeded teams, while the four non-seeded teams with the highest number of points would make the wildcard round. &nbsp;After those four teams played each other, they would become the fourth seeds in each conference and the playoffs would proceed as 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3 in each conference, with at most one of the four teams coming from outside the conference. &nbsp;The chances of a Colorado-type run became that much harder, according to MLS’s thinking, but it did require that the number of teams making the playoffs to exceed 50%.</p>
<p>The decision was roundly criticized, <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/playoffs-are-dead-mls-just-doesnt-know-it-yet/10901" target="_blank">including on this website</a>. &nbsp;What kind of league has over half of its teams make the playoffs? &nbsp;Was MLS serious, or a CYO league? &nbsp;And what happens if a strong team like Real Salt Lake is one of the wild cards and gets placed in the Eastern Conference playoffs? &nbsp;Then it is 2009 all over again.</p>
<p>However, with mere weeks left in the regular season, the new playoff structure is looking quite brilliant. As it stands, there are two Eastern and two Western conference teams in the wild card if the season ended today. &nbsp;Of course that is faulty analysis, as the teams have yet to play the same number of games. &nbsp;However, the reality is that almost every fan base has a reason to root hard for its team in the closing weeks. &nbsp;Realistically Vancouver is not in the playoff race but mathematically they are only eleven points (or four victories) back from the final playoff spot, with eight games to play. &nbsp;More realistically, teams like DC United, Portland, and Chivas USA are definitely in the playoff race despite the late stage of the season. &nbsp;That means 13 of 18 teams are in the playoff race and can certainly tell their fans they have a shot at postseason play. &nbsp;Compare this to Major League Baseball, where at roughly the same point in the schedule about 15 of the thirty teams are arguably in the playoff race, although the actual number of real competitors is less. &nbsp;New York Mets fans have had no reason to see their team play since June.</p>
<p>This is especially beneficial to the weaker Eastern Conference. &nbsp;In a single table, first-place Columbus would sit fifth and second-place Kansas City would be sixth. &nbsp;Instead, both are sitting in prime position to make the playoffs. &nbsp;The Chicago Fire, a team that has been mired around last place for most of the season and is the record-holder for most MLS draws, can get hot over the next six weeks and play their way into a playoff berth; that’s a pretty good reason to remain interested in your team if you’re a fan. &nbsp;Even a team like DC United now has a crowd draw; they can with a straight face tell fans that the upcoming home games against Chivas USA and Portland are critical to make the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Western Conference race is even more intriguing, as playoff positioning is critical in the conference. &nbsp;As it stands, Seattle and Dallas would face off in the Western Conference semifinals; as the season progresses does it make more sense for Dallas if it is out of the Supporter’s Shield race to drop into fourth in the conference and enter the wild card round, where you could play a&nbsp;Philadelphia&nbsp;Union and Columbus Crew, for example, instead of a Seattle Sounders? &nbsp;In addition, teams like Colorado and Real Salt Lake, who have struggled this year but are arguably among the most talented in the league, still have a chance to qualify as wild cards if they stumble down the stretch and have a chance to prove themselves in the playoffs.</p>
<p>In short, I think the excitement of an expanded playoff race may force us to rethink the stupidity of a ten-team playoff race. &nbsp;Maybe, just maybe, MLS knew what it was doing.</p>

Were We Wrong to Doubt the New Playoff Structure?

Were We Wrong to Doubt the New Playoff Structure? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="width: 250px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a title="Columbus Crew Fans by GregHickman, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/greghickman/4942367281/"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4942367281_d622fa06d9_m.jpg" alt="Columbus Crew Fans" width="240" height="180"></figure></div></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Photo by Greg Hickman</p></div>
<p>On March 19, the Columbus Crew dejectedly walked out of RFK Stadium in Washington on the wrong side of a 3-1 game. &nbsp;The team allowed two Charlie Davies goals (one a penalty kick) and looked outclassed, out played, and in for a long season. &nbsp;The result came after they were shown the door from the CONCACAF Champions League by losing 4-1 to Real Salt Lake. &nbsp;After an offseason where the team jettisoned many of its bigger named players to make room in the salary cap and committed to a rebuilding effort, the team looked destined for a long, long season.</p>
<p>A month later, Columbus sits in a playoff spot. &nbsp;The team has not allowed a goal since the second Davies’ goal and this weekend held the highest-scoring team in MLS to no goals. &nbsp;While not an offensive juggernaut, the team is scoring enough to get results. &nbsp;So are the Crew back to their normal spot near the top of the Eastern Conference for good, or is this an illusion that will wilt away in the summer months? &nbsp;The answer is, of course, not that simple.</p>
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<p>At first glance the schedule up to this point for the Crew has been daunting, but upon closer examination looks to have been quite easy. &nbsp;After the trip to DC, the Crew hosted the Red Bulls and Dallas, two 2010 playoff teams and teams expected to compete for an MLS Cup this season. &nbsp;But the Crew played New York during an international break and essentially forced a draw with a “B” team, while Dallas has struggled mightily this season and is still sorting out personnel issues. &nbsp;The trip to Chivas led to a scoreless draw, not surprising how bad Chivas is, and while Sporting Kansas City is promising, they have a horrendous defense to go with a great offense. &nbsp;So the schedule has not been a good guidepost to the season so far, except to say the Crew don’t lose to bad teams.</p>
<p>One constant this season has been the defense, which should not be a surprise considering that was one area the team didn’t unload their star power. &nbsp;MLS star Chad Marshall was retained and paired with a number of new players who have excelled to this point. &nbsp;Julius James was picked up off the smoldering heap that was DC United’s 2010 backline and has seen a career resurgence. &nbsp;Rookie Rich Balchan has started all five games and played extremely well. &nbsp;In net, Will Hesmer has played very well after some uncertainty this offseason as to who would be the starter due to injuries. &nbsp;The team has not allowed a goal in four matches, a team record and an incredibly accomplishment. &nbsp;In their last match, Dilly Duka had as many shots on goal (2) as all of the Kansas City players combined.</p>
<p>Another reason for their positive play has been Robbie Rogers, their one consistent offensive threat. &nbsp;The rift that existed between Rogers and head coach Robert Warzycha has seemingly been resolved; the Crew team on the pitch in DC looked lost and without a real offensive threat until Rogers stepped on the pitch. &nbsp;So far this year Rogers has scored as many goals (2) as he has the past two seasons.</p>
<p>The upcoming schedule also should be a reason for optimism among Columbus fans. &nbsp;This weekend, they visit a Toronto team in flux then host the expansion Whitecaps and struggling Sounders (although the Sounders may be finally turning their season around). &nbsp;Things get tough with back-to-back trips to San Jose and Portland, but they end May by hosting Chivas. &nbsp;Conceivably, the Crew should pick up at least 12 points through the end of May.</p>
<p>But the reason why Rogers has been so good for the Columbus offense is that the play of the Crew forwards and midfield have been terrible. &nbsp;Consider that Portland scored as many goals in its home opener as the Crew have scored this season, and that two of those goals came from penalties. &nbsp;Eddie Gaven has been ok but not really good up front, and while it is still early Andres Mendoza has been a disappointment. &nbsp;Jeff Cunningham looks his age and fails to convert quality chances.</p>
<p>So can the Crew continue this run and qualify for the playoffs? &nbsp;In an Eastern Conference with few clear favorites, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to grab a top three spot if their defense continues to play well. &nbsp;But for this team to challenge New York for first or even challenge a resurgent Philadelphia or DC, they need to find more consistent offense. &nbsp;Without a goal scorer either emerging or being acquired this summer, Columbus could be on the outside looking in this September.</p>

How Legit are the Columbus Crew?

How Legit are the Columbus Crew? - World Soccer Talk

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Were We Wrong to Doubt the New Playoff Structure?

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