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Editors' Roundtable: A Look Ahead At The MLS Playoffs
The postseason is here for MLS.
Oct 26, 2010 1:41:00 PM
Andrea Canales: The MLS playoffs are here! Taking a look at things, how do you see the first round playing out? Let's start with Columbus versus Colorado.
Luis Bueno: Can the Crew win without their top goalkeeper, William Hesmer?
Shane Evans: I think Columbus could have some trouble with Colorado, a team that has been playing much better of late, and no Hesmer is a killer blow.
Bueno: Already they didn't look like vintage Columbus with him, but he's a big loss in goal. I don't care how well or how much Andy Gruenebaum played in CCL, Hesmer is one of their most important players.
Seth Vertelney: This series seems heavily tilted in Colorado's favor. I see them overpowering Columbus in the first leg at DSG, then holding on in the second leg on the road.
Canales: Who would have thought that Eddie Gaven would have something of a career as a goalkeeper? He's racked up a few minutes there now.
Vertelney: And that Hesmer would have a career as a striker.
Evans: Gaven made a great save on Sunday, too.
Bueno: I do think however that the series will be close. Colorado is prone to bonehead mistakes and they just dont have the playoff experience that Columbus has. Experience counts, to me it does anyway.
Allen Ramsey: Casey and Cummings, Colorado's C and C, can be a devastating pair. I think they'll make the difference. The Rapids are a dangerous team and I don't think Columbus has the answer.
Evans: Lots of C's in this one.
Bueno: But that's why Hesmer's loss is tough, because he has the experience and the Crew will miss it.
Canales: I think that the Crew have been written off too early. They're solid, and the Rapids just collapsed versus RSL. Gruenebaum is a good goalkeeper and his CCL time has served him well. I pick Columbus to move on.
Let's take a look at who the defending champions will face. What do you think of Real Salt Lake's odds of advancing versus FC Dallas?
Vertelney: Just a brutal draw for both RSL and FC Dallas.
Bueno: I can't believe one of them will be out after the first round. That's a semifinal matchup, if not MLS Cup. But I don't see RSL bowing out so soon.
Ramsey: I can't help liking both of these teams, and if I could only follow one opening round series this would be the one. I love what RSL can do going forward, but with Danny Hernandez healthy FCD can be very hard to break down.
Zac Lee Rigg: I'm not sure I've seen a more tightly-woven, holistic team in MLS than this RSL side.
Ramsey: It should be great to watch, but RSL's home field advantage will be too much.
Bueno: FC Dallas looked much stronger in early October than they are now. I guess consecutive losses will do that.
Evans: Silly MLS playoffs ruining things for everyone.
Canales: I think the playoffs are great - and they're set up to be the most exciting this year. For everyone screaming for a single table, how crappy would that be if next season, the East dominates and not a single Western Conference team gets in? Unlikely, but that means half the country has no stake in the postseason at all.
Evans: I stick to my story. But it should be a great matchup, regardless.
Canales: I like it when the first round has bite.
Bueno: Well, there's no guarantee that there will be a balanced schedule, but if there is a balanced schedule you have to seed the teams 1-8 in the playoffs. Otherwise it's a farce of a system. I don't think the MLS playoffs have ever been fair. Maybe in 2001 but I'd have to double check, because that year you had San Jose and LA, and I think it was seeded 1-8 but I'm not sure. Still, a long time ago.
It's garbage that you have LA, RSL, Dallas and Seattle in one bracket, and only one of those teams has a chance to make MLS Cup. That's garbage. I don't care if all those teams are in the West.
Canales: Wasn't 2001 the year 8 of 12 teams got in?
Bueno: Exactly. There was a flaw then too.
Canales: That's a bigger farce then the order the top teams play. I say the top squads are all pretty quality and the best fight their way out of the heap, no matter who they play first. But we're getting offtrack. New York! From worst to the playoffs, but how long will they last?
Bueno: They're the best team in the Eastern bracket.
Evans: My Union did put a hurting on them a couple weeks ago and showed they do have some holes that can be exploited.
Vertelney: Henry is still very much questionable, which could definitely be a factor.
Evans: He's out, apparently.
Ramsey: I have to agree with LB. The Red Bulls are just so talented that you struggle to see them getting bounced in the first round. Even if Henry is on the pine.
Canales: Henry is out for all the playoffs? Why exactly?
Evans: Just this match, so says Hans Backe.
Rigg: New York lucked out in avoiding the sheer pace Seattle and Colorado offer, which would have made the Red Bulls defense look rather silly.
Bueno: New York will face a tough challenge in San Jose. Frank Yallop has the ability to put together an effective game plan against New York, especially hosting the first game, but I do think New York's quality will win out.
Vertelney: Wondolowski could be the x-factor. If he stays hot, it might not matter what the Red Bulls do. Scoring 2-3 goals every game generally gives your team a good chance to win.
Canales: That leaves Seattle and LA. Could the Sounders pull off the upset?
Bueno: I think they have the ability to win the series. The Galaxy are inconsistent and have been so since July. I don't think they flipped the switch agianst Dallas, even though they played a very good game against them. I can't remember the last time the Galaxy had four strong performances in a row. End of June I suppose.
Evans: Seattle will be tough for sure, but I think the Galaxy have the veteran presence to squeak by in this one.
Ramsey: I like Seattle's chances. They look fresh and ready for the fight, which I don't think can be said of the Galaxy.
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Luis Bueno: Can the Crew win without their top goalkeeper, William Hesmer?
Shane Evans: I think Columbus could have some trouble with Colorado, a team that has been playing much better of late, and no Hesmer is a killer blow.
Bueno: Already they didn't look like vintage Columbus with him, but he's a big loss in goal. I don't care how well or how much Andy Gruenebaum played in CCL, Hesmer is one of their most important players.
Seth Vertelney: This series seems heavily tilted in Colorado's favor. I see them overpowering Columbus in the first leg at DSG, then holding on in the second leg on the road.
Canales: Who would have thought that Eddie Gaven would have something of a career as a goalkeeper? He's racked up a few minutes there now.
Vertelney: And that Hesmer would have a career as a striker.
Evans: Gaven made a great save on Sunday, too.
Bueno: I do think however that the series will be close. Colorado is prone to bonehead mistakes and they just dont have the playoff experience that Columbus has. Experience counts, to me it does anyway.
Allen Ramsey: Casey and Cummings, Colorado's C and C, can be a devastating pair. I think they'll make the difference. The Rapids are a dangerous team and I don't think Columbus has the answer.
Evans: Lots of C's in this one.
Bueno: But that's why Hesmer's loss is tough, because he has the experience and the Crew will miss it.
Canales: I think that the Crew have been written off too early. They're solid, and the Rapids just collapsed versus RSL. Gruenebaum is a good goalkeeper and his CCL time has served him well. I pick Columbus to move on.
Let's take a look at who the defending champions will face. What do you think of Real Salt Lake's odds of advancing versus FC Dallas?
Vertelney: Just a brutal draw for both RSL and FC Dallas.
Bueno: I can't believe one of them will be out after the first round. That's a semifinal matchup, if not MLS Cup. But I don't see RSL bowing out so soon.
Ramsey: I can't help liking both of these teams, and if I could only follow one opening round series this would be the one. I love what RSL can do going forward, but with Danny Hernandez healthy FCD can be very hard to break down.
Zac Lee Rigg: I'm not sure I've seen a more tightly-woven, holistic team in MLS than this RSL side.
Ramsey: It should be great to watch, but RSL's home field advantage will be too much.
Bueno: FC Dallas looked much stronger in early October than they are now. I guess consecutive losses will do that.
Evans: Silly MLS playoffs ruining things for everyone.
Canales: I think the playoffs are great - and they're set up to be the most exciting this year. For everyone screaming for a single table, how crappy would that be if next season, the East dominates and not a single Western Conference team gets in? Unlikely, but that means half the country has no stake in the postseason at all.
Evans: I stick to my story. But it should be a great matchup, regardless.
Canales: I like it when the first round has bite.
Bueno: Well, there's no guarantee that there will be a balanced schedule, but if there is a balanced schedule you have to seed the teams 1-8 in the playoffs. Otherwise it's a farce of a system. I don't think the MLS playoffs have ever been fair. Maybe in 2001 but I'd have to double check, because that year you had San Jose and LA, and I think it was seeded 1-8 but I'm not sure. Still, a long time ago.
It's garbage that you have LA, RSL, Dallas and Seattle in one bracket, and only one of those teams has a chance to make MLS Cup. That's garbage. I don't care if all those teams are in the West.
Canales: Wasn't 2001 the year 8 of 12 teams got in?
Bueno: Exactly. There was a flaw then too.
Canales: That's a bigger farce then the order the top teams play. I say the top squads are all pretty quality and the best fight their way out of the heap, no matter who they play first. But we're getting offtrack. New York! From worst to the playoffs, but how long will they last?
Bueno: They're the best team in the Eastern bracket.
Evans: My Union did put a hurting on them a couple weeks ago and showed they do have some holes that can be exploited.
Vertelney: Henry is still very much questionable, which could definitely be a factor.
Evans: He's out, apparently.
Ramsey: I have to agree with LB. The Red Bulls are just so talented that you struggle to see them getting bounced in the first round. Even if Henry is on the pine.
Canales: Henry is out for all the playoffs? Why exactly?
Evans: Just this match, so says Hans Backe.
Rigg: New York lucked out in avoiding the sheer pace Seattle and Colorado offer, which would have made the Red Bulls defense look rather silly.
Bueno: New York will face a tough challenge in San Jose. Frank Yallop has the ability to put together an effective game plan against New York, especially hosting the first game, but I do think New York's quality will win out.
Vertelney: Wondolowski could be the x-factor. If he stays hot, it might not matter what the Red Bulls do. Scoring 2-3 goals every game generally gives your team a good chance to win.
Canales: That leaves Seattle and LA. Could the Sounders pull off the upset?
Bueno: I think they have the ability to win the series. The Galaxy are inconsistent and have been so since July. I don't think they flipped the switch agianst Dallas, even though they played a very good game against them. I can't remember the last time the Galaxy had four strong performances in a row. End of June I suppose.
Evans: Seattle will be tough for sure, but I think the Galaxy have the veteran presence to squeak by in this one.
Ramsey: I like Seattle's chances. They look fresh and ready for the fight, which I don't think can be said of the Galaxy.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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