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MLS Comment: Time For MLS To Overhaul The Playoffs?
David Gubala argues the merits of the playoff system in a growing league.
Nov 17, 2010 10:44:00 PM
By David Gubala
The highly anticipated 2010 MLS playoffs will end in a humble team winning its first ever star above its badge. No Designated Players on either side, two finalists with poor playoff attendances, and tons of upsets best sum up the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas heading into Sunday’s MLS Cup final.
There are two sides to all of this.
1) Why work hard all season long, invest in players, and achieve success in the required 30 matches, only to see it all thrown away in a two-legged series? The New York Red Bulls-San Jose Earthquakes series provides a perfect example. New York topped the Eastern Conference with 51 points and a 15-9-6 record, a massive boost from their 2009 fortunes. The San Jose Earthquakes finished with 46 points, not far below the Red Bulls but ended up eighth in the overall league standings, compared to New York’s third-place finish. Anything can happen in two games, but in 30 regular season games a team's quality usually reflects itself in the standings. The regular season you work hard for, and set long-term goals for. A two-legged series is very unpredictable, and unbalanced in relation to the rest of league play.
So what’s the solution to all this ruckus? Just simply crown the best team as champions. This year, the LA Galaxy finished as Supporters' Shield winners with 59 points (18-7-5) record, yet they’re almost treated as if they accomplished nothing. This is why. The Supporters' Shield winners do not receive the credibility they deserve. When you think about it, what are the 30 games to play for? To determine playoff seedings? Or to find out which team is best in the league?
2) The other side to the argument is that the San Jose Earthquakes simply did their job. You play 30 regular season matches and head into the blank slate of the playoffs. San Jose finished eighth and qualified for the post-season - anything going on from there is fair game. Every team is equal. There are no standings and anyone can win the entire thing no matter if you’re first or eighth in the overall regular-season standings.
Succeed in three games and you’re in the final. Since MLS is an unpredictable and even league by nature, there is little effect to the playoff seedings. FC Dallas took care of Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy with ease even though they were placed in a lower seed.
In a recent teleconference, MLS commissioner Don Garber stated, "We will never do away with playoffs." Why is he so adamant? Well, the playoffs provide a yearly boost in media exposure, helping hook in new fans for the upcoming season. Furthermore, playoffs are a hallmark of most team sports in the U.S., including football, hockey, baseball, and basketball. MLS continues to carve out an American niche in the worldwide soccer community.
Galaxy midfielder Dema Kovalenko said that winning the Supporters' Shield was little consolation to crashing out of the playoffs. Even the players have developed a mentality that playoffs are everything that matters.
But should that be the case? The playoffs are an improbable sequence of events. You never know what can happen. They’re very quick and anyone can easily advance to MLS Cup.
On the other hand, the playoffs can be indicative of following seasons. The winners in 2008, the Columbus Crew, went on to win the Supporters' Shield in 2009 for the second year in a row. Real Salt Lake, champs in 2009, came second in the Supporters' Shield race in 2010 as well as progressing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
MLS has shown it will continue to tinker with the setup until it gets things right. What should the league do with the playoffs? Tell Goal.com your take in the comments below.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
There are two sides to all of this.
1) Why work hard all season long, invest in players, and achieve success in the required 30 matches, only to see it all thrown away in a two-legged series? The New York Red Bulls-San Jose Earthquakes series provides a perfect example. New York topped the Eastern Conference with 51 points and a 15-9-6 record, a massive boost from their 2009 fortunes. The San Jose Earthquakes finished with 46 points, not far below the Red Bulls but ended up eighth in the overall league standings, compared to New York’s third-place finish. Anything can happen in two games, but in 30 regular season games a team's quality usually reflects itself in the standings. The regular season you work hard for, and set long-term goals for. A two-legged series is very unpredictable, and unbalanced in relation to the rest of league play.
So what’s the solution to all this ruckus? Just simply crown the best team as champions. This year, the LA Galaxy finished as Supporters' Shield winners with 59 points (18-7-5) record, yet they’re almost treated as if they accomplished nothing. This is why. The Supporters' Shield winners do not receive the credibility they deserve. When you think about it, what are the 30 games to play for? To determine playoff seedings? Or to find out which team is best in the league?
2) The other side to the argument is that the San Jose Earthquakes simply did their job. You play 30 regular season matches and head into the blank slate of the playoffs. San Jose finished eighth and qualified for the post-season - anything going on from there is fair game. Every team is equal. There are no standings and anyone can win the entire thing no matter if you’re first or eighth in the overall regular-season standings.
Succeed in three games and you’re in the final. Since MLS is an unpredictable and even league by nature, there is little effect to the playoff seedings. FC Dallas took care of Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy with ease even though they were placed in a lower seed.
In a recent teleconference, MLS commissioner Don Garber stated, "We will never do away with playoffs." Why is he so adamant? Well, the playoffs provide a yearly boost in media exposure, helping hook in new fans for the upcoming season. Furthermore, playoffs are a hallmark of most team sports in the U.S., including football, hockey, baseball, and basketball. MLS continues to carve out an American niche in the worldwide soccer community.
Galaxy midfielder Dema Kovalenko said that winning the Supporters' Shield was little consolation to crashing out of the playoffs. Even the players have developed a mentality that playoffs are everything that matters.
But should that be the case? The playoffs are an improbable sequence of events. You never know what can happen. They’re very quick and anyone can easily advance to MLS Cup.
On the other hand, the playoffs can be indicative of following seasons. The winners in 2008, the Columbus Crew, went on to win the Supporters' Shield in 2009 for the second year in a row. Real Salt Lake, champs in 2009, came second in the Supporters' Shield race in 2010 as well as progressing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
MLS has shown it will continue to tinker with the setup until it gets things right. What should the league do with the playoffs? Tell Goal.com your take in the comments below.
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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