29 Down, 1 To Go

Blah. Another poor road performance and RSL is now more likely to miss the playoffs than make them. Again. In a league that still has more teams qualify for the playoffs than miss them, if RSL again crashes and burns again this season it'll be 1 for 5 on making the playoffs. Let that sink in: in a system that makes it harder to miss the playoffs than make them, RSL can only get there 20% of the time. There is something VERY wrong with that. But I digress. Hopefully, with a little luck and a lovely hometown thrashing of the Crapids, RSL can sneak into the playoffs on the final day once again. It'll be cold and dark, yes, but I encourage EVERYONE to head out to the game. If you need a little more incentive (which, really? You can't get up for the RMC finale?), 101.9 The End is doing a $10 ticket promotion on their web site (details here), and they are decent seats. So come on out and help RSL pull out their 24.9% chance of making the playoffs (according to the awesome Sports Club Stats)! Go RSL!

Game 30: RSL @ Crapids: One Tremendously Beautiful Turd

Wow. Just wow. Real just played an asstastic classic, and yet, were somehow able to throw out the plumber's snake and grab a goal from the sewage. RSL was continuously outplayed, outhustled, and outsmarted, but with the heroics of one Nick Rimando were able to keep Colorado at one goal. My oh my, RSL is off to the playoffs with a HUGE tie that also brings home the Rocky Mtn. Cup.

Game grade: A+/D-
An A+ for the massive achievement of FINALLY making the postseason. But really, that game and that effort was worthy of a D- at best (an F is more appropriate perhaps, but they did pull out a tie).

GRADES:
Nick Rimando-9 Singlehandedly kept RSL in striking distance. When motivated and on form, Nick is truly a world-class keeper, I don't care what anyone says.
Jamison Olave-3 An absolute disaster of a game.
Kyle Beckerman-4 Lots of hustle, but tried too hard and forced things.
Nat Borchers-5 Not a good game, but MUCH better than Olave.
Will Johnson-4 Worst game in an RSL kit.
Javier Morales-4 Started to come on late, but a terrible game.
Ian Joy-3 Abused by Cummings all night.
(Robbie Russell 56)-7 Should've started, by far RSL's best defender tonight.
Yura Movsisyan-5 Bonus point(s) for the HUGE goal, but really a bad game, missed WAY too many.
Chris Wingert-5 Very up and down game.
(Robbie Findley 72)-6 Did fairly well with VERY limited service.
Dema Kovalenko-5 Meh.
(Andy Williams 54)-7 Also should've started, helped set up the winner.
Clint Mathis-5 Another one with an up and down evening.

Coaching (Kreis)-3 Starting lineup was all wrong, wasted 2 subs (55 min. in) putting in what should've been the starters. Team also looked strangely lifeless, it's JK's job to get their heads right.
Refs (Prus)-2 An absolute nightmare of refereeing. This game alone should get Alex Prus a pink slip. Absolutely atrocious in every facet.

RSL Man of the Match: NICK RIMANDO
Far and away the best player on the field tonight. Well done Nick, you didn't deserve a loss in this one.

Assclown of the Match: Alex Prus
There was plenty of assclown-ness to go around on the Colorado side, but in sympathy to their fans for the heart-wrenching way their season ended, and in honor of the absolutely horrible officiating, Alex Prus, you win!

REAL SALT LAKE:
2008 Ben Cup Champions
2008 Rocky Mountain Cup Champions
2008-First Ever PLAYOFF APPEARANCE

Also, welcome back and HUGE props to RSLFM.com for allowing us RSL fans to watch the game. Just massive what you did for us tonight!

Another random catch-all update

First off, congratulations to the Creamsicles on winning another MLS Cup. I accidentally slept through the first half, but the second half was quite entertaining and Houston certainly deserved the win. Word is the NERds are in talks to change their name to the Buffalo Bills. Also, Khano Smith's new nickname is "Atiba."

Anyhow, there are lots of rumors floating around RSL-land these days so I'll hit on a few of those and what they would mean.

The most current has Kreis talking Adidas into graduating Jamie Watson out of Generation Adidas early so that he could cut him. While I believe it (see: various debacles featuring the coaching staff/front office this year), I hope this is not the case, as it is VERY bush league. In fact, if true, it saddens me. Kreis gives Watson little to no playing time. When he does play (and plays well), Kreis calls him out for not scoring when Jamie was the only player on the field playing with any of the following 1) heart 2) hustle 3) passion 4) energy 5) courage 6) shots. Everyone else on the team was afraid to even attack! And now, Kreis gets him taken out of a guaranteed contract so that he can cut him. Weak. While I don't think he'll ever be a star, don't be surprised to see Watson land elsewhere in MLS and become a solid role player with tons of hustle (something Kreis says he wants...hmmm....)

AYL filed this rumor report about 3 weeks ago (and I've heard little else since) but has listed Atiba Harris, Steven Curfman, Chris Brown, and Jean Martial Kipre as soon to be ex-RSL players. Here's my thoughts on each, if true.
Curfman-reserve player, never really saw the field. Too bad for the kid, but not a big loss. Good luck!
Brown-Thank God! The fact that he almost won the RSL Golden Boot proves two things: 1) RSL just plain can't score 2) Findley was criminally under-utilized. If he'd been on the field more, it wouldn't have been close.
Harris-Sad to see him go. His toughness/recklessness actually would have served him well in continued play at D-mid. Supposedly going to Norway (I'm guessing on a much larger contract) so I can't say as I blame him.
Kipre-BIG loss. I think this kid was the future at outside back. He had the speed and the moves to keep up on defense and to really disrupt the opposition's plans while on offense. If it is true he is gone, he better be leaving for a big contract as RSL would be painfully dumb (granted it wouldn't be the first time) to let him go easily.

Also in that report was word that Christian Jimenez has been traded. For what? No one knows. I'll wait on final judgement on this until the details come out. Having said that, while everyone says Jimenez has the talent, he has been very injury prone and I can understand if RSL cuts their losses on this one. Good luck to him wherever he goes!

Also, I was thinking the other day and I realized something. RSL MUST retire Eddie Pope's number 23. If they don't, they are a bigger joke than...well, they have already proven to be (or Jack Stewart's defense-take your pick on whatever reference you prefer). It not only would be the correct thing to do for Eddie, as he has been an absolute rock not only for this franchise but for the national team as well, but for the fans as well. It would give us something to take pride in and rally around. Having a GREAT (not good) player's number in the rafters (or wherever you'd put it at a soccer stadium haha) gives your team a sense of history and pride. I see RSL as having 3 chances to get this right:
1) At home game #1 of the season. Start the year off right and with a big celebration.
2) At RSL's home game vs. DC United. Have Eddie's former team help celebrate him with us.
3) At the opening of the Sandy Stadium. No brainer, but if done here, it mustn't get lost in the fanfare of the stadium opening.
Anything else is an affront to Eddie and to RSL (and Pope) fans everywhere.

Finally, just a quick look at my MLS playoff predictions:
Round 1:
Chivas USA over Kansas City - WRONG
Houston over Dallas - RIGHT
DC United over Chicago - WRONG
New England over New York - RIGHT
Round 2:
Houston over Chivas USA - RIGHTish
DC United over New England - WRONG
Final:
DC United over Houston - WRONG
As you can see, I did fairly well with the exception of DCU. Their choke in the first round killed me. But I learned something doing these predictions. Don't ever pick DCU, whenever I do, they lose.

Sigh...and there goes MLS 2007. At least we have the Draft and player moves to look forward to, I suppose. Now off to check on my other (soccer) team, the boys in blue of Sydney FC! Farewell until next time!

MLS (Playoff) Format

It seems there are a LOT of people out there that don't like the current MLS playoff system. I must admit, I'm not 100% convinced myself. From the lack of advantage for higher seeds to the number of teams on, there are a lot of things people don't like. Here's a few ideas that I came up with. They almost certainly won't be liked by the 'soccer purists', especially those that want a single table & promotion/relegation (get over it, it'll never happen), but it is a semi-'Americanized' system that also tries to set fairness at a high level.

NOTE: This setup is based on a 16 team league, which MLS can and will be at soon.

First, I would break the league up into 2 conferences and four divisions, based mostly on geography (and therefore helping promote more regional rivalries). Teams like RSL & Colorado (or LA & Chivas, DCU/NE/NY, etc.) should be kept in the same division to help foster interest with the already developed rivalries. So the league would look something like this:

Western Conference:
Div. 1
Chivas USA
LA
San Jose
Seattle

Div. 2
RSL
Crapids
Houston
Dallas


Eastern Conference:
Div. 1
DCU
New England
NY
Toronto

Div. 2
KC
Chicago
Columbus
Eastern Team 8 (St. Louis?)

In the interest of a fair, balanced schedule teams would have an increase in the number of games. In my system, each team would play every other league team twice, once at home and once away. They then would play each team in their division an addition 2 times (home and away). This would mean a total of 36 games in the regular season, which I admit is a lot, but the best way I can think of to keep a balanced schedule while still keeping extra "rivalry games." There may have to be a few extra midweek games to meet this schedule, but it is possible. In short, the regular season looks like this:
15 other teams x 2 games each = 30 games
3 division teams x 2 additional games each = 6 games
30 + 6 = 36 games

Now we come to the playoffs. I actually have two systems in mind, one which will drastically cut the number of playoff teams and one that allows for more teams while giving an advantage to the higher seeds (based on the format used in the Australian A-League). Both try to give teams an advantage for having a better regular season while also assuring every team a home playoff game.

Playoff Format One:
The winner of each division advances to the playoffs. Each conference's 2 representatives face off in the semi final in a best of 3 game home-away-home series. The team with the highest number of points on the season is the home team and plays a possible 2 home games, with the other team given one. Each game would be in the current MLS format, with a 30-minute overtime if needed. If the game is still tied after 120 minutes, there are two options: a 15 minute golden goal second overtime followed by a shootout if necessary or just a shootout without the golden goal overtime. The first team to win 2 games advances to the MLS Cup. The MLS Cup itself would be as currently formatted, that is, a single game at a "neutral" field.

Playoff Format Two: (I'll try and have this make sense...)
The top 2 teams in each division would qualify for the playoffs. Each division winner would be considered the #1 seeds in the playoffs with the runners-up being the #2 seeds. The two #1's would play a "major quarterfinal" match at the home of the team with the most points on the season (or the better record in head-to-head matches that year, we're making this up so whatever you prefer). The winner of that match moves on to the conference final, the loser moves to the conference semifinal.
Meanwhile, the 2 #2's play a home-and-away "minor quarterfinal" series formatted in the same manner as the MLS playoffs currently are (aggregate, no away goals rule). The team with the most points would get to choose whether they wanted to be home first or away first. The winner of this series would move on to the conference semifinal.
The conference semifinal would pit the winner of the minor quarterfinal against the loser of the major quarterfinal in a one-off match at the major quarterfinal loser's home stadium. If tied, the game would have MLS's current 30 min. overtime (and if still tied) followed by one of the two options I used in format one (a 15-min. golden goal then, if necessary, a shootout OR just a shootout). The winner of this game moves to the conference final.
The conference final would be played in the home stadium of the winner of the major quarterfinal, using the same rules as the conference semifinal and with the winner moving to the MLS Cup, which, as per usual, would be one match played in a neutral stadium.
An idea for the timing of these matches would be:
Friday: Minor Quarter Game 1
Saturday: Major Quarter
Tuesday: Minor Quarter Game 2
Saturday: Conference Semifinal
and then the conference final and MLS Cup on the 2 following Saturdays. This setup would keep the length of the playoffs to a minimum, while giving the higher seeded teams the advantage of getting some extra rest.

For reference purposes (and to maybe clear up what I'm trying to convey), here are "bracket" versions of each format:

Format One:



















Format 2:












I guess that's it for now, thanks for reading! Enjoy! And as always, feel free to comment below!

Playoff Predictions

Here's the RR predictions for the upcoming MLS playoffs:

Round 1:
Chivas USA over Kansas City
Houston over Dallas
DC United over Chicago
New England over New York


Round 2 (if the playoffs are formatted as I believe they are):
Houston over Chivas USA
DC United over New England

Final:
DC United over Houston

Last week:
3 right (0 exact), 4 wrong


PS-The review for the big RMC game is still forthcoming, work has thrown a wrench into my plans to have it done by now.