I didn't say anything one way or the other about whether MLS' system was good or bad. It is what it is, and it's not gonna change (and I like the playoffs). But given that a majority of teams make the playoffs, it stands to reason that some teams will just tick over in neutral until they have to turn it on to qualify for the playoffs.
I didn't say anything one way or the other about whether MLS' system was good or bad. It is what it is, and it's not gonna change (and I like the playoffs). But given that a majority of teams make the playoffs, it stands to reason that some teams will just tick over in neutral until they have to turn it on to qualify for the playoffs.
I guess it comes down to incentive. This system gives fans more incentive to attend matches- dangling the playoffs - but it gives the teams less incentive to grind it out throughout the whole season.
Don't teams really have to do that, though? I mean, Toronto in 2017 and LAFC are the only 2 teams that won SS/MLS cup recently. And both of those teams were stacked. Salary caps keep teams from adding depth that allows them to do both.
Not at all! Just look 180 miles north of here. The Sounders are in the SS conversation more years than they aren't, which means they take the entirety of the regular season seriously. Even if they don't win the SS (except one time), they're at least in position to do it most every season.
A number of teams in the Eastern Conference, which in case nobody's noticed is actually better than the West at this point in MLS' development, also take the entire season seriously.
I'm not talking about automatically winning the SS/MLS Cup. But it's entirely possible to build a team that cares about games in March as much as it does games in September - but that's down to coaching as much as it is talent on the roster.
That 2016 year was when Sigi Schmid got fired mid-season, after a disastrous loss in Kansas City where his team clearly quit on him.
After Schmid was fired, they only lost twice in their last 14 games under their new, and still current, coach. I think that's less "taking it easy" and more doing the same thing that the Timbers did this year - greatly underperforming under a long-term coach and hitting rock bottom before a change was made.
At any rate, yes, it is possible for teams to take the entire season seriously, and we are in agreement that the Timbers should definitely do that.
I didn't say anything one way or the other about whether MLS' system was good or bad. It is what it is, and it's not gonna change (and I like the playoffs). But given that a majority of teams make the playoffs, it stands to reason that some teams will just tick over in neutral until they have to turn it on to qualify for the playoffs.
I guess it comes down to incentive. This system gives fans more incentive to attend matches- dangling the playoffs - but it gives the teams less incentive to grind it out throughout the whole season.
Don't teams really have to do that, though? I mean, Toronto in 2017 and LAFC are the only 2 teams that won SS/MLS cup recently. And both of those teams were stacked. Salary caps keep teams from adding depth that allows them to do both.
Not at all! Just look 180 miles north of here. The Sounders are in the SS conversation more years than they aren't, which means they take the entirety of the regular season seriously. Even if they don't win the SS (except one time), they're at least in position to do it most every season.
A number of teams in the Eastern Conference, which in case nobody's noticed is actually better than the West at this point in MLS' development, also take the entire season seriously.
I'm not talking about automatically winning the SS/MLS Cup. But it's entirely possible to build a team that cares about games in March as much as it does games in September - but that's down to coaching as much as it is talent on the roster.
Sounders? They were bottom of the table in 2016 and 17 when they made the cup due to getting hot. 6th overall in 2020. 2019 a respectable 4th.
I think they learned in 2014 teams can't go all in to get both and finally won.
And to be clear, this stinking it up from early on by ptfc for the last 10 years has to stop.
That 2016 year was when Sigi Schmid got fired mid-season, after a disastrous loss in Kansas City where his team clearly quit on him.
After Schmid was fired, they only lost twice in their last 14 games under their new, and still current, coach. I think that's less "taking it easy" and more doing the same thing that the Timbers did this year - greatly underperforming under a long-term coach and hitting rock bottom before a change was made.
At any rate, yes, it is possible for teams to take the entire season seriously, and we are in agreement that the Timbers should definitely do that.