As MLS continues growing, it's going to be increasingly difficult to create a balanced schedule -- unless it followed the rest of the world and had each team play a home-and-away with the other teams in the schedule.
There will be 14 teams in the league next year, so a home-and-away with each team would be a 26-game schedule. That seems like enough games, considering the plans to expand SuperLiga and the desire to play foreign clubs in friendlies during the season. MLS doesn't need to muck it up by trying to play more games against conference rivals.
But if MLS does, maybe the league should go back to three divisions, which look like this:
East: D.C., New York, New England, Toronto, Columbus
Central: Wizards, Chicago, Houston, Dallas
West: Colorado, Salt Lake, Chivas USA, Galaxy, San Jose
Here's the thinking: With St. Louis continuing to make strides, that franchise would be a natural to join the Central (that's why the Crew is in the East). For the playoffs you could take the three division winners and the next five teams based on points regardless of divisions.
Will Kuhns, the MLS director of communications, said in an e-mail: “At this time, there are no plans to go to a three-division alignment, but the entire competition structure is being reviewed by the Technical Committee, which will make recommendations going forward. It is too early in that process to say whether that will result in changes for next season or beyond."
Any thoughts?
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12 comments:
3 divisions is absolutely worthless. All it does it allow crappy teams to make the playoffs and be seeded higher. Just look at baseball, where the 83 win St. Louis Cardinals won their division and ended up becoming champions. Or the 82-80 Padres making the playoffs a few years ago.
If there is realignment, MLS needs to lose a division, not add one. With several teams being added in the near future, it makes sense to go to a single table rather than realign each year.
Besides, with over half the league making the playoffs, the regular season is still pretty meaningless anyway. Creating another division race does nothing to solve that problem.
Don't forget that every game that one MLS team plays against another is a game for which all salaries are already paid.
Great to see you have a blog, Pete!
We need more coverage, speculation, and inside info, even if it's not fit for the Star yet! I'd turn on the Anonymous comments and moderate it rather than requiring registration.
I was thinking about 3 divisions the other day, but decided it would be too watered down.
The only way I would want it is if the other option is getting switched back to the West. If we add Seattle, St, Louis, and Philly before 2010, depending on where a 4th team is, I could easily see KC as a candidate to get switched back West. If that 4th team is in Las Vegas, no big deal. If it is a 2nd New York team, I think we'll be moved once again.
We need to get Chicago, St.Louis, and KC all in the same division - or not make the mistake the Royals made by not going to the National League a few years ago.
Then we need Seattle to get it over Philly
East: NY, DC, NE, Toronto
Midwest: Chicago, KC, Columbus, STL
Central: Colorado, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas
Pacific: Seattle, San Jose, Chivas USA, Galaxy
scaryice is exactly right. MLS really ought to go to a single table, not more divisions. While I'm dreaming, a single table also helps clear the path for promotion/relegation (no, it's not the only thing, not even the biggest thing).
I am glad to hear that the 'Technical Committee' is looking at the competition structure. Maybe they'll cut the number of teams in the playoffs to six and let the top two seeds take a bye in the first round ... that might make the regular season a bit more meaningful.
Single Table. What more needs to be said?
MLS needs to go to a single table as soon as possible.
the more divisions the worse the MLS will get...look what it did to the league when they had the 3 conferences a few years back...two teams folded shortly after it took place...it looks ridiculous and is unnecessary
again...like everyone else is saying...single table or two conferences will do just fine in my books...
Single table. everyone plays everyone home and away. every game matters. no bullshit playoff system where a crap team can get hot, go on a run, and win it all, rendering the regular season a wash.
We have a domestic tournament and superliga which should satisfy all cravings for playoff-style soccer.
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