The Official 2012 MLS Playoffs thread

[Yohan]

For most teams, only one game left, but it's that time again...

From Eastern Conference, Kansas City, New York, Chicago, DC United, Houston have all clinched a spot and will be jockeying for position on the final week.

In the West, San Jose, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy have clinched a spot. Vancouver has 5th spot right now, and leads 6th place Dallas by 4 points with two games left for both teams. Vancouver plays Portland Sunday at 7pm, while Dallas plays Seattle at 9pm.

San Jose is also playing LA at 7pm. What a monster year Wondolowski's had. 25 goals and 3 away from breaking MLS record of 27 goals in one season. Rumours say he wants a raise to DP level...

[London]

the west did not dominate this season,

if vancouver were in the east they would be out of the playoffs, they are currently tied with montreal on points and montreal is out of the playoffs.

the crew could miss the playoffs with (potentially) over 50 points -- thats crazy

[prizby]

the west did not dominate this season,

if vancouver were in the east they would be out of the playoffs, they are currently tied with montreal on points and montreal is out of the playoffs.

the crew could miss the playoffs with (potentially) over 50 points -- thats crazy

with half of those points (22 so far, 25 total if they win next Sunday) coming against Montreal, New England, Philadelphia, and Toronto (out of a possible 36 come next weekend)

Edit:
in comparison, NYRB has 20 (possibly 23 after next weekend) against the bottom 4 (in the East) (out of a possible 33 come next weekend)
Chicago Fire finished with 22 points against the bottom 4 (out of a possible 33)
SKC has 20 (possibly 23 after Wednesday) (out of a possible 33 come Wednesday)
DC United has profited the most with 29 points (out of a possible 36)
Houston has 19 (out of a possible 33)

[Yohan]

the west did not dominate this season,

if vancouver were in the east they would be out of the playoffs, they are currently tied with montreal on points and montreal is out of the playoffs.

the crew could miss the playoffs with (potentially) over 50 points -- thats crazy

it's funny because people were saying the West was way stronger than the East at the beginning of the season. gotta love MLS and its unpredictability

also, never rule out Bruce Arena, no matter how shitty of a start his team might have

[Redpunkfiddle]

Didn't know the Semifinals ("Conference Finals") had been changed to two legs. Changes the dynamics of that stage.

[ouderwien]

Why is there a long break from Nov. 18th to December 1st for the Finals. Is there an international break?

[Yohan]

I think so. Nov friendlies

[Yohan]

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1482...la-galaxy.html
San Jose vs LA

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1482...d-timbers.html
Vancouver vs Portland

[prizby]

it's funny because people were saying the West was way stronger than the East at the beginning of the season. gotta love MLS and its unpredictability

also, never rule out Bruce Arena, no matter how shitty of a start his team might have

with 1 game remaining between eastern conference and western conference teams, the east have taken 128 points to the west's 116

[AlanO]

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1482...d-timbers.html
Vancouver vs Portland

Not convinced that Robson and Miller are worthy of DP spots, but Vancouver has done a good job of filling out the roster with solid players... Koffie, Camilo, DeMerit, Rochat, Bonjour, YP Lee, Richards, Mattocks, etc. Very good depth for a team new to MLS.

[Yohan]

Not convinced that Robson and Miller are worthy of DP spots, but Vancouver has done a good job of filling out the roster with solid players... Koffie, Camilo, DeMerit, Rochat, Bonjour, YP Lee, Richards, Mattocks, etc. Very good depth for a team new to MLS.

Robson and Miller are worth about 250k. But then again, Vancouver's standard in DP is so low... I mean they had Jarju who was even worse of a fail than Mista

Vancouver also lost to Portland 1-0, massively shooting themselves in the foot. If Dallas gets a win vs Seattle, last week of MLS is going to be very interesting.

Dallas vs Seattle

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1482...fc-dallas.html

SJ 2-2 LA. Wondo with 26th goal of the season.

[Yohan]

1-1 at half time in a monsoon...

[Yohan]

Seattle 3-1 Dallas.

Vancouver clinches 5th spot in the West, and will play LA Galaxy first

[Ajax TFC]

I mean they had Jarju who was even worse of a fail than Mista

Lol that's what happens when you get your top players from the Belgian second division

[supersaint]

At this early stage of the playoffs I am totally impressed with Seattle and pick them to lift the cup.

[ryan]

At this early stage of the playoffs I am totally impressed with Seattle and pick them to lift the cup.

I wouldn't jump on that yet. Seattle in the playoffs are about as successful as we are in the Regular Season.


Both clubs only seem to know how to win domestic cups.

[ag futbol]

Not convinced that Robson and Miller are worthy of DP spots, but Vancouver has done a good job of filling out the roster with solid players... Koffie, Camilo, DeMerit, Rochat, Bonjour, YP Lee, Richards, Mattocks, etc. Very good depth for a team new to MLS.

Oh they've done a piss-poor job of managing the assets they were pretty much gifted. Trading for Dane Richards who is leaving at the end of the season, and not even starting him? I'd call that a little bit odd to say the least.

We should see if we can pry a few players out of them in the off season. Rene probably has his eye on more of his own players who will inevitably under-perform.

[Yohan]

4th vs 5th seed playoff games

31 Oct: Houston at Chicago, 9pm
1 Nov: Vancouver at LA, 1030pm

[Canary10]

4th vs 5th seed playoff games

31 Oct: Houston at Chicago, 9pm
1 Nov: Vancouver at LA, 1030pm

These are 1 game then? I'm thinking LA and Houston.

[supersaint]

These are 1 game then? I'm thinking LA and Houston.

I am gonna pick Chicago and LA although I would like to see Vancouver pull of the upset. Really looking forward to the playoffs.Still taking Seattle for the cup, although Johnson injury is worrying. Who does everyone else pick?

[TFC_Allez]

I am gonna pick Chicago and LA although I would like to see Vancouver pull of the upset. Really looking forward to the playoffs.Still taking Seattle for the cup...

I agree with you. If Van can somehow knock off LA, I can see San Jose in the final. If LA goes through I can see Seattle reach the final. The East is tough to call. My guess is that Chicago will go through from the knock out, but it'll either be NYRB or Sporting Kansas in the final. A Seattle v SKC would be a pretty exciting match and a sweet repeat of the US Open Cup final. Not basing any of this on numbers though lol. Just a hunch.

[Yohan]

I am gonna pick Chicago and LA although I would like to see Vancouver pull of the upset. Really looking forward to the playoffs.Still taking Seattle for the cup, although Johnson injury is worrying. Who does everyone else pick?

Eddie Johnson has a minor knock and should be fit for this weekend

[Yohan]

Vancouver at LA should be no brainer. Vancouver has been just as bad as TFC in 2nd half of the season and lost to LA both times at HDC. LA has been one of consistently better teams in Western Conference in 2nd half, and managers rarely outcoach Bruch Arena, esp in playoff situations. LA 2-0 Vancouver

Houston at Chicago is a little more tricky, because both teams have been decent in 2nd half. Chicago has been the dark horse in the East and with addition of Shejill Macdonald and Alvaro Fernandez, got that extra bit of something special to unlock Houston's well drilled defence. But Brad Davis set piece, and maybe a bit of magic from Boniek Garcia might do the trick. I think I'm going with Chicago though, and this might go to extra time, because Houston don't have a legit starting striker. Will Bruin isn't ready to handle the go to guy role yet. Chicago 2-1 Houston

[Yohan]

Will bruin makes me look like a moron, scoring a brace as houston wins 2-1, their first road win in like three months

[narduch]

Ah, Will Bruin, a player we could have drafted instead of trading for Sturgis...

[Fort York Redcoat]

Ah, Will Bruin, a player we could have drafted instead of trading for Sturgis...

Yes. Him or CJ Sapong would look like a fortuitous or brilliant draft except for the fact we were after a midfielder and probably looked to make the same choice as Vancouver who got the pick of Michael Nanchoff.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-nanchoff

Not as fortuitous. But hey, looking back is fun.

[Alonso]

Anybody watching LA vs Vancouver tonight?

[Petor]

I'm watching.

And isn't it great that all the Whitecaps fans got to see the Argos beat the Ticats at home on the last play of the game?!!!

[bones]

I'm watching.

And isn't it great that all the Whitecaps fans got to see the Argos beat the Ticats at home on the last play of the game?!!!

Oski Weeeeaaaaafuck.

holy crap VanShitty scored!

[__wowza]

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/

healthy contingent of streams tonight, this is the one im running on. anything better?
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/1502...whitecaps.html

say what you will about vancouver, they've got a good grouping out to this game. personally i hope they take it, whatever helps grow the sport in canada. mattocks with a goal mocking the fans again, what a fuckwad.