Here's a central thread for playoff discussions.
TFC 2017 playoff discussion thread
Here's a central thread for playoff discussions.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
The schedule
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...e-played-dec-9
Subject to change. Canadian and international broadcast information to be announced at a later date. KNOCKOUT ROUND
Conference third seed vs. sixth, and fourth seed vs. fifth seed in a single-game elimination match
- Eastern and Western Conference Knockout Round (4 games)
- Wed, Oct 25 - Times TBD - UniMás
- Wed, Oct 25 - Times TBD - UniMás
- Thu, Oct 26 - Times TBD - UniMás, FS1 or ESPN2
- Thu, Oct 26 - Times TBD - UniMás, FS1 or ESPN2
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Two-game series, aggregate-goal format between conference top seed vs. lowest advancing seed from Knockout Round and conference second seed vs. highest seed from Knockout Round
- Eastern Conference Semifinal Series: Leg 1 (2 games)
- Mon, Oct 30 - Time TBD - FS1
- Tue, Oct 31 - Time TBD - ESPN
- Eastern Conference Semifinal Series: Leg 2 (2 games)
- Sun, Nov 5 - Time TBD - ESPN or FS1
- Sun, Nov 5 - Time TBD - ESPN or FS1
- Western Conference Semifinal Series: Leg 1 (2 games)
- Sun, Oct 29 - 5:00 PM ET - ESPN
- Tue, Oct 31 - Time TBD - FS1
- Western Conference Semifinal Series: Leg 2 (2 games)
- Sun, Nov 5 - Time TBD - ESPN or FS1
- Sun, Nov 5 - Time TBD - ESPN or FS1
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Two-game series, aggregate-goal format
- Eastern Conference Championship
- Leg 1: Tue, Nov 21 - 8:00 PM ET - ESPN
- Leg 2: Nov 28 or 29 - Time TBD - FS1
- Western Conference Championship
- Leg 1: Tue, Nov 21 - Time TBD - FS1
- Leg 2: Thu, Nov 30 - Time TBD - ESPN
2017 MLS CUP
Hosted at the home venue of the finalist with the best regular season record
- Sat, Dec 9 - 4:00 PM ET - ESPN, UniMás, TSN, TVA Sports
So it's 50/50 that TFC will play their first playoff game away on Halloween.
I wouldn't have put a game on Halloween night if I were them. That could really affect the gate for that game, games in Chicago and Columbus are 80% families. They should have gone Sunday/Monday, not Monday/Tuesday.
Guessing that Sunday Nov 5 game here will be played at 8pm, given (i) domestic mega ratings last year, and 8pm is a prime TV slot, and (ii) Raps have a home game at 6pm on the 5th.
TFC in playoffs should do fine against NFL Sunday night in Canada. NFL Sunday night drew 350K on average last year (late afternoon NFL game is much stronger in ratings, closer to a million). There are no eastern conference markets playing in 4pm NFL games that day, so the league don't have to think too much about the other matchup.
So weather could be a factor right out of the gate. Neither the NYCFC or Montreal home playoff games were overly affected last year, but it can be miserable in early November at 8pm on the lakeshore.
Last edited by ensco; 09-15-2017 at 06:23 AM.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
If TFC has home advantage by winning the supporters shield, does it get the second leg all the way through?
Yes. Top seed plays second game at home. Only real value is that extra time in second leg, if it happens, is at home. (Which, come to think of it, can come in handy......)Originally Posted by Oldtimer
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
I just wrote what was essentially an opus about last year's playoffs, specifically how magical it was as a spectacle and how unlikely it was we'd all ever go through something like that. got deleted by accident.
I'm not going to write it out all again but the link below was done by someone in my section and covers to an extent most of the feelings I have about that night. Nothing will ever give me the same feeling of belonging, Of Euphoria, of solidarity and community as that night did - from the insane march into the stadium, to the rollercoaster ride happening on the pitch, to the rainy walk to Joe's where we sang songs to our new heroes, putting themselves forever in the lore of Toronto football club.
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/new...beandmail.com&
II'm all for crushing every team in the playoffs on our way to the cup. That would certainly be a party in the stands and deserved by the team. But there's something about really Earning that win and to and lesser extent those series that really made it feel special. We had to have that run specifically to have this team this year.
*I'm not mentioning Seattle. IMO the real final was the conference finals. I'd imagine most people here would agree.*
Last edited by molenshtain; 09-15-2017 at 07:42 AM.
I feel like the second half of the 2017 regular season has just been a kind of extension of the 2016 playoff party.
We have had 6 or 7 games since the all star break where we just pasted good opposition. If anything, our level of dominance is just getting bigger.
Last edited by ensco; 09-15-2017 at 07:44 AM.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Why did they push the conference finals back so late? They could have moved them up to the 18th and had the MLS cup finished by Dec 2. That week could be the difference between a 5C game and a -5C game.
TV. They want those conf final games far away from peak college football and NFL so no Sat/Sun in November.
We changed their thinking with the ratings we got midweek last year.
College football conference championships are all on Sat Dec 2. Nobody wants to see FC Dallas up against a Texas-Oklahoma Big 12 title game.
Last edited by ensco; 09-15-2017 at 12:01 PM.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Give players a week to recover from international duty and fly to wherever they need to get to.
Don't forget, some teams will still not charter in the playoffs.
I'm not 100% sure that having the second leg at hom is always an advantage. I think I'd rather the top seed have the choice of playing home or away first. Against certain sides it might be better to rack up a lead in the first leg which will demoralize the opponents to the point they themselves feel the tie is over.
Anyway it's a mute point, we've still gotta clinch that shield first
Agree to disagree.
In the whole world in any two-legged knock-out competition having the second leg at home is considered an advantage.
For a little pre-playoffs hype:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tfc/comment...y_own_content/
So, wondering if there are any plans to expand the seating for this year's playoffs? We know from experience we can get 10,000 more out.
They have been discussing options. I've read that they might add up to 10,000 seats.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Awesome! That would be amazing.
That is a good bit of business if they add seats, not only from gate revenue but also some of those band wagoners will decide to get ST next season.
2018 seasons tickets are already sold out, they would have to join the waitlist
I didn't know that! That's incredible!
MLS Cup finals had 36,045 and this last week was 28, 979. So really the extra seats brought in about 7000ish. If we host the finals there is going to be real terrible ticket scarcity. Stub Hub prices will be out of this world and scalpers will be elated.
Columbus is the team I don’t want to see. Tough defensive team. Quietly hotter than Atlanta right now.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
It really is. When the first made the announcement at one of the games a couple months ago I thought I misheard. The city has truly rallied around this team and I hope the support continues for years to come.
They advertised joining the waitlist for 2018, but since the renewal period some have come up - or maybe the club released some more tickets.
I just checked, and there are memberships for sale.
Sec 205 27 seats
Sec 206 2 seats
Sec 207 3 seats
Sec 208 37 seats
Sec 209 83 seats
Sec 210 59 seats
Sec 211 10 seats
Sec 224 1 seat - Going for $1579 fwiw.
So a total of 222 seats left. That's not a bad re-up!
Road Games:
2013 - Montréal , 2014 - Orlando (Disney Classic), Montréal
2015 - Columbus, New England, Montréal
2016 - NYCFC (Leg 2 Conference Semis), Montréal (Leg 1 Conference Final)
2017 - Ottawa (Leg 1 Canadian Championship Semi), DCU, Red Bulls (Leg 1 Conference Final), Columbus (Leg 2 Conference Final)
2019 - Montréal, NYCFC (Eastern Conference Semi @ Citi Field), Seattle (MLS Cup Final)
I really want the playoff picture to be more clear but alas, we will have to wait.
Right now the East is almost locked up - just jockeying for position now. If NYRB wins this weekend, then we'll know WHO is in the playoffs in our conference, just not WHERE they land.
The west, well someone on here referred to it as the WILD WILD WEST, and that's what it is. Vancouver is the only team to have clinched, but you know that ONE OF Portland, Sporting or Seattle are in. With only Dallas (Slim chance), Sporting (likely in), Minnesota (slim chance on paper, not likely in) Colorado (eliminated) and Vancouver playing this weekend, the only one to really be able to clinch is Sporting.
If Dallas beats Colorado they move to 45 points, dropping RSL out.
If Minnesota beats Sporting, they move to 38 points, but stay in 9th pos.
If Sporting beats Minnesota, they move to 2nd and clinch.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
PTS GP GR Max
Playoffs?
s - Toronto FC
65 32 2 71 Bye. Home Field Advantage x - New York City FC
56 32 2 62 Bye. Home Field Advantage x - Atlanta United FC
53 32 2
59
Wildcard vs New York Red Bulls x - Chicago Fire 52 32 2 58 Wildcard vs x - Columbus Crew SC x - Columbus Crew SC 50 32 2 56 Wildcard @ x - Chicago Fire New York Red Bulls 43 31 3 52 Wildcard @ x - Atlanta United FC
Montreal Impact 39 32 2 45 HOPE New England Revolution 39 32 2 45 HOPE Philadelphia Union 39 32 2 45 HOPE Orlando City SC 39 32 2 45 HOPE D.C. United 32 32 2 38 ELIMINATED WESTERN CONFERENCE
PTS GP GR Max Playoffs? x - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 51 31 3 60 Bye. Home Field Advantage
Portland Timbers 47 32 2 53 Bye. Home Field Advantage Sporting Kansas City
47 30 4 59 Wildcard vs Real Salt Lake Seattle Sounders FC
47 32 2 53 Wildcard vs Houston Dynamo Houston Dynamo
43 31 3 52 Wildcard @ Seattle Sounders FC Real Salt Lake
42 32 2 48 Wildcard @ Sporting Kansas City San Jose Earthquakes 42 32 2 48 HOPE FC Dallas 42 31 3 51 HOPE Minnesota United FC 35 31 3 44 HOPE Colorado Rapids 29 31 3 38 ELIMINATED LA Galaxy 29 32 2 35 ELIMINATED
Road Games:
2013 - Montréal , 2014 - Orlando (Disney Classic), Montréal
2015 - Columbus, New England, Montréal
2016 - NYCFC (Leg 2 Conference Semis), Montréal (Leg 1 Conference Final)
2017 - Ottawa (Leg 1 Canadian Championship Semi), DCU, Red Bulls (Leg 1 Conference Final), Columbus (Leg 2 Conference Final)
2019 - Montréal, NYCFC (Eastern Conference Semi @ Citi Field), Seattle (MLS Cup Final)
The MLS form guide is really useful to see who plays whom and who is doing well right now.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/results
How is Vancouver is first place? They are meddling at best. The west is awful.
A consistent way of playing that most teams can't deal with. They avoid possession on purpose and counter attack up the middle with pace.
If we met them in the final, I'm confident of a 3+ goal win.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good? Caps certainly do have a horseshoe up their butts, but they've really come together with some key players back from injury, team chemistry being good and new signings panning out right away. And they have ok depth. Even if they pretend to be Leicester with bunker and counter
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Im reaching here.
But it would be soooo great to see Minnesota run the table and sneak in. Big test at home vs KC, but after that they play a terrible LA team they have a showdown with SJ
A bridge too far? Almost certainly, but they hung with Altaata on the road so who knows.
Looking at just the table, it might appear that way without context. It could be a situation where they are all powerhouses that slug it out against each other, similar to how the SEC in NCAAF has been for a decade. They might have teams with 1 or 2 losses, but are still better than other schools with better records.
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