I agree with many, the current MLS play off structure does not make much sense; unquestionably the West is the far stronger conference compared the East. The seeding system obviously does not work with 6 teams from the west and only two from the East moving on to the post season.
This weekend Seattle plays the top-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of the playoffs, even though the Sounders were the No. 6 seed (of the 8 sides that qualify).
So what would I do?
Nice of you to ask, but I think a single combined table is the way to go with the top 8 qualifying. Every team plays every other home and away in a balanced schedule. It’s going to be the same next year; my season ticket invoice says 17 league games so it’s staying as a balanced schedule despite the addition of Vancouver and Portland.
This year the top eight teams in the standing have qualified, so it’s worked in that respect, but I don’t understand the aversion to a single table rather than the East/West conference that the league insists on.
So lets say we have a single table, with the teams seeded 1-8, the easy is 1v8, 2v7 and so on. A little predictable, but it works. A twist in the matchups is done in British Rugby League. The top seed picks who they want to play, then the second seed and so on.
Teams get to choose who they match up with, maybe the team that’s not playing well, or perhaps the team they’ve good history against and stay away from the teams that are playing really well or have historical issues with. I like this idea and certainly rewards consistency in a way the current system does not.
So what do I think of the LA-Seattle match up? LA was the team I wanted to Seattle to play, for a number of reasons.
First, we owe them after two thrashings this season (4-0 hammering at RBP and 3-1 at LA). That was not the same Seattle team that we’ve watched since that match in LA, they are playing some of the best football I’ve seen at RBP and the homer in me fancies them to beat anyone right now.
Secondly, if you want to win this thing you have to beat the best at some point and I want to see the Sounders take on the best. I think there is a better chance of a win over a two game home/away series that a one off game at their place.
Finally, and selfishly I want to watch the best players in the league. I want to see Beckham, Donovan, Buddle and Gomez play and see how good they really are.
It’s going to be a fun night under the lights and another highlight in a season full of them. Come on Sounders!