Comments on: Chivas USA in CONCACAF Champions League

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:40:34 +0000

Champs league is home and away.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:39:48 +0000

Where did lovejoy go?

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:51:28 +0000

I remember reading last year the Superliga (say it like Tim Lovejoy does) will switch back and forth between Mexico and the US.

By: PocketKings

PocketKings — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:30:59 +0000

Alex,
Once I calmed down and gave it a little more thought, I see your point. You are right about changing the significance of the OPEN CUP by allowing a berth into the CONCACAF Champ’s League. That’s fair.

My problems with the system stem from the fact that 8 out of 14 teams make the playoffs (and then in the next few years 8 out of 16). So their is no reward for excellent form… mediocre teams qualify and play well for one or two games and are crowned “MLS Champs!”

If we are smart about working together with other nations we can scratch their back, and they … ours. Let’s take last years standing, we could see where MLS clubs would be placed in other competitions:
MLS Cup: DC, Chivas, Houston, NE
Champions League:(1-3 + open cup) DC, Chivas, and Houston + NE (Open Cup),
Superliga: (4-7) Dallas, NY, Chicago, KC
PanPacific: (8-9) Columbus & Colorado
Open Cup; ALL

MLS cup becomes a tune-up for Champs league and a significant piece of silverware.

Talk to the other leagues, make them aware of the how the structure works, and give more teams more opportunities to earn revenue (that goes to the clubs) and exposure…

which they could use to attract better players

which would make the product on the field better

which would attract better players, etc.

By: Albert

Albert — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:10:01 +0000

The less mickey mouse tourneys the better for Mexican teams. Priority #1 is Libertadores.

Also, if this is to follow Euro setup, are all games to be played in US?

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:03:10 +0000

Pk, I agree, but I don’t hate this set up. This does resemble europe in the way that UEFA Cup spaces are determined by cup wins (ex. Tottenham). I agree that focus needs to be on the table a little more.

I think CONCACAF wanted this league to be represented by countrys (such as Canada’s qualifications). This allows good USL teams to have a shot.

I also think MLS was trying to protect the prestige of their Superliga.

I think Superliga is still based on the table. This means that there could be diffrent teams playing in different competitions, rather than the same ones.

By: PocketKings

PocketKings — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:31:40 +0000

This is bullsh*t!!!
Championsleague should not be determined by cup runs.

Championsleague should be on regular season play (1-4)!!!
PanPacific Championships should be 5-6th place.
Superliga should be 7-8th place.

This gives people at the middle of the table something to fight for.

Mexico should also agree to the same and should be invited to PanPacific Championships.

Spread the tournaments out so MLS doesn’t have to worry about 2-3 teams having way to many games to play or for fixture congestion.

Why doesn’t MLS follow the world model? Why do we think that we need to re-invent the wheel?!?
(Bye the Bye, swap the places around between superliga and panpacific….it doesn’t matter)

By: bluemeanies

bluemeanies — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:20:58 +0000

Actually Elisa it might be MLS 5 because Toronto still has to go through the canadian cup qualifying process. And technically if this remains the qualification a USL team can sneak in one of three ways -Winning Canadian cup, Winning US Open Cup, securing a carribean place (Puerto Rico and I think Bermuda). If you look at the other qualifications 4 for the US seems pretty balanced (especially since this is Warners gambit to kill Superliga) but Costa Rica was robbed with only 2 while one or two of the other central american countries who received 2 spots might be over represented (based on quality 3 carribean spaces might be much as well).

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:18:15 +0000

2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™ – Calendar of Events
2008
11 June: 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ Draw
26-28 August: Preliminary Round – Game 1
2-4 September: Preliminary Round – Game 2
16-18 September: Group Stage – Game 1
23-25 September: Group Stage – Game 2
30 September – 2 October: Group Stage – Game 3
7-9 October: Group Stage – Game 4
21-23 October: Group Stage – Game 5
28-30 October: Group Stage – Game 6
November: Draw for Stage 3 – Elimination Round

By: Elisa

Elisa — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:41:16 +0000

Hmm why 4 teams? Seems like an awful lot for MLS. When do they start playing?