D E P T H
By: Alex | December 28th, 20072007 was considered a success for Chivas USA’s third year. The team surpassed expectation by qualifying for the MLS Cup, finishing the regular season on top of the western conference and second overall. However there is one thing that is still lacking, and it is about to be exploited.
Chivas USA participated in three competitions (if you separate MLS Cup and regular season). Next year could bring five. The team qualified for SuperLiga and probably the CONCACAF Champions League, a tournament that will run from August 2008 to April 2009 with a format similar to the UEFA CL.
Chivas USA played approximately 34 games last year in three tournaments (30 regular season, 2 open cup, 2 MLS cup) not including friendly’s. Arguably, we ran out of depth up front. Next year could see the Red and White suit up 57 times. Now, that’s assuming we win everything and get the Quintuple or whatever the multiple of five equals to. We are looking at a lot of games.
Here’s a little methodology;
Regular Season = 30 (guaranteed)
MLS Cup = 4 If we make it and win everything
SuperLiga = 5 Three in the knockout stages (guaranteed), plus two elimination
Open Cup = 4 One guaranteed, entered into quarter final knock out round
Champions League = 10 Six guaranteed based on the average group stage of at least 4 to a group, home and away. With 24 teams, there may be six to a group requiring 10 group stage games. plus four knock out games.
So how does the team add ten games, possibly 20 to their schedule? That’s the question that Preki is trying to figure out. That is why his secret mission in Europe has been so …. secret. Preki has been pushing “depth” and I can see why.
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