2013 MLS Thread - Page 12 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

The Big Chill · 10-09-2013, 10:24 PM

Huge win for the 'Caps!! There is still a shot at playoffs.

Montana Moe · 10-09-2013, 10:59 PM

The Cascadia Cup made the trip to Seattle tonight. Thankfully, it wasn't awarded to the home team. I hope the Timbers can win it for the 'Caps on Sunday!

Love those Gambians!

Montana Moe · 10-10-2013, 12:38 AM

I agree with the KC goalie on this point. Contending teams are especially hurt by scheduling MLS matches during the international window.

Houston Chronicle Link

Quote:

“First of all, I think it’s completely ridiculous that there is a game today when the U.S. Men’s National Team is playing,” Nielsen said. “The team should be able to play their best players and the fans should be able to see the best players.”

“We are losing two of our best players for a huge game. We were fighting the whole season to get into the playoffs and with three games left we are missing our two best players because of a national team game. I think its ridiculous there’s a game today. I’m very upset about it, it’s very disappointing.”

The Big Chill · 10-10-2013, 10:14 AM

It especially makes sense when you hear things like the MLS wanting to be recognized as a top league. A top league would have plenty of international players, and it just doesn't make sense to have them missing games all the time. They really need to adjust the scheduling.

Jimmy Stang · 10-10-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It especially makes sense when you hear things like the MLS wanting to be recognized as a top league. A top league would have plenty of international players, and it just doesn't make sense to have them missing games all the time. They really need to adjust the scheduling.

I have often thought that the MLS season is rather spread out. There is typically only one game per week and mid-week games are rare. Even with allowing for other competitions mid-week like the CONCACAF Champions League and the US Open Cup, there should still be enough room to keep the international windows open and have a few more mid-week games.

Being North America, travel is obviously a consideration. But with a little bit of planning, I would imagine that they could quite easily limit the farthest travel to the non-congested weeks.

And somewhat selfishly, I do actually enjoy the odd mid-week fixture. Last night's Whitecaps-Sounders match was perfect, even with a little PVR juggling with the Flames game cutting into it slightly. I wish that MLS has them a little more often.

Bill Bumface · 10-10-2013, 01:46 PM

I agree. More Wednesday/shuffling the Wednesday games could easily solve everything. There are so many weeks times are idle Sunday to Friday. It doesn't exactly seem like a large challenge to work around the international windows.

Fusebox · 10-10-2013, 04:03 PM

Despite the LA Galaxy being on the playoff bubble, Robbie Keane will play both Germany and Kazakhstan. Noel King has refused to release him back to Bruce Arena. Why does the MLS insist on scheduling matches at the same time as the mandatory international break? If I followed a team like the LA Galaxy, I'd be choked that one of the best players on the team would be unable to appear in crucial matches right at the end of the season.

Montana Moe · 10-13-2013, 09:19 PM

Congratulations to the Whitecaps on winning the Cascadia Cup!

The Big Chill · 10-14-2013, 08:04 AM

There were some really entertaining games between these 3 clubs this year. I was impressed by the quality of the players and, as always, the quality and quantity of the supporters.

It's pretty crazy to end up on top when two weeks ago it was looking very unlikely. Feels great to get some silverwear!

Fusebox · 10-14-2013, 09:41 AM

Sounds like someone at the MLS has been reading this thread. They are going to go to a late July start with a two month winter break, then finish in May, starting next season.

seattleflamer · 10-14-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Congratulations to the Whitecaps on winning the Cascadia Cup!

Hopefully the first of many trophies in MLS...just not at the expense of the Sounders

Montana Moe · 10-14-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusebox

Sounds like someone at the MLS has been reading this thread. They are going to go to a late July start with a two month winter break, then finish in May, starting next season.

Per SI reporter Grant Wahl:

Quote:

Don Garber on MLS calendar: "The timing for '14 will be very similar to our current format." Any future changes would be "long-term process"

If they changed it next year, MLS players would go 6 months or so without club matches going into WC competition. That would not be good.

Hopefully, they'll find a way to reduce the matches during the international breaks/World Cup next season.

Not sure how I feel about a change to the FIFA schedule. TV ratings wont change much, as they're already bottom of the barrel, but in person attendance could suffer.

seattleflamer · 10-14-2013, 01:57 PM

Yeah, I don't see that drastic a change for 2014. I do think part of the rationale for tinkering from a league perspective is to get over the hump in form and sharpness in the CCL knockout stage. MLS started the 2013 schedule the earliest it ever has in part to even out the distinct midseason form Mexican clubs have over MLS just coming out of training camp.

If I was king, I'd like some variation of the LigaMX's 2 season schedule: Apertura (from July to December) and Clausura (January to May). Maybe MLS has some variation of June to early December for MLS Cup and a shorter March to April regional tourney (like a West Coast Cup for Van, Sea, PDX, SJ, etc) with the same number (34) of league matches overall.

That would accomodate FIFA, CCL and the Open Cup play and help mitigate the brutal travel schedule.

Fusebox · 10-15-2013, 06:13 AM

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/15...t-says?cc=5901

Montana Moe · 10-15-2013, 06:49 AM

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-schedule-2014

Jimmy Stang · 10-15-2013, 08:08 AM

I'm torn on the potential schedule change. While I understand that there are many benefits to aligning the schedule more with Europe, the climate will be a big issue for many of the Northern cities. Just for the sake of argument, suppose they took December and January off - that means that there will still be games in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, New York, Columbus, etc. in late November, and even worse, early February. I can't see those being good for the players or the fans.

I love the odd snow game as much as the next guy, but this will get old pretty quickly. Condensing the schedule and honouring the FIFA international windows would be a reasonable compromise. But when a large chunk of the continent's population lives in cities where winter is sort of a big thing, it certainly raises some interesting questions.

Bill Bumface · 10-15-2013, 04:23 PM

I hate it.

I want Calgary to get a team. That doesn't work on an outdoor field with that schedule. I hate indoor soccer stadiums, it's an inferior experience to outdoor games.

As an NHL fan, the schedule right now is perfect. As the Flames season is going to crap, I have MLS to look forward to.

Unless you are a baseball fan, summer is a big sporting gap in the calendar. CFL is only once a week, there is lots of time to devote to following a different league.

This is a new league and they need to remember that. You want kids going to games and turning into your future season ticket holders because mom and dad could get cheap tickets and spend a nice sunny summer day outside doing something different.

I like that the MLS has a North American schedule, and I like that they have a North American playoff format. It's time to stop trying to be Europe and realizing that we have a growing league that is gaining a foothold that could quickly become a thriving league.

Jimmy Stang · 10-15-2013, 05:37 PM

Well said. I think that any benefit to a winter schedule is quickly overtaken by some substantial downsides.

Just have a few more mid-week matches to keep the international windows clear. That addresses most of the issues and maintains a sensible season for the North American climate.

Fusebox · 10-15-2013, 09:21 PM

Going to a winter schedule would be suicide, even with the winter break. They just have to stop scheduling matches during the international breaks, for which they are required to release any player called up for. If that means less regular season games, then that's what has to happen. I love seeing the stadium in Seattle full in mid season. Would that same thing happen in November or February? I would imagine they wouldn't be selling sixty thousand tickets.

Matty81 · 10-15-2013, 09:38 PM

Ya echoing what has been said but horrible move.

MLS needs to think about the sport thriving in North America 1st, and fitting in with the international calendar better about 97th. If they just took reasonable international breaks it wouldn't matter anyway.

They have a perfect spot on the calendar in the states right now, hardly any competition. Moving into Hockey/Basketball/Football season to appease Sepp Blatter would be criminal.