2016 MLS Season

[Montana Moe]

I am disappoint.

[The Familia]

Glad they lost. That loser city doesn't deserve a championship. Now hopefully Toronto will return back to the depths of sucking.

[Johnny199r]

Giovinco didn't show up tonight. His downfall is turning into a giant hissy fit when he doesn't get calls going his way.

Bradley was great, as were all the defenders for TFC.

Torres was a beast for Seattle.

TFC joins the long list of coulda-woulda-shoulda near champions

[Magnum PEI]

MLS really has to stop scheduling games at the same time the flames play.
I didn't see Dempsey in any of the highlight celebrations, was he there?

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

MLS really has to stop scheduling games at the same time the flames play.
I didn't see Dempsey in any of the highlight celebrations, was he there?

he might have been but he's been out for the last half of the season with an irregular heartbeat.

[transplant99]

So if i understand this correctly, Seattle didn't have a single shot on net...but won the championship?

Brutal way to determine a champion.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

MLS really has to stop scheduling games at the same time the flames play.
I didn't see Dempsey in any of the highlight celebrations, was he there?

He was there somewhere. They mentioned that he was training with the team in Toronto.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by transplant99

So if i understand this correctly, Seattle didn't have a single shot on net...but won the championship?

Brutal way to determine a champion.

Toronto absolutely dominated the game, they looked like a 2x better soccer team, and had two chances that were inches from going in. I don't really follow soccer too much, but as a casual fan that was an embarrassing way to hand out a championship, although I get why they're kind of handcuffed.

I mean that was the equivalent of the NHL playing one OT in game 7 for the Stanley Cup and then going "Well, that didn't work out, alright boys line up for a shootout!!".

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Toronto absolutely dominated the game, they looked like a 2x better soccer team, and had two chances that were inches from going in. I don't really follow soccer too much, but as a casual fan that was an embarrassing way to hand out a championship, although I get why they're kind of handcuffed.

I mean that was the equivalent of the NHL playing one OT in game 7 for the Stanley Cup and then going "Well, that didn't work out, alright boys line up for a shootout!!".

My biggest issue is that a one off final was not played on neutral grounds. When you award a winner take all game to a team that did slightly better, you sort of force the other team to play an ugly defensive game. There's a reason why all major championships either have either a best of 7 or a neutral ground final.

Sure you risk a pathetic display like the Grey Cup in Toronto with ticket giveaways and lower ticket sales, but you also don't give a team with the same number of regular season wins and 5 more regular season points a massive psychological advantage.

As for Toronto being twice the team, the stats don't quite indicate that. Sure, Toronto had 19 shots to Seattle's 3, but 12 were off target, and of the 7, only 2 were dangerous. Toronto did a really good job blocking shots too. Possession was close to 50/50, and Seattle won more duels and tackles. They weren't playing to win, they were playing not to lose. All 3 substitutions were for more defensive minded players as well.

Seattle played strategically and played for the kicks or a single counter without committing their midfield too far forward. Is it ugly? Definitely. But defence wins championships, and when you have idiot fans throwing bottles and you're not in your home, that's how a strategic coach plays.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

shootouts in soccer are a necessary evil.

Extra time without goalies!

[Delthefunky]

I'm not an MLS guy, but how do people feel about Giovinco's recent comments about the pitch at BMO center? I usually find myself defending soccer to people, but I don't think I can defend his comments. Sounds pretty whiny to me!. That said that was a pretty crazy cup final, weather wise. I was on a Stoke City forum and they were commenting on the cold and snow, and saying how hardcore that must be.

[GirlySports]

It whining. England and Scotland play through christmas where its just as cold and miserable.