Monday Morning Centerback

Good morning all. It is the last day in April and guess who is A) unbeaten and B) who has yet to register a point in MLS?

If you answered the Red Bulls, Chicago Fire (yes, I forgot to list them the first time around) and Columbus Crew for A then you are right. If you answered D.C. United and Toronto FC to B then you are also right

While the Red Bulls' unbeaten and unscored upon start is thoroughly impressive it is the Crew's truly surprising 1-0-3 start that has me thinking that the East just might have five playoff teams this year

For those of you who didn't notice MLS changed its playoff guidelines to allow for the possibility that the fifth-best team in one conference could replace the fourth place team of another conference in the opposing conference playoffs if the fifth-place team has a better record. In short, if the Crew finish in fifth place in the East, and they post a better record then the fourth-place team in the West, then Columbus would go into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the West.

I know it's early but the East has taken control early on. After starting out 0-2-1 in interconference play, the East has rattled off a 5-0-1 record against the West. That success is why the East's fifth place team, Columbus, has as many points as Chivas USA, the second-place team in the West.

The most shocking start to the season has to be DC United, which was a consensus pick to at least reach MLS Cup, and a popular choice to win it. They enjoyed a strong run through the CONCACAF Champions Cup before the season and figured to plow through MLS competition with new signings Luciano Emilio and Fred, but three losses to start the season has to be a little disconcerting for new coach Tom Soehn.

Even with the rough start it is difficult to imagine DC not pulling it together and marching up the East standings. If and when they do, you will suddenly have six Eastern Conference teans vying for playoff spots. The Western Conference had better be ready because it is in danger of losing a playoff spot to the deeper and stronger East.

 

Comments

[Go Metro]

I do not share you confidence that DC will eventually pull it together and march up the standings.

[Matt]

Ives,
I'm surprised that your monday morning centerback remembered to list 5th place Crew as an unbeaten and failed to list the Fire, co-East leaders with your beloved RBNY. I think Chicago rates as one of the surprise starters, considering the offloading of their top two scorers, and would like to hear your thoughts on their form thus far

[JJ]

I concur about the East being stronger this season. Playing Toronto an extra time will help most of them as well. I think for fans of Western teams the key spots to watch is the 3rd place west team and the 5th place east team as those are likely to be the final 2 playoff spots this year.

[mosler]

So where are the articles examining what role the CONCACAF Champions' Cup played in the slow starts DC and Houston have had?

Both teams looked good against excellent Mexican clubs and are now getting throttled in MLS. Coincidence?

I would expect some discussion of getting up to speed quickly and expending so much time and energy on the CCC has lead to a let down now that MLS play has started. There might also be the idea that after playing so well against the Mexican clubs, DC and Houston assumed they could coast through the early parts of the MLS season.

[Lalique]

Maybe the gap between MLS and Mexican clubs isn't so great anymore... am curious how RBNY would play against either of the two mexican finalists - I'm guessing they'd fare quite well.

[Uncle Dave]

Hey, being latino, knowing latinos, and mexicans especially, they have respect for our league. Talk to a Mexican person one day about it, a true mexican fanatico. There is now respect - they treated the semis with Houston like a world event! And Cuahtemhoc only enhances that view. I think they are very close to each other as far as competitiveness and talent.

DC and Houston did think they would coast - but neither counted on the play that they are encountering this year - lets face it; MLS play alone has gone up several notches just from one year to the next.

THanks again Ives . . . cant wait to hear your comments on SBI . . . .

[Keith]

Your playoff comment is not strictly correct. Eight teams will qualify for the playoffs - the top two teams in each conference plus the remaining four teams, regardless of conference, that have the most points in the standings upon the completion of the their 30-game regular season.

[bill]

so you could have to top two in each conference, and then the next four all from one conference?

[papa bear]

that is correct bill. There could conceivably be 6 teams from one conference, unlikely, but possible. I like it so much better. makes these clubs compete against EVERONE not just trying to beat out the 2 crap teams in their own conference for a spot. (LA 2005 for example)