MLS Behind the Curve Again

A look at the 2008 schedule released by MLS shows a few interesting things. Most obvious is there will be no league games for DC United during the month of July. None. Also, there will be a midseason ABC national TV game against the LA Galaxy. It's a noon start, too. There are more Saturday night games as opposed to noticeable the lack of them last season, especially after the All Star game. That will be well reflected in better attendance. But, the most interesting and inexplicable wrinkle is the scheduling of games on and around FIFA international dates. The official dates are June 7-29, August 20, September 6-10, October 11-15, and November 19. Other than the June window which is unavoidable, the rest of the dates should and could be scheduled around. United plays on August 20 at New England, on September 6 at San Jose, and on October 12 at Houston. The August 20th match is the only Wednesday match in August. Any other Wednesday would have been fine. The September 6 match and October 12 matches also could have been moved up a few days to either Wednesday or Thursday games. Instead, inferior soccer will be played all over MLS as the best North American players will be pulled away from their MLS sides for CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. European qualifying begins in September and South American qualifying begins in October. Well done, Don Garber. Yet another master stroke of refusing to look forward. Instead, continue to react and explaining later when the inevitable complaints begin. And complain they will.

DC United Clinches #1 Seed in East

Thanks to thier scoreless tie with Chicago, DC United has clinched home field advantage for the duration of the playoffs. The Supporter's Shield is still pending. If Chivas USA loses their game today, United retains the Supporter's Shield regardless of the results of the final game.

Two Weeks To Go

Playoff positions are beginning to solidify across MLS. So with each team having two or three games remaining, let's take a look at the final few games and where each team could and will end up.

Eastern Conference

DC United - 54 Points

• Can finish as the number one or two seed in the East
• Clinches East #1 with one point
• Clinches Supporter's Shield with six points
• Can win the Supporter's Shield
• Remaining games - CHI and CLB
• Predicted finish - 58 Points - East #1 - Supporter's Shield

New England - 49 Points

• Can finish as the number one or two seed in the East
• Clinches East #1 with six points and zero points for DC United
• Can win Supporter's Shield
• Needs all six points, no more than three from Chivas USA, and none from DC United
• Remaining games - CLB and @TFC
• Predicted finish - 55 Points - East #2

New York Red Bulls - 39 Points

• Can finish as the number three or four seed in the East or the four seed in the West
• Clinches #3 seed with four points
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - KC and @LA Galaxy
• Predicted finish - 40 points - East #3

Kansas City Wizards - 37 Points

• Can finish as the number three or four seed in the East or the four seed in the West
• Clinches #3 seed with six points and no more than three from New York
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - @NYRB and @DAL
• Predicted finish - 38 Points - East #4

Chicago Fire - 36 Points

• Can finish as the number three or four seed in the East or the four seed in the West
• Clinches #3 seed with six points, no more than two from NYRB, and no more than four from KC
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - @DC and LA
• Predicted finish - 36 Points - Not in Playoffs

Columbus Crew - 31 Points

• Can finish as the number four seed in the West
• Clinches #4 seed in West with six points, no more than four from Colorado, and zero from Chicago
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - @NE and @DC
• Predicted finish - 31 Points - Not in playoffs

Toronto FC - 24 Points

• Eliminated from Playoffs
• Remaining Games - @LA and @NE
• Predicted finish - 24 Points - Not in Playoffs

Western Conference

EDIT - Chivas USA - 52 Points

• Can finish as the number one or two seed in the West
• Clinches #1 seed with three points
• Can win Supporter's Shield
• Clinches Supporter's Shield with six points and no more than three from DC United
• Remaining Games - COL, and HOU
• Predicted finish - 56 Points - West #1

Houston Dynamo - 48 Points

• Can finish as the number one, two, or three seed in the West
• Clinches #1 seed with six points and no more than two from Chivas USA
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - @RSL and @Chivas
• Predicted finish - 52 Points - West #2

EDIT - FC Dallas - 44 Points

• Clinched #3 seed in West
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Game - KC
• Predicted finish - 47 Points - West #3

Colorado Rapids - 32 Points

• Can finish as the number four seed in the West or the number four seed in the East
• Clinches #4 seed with six points and no more than one point from Chicago
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - @Chivas and RSL
• Predicted Finish - 33 Points - Not in playoffs

LA Galaxy - 30 Points

• Can finish as the number four seed in the West or the number four seed in the East
• Clinches #4 seed in West with nine points and no more than two from Chicago
• Cannot win Supporter's Shield
• Remaining Games - TFC, NYRB, and @CHI
• Predicted finish - 39 Points - West #4

Real Salt Lake - 24 Points

• Eliminated from playoffs
• Remaining games - HOU and @COL
• Predicted finish - 25 Points - Not in Playoffs

So if all this happened, here is what the matchups would be:

Chivas USA vs LA Galaxy
Houston vs FC Dallas
DC United vs Kansas City
New England vs New York