MLS Playoffs are just about over. The 2005 MLS Cup in Dallas is next weekend and will involve the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New England Revolution. It's great to see the Revolution in the Final but not so much the Galaxy. In fact, the Galaxy are only in the playoffs because MLS guaranteed that when they added Real Salt Lake and CD Chivas USA to the Western Conference. All four existing Western teams were assured of the playoffs once KC was moved to the Eastern Conference to accomodate for the expansion teams. The Galaxy are already a testament to disrespect that MLS pays to it's regular season. A regular season that allows teams to limp along playing horrible football and still get a chance to play in the tournament that MLS uses to crown the Champion.

Ofcourse the MLS season and playoffs always brings a slew of thoughts about how MLS structures the League play and the Playoffs. Also there is always discussion of the necessity of Playoffs. There the arguments in favor of a single table for MLS where all teams play each other 2 times; once at home and once on the road. The team at the top of the standings is then declared the MLS Champion. I am even in favor of this idea, although I am open to other ideas. This single-table structure is how European leagues have been declaring champions for years and years. Now the US does face different challenges than Europe. For one thing soccer, or football, is the number one sport there and in many other areas (Asia, Africa, South America, Mexico). Soccer is behind the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA Basketball, NCAA Football in popularity here in the US. The US land mass is the size of Europe thus travel is much more expensive - which is why it makes some sense to have divisions. Then there is the arugment that Americans can't understand a sport without a playoff... ahem, see Collegiate Football Div IA. Anyway those other sports are very established and soccer must come in at the end(or on the bottom rung!) and compete for people's entertainment dollar. So, it seems that a single table structure is not suitable for survival; at least at first. Which then calls for playoffs and a "big game" that is marketable.

The current MLS League structure is actually very good for the number of teams. Two divisions of 6 teams with 20 games against your division and 12 against the other. That's 32 games. In a single table format that would only be 22 games(11 home and away). In two years there will be 14 teams which will equate to about 38 games. For fourteen teams a single table is only 26 games. Obviously any league, and fan, would like to see more games in a season. I know I would. The issue I think that a lot of people have is that 8 of 12 teams (prior to 2005 it was 8 of 10!) make the playoffs... basically invalidating the season. Currently the top 4 from each division/conference. On top of that, the team at the top of each Division (the top seed) only gets the advantage of a home game for 2nd leg of the first round and the home game for the Conference Championship. Not much of a benefit for being the best team in your Conference. And too much benefit for just finishing 4th(see LA Galaxy). There are several suggestions for a change to the playoffs. One is the keep the 4 teams from each Conference yet the first round is #3 vs #4 and winner plays at #2 then that winner plays at the top seed; basically a bye to the conference title game. Now that's a benefit. Win your Conference and you only have to play one game to get to MLS Cup. I submit that it is still too many teams to make the playoffs but a far better scenario than the current one. Another scenario is to just have 3 teams make it to the playoffs which amounts the same scenario as previously mentioned with the top seed getting a bye to the Conference Finals and rewarding teams for higher Conference finishing. A third alternative is to just have top 2 teams from each Conference and to possibly even have the 2nd place team from the West play the 1st place team in the East, which is not a bad idea at all. And lastly, for the current format; top team in East plays tope team from West in MLS Cup. Rewards top team in each league for their season achievement.

My idea of a great setup is to have that single league table but only once there are 16 teams in the League. And then to take a look at what England does with their League Cup (currently called Carling Cup). I would have that Cup start the week after the USOC ended and to seed it based on standings at that time or the week before. The format could be home and home for each round except for the Final. That Final could be the weekend after the League play ends. The reason for this then MLS can showcase 2 Champions. The Champion of the marathon regular season and a Cup Champion. It also gives teams that are out of the race something else to play for. Currently MLS sends 2 teams the Concacaf Champions Cup, a poor mans version of the UEFA Champions Leauge to be sure, of which the winner of plays in a World Cup Championship. The 2 representatives are the MLS Cup Finalsts (This year that would be LA and New England, one deserving the other not so much). This Leauge Cup could produce one participant and League winner would be the other. Someone else can figure out the details if the same team wins both :) This can League Can also come into play if MLS ever works with USL-1 for promotion/relegation (hopeful but am pessimistic). Meaning that maybe a team that finishes in relegation zone(maybe only the last place team?) does not relegate(or play in a playoff) if they win the League Cup. A nice bonus. However that is very far down the roadmap for MLS, if ever. But an enticing scenario nonetheless.

Anyway, enjoy the the MLS Cup this weekend. I'd really like to see the Revolution win because they have been one of the two top teams all year. Oh yeah, I hate LA too. So that's a good a reason as any. But on the other hand... if LA winning means that MLS changes the League or the Playoffs for the better, then I might be ok with that. I am sure MLS would love to tout Landon Donovan yet again, much like they did for Freddy Adu last season.