Friday is here and we are faced with the somewhat surprising reality that the first team eliminated from this year's MLS playoffs is the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew. You can complain all you want about the playoff format, and the fact that Real Salt Lake barely edged its way into the playoffs, but RSL played great soccer when it mattered most, while the Crew bumbled and stumbled to the finish line and ultimately paid for its inconsistency.
Something we might want to start taking seriously is the possibility that the relatively small MLS rosters are proving to be inadequate for teams taking part in multiple competitions. Consider the fact that the last five teams to win first-round playoff series over the past two years have all been teams that didn't compete in international tournaments in the given season. Meanwhile, multiple higher seeds have lost playoff series after having taken part in multiple competitions.
This isn't to take away from Real Salt Lake's accomplishment. RSL's victory is a refreshing one because it shows that a team can succeed without playing ultra-conservative soccer. Columbus' loss, coupled with the losses of Houston, Chivas USA, New England and Kansas City last year makes you wonder if teams that have the burden of in-season international competitions are doomed for playoff disappointment as those extra games take their toll.
That theory will either gain more traction or lose some steam this weekend, when the Dynamo face Seattle and Chivas USA plays the Galaxy. Houston competed in the CONCACAF Champions League, giving it a loaded fixture schedule this fall, while Chivas USA competed in this summer's SuperLiga. If both teams fall, that will make mean three teams will reach this year's conference finals after not having to play in international tournaments (New England and Chicago both competed in SuperLiga). Last year, All four conference final participants were teams that didn't have in-season international tournaments to play.
The fixture congestion the Crew faced isn't the sole reason for its early playoff exit. Head coach Robert Warzycha will bear the burden of some very questionable decisions in the series vs. RSL. He could also be accused of tinkering just a bit too much late in the season as he tried hard to figure out what was wrong with his team down the stretch. In trying to find a solution he may have done more harm because the team nevery had a chance to build any momentum or develop any continuity as a group. Ultimately, Columbus may have been hurt by its depth because it gave a young coach too many options.
That being said, if teams without extra international tournaments to play in keep on winning in the post-season, while the supposedly stronger teams with more matches to play due to tournaments keep on losing, MLS will be hard-pressed to ignore the hard evidence that MLS rosters are simply inadequate in size and good teams are ultimately paying the price for their success.
What do you think of this theory? Starting to wonder if teams aren't better off not playing in tournaments like CONCACAF Champions League and SuperLiga? Hoping MLS does something about this by expanding rosters and salary caps in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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