When the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy meet on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, the stakes will be high, with the winner taking the outright lead in the race for Major League Soccer's Supporters' Shield.
Both the Crew and Galaxy are level on 44 points, but should either slip up, a few teams are ready to pounce. Real Salt Lake is one point off the pace, and the hottest team in the league, FC Dallas, is four points behind and has a game in hand on the other three teams.
Seeking another contender from the East? Look no further than the New York Red Bulls, who can take matters into their own hands with contests against the Galaxy, RSL and FCD among their final seven games.
With the season winding down, the question for you is simple:
How did you vote?
Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
You guys are completely missing the point. The reason no one cares about the supporters shield is because in most seasons the best teams in the league are not only competing for the SS, but they are most likely playing in the CCL and the open cup.
Unfortunately most teams in MLS don’t have the depth to be able to rest players therefore they get tired, and the quality of the team is diminished. Since the inception of the CCL and superliga MLS officials have been trying to build their importance. As the league stands now it’s just not possibly win the SS and CCL, because MLS teams just don’t have enough quality players. The open cup is another issue, because your competition is usually resting players as well until the later rounds. In the CCL you are playing against top competition every time.
So there you have it. The SS is just not that important. Don’t get me wrong it’s a great accomplishment, but do you really think that if one team wins the SS by one point over three other teams that makes them the best. Sorry it doesn’t. Not with all the extra competitions going on.
an ______
It is but it isn’t. What the US Open Cup has going for it is history, while the Supporters Sheild doesn’t. It’s a shame, but I think in a perfect world CCL entry would be the given to the finalist of the MLS Cup (because this is NA and what we really care about is play-offs) and the Open Cup FInal (what is essentially a giant play-off tournie).
“you’re”
“complement”
Supporters shield is more important than the Open Cup too Myles.
Anyway I feel that if RSL can beat Seattle this week it is very possible. They win just about every game at home and the remaining away fixtures are @Colorado (Which can be a win) @New England (Which can be a win) and @Red Bulls (Which I can see as a loss). As long as a couple other teams slip up once or twice RSL should have it. With LA losing steam I can see them slipping up. Though getting results, Columbus hasnt been playing very good ball and have been taking victories *cough*DC*cough* out of luck they could flub. Dallas is on fire but with remaining fixtures vs Red Bulls and @LA and RSL I just cant see them pulling ahead. As for Red Bulls I dont even know why they are a part of this discussion.
As an LA fan, I voted for C-Bus. LA is in a tailspin and won’t get out of it this week, which Columbus will win in LA. It’ll be hard to come back from this, as for the past 2 months the players’ excuse has been “we’re still in first, we’re okay.” With that excuse gone, who knows what will happen to them…
Sorry, not quite honest
Obviously you’d prefer to win MLS Cup out of the two, but I think most people would agree that the SS is more indicative of who the best team in the league is.
LA will not win it, no one is scared of them anymore, they have been figured out and Bruce with all his experience has yet to show that he can turn this team around. Once Donovan got tired and Buddle went cold La has been Mediocre . This is where Brilliant coaches make necessary changes and motivate their teams. I think Salt Lake will take it
This will be the first year in a while that the Supporters Shield actually means something, because finally there is a balanced schedule in the league, with each team playing the other teams twice home and away.
Seattle a.k.a. the only team worth a damn in MLS.
Still gonna go with LA. I think Beckham’s return will give everyone a kick in the a$$
Not trying to be mean but I couldn’t really understand what you’re trying to say
I don’t know what stats you’re relying on, but I have watched every game and he has been great. I hope we keep him for a while.
Such a shame, worst fanbase by far. I mean FCD has everything to play for and in their most recent home fixture…about 10,300 fans go to the game.
Funny though, DC United, shittiest MLS club this season, maybe worst season team in MLS history, plays a match against Columbus…for absolutely nothing…12,500 fans.
If that wasn’t a slap in the face to Dallas.
Supporters Shield is probably a much higher honor than the MLS Cup. While both get you into Group Stage to the CONCACAF Champions League, the Shield shows you were the best during the season. The Cup is just showing who was the best in a little post-season tournament.
Quite honestly, I’d be more proud if my local MLS team won the Supporters Shield than the MLS Cup. Being a DCU fan though…that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
Wait. An Internet poll without Seattle as an option? What has the world come to?
It is a long shot, but I’m pulling for Columbus to win the triple, best in the league and both cup competitions.
Columbus ’till I die!
I voted for Dallas. Its this year’s Cinderella story!
Hope they do well.
statistically? how do you figure?
And what stats are those?
….most swipes of the hair off of his forehead?
….most missed marks that luckily don’t score?
Is there no financial reward for the Supporter’s Shield, either to the club or the players?
Hmmm…once again no FC Dallas love on IVES’ site…
Its obvious nobody is watching the games on TV / Matchday live (much less attending home games)
Here’s what your missing
1) Best defense in the league!
2) many exciting chances on offense
3) Quality finishing (1 for every 7 chances at least lol )
haha
If RSL finishes off this season like they did last season my vote goes to RSL. How about this for big dreams, Supporters shield, MLS Cup, and Champions League title.
I voted for Columbus. LA’s mascara is running, so I think they’ll take it.
To the casual American sports fan the supporters shield probably means almost nothing. First of all it does not represent the end of the season. Secondly American fans are used to playoffs determining the champion. It nice to have but I haven’t seen colts or patriot fans drooling over having the best regular season record. The Yankees might have the best reguLar season record but us new yorkers won’t care if they don’t bring home that world series trophy.
This is America folks! Not Europe.
My first thought was LA but with as hot as FCD has been this year and last year during this stretch i voted for them. If they can finish this year like last year then they would easily win it.
FC Dallas has a real chance at winning the Western Conference. I don’t think enough people are buying into it. Worst fanbase, no DP….best team in the league. What a story.
They both shoul be important you think barca fans complain about na winng copa de reys most are actually happy with winning la liga.
6 of 7 at home for LA w/ no CCL games? Should be interesting down the stretch…
3peat for sure! Columbus Til I Die!
Nope, you wish that it were but isn’t and won’t be anytime soon. Just because it was created by the fans doesn’t make it more special. It didn’t come to be til like 4 or 5 years after the league was up and running.
Poll your teams and see which one they’d prefer and I’m damn sure MLS Cup with it’s financial incentives will win out every time.
I love the Supporters Shield, by far the true test of the best team in the league. I love having it as a compliment to MLS Cup and I love that it was created by the Fans of MLS and has grown into importance on it’s own right.
My call is the Shield stays at home in Columbus. Threepeat for the Massive Club.
FC Dallas has a chance and one of the people who has helped is Heath Pearce. Statistically the best RB in MLS. He really has been solid.
the supporters shield is the measure of the league champ…its not useless at all.
mls should push this in addition to the mls cup.
the supporters shield is the answer to our lack of a single table…
Actually, to be honest, I think Supporter’s Shield is more important than MLS cup. It’s the team that was the best throughout the whole season, while the playoffs and MLS cup is just who’s the best in those few games. Of course, you need to have a good season to get there but you can see my point.
Are u serious useless? Its like saying la liga is useless its crown the best team in the league that season, tho we have mls cup. Its good to have a title to the team with the best record from the season we really should start careing more about it if we want are league to grow. And as for who’s going to win it the red bulls with out a doubt 7. Games left andmost with our 3 dp players
After a Stupidliga title the Supporter’s Shield is the next most useless trophy in North American soccer. But at least it gets you into CCL!