Photo by Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports
By AARON CRANFORD
While four Supporters’ Shield contenders couldn’t find a win over the weekend, the New England Revolution posted yet another strong performance to insert their name into the conversation.
The Revolution won their fifth consecutive game Sunday, posting a 3-1 victory on the road against a healthy Toronto FC side. The Revs are enjoying exceptional performances week in, week out from many individuals, including Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez and many more.
Elsewhere, the LA Galaxy were unable to score at home against Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact, so they saw FC Dallas leapfrog them in the standings. Despite level on points with 47, Dallas has one more win on the year than the Galaxy and also hold two games in hand on LA.
After a win during the week, current leaders Vancouver Whitecaps had the weekend off to prepare for their upcoming Cascadia clash with the Seattle Sounders Saturday.
Here are the current MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, and the upcoming matches that will have the biggest impact on that race:
MLS SUPPORTERS’ SHIELD STANDINGS
KEY WEEK 29 MATCH-UPS
WEDNESDAY
New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution
FRIDAY
Sporting KC vs. FC Dallas
SATURDAY
D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Seattle Sounders
Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution
Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy
SUNDAY
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls
REMAINING SCHEDULES
vs. Seattle Sounders (9/19), vs. New York City FC (9/26), at San Jose Earthquakes (10/3), vs. FC Dallas (10/7), at FC Dallas (10/14), vs. Houston Dynamo (10/25)
at Sporting KC (9/18), at LA Galaxy (9/26), vs. Houston Dynamo (10/4), at Vancouver Whitecaps (10/7), vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (10/14) at Real Salt Lake (10/17), vs. San Jose Earthquakes (10/25)
at Real Salt Lake (9/19), vs. FC Dallas (9/26), at Seattle (10/4), vs . Portland (10/18), at Sporting Kansas City (10/25).
at New England Revolution (9/16), at Portland Timbers (9/20), vs. Orlando City SC (9/25), vs. Columbus Crew SC (10/3), vs. Montreal Impact (10/7), at Toronto FC (10/14), vs. Philadelphia Union (10/18), at Chicago Fire (10/25)
vs. Columbus Crew SC (9/19), At Montreal Impact (9/26), vs. New York City FC (10/2), vs. Chicago Fire (10/18), at Columbus Crew SC (10/25)
at D.C. United (9/19), vs. Portland Timbers (9/26), at New York Red Bulls (10/3), at Toronto FC (10/17), vs. D.C. United (10/25)
vs. New York Red Bulls (9/16), at Montreal Impact (9/19), vs. Philadelphia Union (9/26), at Chicago Fire (10/3), vs. Montreal Impact (10/17), at New York City FC (10/25)
at Vancouver Whitecaps (9/19), at Sporting KC (9/27), vs. LA Galaxy (10/4), at Houston Dynamo (10/18), vs. Real Salt Lake (10/25)
vs. FC Dallas (9/18), at Houston Dynamo (9/23), vs. FC Dallas (9/27), at Portland Timbers (10/3), at San Jose Earthquakes (10/16), vs. Colorado Rapids (10/21), vs. LA Galaxy (10/25)
vs. New York Red Bulls (9/20), at Columbus Crew SC (9/26), vs. Sporting KC (10/3), at Real Salt Lake (10/14), at LA Galaxy (10/18), vs. Colorado Rapids (10/25)
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Who do you see winning the Supporters’ Shield? What match are you most looking forward to this week?
Share your thoughts below.
I still am going to say unless you are a die hard fan of one of these clubs or an uber soccer nut in general you aren’t paying attention to the supporters shield. Maybe more than the US Open Cup, but not on the casual fans radar.
I still can’t understand why people take this competition seriously when teams schedules are so unbalanced; it’s just stupid. Portland has to play Seattle three times, twice in Seattle yet Columbus only plays Seattle once at home. Vancouver got to play Dallas twice at home; how is that not an advantage to Vancouver in this race. The Red Bulls got to play their one game vs LA at home prior to the additions of Gerrard and Dos Santos. You just can’t honestly say this race would likely look different if the schedule was balanced
I still can’t understand why people whine about the Supporters Shield so much. Sure, it’s imperfect, it’d be nice if the schedule was balanced but it still is a better reflection of which team is the best in a given year than MLS Cup which is basically just about who gets hot/lucky at the right time.
Well then by that logic we should just award the World Cup to the highest ranked national team or the one with the most wins. Same with the Champions League. If it was just a trophy that supporters could be proud then I wouldn’t “whine” about it but it comes with an automatic qualification in the CONCACAF champions league so an unbalanced schedule means that qualification criteria is unfair. And it is something MLS could rig via the MLS schedule. It was the whiners about the MLS Cup being a stupid way to determine the league champion that forced MLS to change the champions league qualification criteria in the first place and some think the Supporters Shield advocates think it should mean an automatic spot in the MLS Cup finals.
You know why the World Cup is determined by a tournament, because the world is simply too big to have done by a single table. You know why MLS determines the champion by a tournament, because the country is too big to have it done by a single table.
The winner of both conferences qualify for the Champions League so if one conference winner wins the SS because their conference is so weak, the other conference winner gets in too.
MLS Cup is a stupid way to determine a champion. I’m not saying we can’t have playoffs but why do 12 out of 20 make it? Why not have a format that gives a bigger advantage to teams that finished higher in the regular season? As it stands, the highest finishing teams don’t get any advantage until MLS Cup.
Agree that the playoff field is way too big. The only plus is that #1 and #2 in each conference don’t have to play a knockout game, which puts a premium on finishing in the top two. I would actually prefer a six-team field, with the conference champions getting a bye to the conference finals.
Slowleftarm, I would agree with completely if the scheduled wasn’t so unbalanced. Also I like the large number of teams in the playoffs. Since the league doesn’t, and won’t anytime soon, have rel/pro I think being one of the teams that embarrassingly doesnt make the playoffs is the next best thing we have to relegation. They pay a price for it. We already have expansion teams that have essentially been promoted although it is via their business plan and support rather than team results on the field.
In general I agree with the premise that the team with the best winning % over the long haul reflects the better side. However, there are pretty significant exceptions to this in MLS. As pointed out, the unbalanced schedule makes for very uneven competition. As well, playing on international dates, some teams missing key players throws things off a bit. Lastly- when a league is structured/determines it’s championship by way of a playoff/tournament- it mandates a change in strategy/priorities. Arena for example, clearly takes this into consideration throughout the season resting players/managing injuries, in game strategy/tactics. Done the right way- a manager can have much to say in determining if his team is “hot/lucky” at the right time or perhaps… rested/prepared/peaking at the right time.
In spite of all of that- I do enjoy having the Cup and Shield and see value in both. Adds interest and a unique flavor to the league. As scheduling and the flaws are ironed out over the years, I think the blend of the 2 has potential to be a great thing.
I’ll take your three games against Seattle this year instead of our three games against the Red Bulls any day!
Winning the Supporters Shield grants automatic berth to CCL Champions League. Winning it provides allocation money. Two good reasons to take it seriously.
And two good reason why it is reasonable to argue that is bogus when the schedules are so unbalanced
I suppose you’re arguing it should all be based on MLS Cup which is far more “bogus”
You are right the SS winner in principle is a good criteria for one of the C’CAF Champ spots. The problem for me is often the SS winner qualifies by one of the other criteria ( Cup finals or US open cup winner). Then that spot goes to next best in SS shield that didn’t qualify another way and that is where I think the unbalanced schedule can really be unfair for who gets that last spot. There has got to be a better way, maybe conference champ, SS highest points that came from most competitive conference based upon pts. I
Reading that chart above has me thinking the Red Bulls are sitting best. They have 8 games left, more than anyone and 2-3 more than most. They are playing well and have some probable wins on their remaining schedule. Dallas is also near the top and has a couple games in hand but a much tougher remaining schedule.
I generally agree, but RBNY’s chances are subject to a deep discount due to Miazga’s expected absence for at least three games in October for the Olympic qualifying tournament. They are also facing two pretty tough road games in a row beginning Wednesday (New England and Portland).
Games in hand also mean Wed. games which tend to drag down MLS sides and a flight across country to Portland. If they earn 2 pts this week it will be a success.
The roster depth that Curtis and Marsch have tried to develop with the acquisitions of Veron and Shaun Wright-Phillips will be tested. Expect Sean Davis to see some minutes, as well as Abang, Wallace, and (yikes) Zubar. How far away is Chris Duvall?
Two points this week would be nice, four would be terrific, six would be a miracle.
Oh..FCD and Vancouver will play each other back to back in Oct….Of the top 3 teams FCD has the toughest schedule I think..LA will win most of their remaining games.. they’ll get the shield…Whitecaps will come.close…but not enough