Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Week 29

After week 29 the numbers look like this…

	5 year comparison
	WK 29			205 GP		YTD
	Avg	+/-	GP	Avg	+/-	Avg	+/-	GP
2005	18,417		6	15,959		15,108		192
2006	20,277	10.10%	6	16,235	1.73%	15,402	1.94%	192
2007	20,575	1.47%	7	16,587	2.17%	16,812	9.16%	195
2008	16,234	-21.10%	7	16,416	-1.03%	16,894	0.49%	195
2009	22,165	36.53%	7	15,878	-3.28%	15,868	-6.07%	205

YTD – 205 Games
	Average	Median	%<10K	%>20k
2005	15,959	14,450	16.20%	22.83%
2006	16,235	14,806	12.67%	24.49%
2007	16,587	15,188	9.75%	27.25%
2008	16,416	15,038	11.22%	24.88%
2009	15,878	14,534	15.61%	19.51%

Here are the attendance comparisons to 2008′s equal number of home games(205):

MLS Attendance – Equal # of Home Games
	2008		2009
	Att	Cap	Att	Att +/-	GP	Cap	Cap
Seattle	0	0	30,739	NA	14	94.87%	32,400
Toronto	20,110	91.50%	20,324	1.07%	13	92.47%	21,978
LA Galaxy	25,938	96.07%	19,946	-23.10%	14	73.87%	27,000
Real Salt Lake	15,773	77.50%	16,208	2.76%	13	76.04%	19,340
Houston	15,980	71.02%	16,160	1.13%	14	71.82%	22,500
D.C. United	20,061	89.16%	16,075	-19.87%	14	71.44%	22,500
ChivasUSA	15,029	55.66%	15,551	3.48%	12	57.60%	27,000
Chicago	17,303	86.51%	14,485	-16.28%	14	72.43%	20,000
San Jose	13,941	89.35%	14,478	3.86%	14	79.32%	10,300
Columbus Crew	14,267	71.34%	14,279	0.08%	14	71.39%	20,000
NE Revolution	17,542	77.97%	13,432	-23.43%	13	59.70%	22,500
Colorado Rapids	13,659	75.52%	12,331	-9.72%	15	68.18%	18,086
FC Dallas	12,946	61.09%	12,241	-5.45%	14	52.48%	21,193
N.Y./N.J. Red Bulls	15,741	62.49%	11,861	-24.65%	14	47.09%	25,189
KC Wizards	10,843	104.41%	10,022	-7.57%	13	96.50%	10,385

My disclaimer about the capacity calculations – Additional disclaimer note: I factored in the Dallas game at the Cotton Bowl as 100% capacity of 51,012.

Observations

Week 29 games drew 22,165. No surprise as the Dallas’ doubleheader, with Mexico playing a friendly, drew 51,012 to the Cotton Bowl. This will likely prevent FCD from finishing the season with an average attendance under 10,000. I don’t have a problem with this type of scheduling. It is part of the solution for mid-week matches as MLS starts to honor FIFA dates more in the future. More on this in a few days. DCU had it’s largest crowd of the year, pulling in over 24,000. Columbus drew right on average. Colorado closed out its regular season home schedule with the 3rd largest crowd of the season and San Jose sold out Buck Shaw. Over 16,800 came out to Robertson for the Dynamo.

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Week 29 Games
FC Dallas	1	3rd Degree – Buzz Carrick
New England	0	Revolution Soccer
Los Angeles	1	LA – Official Blog
Chicago	0	Chicago Fire Confidential
DC United	0	DCU – Steve Goff – Soccer Insider
Chivas USA	2	Chivas USA – MLSNet
Columbus	0	Columbus Dispatch – Crew XTra
Seattle	1	Seattle Times
Colorado	1	Undercurrent
New England	1	Revolution Soccer
San Jose	1	San Jose Center Line Soccer
RBNY	0	Red Bulls Reader
Houston	1	Soccer y Fútbol – Barnard Fallas
Kansas City	1	Kansas City – Hillcrest Road

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So How Are They Doing?

Points after 205 Games
	Pts	GP	PPG	GD	H/A
Columbus	46	27	1.70	11	1/2
Los Angeles	44	28	1.57	3	1/1
Houston	44	28	1.57	9	1/1
Seattle	41	28	1.46	7	1/1
Chicago	41	28	1.46	4	1/1
Chivas USA	41	26	1.58	3	3/1
Colorado	40	28	1.43	8	0/2
New England	38	27	1.41	-4	2/1
DC United	36	28	1.29	-2	1/1
Toronto FC	35	27	1.30	-5	2/1
Real Salt Lake	34	27	1.26	4	2/1
Dallas	33	27	1.22	2	1/2
Kansas City	32	27	1.19	-6	2/1
San Jose	28	26	1.08	-11	1/3
NY Red Bull	18	28	0.64	-23	1/1

RBNY remain the only mathematically eliminated club. LA and Houston joined Columbus, clinching playoff berths.

A wounded New England team dropped game-in-hand points in Dallas. The Revs were just what FCD needed to keep their improbable run going. New England has been at the bottom of the table in shots attempted all season. Losing Ralston(season ending knee injury) as well as Twellman seriously reduced the risk that the porous Dallas defense would be severely tested. On top of that for New England, they lost Wells Thompson for their 2nd game of the week in Colorado, which they ended up drawing. The Revs still control their own destiny but now their lead over playoff chasers looks tenuous. Taking only 1 point from 6 this week, with Columbus twice and Chicago upcoming in its last three will make a securing playoff berth a difficult task.

Once again, Los Angeles did what a playoff team needs to do, unless you’re Chicago, and that is to win at home. For the Fire, the loss means any slim hope they might have had for either the conference championship or the Supporters’ Shield are now just mathematical possibilities.
Seattle, which last week seemed the most vulnerable, came up with a huge unexpected win at Columbus, ending the Crew’s 24 match home undefeated run(against MLS teams). With a game in hand over Houston and LA though, Columbus still has the Supporters’ Shield within its grasp. Chivas USA, who a few weeks ago along with New England had the advantage of games in hand, has made the most of it(unlike the Revs) and have a legitimate chance to win the west. They are 3 points behind with 2 games in hand.

Playoff Contenders Remaining Schedule						Points
	Pts					Home	Away
Chivas USA	41	KC	SJ	CHI	HOU	26	15
Seattle	41	KC	FCD			24	17
Colorado	40	FCD	RSL			29	11
New England	38	CLB	CHI	CLB		24	14
DC United	36	CLB	KC			23	13
Toronto FC	35	SJ	RSL	NY		24	11
Real Salt Lake	34	NY	TFC	COL		26	8
Dallas	33	SJ	COL	SEA		25	8
Kansas City	32	CHV	SEA	DCU		16	16
shaded = away game

Top 3 tiebreakers.(MLS 2009 Rules of Competition)

Streaking

• FC Dallas has no lost at home in 7(6 wins).
  
• RBNY is winless on the road.
  
• TFC has not lost home in 5 straight.
  
• Colorado and TFC have not won on the road in 7 straight.
  
• RSL is unbeaten in 8 home games.
  
• Seattle is scoreless in last 4 home games.
  
• Chicago is winless in 5(3 draws).

MLS Throw Ins

Rapids fans might be wondering if they will soon see Arsenal(EPL) players on loan in Colorado to keep sharp or recover from injury in the future as Don Garber backs Rapids owner Stan Kroenke’s possible buyout of Arsenal.

Goal scoring got off to a slow start this season, but had almost caught up to last year’s numbers. However as the playoffs beckon and sphincters tighten, the offenses have been offensive. After 205 games, nearly 60 fewer goals(-10.2%) have been scored. This week’s seven games saw 5 shutouts and 2 1-1 draws. No team scored more than 2 goals this week.

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MLS In CONCACAF Champions League

In Group A, Houston lost at home to Pachuca. They need help in the last match to move on. Árabe Unido will have to lose on its visit to Pachuca while Houston must win at Metapan. Houston holds the tiebreaker over Árabe Unido. DC United stayed strong in Group B this week, with a win over San Juan Jabloteh(T&T). They also hold the tiebreaker advantage over Marathón. Columbus lost to group leaders Cruz Azul, ending its long undefeated(all competitions) home streak. For DCU and Columbus, advancement is in their own control, win and they’re in. Houston must win and Árabe Unido must lose in order to advance.

2.3 CONCACAF Tie-Breaker Procedures

In the event two teams are tied on aggregate goals scored at the end of Regulation time in the 2nd Leg (Preliminary Round or Championship Stage) or on points (Group Stage) the following tie-breaker criteria shall be applied, in order, to determine the winning team or ranking of teams.

Phase 2: Group Stage

• 
  
• Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
  
• Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
  
• Greater number of goals scored away from home in matches between the teams concerned
  

CONCACAF Champions League
A	w	d	l	pts	diff
Pachuca(MEX)	4	0	1	12	10
Arabe Unido(PAN)	3	1	1	10	5
Houston(USA)	2	1	2	7	2
Isidro Metapan(SLV)	0	0	5	0	-17
B
Toluca(MEX)	4	0	1	12	11
DC United(USA)	3	0	2	9	4
CD Marathon(HON)	3	0	2	9	-4
San Juan Jabloteh(T&T)	0	0	5	0	-11
C
Cruz Azul(MEX)	4	1	0	13	11
Columbus(USA)	2	1	2	7	-4
Saprissa(CRC)	1	2	2	5	-1
Puerto Rico(CFU)	0	2	3	2	-6
D
Pumas UNAM(MEX)	4	1	0	13	10
Comunicaciones(GUA)	2	0	3	6	-3
Real Espana(HON)	2	0	3	6	-7
W Connection(T&T)	1	1	3	4	0

Columbus’ upcoming schedule is: Oct 11 MLS, Oct 17 MLS
DC United’s upcoming schedule is: Oct 17 MLS
Houston’s upcoming schedule is: Oct 18 MLS

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USMNT/MLS Scheduling – FUBAR Once Again

On October 10, when the US plays its WC qualifier in Honduras, MLS once again has matches scheduled. San Jose at TFC at 4pm ET, Columbus at New England at 7:30pm ET and the Wizards at Chivas USA at 10:30pm ET. The time of the US match has been tentatively set for 8pm ET. It may not matter, however, for as of this writing, the game will be televised in the US on closed circuit Pay-Per-View in select bars only. Yeah, unbelievable, I know, but the rights are held outside of the US and therefore are beyond the control of anyone in the US soccer or broadcasting world.

Where to View the Match in English

Where to View the Match in Spanish

On October 14 the US Men play their final WC qualifer at 8pm ET. RBNY play Real Salt Lake in Utah at 10pm ET.

Of the MLS teams with players on the 22 man US squad, Conrad(KC), Bornstein(CHV) and Rogers(CLB) will miss Oct 10 league matches. Non US players that can be expected to miss matches include:

• Guevara(HON) from TFC
  
• Elliot(NZL), Alvarez(SLV), Sanchez(SLV) and Glen(T & T)(if he gets over his injury) from San Jose
  
• Moreno(VEN) from Columbus
  
• Espinoza(HON) from KC
  

  
  Other players have been called up, but a short MLS schedule mean many will not miss matches. Did I overlook anyone(who would miss a game)?

  FIFA U-20 World Cup – US Fails to Advance

  MLS Players on the US U-20 roster will return for next week:

  GOALKEEPERS (3): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

  DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas)

  MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gerson Mayén (Chivas USA)

  FORWARDS (4): Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

  In the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the U.S. opened against Germany, losing badly 3-0, but they came back with a big win over Cameroon 4-1, but lost 3-0 in the group finale to South Korea. They were finally eliminated after Saturday’s play, losing out to Costa Rica on the totals goal tiebreaker.

  FIFA U-20 World Cup

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