The Major League Soccer season is in the home stretch and VAVEL USA has you covered with 5 burning questions our readers have wanted to be answered and our greatest soccer minds have you covered!
How Does MLS Fix The Refereeing Issues "Plaguing" The League?
Patrick Chaves: Fixing refereeing issues should be as simple as increased training, and stricter guidelines for referees to follow. However, I think this whole MLS refereeing controversy is becoming a fad more than anything else. In every league, in every sport in the world, there are referees. And in all these leagues, the fans complain about the refereeing. As long as referees are human beings they will make some mistakes and that is something MLS fans need to realize and accept.
Matthew Ryan Evans: The problem with being a referee in any league is the element of human error. The league can do whatever they want to try and improve the officiating but as long as the referees are human, the error will still be there.
Blayne Riffle: Honestly, this is a tough one. Better training for the officials would be huge. There is too much variance in the application of the rules. If all the refs were at least calling everything fairly similarly, the league would improve. This is the key to fixing the issue. Anything else is a patch fix of the symptoms. And honestly, I think it's time for MLS and PRO to start firing some of these worthless officials and looking for new blood. When a ref averages 3+ yellows a 1+ reds per game, there is a problem. Maybe he gets bad games, but it's more likely that he can't manage the players and let's too much go too early. If training isn't an option, I think the DC needs to apply the rules to all missed calls. If it should have been a red, give a player a one game suspension. Doesn't matter who or why, treat every red card worthy foul as if it was called. Players will adapt.
Michael Axmith: Lets be honest. As long as there have been organized sports that involve any type of officiating, the men and women who serve these roles are considered incompetent. I was timekeeping a match between 2 women's hockey teams that involved Olympians. From my standpoint the refs doing the job did their best to be fair, but both teams went on tangents about how they need better officials. After the match the referee told me that no matter what they do they never get it right. The MLS seem to have gotten it wrong more then right in the period I have been watching the game. With all due respect I believe our intelligence has been insulted by some of the calls as of late. The MLS needs to have more consistency in the rules. It is quite obvious that there are several interpretations on what constitutes a foul and offsides. The MLS needs to ensure that all it's refs are on the same page. One belief I have is that if the MLS paid its officials enough so they could earn a decent living, it would attract more people looking to explore a career as an official. Many refs still have to officiate other leagues in order to get by, and given the animosity faced on a regular basis it is not worth it. Most refs do this job because they love the game. However, even the biggest fan of the game gets jaded with all the abuse, while at the same time need to struggle to make ends meet.
Liam McMahon: Fixing the refereeing issues in the league will not be easily done. Every league in every country has issues with referees making mistakes, and it will always happen. However, there have been some really poorly officiated games recently. Sporting Kansas City - Vancouver Whitecaps comes to my mind right away. I think that the best thing for MLS to do is make sure every ref is officiating every game the same way. Go through continuity classes to make sure refs know what to call and what to let go, and spell it out to the teams also so that they can know what will be called and what will be let go.
Which Team Has The Edge In Winning The Supporters Shield At This Stage Of The Season?
Chaves: The only team with a real edge in terms of being in the lead of the Supporters Shield race is the Seattle Sounders; however I have said it many times and I will say it again: The Seattle Sounders are not a championship team, and they look like they are set for yet another mid- season collapse. If you ask me, there are 3 teams who have a legitimate shot at winning the Supporters Shield: Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, and FC Dallas. Sporting Kansas City play more games within the much weaker eastern conference which should give them
an advantage. RSL is a proven top 1 or 2 team in the Western Conference and has the fewest losses of any team this season. FC Dallas are back in hot form after an amazing start to the season and cooling down for quite a while. If FC Dallas maintains their strong form I can see them riding the season out to a Supporters Shield trophy, but I don't see them maintaining their current form. If
Sporting Kansas City can continue to dominate the East they should be in good position, but I don't see them continuing to dominate the East. That leaves me with my pick to win the Supporters Shield, Real Salt Lake. When you're barely losing, you are always gaining ground on the top of the table. RSL has all the tools to continue to win and improve, and I can definitely see them taking the shield home.
Evans: Sporting Kansas City. The Eastern Conference is weaker as a whole than the Western Conference. Western teams play a super-majority of their remaining matches against each other so they will take points away from each other. Ultimately that will leave Sporting on top of the pile when it is all said and done.
Riffle: This really is a tough call. Seattle currently has the edge with games in hand and only being a point down. SKC is in CCL play. RSL is coming into form. We'll start with schedule, while not trying to discount all the games, we are going to hit the highlights.. RSL has three big games in a row: Dallas, at Seattle, and Colorado. Seattle has five tough games left: at Portland, RSL, Vancouver, and back to back LA games, away and then home. SKC only has two tough matchups left, a home and away with DC. I'm counting Seattle out. History shows them primed for a collapse and they have the toughest schedule including several rivalry games. There is no way they escape this schedule with clean. If I was a betting man, I would almost put my money on RSL to win it. I think they have the easiest road to it, control their destiny with Seattle, and don't have the extra games like SKC, but it is the Western Conference and mid table teams are surging. That leaves SKC as the favorite in the weaker Eastern Conference as the Western teams knock each other off. Their current form is the best in the league and they have an easy road.
Axmith: If keeper Andy Gruenebaum can stay healthy, Sporting Kansas City should take the supporters shield. KC has the depth, talent and experience for the title. Having Zusi and Besler, 2 guys who have the potential to explore overseas options remain with the club as the DPs while still in their 20s gives the entire club and it's fans confidence that Peter Vermes' squad are serious on continuing their success.
McMahon: I think it's Sporting Kansas City. For me, they're the best team top to bottom in the league. I've been impressed with their play all season long. I think that Seattle, Salt Lake, and DC United have all been very impressive this season, but SKC are best set up not to drop points and win the Supporters' Shield. I'm not sure I would tip them to win MLS Cup this year, but I think they will win the Supporters' Shield.
The Seattle Sounders Have Hit A Stretch Of Bad Form. Do They Have What It Takes To Turn It Around?
Chaves: As I said in the last question, I don't see Seattle as a championship team. Can they turn around their form Yes. But all that will do is leave a few less bad memories. They will make the playoffs, and that will be that. Once again for the 6th straight year they will crash out of the playoffs.
Evans: They do have the pieces needed to stop this run of bad form. They missed a big chance on Wednesday night with a draw at home to San Jose Earthquakes. Seattle's next three matches are against clubs who are not currently in the playoffs including a big Cascadia Cup match on Sunday away to the Portland Timbers.
Riffle: Of course they do, this is the best team Sigi has had in Seattle. They should finish first in the West. Will they? Only time will tell. Can this team win the Cup? Absolutely and I fully expect them to be in the Final. Will they win the Supporter's Shield? No, they faltered at the wrong time and let it slip away. They have the toughest schedule of the top three teams.
Axmith: The Seattle Sounders have reached a run of bad form but that should not continue for much longer as Obafemi Martins comes back from a yellow card suspension. Dempsey has not had a full rest since the winter, and the club needs to not rely so heavily on him. Coach Sigi Schmid know this and needs to keep them focused, which can be a challenge given the drama surrounding Yedlin leaving for Tottenham at the end of the season. If Schmid can keep his troops focused on the task at hand, I still see them as title contenders.
McMahon: I think they do. Any team that contains players such as Yedlin, Alonzo, Dempsey, Pappa, and Martins will always be able to accumulate points. I think they have enough time to right the ship before the MLS Playoffs start. I'm now starting to question whether they will finish in the top spot in the Western Conference, but there's no reason they can't right the ship in time to make a run in the playoffs.
Has Jim Curtin Made Enough Of A Case To Get The Philadelphia Union Head Coaching Job Permanently?
Chaves: Quite frankly, no. While Philadelphia has improved, I think the signing of Rais Mbolhi was very questionable, and I still do not see real quality from the Union. They're better, but not where they should be. I am pretty positive Philadelphia will be looking for a permanent fix to their coaching "problem" at the end of the season.
Evans: I think that he has made a good case but he will not get the full-time position unless the club is able to win the US Open Cup AND win at least one game in the postseason.
Riffle: Curtin's record and success as a coach definitely deserves a look. He is accomplished on the sidelines. But MLS is not a coaches' league, it's a managers' league. Good coaches can win games, good managers win Championships. Look at two of the most successful men in this role over the last few years, Jason Kreis and Peter Vermes. Kreis is easily the better coach and a great one on the sidelines. Vermes is a mediocre coach. While the 4-3-3 is devastating, when it's not working PV has struggled to make the appropriate adjustments. But what these two have in common is their strength in building squads. Both are small market clubs that are making huge waves in MLS because they sign, develop, and trade players. I'm not familiar with Curtin, and I'm not sure many are on these points. If he has this knack, by all means he should be the primary candidate. If he doesn't, look for someone who can scout talent. That's how you win year after year in MLS.
Axmith: If the Union had to make the decision now Jim Curtin would be a lock as his players appear to appreciate his fresh approach to the game. The Union brass will want to see how the club plays down the stretch before making a decision though. When the playoffs are in their radar, and Curtin feels the full pressures, only then can we fully evaluate his competency in the role. Even if they don't make the post season, a decent run at the end should be enough for at least one more year as head coach.
McMahon: I don't think Jim Curtin has done enough for the Union. Granting him the fact that they don't have a particularly strong team this year, they still have been unable to accumulate points or play particularly good looking football. Had he gotten them in a position where they were either winning games or just playing good looking attacking football, I think he'd have a great chance of keeping the job. Sadly, he has done neither and I think he will soon find himself back in a role for which he seems better suited: coach rather than manager.
The Playoff Race In The East Is Really Heating Up And Is Set To Be One Of The Most Dramatic Playoff Races In MLS History. Assuming Sporting Kansas City And DC United Have Already Put Themselves In Pole Position To Qualify, What Three Teams Will Round Out The Playoff Spots In The East And Why?
Chaves: This playoff race in the East will indeed go down as one of the most dramatic of all time. From what I see, you have 6 teams in the East who have a legitimate shot to make it into the playoffs behind DC United and Sporting Kansas City. Those 6 teams are Toronto FC, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, and the Houston Dynamo. Being that Toronto FC is in 3rd place with games in hand on the teams behind them, add on top that they have tons of quality in Dominic Oduro, Jermaine Defoe, Gilberto and Michael Bradley, means they should make the playoffs in 3rd. Now the 4th and 5th places are a little fuzzy. The Columbus Crew have their on and off days, but as of late have been performing well and do look like a playoff team. The New York Red Bulls are the classic Jekyll and Hyde story. Somedays they look like world beaters, some days they are losing to the Chicago Fire. The Revolution have been outstanding at times this season, and I believe they SHOULD be a playoff team. However, I have no trust in Jay Heaps ability so I cut them off. The same goes for the Philadelphia Union. They look good, but that's all. Just good. And I don't trust Jim Curtin's ability to lead them to the playoffs. The one team who I can see maybe squeaking in are the Houston Dynamo. Every single season without fault the
Dynamo look all but out of the equation, but then Dominic Kinnear pulls off a hail mary. I can definitely see the Houston Dynamo making a late season push, but I think they will fall just short. If I had to make a guess, we see the New York Red Bulls in 4th hosting the Columbus Crew in 5th in the opening game of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Evans: The Final three spots in the East will go to Toronto FC, New England Revolution and Columbus Crew. I feel like Toronto FC may be the easiest to slot into the playoffs but the other two spots will come down to which team can minimize their mistakes over the last stretch of the season. No matter what, it is going to be a great race in the Eastern Conference.
Riffle: Toronto should be there. They are probably the 3rd best team in the East on paper. The new squad has taken some time to gel, but as they finish out the season, they should be able to secure the spot. Oduro has been a much needed spark for this team and adding Jermaine Defoe back into the lineup will do nothing but good things for this team. Columbus and New England will also make it to the playoffs. Both have fairly easy schedules compared to the rest of the challengers. If these teams take care of business, they playoffs should be there. The closest competition will be NY, who has the hardest remaining schedule in the East. Both teams are capable of scoring goals and competing at the highest level, now all they need to do is finish out their remaining schedule and they should be through.
Axmith: The three teams I see getting through are Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution. As long as TFC can provide decent back line support for Keeper Joe Bendik, Michael Bradley should be able to lead his team to its first playoff berth. The fact that TFC survived without Defoe for a few matches, and with their top defender Steven Caldwell out for an extended absence with injury to his quadriceps speaks volumes to their resilience. This may be the final season of Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls will want to do all they can to make the playoffs and make a serious shot at the title. Bradley Wright Phillips has thrived under Henry's play and the growing chemistry on under coach Mike Petke should drive them to the playoffs. The New England Revolution currently added 25 year old speedster Tony Taylor to the squad as Jay Heaps works on adding more depth. Additionally, Jermaine Jones remains on the radar. My hunch is that New England will sneak through. The club has been inspired by the play of veteran Charlie Davies and the leadership and growing chemistry under Heaps should get them to the post season. Their biggest roadblock remains Columbus. Before the great showing against Galaxy, the Crew have lacked a cohesiveness needed for a berth. Columbus have the players to reach the post season. It's whether they can communicate on the pitch that will determine if they make the playoffs.
McMahon: Toronto FC, Columbus Crew, and New York Red Bulls. The race in the East is absolutely wide open. I tip TFC to finish third because they have one of the best strikers in the league and probably the best central midfielder in the league in Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley I really think they'll be able to finish in a playoff spot. When you add in the fact that they have a couple of other players with quality in the side through Dominic Oduro and Gilberto, they look good to end in a playoff position. Columbus have looked good as of late, and come off that great win over LA Galaxy, I think they have enough confidence to finish fourth. The race for fifth is very exciting, with the New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire all within three points of each other. Although they just had a supremely disappointing loss to the Montreal Impact, the Chicago Fire have really impressed me with their play recently. Yet, in the end I think that it will be the Red Bulls. Bradley Wright-Phillips just keeps scoring goals, and Thierry Henry is remarkable going forward. New York certainly don't have the defense to win a trophy this season, but they seem to have enough to finish fifth.
That's it for this week! Thanks for joining us. If you enjoyed please make sure to come back next Thursday for our next edition of VAVEL USA's MLS Roundtable.