In the past week, we've heard from a number of people on the nature of the playoffs and whether another competition — chiefly, the CONCACAF Champions League — has an impact on playoff potential.
While I will agree with those that say that adding in a top-level competition does increase the stress placed on a squad, I will disagree with those that think that the competition itself is "a curse."
Sure, in this league, the goal should be to win the playoffs. It's part of being in a league: You should, at all times, want to be the best in the league. But I don't think anybody in the RSL front office would suggest that the CCL is really a curse. It's a competition of a high level that forces a squad to make changes, to try new things, to put players in challenging positions, to make difficult decisions all around.
But a curse? One of the best things to happen to this club in its still-short history has been the berth into the CCL, and the final is something that will live in fans' and players' memories for years.
It's tough. I'll give everyone that. But there is no "CCL curse" — unless, of course, you're one of those sides that tries desperately to avoid it. I, for one, am glad we're aiming for that.
Right, here are some interesting thoughts on the CCL from around the web, and they certainly do a great job breaking things down, whether you agree or not.
- Sarah Rudd from OnFooty puts it down to squad management
- Zach Slaton from A Beautiful Numbers Game does some statistical analysis that's quite interesting
- Brian Straus of Sporting News wrote in 2010 about fatigue and the CCL
Onward, did anybody watch the FC Dallas - NYRB match last night? I'd hate to be one of those people (that, you know, hates everything), but that was an absolute borefest. Even after New York went ahead late on, the former Hoops made no motion toward, you know, trying anything even remotely desperate. I get passing the ball backward, I really do, but when you're in the 7th minute of 6 minutes of stoppage time (strangely, it went past even eight) you shouldn't be passing the ball around gently. I don't mean "get desperate," but really, if they'd tried something, they would only have needed to contend with gaping holes in the New York defense. Anyhow.
Right, more tomorrow, including a robust (heh) match preview. Hopefully we'll have some good news on Tony Beltran, but it looks like Ned Grabavoy should be ready for action.
Let's get on with this thing, then, shall we? Up the RSL!
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