Playoffs? Playoffs?

A colleague at work thinks playoffs are where great athletes rise to the occasion and "chokers" are exposed.  I see playoff performance as a small sample where the differences are probably due to luck.  As such, I'm usually going to see the team that did the best in "regular season" as the best team in whatever league is under discussion.  The 2011 baseball season is my favorite example - if you want to tell me that the Cardinals, who made the playoffs only because the Phillies beat the Braves on the last day of the season, were the best team in baseball that year, go for it.  They won the World Series but the season-long accomplishments of two other teams - the Phillies and the Yankees - seemed more important to me than performance in a string of short series.  But my co-worker is convinced that Nelson Cruz dropping the fly ball that opened the door for the Cardinals to win the World Series was no accident but a character-revealing moment.

 

And why am I raising this issue here?  To point out the fate of the New York Red Bulls, the team which compiled the best regular season record in the 2013 MLS season but failed to make it out of the quarter finals of the playoffs.  In the English Premier League, the top of the table season would have been recognized for the significant accomplishment it is.  In MLS, all it gets you is a better seed for the playoffs.  Sure, Red Bulls got the Supporters Shield but I would guess most don't see it as a big deal.  So NY played a great first half in the first leg versus Houston.  Then, a key defender (Olave) gets red carded (some saw it as a harsh call) so they play the second half of that leg down a man and surrender two goals, including one in stoppage time.  With Olave suspended for the second leg, they play to a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes but give up a goal in extra time to lose by the aggregate score 4-3.  And pardon my French but WTF - why wasn't that game on TV?  MLS had two tense, competitive matches on Wednesday that most of the US soccer viewing world did not get to see.  Some brilliant marketing there guys.  Wait, where was I?  Oh yeah, around the same time, Arsenal lost to Chelsea in the Capital One League Cup, which is the EPL version of playoffs.  That they hold mid-week during the regular season.  And often leave key players out so they're at full strength for the league matches on the weekend.  The ones that really matter.   So Chris, revel in your team's Supporters Shield.  I for one will recognize them as the best team in the MLS this year.

 

Some will find it hard to believe I went two paragraphs without getting to NEWCASTLE'S AWESOME 1-0 VICTORY OVER TOTTENHAM (at White Hart Lane no less).  Again, the Magpies started slowly but Remy broke through on a great ball from Gouffran to score the only goal of the match in the 13th minute.  Tim Krul was simply lights out between the posts; I lost track of how many game saving plays he made.  Six points from matches versus Chelsea and Tottenham - did not see that coming.  I am fighting my cynical side that keeps asking "yeah but let's see how they do in the upcoming string of matches where they are expected to take some or all of the points."  I've also been able to enjoy my team on TV rather than watching on the computer since so many of the recent matches have been against the bigger boys.

 

Of course my joy on Sunday was matched by Michael's dismay, though he did seem heartened by the fact that Tottenham generated many more scoring opportunities than in recent matches.  It's a long campaign and he was also relieved to see Arsenal go down 1-0 at Old Trafford.  The loss kept Arsenal from opening a bigger lead at the top of the table and, alas, made Luke sad. That ex-Gunner van Persie was the goal scorer must have hurt just a little more.  But we will not extend that much sympathy to Luke since his side is still two points clear at the top.  Dennis got to see Aston Villa take 3 points from Cardiff on two late goals that ended a long scoring drought.  Liverpool and Southampton had easy wins that now have them in 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Chelsea holds the 4th spot after a 2-2 draw against West Brom, thanks to Andre Marriner's decision to award a PK for a foul on Ramires in the box just before the final whistle.  I know refs are supposed to stick together but I have to say that looked on the soft side to me.  Not a dive because there was contact but not enough for a foul either.

 

In La Liga, Bob's team (Sevilla FC, which might be the Newcastle of La Liga) got a big win over Espanyol to move up to 11th in the standings.  Olympique Lyonnais, the team we hope to see when we visit Mackenzie in France, also won and now sits in 7th in Lique 1.

 

Everybody's off this weekend for the international break but that does not mean there are no tasty fixtures to follow.  Many eyes will be on the European WC qualifiers, a series of home and away matches on Friday and Tuesday that will send another four teams to the WC Finals.  Sentimental favorites may be Iceland as they attempt to become the smallest country - population wise - to make the finals; the road will not be easy as they must face Croatia.  Iceland are a special favorite here because the squad has two Chester Blues players - Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kari Arnason.  My guess is many will be pulling for them, except maybe the grinchy Luke, who can't bring himself to root for team with a Tottenham player.  Another intriquing match up is France versus Ukraine.  I understand Chris is partial to the Ukrainian side and Michael still hasn't forgiven France for the Henry handball that eliminated Ireland in 2010.  Mackenzie will likely show her support for the French, being that she's there right now; I might have a mild rooting interest as the team often features a Magpie or three.

 

Speaking of the Chester Blues, they got a 2-2 draw on the road versus Watford.  Not the best result given Watford's standing but we were favored to lose and needed a late goal to get the draw so we'll take the point.  Coupled with Blackburn's loss, we are now tied with them for first place (ahead on goal differential) in the Championship Division.  If only the season ended now.  At least I don't have to worry about making the playoffs.*

*Actually that's not exactly true - first and second place are automatically promoted, third thru six go through a playoff for the third promotion spot to the EPL.  Still think my point about a basic difference between soccer and US league sports is valid.