MLS Supporters' Shield by Season Series Won

MLS Supporters' Shield by Season Series Won

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This idea came into my mind as the merit of the Suupporters' Shield has been under intense debate since its creation, mainly due to the fact that MLS have been playing un-balanced schedule since inception.

(Though a balanced schedule will be played in 2010, un-balanced schedule will most likely return thereafter, as the league expands)

Thus, I've worked out the alternate MLS Standings base on the number of Season Series won, where we can really see which teams really out-perform the others in a fairer manner, without the potentially bias effects of un-balanced schedules.

Just some ground rules:
1) As with the usual points system, 3 were awarded for a season series won, 1 each for a split series, 0 for a loss.
2) A season series would be won by a team who:
- earned more points than their opponents from the games in the season series (similar to the "1st-to-5" concept)
- scored more goals in case of equal points earned,
- otherwise the series would be considered split. (away goals rule don't apply, :-)
- for '96-99, FT wins would worth more than SO wins.
3) In case of 2/more teams tied on season series points, usual MLS tie-breakers such as head-to-head, GD, GS would apply.

Without further ado, let's see who would have won the Shield / Runners-up, base on Season Series won.

(The more detailed standings for past / current seasons will be published soon)

Alternate Shield Winners / Runners-up, base on Season Series won:
'96: LAG, TPB (LAG won series vs TPB for SS)
'97: KCW, FCD (FCD won series vs DCU for #2)
'98: DCU, LAG (DCU won series vs LAG for SS)
'99: DCU, CLB
'00: TPB, NYRB
'01: MIA, CHI
'02: LAG, SJE (LAG won series vs SJE for SS)
'03: NYRB,CHI
'04: LAG, SJE
'05: SJE, NER (NER won series vs DCU for #2)
'06: CHI, DCU (CHI won 3-way tie-breaker for SS, DCU then won series vs HOU for #2)
'07: HOU, DCU (DCU won series vs CHV for #2)
'08: HOU, CLB
'09: SEA, HOU are the current leaders

Highlights:
1. LAG would have been the most successful team so far with 3 Shields, followed by DCU/HOU with 2 each.
2. SEA, the current leaders of 2009, could very well be the first ever expansion side to win it...
3. Long-suffering NYRB fans would have been able to celebrate their 1st "major" title with the 2003 Shield!!

More later...