Welcome to a new feature on AFTN - <b>Best Case Scenario</b>.
The reshaping of the schedule, and the playoff qualification criteria, has made for some interesting new dynamics in what we need to see from MLS matches from a Whitecaps perspective.
I've talked about all the ins and outs of this in my <a href="http://metronews.ca/voices/all-caps-the-vancouver-whitecaps-blog/" target="_blank"><b>Metro column</b></a> this week, so swing by and have a read when it's published on Sunday (*a technical glitch has delayed it being posted Friday*).
Starting today, and every week going forward, we’re going to bring you our look at the upcoming games that weekend and what we hope to see from those to benefit the Caps to the max, along with what impact the different results from the Whitecaps own match has to our playoff hopes.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
We're going to be finding ourselves cheering for some unlikely foes this year. We could even be rooting for Toronto and, gasp, Montreal to win. That's going to be hard but necessary. I'm not sure that I'm quite ready for that dirty feeling yet mind you!
So let's kick off the feature by looking at the Week 5 games still to be played, after Dallas fell into the "Worst Case Scenario" category with their late win against New England tonight…..
<center>********************</center>
<b><u>Whitecaps @ San Jose Earthquakes</u></b>
Current Whitecaps Points: 8 (4th in West)
If Whitecaps Win: 11 points (Best Case Scenario = 2nd in West, four points behind RSL / Worst Case Scenario = 3rd, one point behind joint leaders. WCS could actually be BCS!)
If Whitecaps Draw: 9 points (BCS = 3rd / WCS = 5th)
If Whitecaps Lose: 8 points (BCS = 4th / WCS = 5th)
Maximum Points Total Possible: 98
Projected Points Total On Current Results: 78 !!
Playoff Likelihood: 53%
<b><u>Sporting Kansas City v LA Galaxy</u> - KC win</b>
East v West, so a KC win helps the Caps greatly. Another LA loss would leave them at least five points behind the Caps in the standings and possibly 8. Massive.
<b><u>DC United v Seattle Sounders</u> - DC win</b>
You pretty much always want Seattle to lose, but even more so when it's an East v West encounter. A loss or draw for the Sounders keeps them below the Caps in the table, no matter the result in San Jose.
<b><u>Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids</u> - draw</b>
One of three all-western match ups this week. A RSL win would see them start to have a little gap at the top. Right now we want to keep all the Caps' conference rivals in as tight a bunch as possible. A Colorado win tightens it right up at the top and if the Caps win too, then it's one point separating the top three. We almost want this as out BCS, but I think right now, a draw may be best for us, as every point could count in a Caps v Rapids playoff place battle later on.
<b><u>Portland Timbers v Chivas USA</u> - Chivas win</b>
Another all-western clash. Portland have an outside chance at the playoffs. Chivas have no chance. Easy to root for the Californian side in this one.
<b><u>Columbus Crew v New York Red Bulls</u> - Columbus win</b>
This all-eastern match-up has no real impact on the Caps making the playoffs. With New York likely to be the stronger team down the road, and every point counting between intra-conference rivals, a Columbus win could affect New York’s position in the final stretch, so let's root for that.
<b><u>Montreal Impact v Toronto</u> - Who cares?</b>
Who can you cheer on in a game between Montreal and Toronto? I'm going with the stretcher bearers. This game, between two sides who will not make the post season, has no consequence on the Whitecaps playoff hopes, so who gives a fuck?!
For us, that's all the "Best Case Scenarios", so get cheering for the opposition like you never have before.
<p>