Fewer goals, more draws but a stronger MLS – A response to Steve Davis

MLS defence’s have shut up shop this campaign, there have been 41 clean sheets in the first 52 games, and a staggering 17.3% of games this year have finished 0-0 so far.

According to ESPN Soccer’s Steve Davis, MLS franchises are no longer desperate to win and the lack of results one way or another is a problem the league must resolve.

The stats show that goals per game are down from 2.86 last year to 2.12 so far this campaign, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for MLS.

Despite the lack of goals, the league has been extremely competitive – in our eyes MLS has taken a step forward this year and here’s why...

Mourinho is famous for his rock solid defensive units

Fewer goals signal stronger defences:

At present MLS’s 20^th season will be remembered as the lowest scoring in the competition's history – the previous record was 2.46 goals per game in 2010.

It is easy to chastise the league, yet few have praised a series of exceptional performances that have kept forwards at bay.

Colorado Rapids went unbeaten until Week Four despite failing to score in that time and Tyler Deric has been exceptional in goal for Houston Dynamo.

Part of the game's beauty is that there are a lot of ways to go about winning a soccer match, and no side will ever score three or four every week.

Jose Mourinho, one of the most decorated coaches in modern times, has built a succession of title winning teams on the basis of a water-tight defence.

If MLS truly wants to be recognised as one of the top leagues worldwide, it needs to improve in defence not just attack.

More draws means more competition:

Almost 33% of the games played so far have ended in draws and this suggests that the MLS draft system is having the desired effect.

In addition to the salary cap the MLS SuperDraft aims to ensure, in typical American style, that every franchise can compete for trophies each season.

More draws means tighter games and this competition should be encouraged, celebrated even, and certainly not maligned.

CCL finalists Montreal Impact are yet to win in MLS 2015

MLS Cup holders LA Galaxy prop up the Western Conference, CONCACAF Champions League finalists Montreal Impact are the only side yet to win and Rapids ended an 18-match winless streak by hammering second-placed FC Dallas 4-0.

Competition means that at times teams will cancel each other out, and this has resulted in an increase in draws and 0-0 scorelines.

However, rather than creating dead games this means that every game matters in the fight for places – five teams are separated by one point in the Eastern Conference.

Teams still fighting to the end:

Mr Davis’ claim that MLS sides are no longer desperate to win matches was perhaps his strangest, given the flurry of late goals in recent weeks.

As he pointed out Sporting Kansas City scored twice in added-time to claim a remarkable 3-2 victory over Philadelphia Union last weekend.

This was just the latest example in a league which is quickly developing a reputation for decisive late goals.

DC United recently became the second team in MLS history to win two straight matches 1-0 with added time winners, and Vancouver Whitecaps have also scored two stoppage time winners.

Sporting secured a dramatic win over Union in Week Five

MLS franchises are pushing for victory until the very death - without the goals they scored from 85 minutes onwards, Vancouver would lie seventh not first.

Teams might be struggling to get past one another or put together a run of wins, but the desire to win is certainly there and the stats prove it.

Boring? Sorry Steve, not at all:

The goal count might be down but this MLS season has already produced a number of surprising results and spectacular moments.

Mr Davis asked for someone to stand up and claim a four or five goal win – he never would have guessed Rapids would be the team to do it, with their first four goals of the season.

The English Premier League is hailed as the most exciting league in the world because anyone can beat anyone on a given day.

In 2015, Galaxy have floundered, the two expansion sides have both enjoyed good moments and high-flying Dallas have slipped up twice against struggling Rapids and Portland Timbers.

It’s only Week Six but this season has already seen 16 red cards, jaw-dropping goals, upsets, goalkeeping horrors and the first Canadian CCL finalists.

Heading into matches we have learnt to expect the unexpected; as a MLS fan what more can you ask for?

Galaxy celebrate Zardes' MLS Cup winner

But we agree about the play-offs:

Having said that we do agree with Mr Davis on one point – the decision to expand the play-offs to 12 sides needs to be undone.

Allowing 60% of all the sides completing to make the post season has two effects; it undermines the regular season and removes some of the prestige from the play-offs.

During the regular season teams are battling to avoid missing out on the post season tournament rather than battling tooth and nail for a coveted MLS Cup spot.

MLS decision makers have done well to expand the league’s size and popularity over the past decade but surely an eight-sided post season is in the league’s best interest?

The post season would begin with MLS Cup quarter-finals, the battle to qualify would be more intense and the standard of the league should rise even further as a result.

Images courtesy of In Mou we Trust, Mila Araujo @Milaspage, brent flanders and the DallySportsHerald, with thanks.