MLS' Fixture Mayhem

Champions League finalists Montreal Impact have been given another weekend without domestic action as MLS look to do their part to help franchises battle on the continent.

Unlike their continental opponents Impact were not forced to play twice a week en route to the show-piece final and have completed just four MLS games so far.

Ultimately they came up short, but the Canadians were given the support and backing that many Premier League clubs have called for in recent seasons.

But does that come at a cost? With teams playing an assorted number of games are the conference standings somewhat irrelevant at the moment? 

What do the players say?

Kljestan playing against Arsenal earlier this season

USA international Sacha Kljestan returned to MLS this season having spent five seasons with Belgian giants Anderlecht and the fixture system is still something that frustrates him.

The New York Red Bulls midfielder and his teammates were given a bye in Game Week Two when they were scheduled to play Montreal.

At the time Kljestan said: “It’s been very annoying – you want to play every week, especially when you’re kind of getting into a rhythm.

“The scheduling in MLS sucks because it’s not like anywhere else in the world where you’re going to play the same team in three weeks almost in a back-to-back game.”

What’s the current situation?

While Kljestan may not speak for all of his fellow professionals, several MLS stars and managers have come out and voiced similar concerns.

At the start of this weekend’s action three Western Conference sides had played seven times, six had played eight games and Supporters’ Shield leaders Vancouver Whitecaps nine.

Philadelphia have played ten matches in nine game weeks

While in the Eastern Conference, aside from Montreal, Toronto FC had only played six times (all away from home) while opponents Philadelphia Union had played nine.

But the inconsistency's don't stop there - Union played twice in three days recently so have had more fixtures than there have been Game Weeks - crazy!

Why is it like this?

There is nothing the MLS rules that states that the fixture list should take its current form, and MLS' hierarchy have also chosen not to speak out.

But that does mean teams like Montreal can be given a helping hand in the Champions League and it is likely to be something employed in future campaigns too.

Commissioner Don Garber and co want MLS to win the tournament again, to make a statement about the growth of the league and perhaps to vindicate their confusing fixture list.

With Impact propping up the table last season, the flexibility to allow them to compete has almost certainly helped, even if it will hinder them at some point later this season.

USMNT star Bradley always needs to play

What would we recommend?

We certainly wouldn’t want to discourage MLS from helping franchises in continental competition but something needs to change.

To begin, if rearranging fixtures isn't a problem why not also reshuffle matches for international breaks like the top European clubs do?

That way USMNT stars, who add so much in terms of quality and popularity to the league, are always available and teams aren’t punished for having internationals. 

Also limiting teams to one game a week would make sense, as would not playing back-to-back encounters against the same opposition.

It would be very easy to employ this and while we do think MLS has to forge its own path instead of just following the European system, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to adapt a system that works.

Images courtesy of Rob Carr, Drew Hallowell, WireImage, with thanks