IMO Seattle owes their top spot to all our back to back games. Of Timbers 5 losses this year 3 have come at the taile end of our 3 back to back's (most recently in Peuto Rico). Thats right 3 back to backs, equal highest in the leage. How many did Seattle have? 1!!! Just a thought

Its unfortunate, but for USL financial situation it is needed. I think that is part of why playoffs help balance it, if only a bit.

Can you imagine Wenger's complaints about fixture congestion in the USL

I remember the Kings played Wednesday Saturday and Sunday. Iwas at the Sunday match, it was not pretty.

That was balanced out by Portland playing last place California 5 times due to Virginia Beach dropping out while Seattle got an extra trip to Rochester and Vancouver. The teams schedule their game nights for road trips/fixtures in a lot of cases....... so kind of a weak argument. Portland also hasn't beaten Seattle in 4 tries this season including the USOC.

Personally, I would rather have less games against California and less back to backs. Statistics show that this season no team has won both back to back games, so it is almost like guaranteeing a loss of points. I was kind of exaggerating about the league position though. Seattle and Portland have been very evenly matched this season, and definitely the two best teams in the league IMO.

I know you were having a little fun....... I am really impressed with the Timbers turnaround. I think they have a really solid defense and they have pulled some big wins on the road. The scheduling thing is ultimately a problem, as CK pointed out. The cost of travel forces teams to schedule/play these really tough fixtures. Charleston played in Portland last Thursday, Vancouver on Saturday and Seattle on Sunday. They dropped all three games and really put their playoff hopes in a bind. Seattle avoided having more back to backs because they chose to make more than one or two trips back east. USOC also allowed them to adjust the schedule somewhat. ANYWAY.......... good luck to the TImbers and I hope we meet in the final. That would be a great final and probably fill either PGE or the bottom bowl at Qwest.

Would be a great final for sure: although they would certainly be easier teams to face in the final for both but none would be rivals. Plus it would be cool for (assuming we get 2nd) the top 2 to meet in the final.

Well I think Montreal and Rochester can be considered just as good and just as dangerous as any of the top teams. It will be tough for both teams to get to the final facing opponents like those two. Rochester had the injury bug bite hard in the middle of the season which set them back a bit. Vancouver can always step up too. Should be exciting in the playoffs.