New York Red Bulls: New MLS Playoff format is perfect for the Red Bulls

Another year has come and gone for the New York Red Bulls and another MLS Cup-less season. However, a new change in the league’s playoff format is perfect for the Red Bulls.

The New York Red Bulls won a major trophy during the 2018 MLS Season but not the ultimate prize. The Red Bulls snagged their third Supporters’ Shield but not the MLS Cup.

I only repeat what you might have already known because the new MLS Playoff format would have been prefect for the Red Bulls, had it been in place this season.

The new format favors the Shield winners and gives them home field advantage, which the Red Bulls always use in their favor.

During the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Red Bulls did have home field and would have hosted the final, but lost twice on the road.

Their egg dropping in Atlanta cost them the Eastern Conference final despite winning their match at home and having the better regular season record.

So under this new format, there is no more aggregate goals. No more away goal tie-breakers. No more better teams playing their home games second in the final rounds.

It is simple.

Play well in the regular season.

Get the highest seed possible.

Get to play single elimination playoff games at home.

Home field advantage is great for any MLS team. However, the Red Bulls were unbeaten at home in the playoffs, and almost unbeaten at home this regular season.

In general, the Red Bulls are elite at Red Bull arena. They have had the most home wins in the MLS two of the last three years.

That is why this new format favors the Red Bulls. History is on their side the last few seasons as well considering they have won the Shield three of the last six years.

The biggest question surrounding New York’s Red side since their inception has been what they do the have to do to get over the hump and win MLS Cup?

The answer could have been a constantly changing format and bad luck.

So, there you have it. The Red Bulls are always just shy of doing what they need to and it is usually coincidental timing.

Now, there are really no excuses. They are a fantastic regular season team. They could finally pull off having a true home field advantage in the playoffs.

Finally, the MLS Cup playoffs are not confusing to the casual audience. They are simple and more like other American sports. Win more, get more home games, get and easier road through the postseason.

One game and that is it in each round. Just like the juggernaut that is the NFL Playoffs. It is brilliant.

The MLS got this correct.

The new Playoff format is awesome and will go quicker and which allows the season to start earlier in the calendar year and gives the players a slightly longer offseason with it ending in November instead of December.

So, if the Red Bulls, who have been elite in the regular season the last decade, a playoff team nine straight years, suddenly start playing poorly in the regular season, we will know for sure that they are cursed.

This new format is right up their alley.

If they don’t win an MLS Cup in the first few seasons under this format, they’ll never win one under any format.