

I enjoy being polemic, I love to organize tournaments and I like the Shield. Combining those three aspects, I came with a suggestion for improving the Supporter's Shield perception as a major tournament.

One can argue that "if not broken, do not fix it," and he would probably be right. Frankly, however, I don't give a damn.

Thus, here follows a proposal for a new Shield, which would bring some modifications for the entire MLS calendar.

--

The Season would be divided in two parts, each part in other two: Regular Season (Supporting Shield; Conference Championships); Postseason (Conference Tournaments; MLS Cup). But, one might wonder: "PRSancho, is not that exactly how is it today?" Yes! I am not a big fan of REVOLUTION. It is supposed to be a small, but significant change.

I.1 The Shield

The new Supporters' Shield would be a single-table round-robin tournament with all MLS teams regardless their conferences. With 20 teams, there would be 19 rounds; with 22, 21 and so on, and so forth. The team that earn more points is the SS Champions. After the Shield, there would be the All-Stars break.

The champion would also get a spot at the next Concachampions. Since the tournament would end before the beginning of the Group State of the Concachampions, I would advocate to get the spot already for that same season.

The idea, here, is to put the Shield the furthest apart from the MLS Cup as possible. Its climax would be its own. No one would be able to argue the Shield as a distraction. Since the playoffs wouldn't begin right away, and there is the All-Stars break right after it, there would plenty of time to savor, to celebrate, to rub off the title on the rival's face. If it is already "a thing", it would become more "a thing" than it is today. Its status of major title would become incontestable. This proposal would stop even the silly discussion about unbalanced schedule, since the proposed schedule for the Shield is very balanced.

Seriously, I cannot see any shortcomings. Please, help me find problems! The Shield could even be given to its Champion at the All-Stars Game. The Supporters' Summit could be held at the All-Stars Game venue, as it were (is it still held?) at the MLS Cup when we knew the venue in advance.

I.2 Conference Championships

After the All-Stars break, the second part of the Regular Season would start. The points from the Shield would be preserved, but now the games would be only within the respective conferences. At stake, the Conference Championships and their spots [edit: there is actually one spot remaining, only, not two. I would suggest to go to the team with the best record in this stage only overall I don't know what to do. Maybe going back to both MLS Cup finalists getting spots.] and one spot at the Concachampions of the next year (detail: for a different season of the one from the Shield, folks!), plus all 12 postseason spots. The number of games would depend on the size of the Shield tournament and on the size the MLS Regular Season as a whole. In the current setup, the Shield would have 19 rounds, and the Conference Championships, 15 - adding up to a total of 34.

II. Postseason

Nothing changes!

--

Now, I ask: what did you guys think? I would like to know, because I really like it.

Best.