The race to avoid being the worst 3-year team in MLS history

There’s an interesting statistical post over at the USA Soccer blog about the best and worst teams in MLS history. Guess which one RSL is in the hunt for?

Luckily, due to the fact that the team has only existed for two years, we are only on the lists for worst single year (2005, #3 with 20 total points) and worst two years (2005-2006, #2 with 59 total points). However, at current pace, RSL will likely become the absolute worst team over any three year period in MLS history. In order to avoid this shameful statistic, Salt Lake will have to finish the 30-game regular season with 36 points.

Let’s take a look at that number, 36 points. We currently have six points from nine matches. That means, if this dismal pace continues, we will finish the season with 20 points, equaling our 2005 debut and becoming, by a fairly large margin, the worst 3-year team in MLS history. In fact, in order to avoid the stat of death, we need 30 points in 21 matches. That’s ten wins, or, much more likely, five wins and fifteen draws. That even leaves room for a loss. So, we’re set. *Sigh* … poor Wiggum.

There’s another stat to avoid on this list that might actually be possible. Take a look at the single-season worst teams ever. Amazingly, no team is represented more than once. The top ten are all different teams. And although I’m relatively confident that the 2001 Tampa Bay Fusion Mutiny(Oops) will remain where they are at top of that list (14 points in 27 games … ouch), I would hate to see RSL become the first. So, there’s another goal. 31 points in 30 matches will keep us off of that list … though that doesn’t seem too likely right now, either.

But, hey, at least we beat China. Take that, communism.

Category: Team News

Tags: Real Salt Lake, RSL, Statistics for dummies, Team News, Worst MLS teams ever

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