Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Revs just keep on rolling.
New England maintained its grip on the top spot in the SBI MLS Power Rankings, something not many teams have been able to do this year. Beating Los Angeles cemented their place while also causing the Galaxy to slide further after three matches without a win.
A team to watch is Chivas USA, which beat San Jose and will face the Galaxy this week in the ‘SuperClasico’. A win against their hated rivals and Chivas USA could start making a move on first place in the West.
Here is how the rest of the SBI MLS Power Rankings shook out this week:
SBI MLS Power Rankings
1. (Last week- 1) New England Revolution (10-4-3)
Last Week: beat Los Angeles, 2-1, on Friday (vs. Richmond Kickers in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.)
This Week: Bye week
Last Five Games: 3-1-1
Outlook: Adam Cristman starting to prove doubters (including myself) that he’s not just a plodding stiff.
2. (3) D.C. United (7-7-1)
Last Week: Off in MLS (beat Rochester Rhinos, 2-0 in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday)
This Week: Off in MLS (vs. Chicago Fire in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, vs. Chivas de Guadalajara in SuperLiga on Saturday)
Last Five Games: 4-0-1
Outlook: Will D.C. be able to carry over its amazing MLS form into SuperLiga and U.S. Open Cup action? There’s no reason to believe they can’t.
3. (2) Columbus Crew (8-4-3)
Last Week: tied Chicago, 2-2, on Saturday.
This Week: at Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Outlook: Showed a lot of resolve to battle back from 2-0 deficit to earn draw against Chicago on Saturday.
4. (4) Toronto FC (6-5-3)
Last Week: Off in MLS (lost to Vancouver, 1-0, in CONCACAF Champions League qualifier on Tuesday, lost to Pachuca, 1-1 (PKs) in Carlsberg Cup on Saturday.)
This Week: at Chicago on Saturday (at Vancouver on Wednesday in CONCACAF Champions League qualifier.)
Last Five Games: 2-2-1
Outlook: Struggle to score goals continues in non-MLS action, highlighing the need for a marquee forward.
5. (6) Houston Dynamo (4-4-8)
Last Week: tied Real Salt Lake, 0-0 on Thursday (lost to Charleston Battery, 1-1 (4-3 on PKs) on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup).
This Week: Off in MLS (vs. Atlante in SuperLiga on Saturday.)
Last Five Games: 1-1-3
Outlook: Still waiting for Houston to show championship form and each passing week we are left wondering if that form will return any time soon.
6. (7) Chicago Fire (6-5-3)
Last Week: tied Columbus, 2-2, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. Toronto FC on Saturday (at D.C. United in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday.)
Last Five Games: 0-3-2
Outlook: Winless streak is up to five after blowing two-goal lead against Columbus. Is Chicago going to ride the streak out, or will the Fire look to make some trades/acquisitions soon?
7. (5) Los Angeles Galaxy (6-6-3)
Last Week: lost to New England, 2-1, on Friday.
This Week: vs. Chivas USA on Thursday.
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Outlook: Managed just one point vs. East powers, leading us to wonder just how good LA really is. Potential addition of veteran Argentine defender Eduardo Dominguez couldn’t hurt struggling defense.
8. (9) Chivas USA (6-6-3)
Last Week: beat San Jose, 1-0, on Saturday (lost, 2-0, to Seattle Sounders in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday).
This Week: at Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday.
Last Five Games: 2-2-1
Outlook: Win vs. Earthquakes wasn’t very convincing, but they will have a chance for some payback against the Galaxy team that thrashed them earlier in the season.
9. (10) Real Salt Lake (5-6-5)
Last Week: tied Houston, 0-0, on Thursday.
This Week: vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Last Five Games: 2-1-2
Outlook: RSL’s stingy defense will get a tough test from a Crew attack that has been playing well lately.
10. (11) FC Dallas (4-6-6)
Last Week: tied Kansas City, 1-1, on Saturday (beat Miami FC, 2-1, on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup).
This Week: Off in MLS (vs. Charleston Battery on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup.)
Last Five Games: 1-2-2
Outlook: Week off should help Schellas Hyndman in his implementation of his system. Whether that actually leads to results remains to be seen.
11. (12) Colorado Rapids (6-8-1)
Last Week: beat New York Red Bulls, 4-0, on Friday.
This Week: at San Jose on Saturday.
Last Five Games: 1-3-1
Outlook: Nothing like a blowout win at home to help revive confidence in a club that sorely needed it.
12. (8) New York Red Bulls (5-5-5)
Last Week: lost to Colorado, 4-0, on Friday (lost to Crystal Palace Baltimore, 2-0, on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup).
This Week: at Kansas City on Thursday.
Last Five Games: 1-2-2
Outlook: One of the worst weeks in club history has Red Bulls reeling and fans can only hope that transfer window additions will halt the free fall.
13. (13) Kansas City Wizards (4-5-5)
Last Week: tied FC Dallas, 1-1 on Friday (beat Carolina Railhawks, 4-2, on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup).
This Week: vs. New York Red Bulls on Thursday (at Seattle Sounders in U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday)
Last Five Games: 1-1-3
Outlook: Wizards look to be slowly regaining form, but ties need to start turning into wins before they fall any further behind in the playoff race.
14. (14) San Jose Earthquakes (3-9-3)
Last Week: lost to Chivas USA, 1-0, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. Colorado on Saturday.
Last Five Games: 0-3-2
Outlook: How long before the "They’re an expansion team" excuse starts to ring hollow?
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What do you think of this week’s rankings? Share your thoughts below.
ravenrooney,
Ives used it right. He meant RSL’s defense which has not given up alot of goals (stingy) is going to be tested by Columbus’ attack (they’ve been scoring at a decent clip lately).
Ives, I’m curious to know whether you have watched RSL at all this season. How is their defense, in any way, stingy? RSL has one of the best back lines in the league.
Or perhaps you were confused on the definition of stingy?
stin·gy: adjective,
1. reluctant to give or spend; not generous; niggardly; penurious
Not to show my bias too badly, but how is Houston ahead of Chicago. We didn’t lose to a USL team in the Open Cup and did tie at Columbus who are now #2.
Ives and fellow readers, as the season continues, expect the Galaxy to fall in the power rankings like a doomed man being plunged into the sea with a concrete millstone around his neck.
Come to think of it, that would be a perfect punishment for what Anschutz, Leiweke and Lalas have inflicted on the fans, Beckham and Donovan not withstanding…
I have D.C United as #1, or at least tied for #1….A win against Chivas de Guadalajara would be sweet revenge!
……especially if DeRo is on his way to Copenhagen as rumored on fannation.
You could swap around any of the teams from 10-13 and it wouldn’t matter. Only pick I question is Houston. I feel Chivas is in better form these days.
Jeff – well you are being linked to Diego Jimenez, Georgie Welcome, and Shannel Welcome …. mind you my source is the always reputable MLSrumors.com, but its news that fits….. Apparently Agoos has the Welcome cousins in for a 5 day trial and Jimenez is close to signing
Andrew – there are 8 teams within the 20-22 point range in the entire league… its kind of crazy to see how close everyone is
3 points separates 6 teams in the West for First Place. Every game is crucial.
Maybe the Red Bulls should just release all of their players and start over as an expansion team.
stand corrected, looks as tho we are trying to pick up Marco Pablo Pappa…. if its true, im glad the Fire are looking at adding a younger player… but since he’s an outside mid, i wonder if the fire are almost ready to trade Mapp for BMB… or perhaps he’s a righty and Rolfe can finally push back up top where he belongs…
outside of the BMB trade, i dont see the fire doing much of anything this window
“How long before the “They’re an expansion team” excuse starts to ring hollow?”
Next year.