Photo by ISIphotos.com
Could the Chicago Fire be ready to make a move for the top spot in MLS it held when the season began?
That's certainly the feeling you got while watching the Fire dispose of Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday. Chicago easily handled the home team in front of a raucous crowd at BMO and looked more like the MLS Cup favorites we expected to see this year. The Fire turned things up in the second half when halftime sub Chris Rolfe opened the scoring and made his case for a starting role before Brian McBride settled matters with his sixth goal of the season.
Chicago wasnt the only team to impress in Week Nine. You had D.C. United traveling cross-country to post a tie against Chivas USA, then you had Kansas City scoring a road win at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake.
Here is how this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings shook out (I'll be adding this week's games and team outlooks shortly):
SBI MLS Power Rankings (Week 9)
1 (Last week- 1). Chivas USA (7-1-2)
Last Week: Tied D.C. United, 2-2, on Saturday.
This Week: at Kansas City Wizards (8:30pm, FSC)
Outlook: Wasn't the strongest performance by the Goats, and blowing a two-goal lead makes you wonder if Chivas USA is ready to cool off. A good road test awaits against a KC and red-hot Josh Wolff.
2 (3). D.C. United (3-1-6)
Last Week: Tied Chivas USA, 2-2, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. New York Red Bulls (U.S. Open Cup); vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday (7:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: D.C. fell behind early (with the help of a missed offside call), but showed great heart and attacking quality in fighting back to tie Chivas USA.
3 (7). Chicago Fire (3-0-6)
Last Week: Beat Toronto FC, 2-0, on Saturday.
This Week: at New York Red Bulls on Sunday (3pm, Telefutura)
Outlook: Chris Rolfe came on at halftime and made his latest case for a return to the Fire starting lineup by helping spark the Chicago attack. The Fire defense posted just its second shutout of the season in what has to be a confidence-boosting performance. Next comes the Red Bulls, which Chicago has feasted on over the past year, going 4-0 in four meetings.
4 (2). Seattle Sounders (4-2-3)
Last Week: Tied FC Dallas, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: at Colorado Rapids on Saturday (9:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: The Sounders are in a full-blown funk after drawing against lowly FC Dallas. A 1-4-2 stretch makes you wonder if we'll ever see that dominating Sounders squad of the early season. Sigi Schmids men are in for a tough test on Saturday with a visit to Dicks Sporting Goods Park and Seattle's first match at altitude.
5 (5). Houston Dynamo (3-2-3)
Last Week: Tied New York Red Bulls, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (8:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: Houston looked well on its way to another win and another shutout before John Wolyniec's equalizer. The Dynamo didn't create much against a 10-man Red Bulls squad, which makes you wonder if the Houston attack is good enough to be a serious title contender. The offense will have a chance to flex against a struggling Earthquakes squad on Saturday.
6 (6). Colorado Rapids (3-2-3)
Last Week: Tied New England, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. Seattle Sounders on Saturday (9:30pm, Direct Kick).
Outlook: Gary Smith's men keep on getting results. Sure, the Revs were struggling coming in, but the Rapids arent exactly famous for getting points away from home. The Rapids will have a chance to make a move up the West standings with a win against the suddenly-struggling Sounders.
7 (4). Toronto FC (3-3-4)
Last Week: Lost to Chicago Fire, 2-0, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. New England Revolution on Saturday (4pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: The recurring theme continues for TFC. Create some chances, miss them, and watch points get dropped. Toronto could certainly take a lesson in finishing from Chicago. Not a terrible performance, but until Barrett and Vitti start converting chances, Toronto will never be consistent.
8 (10). Kansas City Wizards (4-4-2)
Last Week: Beat Real Salt Lake, 2-0, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. Chivas USA on Saturday (8:30pm, FSC)
Outlook: Josh Wolff has emerged as an MVP candidate and is looking like the Josh Wolff of seven years ago. KC was always a goal scorer away from being a real force and if Wolff can keep it going then Wizards could still do some damage in the East. We will see how serious this surge is when KC faces Chivas USA on Saturday.
9 (8). Real Salt Lake (3-5-1)
Last Week: Lost to Kansas City, 2-0, on Saturday.
This Week: at D.C. United on Saturday (7:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: When RSL can't win at home, there are serious problems. Did that 6-0 win against New England do something to Real Salt Lakes psyche? Whatever the problem is, Jason Kreis needs to figure it out in a hurry because the West won't be as easy to qualify out of as last year. A road trip to face streaking D.C. United is probably not the cure for RSL's slump, but it could show us just how bad things are with RSL.
10 (11). New England Revolution (2-2-4)
Last Week: Tied Colorado, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: at Toronto FC on Saturday (4pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: Tie leaves the Revs winless in five, but tying an improved Rapids team coming off a bye isnt the worst result. Having Ralston back and active is promising but the Revs are a good forward away from seriously challenging the top teams in the East.
11 (9). Columbus Crew (1-2-6)
Last Week: Tied Los Angeles, 1-1, on Sunday.
This Week: Bye week
Outlook: The Crew can't be happy with getting just a tie from its meeting with LA. Yes, the Schelotto goal was a gift from Tony Sanneh, but Columbus needs points badly and this was a golden opportunity to get three. Now comes another bye week in a disjointed schedule. You have to wonder whether Robert Warzycha is ready to shake up his roster, which is the rumor out of Columbus.
12 (12). New York Red Bulls (2-5-3)
Last Week: Tied Houston, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. Chicago on Sunday (3pm, Telefutura)
Outlook: Jorge Rojas brain cramp put the Red Bulls in a hole, but the team showed great determination in continuing to go at the Dynamo despite being short-handed. Losing Carlos Johnson to a broken foot will hurt depth, but Jeremy Hall may actually wind up a better option at right back. The real question is whether Juan Carlos Osorio will be able to find more minutes for John Wolyniec.
13 (13). Los Angeles Galaxy (1-1-7)
Last Week: Tied Columbus, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: at FC Dallas on Saturday (8:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: Eddie Lewis stunning equalizer saved the Galaxy yet again, though dropped points at home could wind up costing LA in the long run. The Galaxy continue to struggle to create quality scoring chances and Landon Donovan continues to carry much of the load. With Donovan set to join the U.S. national team soon, LA could be in deep trouble if it doesn't find some reliable attacking options.
14 (14). FC Dallas (1-6-2)
Last Week: Tied Seattle Sounders, 1-1, on Saturday.
This Week: vs. FC Dallas on Saturday (8:30pm, Direct Kick).
Outlook: I've given FC Dallas plenty of stick this year so heres some credit. FCD played much better than expected against Seattle, particularly after Andre Rocha's goal. Seattle controlled things in the first half, but Dallas normally suspect defense kept things from getting out of control. There are still way more questions than answers, but a visit from Los Angeles could give Schellas Hyndmans team a chance to revive its season.
15 (15). San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-2)
Last Week: Bye Week.
This Week: at Houston Dynamo on Saturday (8:30pm, Direct Kick)
Outlook: The good news for San Jose fans was that their team didn't drop any points. The bad news is the Earthquakes now have to travel to Houston to take on a Dynamo team on a hot streak and looking for revenge after losing to San Jose earlier in the yar.
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Nothing too earth-shattering as far as changes. Chicago rightfully moves back up after being dropped for its string of draws.
D.C. United is in at No. 2 and I don't have a problem putting them there after the impressive showing against Chivas USA. So why D.C. ahead of Chicago? The Fire did post an impressive victory, but its the first Fire win in more than a month. D.C. battling back to draw on the road against the best team in the league is what keeps D.C. ahead of Chicago for now.
Seattle drops down to No. 4 and I was tempted to drop them to No. 5 after tying lowly FC Dallas. Seattle is in a serious slump.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this week's rankings below (I will re-post this with the schedule and outlooks within the hour).
Can anyone explain to me how Chad Barrett is still playing in the MLS? Seriously, he is rubbish. No idea why he still gets hired to convert only 1% of his chances. Rubbish.
Seattle is the Hull City of MLS. Great in the beginning but they will fade.
Montero needs to dribble at fewer 2-3 player clumps. If he plays the ball to Jaqua, and gets it immediately back, I think Seattle will be pleased with the result.
If he can’t be taught that, then Seattle needs Jaqua to get selfish. He seems so set on getting others going that he’s missing open nets.
I couldn’t believe Ives had Seattle ranked #2 last week. Fourth seems more than fair.
week 10 and two wins separate the second team from the last place team. as much as this has been a great season it seams like every game has been a draw…lame
Not to nitpick, but the Sounders are in a 1-3-2 stretch, not 1-4-2. The problem with the Sounders is up front right now… nobody’s finishing. Montero is not only not finishing, he’s not even coming close to putting himself in good positions. Defense is still solid and the wing-play is dangerous.
On current form there’s not much difference between 4 and 11 on the list.
That was the Sounders worst game of the season, and they deserved to be dropped probably a bit lower.
However, they did have 3 key players sidelined for various reasons, and I have high hopes that Sigi will get them turned around and playing at full strength next week.
Can’t really argue with the rankings this week, although I might put KC with a bullet. They really seem to be finding their way, and actually have more wins than five of the seven teams ranked ahead of them. They also have road wins in arguably the two toughest places to play in Toronto and Seattle.
Jimmie I can see your the kind of person who wants RSL to go buy a whole new team cause everyone clearly sucks and shouldn’t even be allowed to play in MLS…………..Is the team living up to expectations NO but it’s a little to early to declare them the worst team in the history of mankind…. I’ve seen every minute this year and their have been ups and downs but at the end of the day there is still enough talent on this team to make the playoffs will it come out I don’t know it has yet to be seen week in and week out but their have been glimpses of it so it is there. I don’t know what will come out of hitting basically rock bottom but we will just have to wait and see. But clearly saying all the plays suck mean that your just a fair weather fan and can’t really grasp everything.
MVK:
I think you are correct. However, RSL can’t handle that tactic as well as other MLS teams, and they don’t know how to do it either (RSL can’t pack the D and counter, at all…)
DCU, please beat RSL this weekend, preferably by 7-0.
Jimmie- “All your team needs to do to beat RSL is pack in the D, and spring the counter. It has worked in every game against RSL this year.”
lol, very true, both Wizards goals were that happening nad you guys couldnt build to any chances… but in all fairness thats how you win in the MLS, just ask Chivas, its not like they are picking ppl apart, they just arent making to many mistakes.
I’m a huge Fire supporter and I can see why DC United is a spot ahead of the Fire. DC United has shown the ability to leave it all on the pitch in order to get it’s draws while the Fire have tended to stumble into their draws.
I agree with this set of rankings other than KC. I think KC is 4th.
Great job Ives.
Expect Dallas to surprise in the coming weeks on their home stretch. Seattle needs to work on their finishing, and hopefully we won’t have to worry about the officiating like against LA. Sigi will get things back on track with time.
Do you really want the outlook for the bottom half of the table? Ok – mediocrity and stagnation continue. There ya have it!
The Sounders will be ok, granted they should have scored three in the 1st half. 20 minutes in they were playing without 4 players that have startee Sturgis, Riley, and Scott, 3 of those 4 are outside defenders. I will take a slump if it means tying every game while they are in a slump, keep in mind 2 of the ties we playing with only 10 players. Through dumb choices and some injuries the Sounders haven’t had their main lineup in at least 5 games. What would have happened to any other expansion team?
It’s not liking TFC was creating opportunities galore. They had a few good chances and didn’t capitalize, just like any other match. Besides, most of their chances occurred after Chicago had already taken the lead.
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As a TFC fan i’d have to agree with this. Barrett and Vitti did miss some clear cut chances, but overall our playmakers didn’t do much on the day and what they gave to the forwards they wasted.
AS a Sounders fan.. I think you’re being generous..
For the record, the Sounders only have 3 draws (4-2-3 W-L-T)…though they have all been 1-1 scores and all came in the last 3 weeks.
But they deserve to move down in the rankings after not beating Dallas (sorry Dallas fans). At least they finished the game with 11 men.
Jloome,
The total shots in the TFC-Chi game was 11-7. Toronto had really one clear cut glorious chance on the missed header by Barrett. They also had a shot by Guevara hit the crossbar.
It’s not liking TFC was creating opportunities galore. They had a few good chances and didn’t capitalize, just like any other match. Besides, most of their chances occurred after Chicago had already taken the lead.
Jeremy (JLoome), fair enough about the word “easily” but to use the shot totals as evidence of anything is a stretch considering half of Toronto’s shots were forced shots from distance with no chance of going in (I believe FC Dallas fans made that same argument about the TFC tie, only to be shot down by TFC fans).
Yes, Toronto had some chances, and Barrett missed some, but if Barrett could make those he wouldn’t be Barrett and you wouldn’t have him. I won’t fault Vitti too much for his missed header because that’s not his game, but yes, Barrett had a free header he needs to score on and Amado came close with the free kick off the bar.
For my money, Chicago was the better team on Saturday. When you only really test the goalkeeper once all game (Barret’s blast right at Busch) I’m not sure how you can sit there and say you deserved a point against a team that put away two very good chances.
jloome – MLS tracker had it at 11-7….
1st half both Tor and Chi were AWFUL…
2nd half, fire notch their goal and Tor woke up…. i was expecting the equalizer to tell you the truth… Barrett missing sitters per usual… free kicks hitting the wood work… i was extremely happy with the 2nd goal, but even at that point the 10 min + stoppage scared the piss out of me….
DeRo was the biggest flop though… a soft breeze would have taken him down… however, i loved the quote about the turf 😀
where are all the outlooks? what did you think of the red bulls?
RSL fan here,
Please put RSL at the bottom of the rankings where they belong. They are a crap team, period.
This is why:
Yura is crap
Findley has no touch
Morales is MIA
Mathis can’t play a full game
Will has lost it
Beckerman’s hair is slowing him down, and he obviously isn’t that good anyway
Wingert can’t kick a ball well
Borchers is flat footed and slow as he11
Olave loves to hurt our own keepers
Russell…well, he isn’t bad
Rimando is to small
Seitz’s ability has been overblown
Beltran is ok, for a rook, but he isn’t a rook
etc. etc. etc.
Oh, and Jason Kries can’t coach.
To all:
All your team needs to do to beat RSL is pack in the D, and spring the counter. It has worked in every game against RSL this year. RSL plays a diamond mid that tries to funnel the ball through the middle, so just clog that and RSL can’t score.
Just wanted all of you to know.
I’m still holding out hope that the Burn (not calling them FCD until Shellas is fired) will be able to overtake SJ for 15th.
Chivas USA should be deducted 20 points for not having there own stadium
“Easily handled Toronto”?
Buddy, what game were you watching? Toronto outshot them something like 11-4 and had five glorious open chances that only Chad Barrett and Pablo Vitti could’ve inspired to miss.
This was, at best, a tie performacne by the Fire, made a win by having finishers Toronto doesn’t have
“Easily”? Bad choice of words.
I disagree @martha. I will take a 3-tie as a slump…although I do agree with them falling in the power rankings. They will get it clicking again. This slump started with Keller gettings a red, then Montero, then Riley…They will bounce back against Colorado.
I was able to watch three full MLS games on Saturday and I was the most impressed with United’s attack in the second half. They have firepower! I think they would beat Chicago right now. Seattle looked awful (Zakuani was the only dangerous player) and DeRo is a cry baby for complaining about the turf at his home field.
*without johnson’s crosses, rather.
the outlook for the bottom half of the table doesnt show up on my computer either. im assuming it didnt get attached.
also, thats a great picture. it looks like blanco is stepping aside to let the toronto player through. it kind of reminds me of the really bad soccer movies from my youth where the defenders jump out of the way in order to make the attackers look really good.
i think i’d switch NY and C-bus. granted they stole a point, but played the game down a man, and with johnson’s crosses which were very much on target until his foot was broken.
the crew seem to have some trouble a-brewin’ and may be poised for a total collapse this season (kinda like LA last year).
I am wondering about the “this week/ outlook” sections for the bottom half of the table, is it my computer or did it not get attached?
“For Martha C. who stated that Seattle Sounders FC are really not that good, you do know that they were missing Freddie Ljungberg for that match right? Just letting ya know.
Posted by: Danny | May 18, 2009 at 01:20 PM”
Good teams find a way to WIN against a bad team, even without a a key player. Are you honestly going to blame a tie to Dallas on missing one player? SSFC played without Ljungberg earlier this season, so why is it different now? Seattle is showing their true colors, and I don’t mean putrid green. They are in the same class as most other middle of the road teams. It’s time to wake up from your dreamworld now…
When Rolfe started last week against the Revs,he did not look as good as he has when he has come off the bench. With Rolfe scoring the game winner in Toronto,one has to wonder if he will be even more valuable this year coming in right after halftime. This can be a difficult matchup for opposing defenses to see a fresh speedy Rolfe coming in at the half when the defense has already put in 45 minutes.
Holy crap! Chivas USA sucks now?
At least were up on LA Galaxy (the other team in LA) by a few points.
=)
There is no way DC United can be ahead of the Fire anymore. The Fire is undefeated and DC has one loss. Besides , Last week DC tied the same Toronto team that the Fire just beat.
As Chicago loses it’s local blogger, Luis, it gets a big win. So I’m happy to read up on Ives’ report. Let’s not get overconfident in NY.
For Martha C. who stated that Seattle Sounders FC are really not that good, you do know that they were missing Freddie Ljungberg for that match right? Just letting ya know.
My mistake on Rolfe guys. He did come on at halftime. That’s what I get for fast-forwarding the first half and watching the second half.
Ives, expect more traffic from Chicago now that our very own Luis has been kicked upstairs to blog about parties.
Hey Ives,
You wrote:
“With Chris Rolfe in the starting lineup for the first time all season, Fire fans finally got a glimpse of the dream lineup many had hoped to see at some point.”
Chris Rolfe didn’t start. He came in at half-time for an ineffective Patrick Nyarko.
In 600 and some minutes Nyarko has 1 goal so I expect to see Rolfe starting for a while.
Anyway, great job on your site……it has turned into a must read every day for me.
“With Chris Rolfe in the starting lineup for the first time all season” ??
am i misreading something??
Rolfe came in at the half… he notched his first start against NE last week…
Rolfe actually was a halftime sub for an ineffective Nyarko, after the reverse the prior week.
It was nice for the Fire to get the win and on the road in TFC 2-0 is a good result. But TFC certainly should have equalized prior to the Fire icing it with McBride’s tally. (First time as a Fire fan I’ve ever been thankful for Chad Barrett being onthe field) So it might be a little early to say momentum is going in a positive direction based on one W.
Seattle isnt in a slump they were simply never really that good. They rode the excitement of their inaugural season to a good start is all.
How can DC be over Chicago? DC has lost. Fire has not.
Still waiting for the shoe to drop on Chicas who have a good record because they have overachieved playing crap teams
when did MLS become the league of the draw. 4 teams with over 6 draws and we are only 1/3 of the way through the season.
I would put K.C. up a little higher, other than that, you are spot on.
Great…FIre heating up jsut in time for the visit to NY, not what the Red Bulls need..