MLS Power and Form Rankings, Week 7

The field in MLS is starting to take shape a little. Although my predictions aren't getting any better, the higher ranked team won in five of six games. The early season trend of home teams dominating faded somewhat: away teams went 4-2.

1. Chicago Fire (Last week: #1, beat #7 United away)

The Fire might not always look good, but they seem to win. The first 30 minutes against DC, they looked vulnerable. But they started to control match and never looked back.

2. Columbus Crew (Last week: #2, beat #13 San Jose away)

Robbie Rogers is now second in the league with five goals. Alejandro Moreno is right behind him with four. They're looking like a team with multiple weapons. The last time you could say that, McBride and Brian West were still wearing yellow.

The only knock on the Crew? They've had a surprisingly easy schedule, given how some former powers have crumbled. Not their fault and they're racking up points now.

3. New England Revolution (Last week: #4, beat #9 Chivas away)

Twellman scores, Ralston assists, Revs win. The Revs have a great starting 11 and they have good depth (albeit not enough to carry them through the injuries unscathed). The Revs are good.

4. Houston (Last week: #5, beat #8 Colorado at home)

It might have been a flukey performance, but you got the feeling that the Dynamo were building up some serious soccer karma during their long winless streak to start the season. Unlike fellow strugglers United, the Dynamo kept their heads up and benefitted from Bouna Condoul's goalkeeping clinic (as in a clinic on how not to clear a ball). Houston is, by far, the team with the least points among the MLS elite, but I'm sticking with them at #4.

5. Dallas (Last week: #3, lost to #14 Real Salt Lake away)

Kenny Cooper is unstoppable, but you can't say the same for Dallas. They might have done just enough to tie it up in Salt Lake, but the ball didn't go in. I've got to think that Juan Toja will get his season going soon-- he shows enough quality from game to game to suggest good things to come, even if it's not coming right now.

6. Toronto (Last week: #6, did not play)

Should Toronto be ranked higher? Maybe, but let's see how they take the Guevara show on the road and have to deal with a few more calls going against them.




7. New York Red Bulls (Last week: #10, beat #12 Galaxy away)

Juan Pablo Angel still isn't quite fit, but managed to score against the Galaxy (who wisely decided to sit accident-prone "defender" Abel Xavier). The Red Bulls are geting dynamic players back from injury (Richards and Freeman) at the same time they've lost players who impose structure on the game-- Reyna and Stammler. What will they look like when everyone's healthy? Hard to say: the teams currently in the middle of the pack-- #7-#11-- are tough teams to read.

8. Colorado (Last week: #8, lost to Houston away)

A loss to Houston away, on a disputed penalty kick, is not the worst thing that could happen, so the Rapids stay at #8. Gomez to Cummings is a great combo that I hope will produce a few more goals this season.

9. DC United (Last week: #7, lost to #1 Chicago at home)

When United turned it on late in the game against Chicago, they looked like a juggernaut. They only problem was that they were already down 2-0. Another poor performance from United that led GM and noted political essayist Thomas Paine to call out players for taking plays off. But I'll hesitate to punish them more for Thursday's performance: they may not play with heart, but I'd expect them to still beat lower ranked teams on pure talent. Definitely the year's most disappointing team so far.


10. Kansas City (Last week: #11, Did Not Play)

They move up based on Chivas' loss against the Revs.




11. Chivas USA (Last week: #9, lost to #4 Revolution at home)

Sure, they had a couple of key losses: Claudio Suarez to suspension and Bornstein to a long injury. But this team has NO depth. Look at their bench for this game:
1 - Dan Kennedy (GK)
17 - Justin Braun 59
22 - Keith Savage
24 - Atiba Harris 71
31 - Daniel Paladini 68
32 - Anthony Hamilton
34 - Gerson Mayen
With the exception of Atiba Harris, who is established (even if he's a red card waiting to happen every match), these are untested players. And Chivas was starting Eric Ebert and Bobby Burling. They've got some nice pieces, but it doesn't add up to a team right now.

12. Los Angeles Galaxy (Last week: #12, lost to #10 NY at home)

The Gals shouldn't be dropping home points to New York, but it's just a fact of life with this defense. If Becks and Donovan are covered and not contributing, the Gals have precious little other resources. I'm sure that the Big Two will continue to win games and the Gals may move up a little in the rankings, but what's really the best case scenario?


13. San Jose (Last week: #13, lost to #2 Columbus at home)

The Quakes scored. The right guys-- O'Brien, Corrales and Grabavoy-- are contributing. But they didn't get the win at home against a quality opponent, whereas...



14. Real Salt Lake (Last week: #14, beat #3 Dallas at home)

Real Salt Lake did. They played ugly and got some points. Players are talking about it being a turning point. Javier Morales added a goal to his four assists. They're unbeaten at home. And yes, they're a point out of first in the to-date dreadful Western Conference.

But really, who would you expect RSL to beat consistently? They'll have a chance to move out of the opinion basement with a result in Colorado this coming Thursday.


Next week
(Predictions last week: 2-4...)
Rapids-RSL-- Rapids win
Toronto-Cbus-- Toronto win
NYRB-KC-- Red Bulls win
Revs-SJ-- Revs win
Fire-Houston-- Fire win (but if I had to pick an upset...)
Chivas-DCU-- Chivas win
FCD-LAG-- Dallas win