(Nos. 1-10 are on deck …so check back)
19. Toronto FC – Let’s accentuate the positive, thin as it is: TFC has two weeks to prep for an Oct. 20 meeting with Montreal. It’s a chance to salvage just a little regional pride around BMO. (That’s all we got.)
18. Chivas USA – After the latest slobber-knocker, a 4-0 drilling up in Vancouver, the Goats finally found goal in a 1-1 draw at home against Dallas.
17. Colorado Rapids – Tough to say what’s going to happen around DSG Park in the offseason, but it’s safe to say that 4-1 losses at home (even to the Western Conference leaders) will not help anyone’s cause.
16. Portland Timbers – Taking a 3-0 thumping to the club’s most hated rival qualifies as “insult to injury.” I could be wrong about this one, but manager Gavin Wilkinson certainly seems to lump a lot of blame on the players – the players that he helped select in his former role.
15. New England Revolution – Bright spots in a 1-0 loss to Philadelphia included Darrius Barnes (pictured) and Juan Toja. Going the other way: Benny Feilhaber and Jerry Bengtson, who are not exactly proving they are worthy of their higher salaries.
14. Montréal Impact – Nice job to go into BBVA Compass Stadium and push Houston as they did in a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, the conversation over whether Alessandro Nesta belongs in MLS at this point is growing.
13. Philadelphia Union – Well, well, well! Look who just won two games in a week! With a game in hand, it’s possible John Hackworth’s team could pull past Montreal and finish 7th in the 10-team East. I know it’s not much, but that looks like a worthy target at this point.
12. FC Dallas – The club’s playoff hopes are on serious life-support. Two of the team’s three matches to close regular season were against down-and-out Chivas USA. Six points were an absolute must. Sunday’s draw at the Home Depot Center has the club precariously perched; one foot in the 2012 grave, the other on a banana peel, as they say. Brek Shea was bothered by minor injuries and left behind on the important trip, but did get the U.S. call on Monday. Strange.
11. Columbus Crew – A late goal against Sporting Kansas City keeps things interesting. (Nice header, Eddie Gaven!) Now it’s about getting something out of an Oct. 20 match at D.C. United, and pulling points from RFK has not been easy for anyone this year. Dilly Duka’s second-half entrance was helpful last week. Meanwhile, the wait for Federico Higuain’s next goal or assist goes on and on.