The Top Ten teams in ProSoccerTalk’s weekly MLS quality rearrangement countdown:
(Teams ranked Nos. 11-19 are here)
10. Seattle Sounders – By the time you read this, the Sounders may have gotten some relief from the troubling seven-game MLS winless streak. They meet San Jose in the U.S. Open Cup, a tournament that has always brought the best from the Sounders. So, maybe that’s the elixir Sigi Schmid’s men need to shake the funk, which was especially apparent in the first half of Sunday’s loss at Portland. They sure need something.
9. Los Angeles Galaxy – Don’t look now, but who has a three-game winning streak, punctuated by an emphatic 3-0 win over Vancouver? Landon Donovan had a big week, and a goal by Robbie Keane could go far in re-establishing the Irish striker’s confidence. And don’t underestimate Josh Saunders and what his return in goal has meant to Bruce Arena’s side.
8. Chicago Fire – The transfer rumor heat map is all red in Chicago, where Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald has surfaced as a potential Fire signee. They need more “umph” up front, so this would surely help move Frank Klopas’ side north. Meanwhile, who knows what might become of Sebastian Grazzini?
7. Houston Dynamo – If Geoff Cameron is going to Stoke City or Everton or wherever, he’d better get it done quickly, so the Dynamo defense can get back to business. Because right now, things look pretty shaky back there. Seven goals allowed in two matches (including four at expansion Montreal) say it all.
6. Vancouver Whitecaps – Barry Robson will be available for selection by the weekend, which gives the fans something else to talk about. Because they darn sure don’t want to spend much time revisiting the Home Depot Center massacre, when defense took a holiday and the Whitecaps went down by three before intermission Saturday against the Galaxy.
5. Sporting Kansas City – Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes after his team was run out of PPL Park, on the wrong side of a 4-0 result: “We weren’t good. We just weren’t good tonight. We were sluggish. That was the biggest thing. We just weren’t ready for the game. That’s my fault, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.” So there you go.
4. New York Red Bulls – The team remains at less than full strength, but Hans Backe’s team has been magnificent this year at finding ways to achieve results. It’s not always pretty – and it certainly wasn’t in the waning moments Sunday against a relentless D.C. United – but big performances from Heath Pearce, Dax McCarty, Joel Lindpere and others are keeping New York in the thick of the Supporters Shield chase.
3. Real Salt Lake – One loss at home? You could write that off as something quirky, perhaps. But RSL fell twice last week in Utah. On their own, there’s no shame in losing to a Los Angeles team that’s found its feet, nor to a good side from San Jose. But coming four days apart? And both at home? Plus the recent, shocking Open Cup loss at Rio Tinto? Questions need to be asked now.
2. D.C. United – Chris Pontius keeps scoring, and Branko Boskovic (pictured) keeps coming off the bench to demonstrate his value. Looks like it’s time to re-introduce Boskovic to the starting lineup – and perhaps time to get the guy signed to a new deal. It’s a tough choice, but that’s what they pay front office guys to do (make the tough calls, that is.) A 3-2 loss to New York is only a small setback considering the productive spell of good results in the run-up to Sunday’s loss.
1. San Jose Earthquakes – This weekend, do yourself a favor and turn on the San Jose Earthquakes match with about 15 minutes remaining. (Or do it tonight in the Open Cup contest against Seattle, if you can find it on-line.) Because these guys keep getting it done late. Last week, Frank Yallop’s cardiac kids scooped up six points on the road in bossing Round 16. They unlocked Colorado late and then shocked Real Salt Lake with goals in the 75th and 84th minutes to take all the points out of Utah.
