MLS: Week 33 Power Rankings – Winter is coming
MLS is 33 weeks old. The league is entering its final stages with teams scrapping for playoff berths, postseason seeds, and the Supporters’ Shield. Here are the Week 33 MLS Power Rankings.
The winter is here. We all know what that means. The games are that much more important, the points are oh so precious, and the playoff picture is beginning to take shape. For MLS, this is crunch time.
There is just a handful of games to be played with some MLS teams looking to fight their way into the playoffs, others vying for seeds in the postseason, two fighting in an ongoing Supporters’ Shield race, and still more simply trying to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
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Here are the Week 33 MLS Power Rankings.
Bottom of the Barrel
Previous: 23rd. Orlando City SC. 23. team. 327. The Lions have been broken. The 2018 season’s grind has shaken the life out of Orlando City’s faithful in a manner far more vulgar than the worst scenes in Lion King. Orlando City is setting all the wrong records and, with games against a rejuvenated Columbus Crew and the Seattle Sounders to close, the season’s end is going to be brutal.. 7-20-4
7-19-6. Previous: 21st. Colorado Rapids. 19. team. 368. The Rapids are showing as much fight as Tim Howard is showing a decline in reflexes. Grit and effort were enough to bully past Minnesota United but the Rapids’ season was lacking quality possession, not passion. Niki Jackson could be another source of goals, but head man Hudson’s constant rumours of more signings are underwhelming. The Rapids need a game changer, not another gear in the Hudson 5-3-2/3-5-2 machine.
team. 372. New England handled Orlando City as well as any midtable team should in a parity-driven league. However, even a win couldn’t keep the Revs for the ‘eliminated from playoff contention’ list for the third year in a row. Brad Friedel has some tools to work with but needs to show savvy in smoothing relations with his high-priced attacking talent. As a world-class keeper, it was expected that Friedel would be combative with goal scorers. Matt Turner is between the sticks and doing well. But Friedel needs to befriend the Revs’ best goal threats between the lines and in the locker room.. 9-12-11. Previous: 19th. New England Revolution. 18
17. team. 337. Mauro Manotas and the U.S. Open Cup win were revelations this season for a mediocre Houston team. Manotas will need help when it’s time for CONCACAF Champions League play, or the Dynamo may well be embarrassed often, as they were this week. Houston gave up eight goals in their two losses to Seattle and LAFC. The drop off in quality touches once the ball leaves Manotas or Elis’ feet is too drastic to survive a playoff chase, much less a continental competition.. 9-15-8. Previous: 13th. Houston Dynamo
Previous: 16th. Toronto FC. 16. team. 377. Toronto have nothing to play for, unless they want the spoiler role against D.C. United or Montreal. Defending champions and continental finalists are not used to being eliminated from meaningful games this soon. However, this is the best stretch of games to play the kids, rest the stars, and get everyone upbeat for a short offseason. Toronto FC will again be in the CCL, but cannot afford another season of reserve lineups in league games until summer.. 9-16-6