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MLS: Final Season Power Rankings – Postseason or Post-mortem?

By Christopher Dodson

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: The New York Red Bulls players celebrate after winning the Supporters Shield after their 1-0 win during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: The New York Red Bulls players celebrate after winning the Supporters Shield after their 1-0 win during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 28: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy sits alone on the bench after their 3-2 loss to the Houston Dynamo in their MLS match at StubHub Center on October 28, 2018 in Carson, California. The Galaxy loss leaves them out of this year’s playoffs. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 28: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy sits alone on the bench after their 3-2 loss to the Houston Dynamo in their MLS match at StubHub Center on October 28, 2018 in Carson, California. The Galaxy loss leaves them out of this year’s playoffs. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Fresh Blood in Old Wounds

10-13-11. Previous: 18th. New England Revolution. 18. team. 372. Dielna and Fagundez were bright spots this season. Both are likely moving on this winter. GM Mike Burns says he doesn’t expect as much turnover as last season. Brad Friedel was always going to get the benefit of the doubt in his first season. At the end of the second, the Revs need to show some progress and semblance of a plan besides ‘no star attitudes’ in the locker room. The Revs need more ideas going forward, as Agudelo cannot just out-athlete backlines all season with any great success. Penilla and Caicedo have contract decisions pending. Burns may not want there to be any great amount of turnover, but there needs to be just to retain and reinforce what will be left after the defections.

10-16-8. Previous: 17th. Houston Dynamo. 17. team. 337. A couple more trophies and they’ll have more championship appearances than fans appearing at weekday games. With a new-ish stadium, exciting players, and a U.S. Open Cup trophy, this season still leaves a feeling that the Dynamo need a total reboot. That is not a good sign for Wilmer Cabrera lasting through all of next season. Houston’s play in the CCL will also complicate the start of the campaign. And this team did not deal with complications well until the last game of the season, when they had nothing to play for except spoiling Zlatan’s season.

Previous: 12th. Montreal Impact. 15. team. 371. The Montreal Impact were a team of nobodies that scared no one, plus MVP candidate Ignacio Piatti. That the Impact had a chance to make the playoffs on the final day at all is a testament to his consistent individual quality, and his ability to make others around him better. Owner Joey Saputo has demanded better results next season, and transfer rumors make it seem like he is willing to spend to make the playoffs a reality. For a CCL spot, a better showing in the Canadian Championship would go a long way. Without some support, Piatti’s brilliance will always be just a tease. He has said repeatedly that he loves life in MLS, but Montreal isn’t the only MLS team willing to give him the help he deserves. The Impact’s window is closing, so this offseason needs to be filled with transfers that pay off.. 14-16-4

team. 377. Reserve lineups for league play cost this team. Alex Bono’s mistakes cost this team. His new contract, like many others, have Toronto leading the wage wars and roster budget tables. Mavinga and van der Weil missing games cost the Reds points. Bradley playing out of position did not help repair his reputation after the failed USMNT World Cup campaign. Injuries nagged at Altidore throughout the year, costing this team a whole lot of its muscle up top. And Toronto has been used to playing bully ball in MLS the past couple of seasons. Well, this year they got humbled. Toronto’s stars are all in at least two rumors, which leaves Toronto in a tough spot. They get another shot at CCL glory that barely escaped them this season, but they’ll never get another shot at a defending season that left them out of the playoffs altogether.. 10-18-6. Previous: 16th. Toronto FC. 13

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