MLS: Week 5 Power Rankings: Expected Value – Oh dear Atlanta United
Week 5 is in the 2019 MLS books. And with plenty of teams still believing they can make a run for the MLS Cup, here are the Power Rankings.
It’s a long season, this Major League Soccer venture. After just five weeks, some teams’ fans are already proclaiming that the torture is lasting too long. In the MLS Week 5 Power Rankings, we can all ignore that noise from Atlanta, in remembrance of 28-3 (Full Disclosure: New Orleans native).
Downturns in form happen to even the best of teams. Fixture congestion will continue to be an issue for the best teams playing in extra competitions. It is how the teams deal with schedule breaks, injury concerns, and other maladies of the long season that determine the finalist for trophies.
Vegas odds for who the MLS Cup Champion will be do not reflect the standings. And neither do these Week 5 MLS Power Rankings. Writing on my first trip to Vegas, these rankings are based on perceived value of betting for a team to win MLS Cup. Some long shots will appear higher on these rankings than they do on the standings. A couple will even make unexpected playoff appearances, if history holds.
light. Related Story. MLS: 5 things we learned from March
Here are the power rankings.
MLS Final Four Favorites
1. LAFC (4-0-1)
Los Angeles FC takes the top spot in a week that Bob Bradley’s squad left no doubt against the San Jose Earthquakes, winning 5-0. And it could have been more. Carlos Vela is putting action behind his MVP talk, netting his first MLS hat-trick in the road win. LAFC is capable of making multiple MLS coaches regret their life’s decisions within 90 minutes.
2. Seattle Sounders (3-0-1)
The Seattle Sounders have shaken the slow starts their fans were so hip to shrug off in past years. The ability to continue the substantial summer signing trend is reason to believe the Sounders will push for the double. Seattle playing nothing but home games though MLS Cup is a great possibility and is tough to bet against. If Seattle can pair this hot start with their usual post-summer point totals, the Sounders could break the total points record.
3. Sporting KC (2-1-1)
Still led by Peter Vermes, arguably the most underrated MLS coach, leading the most underrated MLS club, the only top-four team with a loss is also the last MLS alive in the CONCACAF Champions League. Besting Monterrey will be the toughest task yet for Sporting Kansas City. Even with some injury concerns, Sporting KC has the squad to make a conference final run once more.
4. D.C. United (3-0-1)
Wayne Rooney’s controversial goal stood; the points are in the bag. The technical aspects of the foul that never found a victim can be debated on the referee forums. Ben Olsen and his squad know that some luck is required, even for good teams. The 2-1 win at Orlando was not the best D.C. United can play. Besides for the goals on set pieces, D.C. had a few missed opportunities on the break. Nevertheless, they are still one of the best teams in MLS this year.