MLS: Week 5 Power Rankings: Expected Value – Oh dear Atlanta United

Going for Broke

21. New England Revolution (1-3-1)

The New England Revolution relieved some managerial-based pressure and tension thanks to Carlos Gil’s quality in the attacking third. Brad Friedel gave some non-sequitur quotes about the MLS attitude and blamed his team’s lethargy on a lack of urgency for results. Anyone thinking this is Friedel being savvy is mistaken. Friedel needed to distract from the poor early results in hopes of buying time and motivating players to change the team’s mentality. If Friedel is already resorting to media plays for sending messages, will his team even be receptive to such open criticism? Eventually, Friedel has to take responsibility for his team’s play. As the new manager, he ran off some malcontent attacking talent and demanded players fit into his system, strictly following his instructions. The players are not playing for Friedel, and the Revolution won’t be playing for any championships.

22. Orlando City SC (1-2-2) 

Orlando City might have some moments they look like a tough playoff out. It’s the games between those moments that kill seasons of presumptive upstarts. Until proven otherwise, that’s the best case scenario for Orlando City. Chris Mueller had a flash of form last season, but it did not last long. Mueller looked like a solution for James O’Connor in limited minutes against a packed D.C. United, but to what roster puzzle? O’Connor is still trying to find a consistent starting line-up, while fans wait for that elusive playoff appearance. Any team that would celebrate just qualifying for the playoffs probably has no reasonable chance of contending.

23. Portland Timbers (0-1-3)

It’s a long road home to the promised land of Providence Park for Gio Savarese and the Portland Timbers. With eight more road games until the Timbers play at home, they must start picking up road points to have any chance in the second half of the season. Portland has earned only one point from a possible twelve. Coming out of the opening dozen games with even a dozen points would have Portland situated for a run. However, the defense has regressed and the offense is too predictable. Hopes at a top seed are all but gone. The margin of error to squeak into the last couple of MLS Cup playoff spots is getting tighter with every road loss.

24. San Jose Earthquakes (0-4-0) 

The San Jose Earthquakes were dire last year. Fans had a few glimmers of hope that a couple of players could be serviceable when Matias Almeyda was hired. This is a broken squad that is a result of a broken club. The team needs investment on the field to support this new Almeyda era. Yet, the Quakes remain the only team without a game jersey sponsor, even on the special Adidas parlay edition jerseys. Even piecemeal sponsors would bring some revenue and perhaps roster investment. Despite the critics to the idea, it wouldn’t make the club look more amateur and would at least prove someone was in the office trying to do something positive with the club. Right now, it seems the whole front office (Tom Fox, Jesse Fioranelli, and Chris Leitch) has been out to lunch at the beach-long bar in Avaya far too long. Chris Wondolowski needs to concede defeat in his MLS goalscoring record chase. Bagging a sad goal would cheapen the accomplishment.

Check back next week for the Week 6 MLS Power Rankings.