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MLS: Week 6 Power Rankings – Toasting Carlos Vela; Tumbling Portland Timbers

By Christopher Dodson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Portland Timbers at the Banc of California Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Los Angeles FC won the match 4-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 10: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Portland Timbers at the Banc of California Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Los Angeles FC won the match 4-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 06: Orlando City forward Nani (17) celebrates after scoring his first goal with Orlando City during the soccer match between the Colorado Rapids and the Orlando City Lions on April 6, 2019, at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 06: Orlando City forward Nani (17) celebrates after scoring his first goal with Orlando City during the soccer match between the Colorado Rapids and the Orlando City Lions on April 6, 2019, at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando FL. (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Needing Happy Hour Specials

18. Montreal Impact

How long can the Montreal Impact ignore the lack of support for Ignacio Piatti? How long will Piatti sit in silence before demanding a transfer? Why should Piatti try to rush back from a nagging injury for another also-ran type season in Montreal? Earning a point and keeping a clean sheet on the road against New York City FC is a positive result for the week, but for the season, Montreal has been mediocre at best. Manager Remi Garde will have to try some new combinations to create scoring chances. Maxi Urritti has been tasked with leading the forward line but has seen too little of the ball to make much of a difference.

17. New England Revolution 

Brad Freidel’s New England Revolution are slowly taking on the positive characteristics of their manager. The defense is looking more cohesive, the midfield shows an element of control, especially when pressing, and Carles Gil is a star. But the attack is still attempting drawing-board ideas not yet proven on the training grounds. New England has little ingenuity in possession and lacks the individual talents to create goals consistently. Teal Bunbury and Juan Agudelo have to do more to get shots on goal. Neither registered a shot on target against Columbus.

16. Real Salt Lake 

Real Salt Lake have more red cards than wins and more penalty kick goals than goals from open play. Mike Petke sent his team out to play instead of a deep block against the Seattle Sounders. Everton Luis is emerging as the team’s MVP, but the team as a whole is still just a gatekeeper side. Kyle Beckerman is ageing rapidly with every passing game, while Brooks Lennon and Corey Baird are still making rookie mistakes. Albert Rusnak is in a slump. The team as a whole is merely average. Real Salt Lake can trouble the top sides for spells, but ultimately, they do not have enough quality to challenge for a top spot in the standings.

15. Orlando City 

Orlando City fans on the various social media sites seem split. Half are feeling like this team is starting to find their way. Others realize it took a desperate effort at home to achieve a comeback win against the Colorado Rapids. Orlando City are no strangers to crazy finishes, but they’ll only give themselves so much time playing this way. Nani has brought a newfound hope to the team, but should have been sent off before scoring the winner.

14. New York Red Bulls

The need for tarps is just one of many negative marks against the New York Red Bulls this season. The squad looks nothing like last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners and the issues go far past not replacing Tyler Adams. In the 2-1 home loss to Minnesota United, the Red Bulls looked uninterested in playing through a rough patch. Bradley Wright-Phillips has little help up top, is being double teamed at every moment, and might have finally lost a step at age 34. Kaku has been inconsistent all season and was practically invisible in the first half this week. Chris Armas and the Red Bulls are still trying to find a new way to play, and it shows. That playoff loss to Atlanta United gave every team a blueprint on how to frustrate the Red Bulls.

13. Chicago Fire 

The faithful fans of the Chicago Fire are at the precipice of going from social drinker to cynical drunk. The slapdash re-branding rollout test for immediate reactions is overshadowing the team’s on-field progress. CJ Sapong is finding goals, though that will never last long. Aleksander Katai did most of the work to win the ball that led to the first goal. Nemanja Nikolic also found the net to earn a point at Toronto. The Fire only had the ball a third of the game but were able to split the points. Like one too long at a happy hour bar, there is a dangerously good idea of a team in there somewhere. Whether it all comes together or ends with a Vejlko Paunovic-styled DUI of a season is yet to be determined.

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