MLS: Week 7 Power Rankings – The Watchability Scores
The MLS regular season continued in Week 7 with a series of exhilarating matches. Here are the Week 7 Power Rankings.
The Major League Soccer schedule draws its fair share of critics. There are a few quirks in the scheduling system, and most will not be fixed until expansion is complete. Some teams play multiple games while others remain idle for weeks.
The MLS Multiplex Power Rankings have more flexibility to change than MLS Headquarters. Through the first six weeks, the rankings have been very flexible as the teams have been judge on drastically different scales. One week it was Vegas odds, the next was fans’ mood, and many were simply eye test while trying to avoid the weekend’s big four events.
Tiger Woods winning the Masters, NBA Playoff upsets, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars trailers were unavoidable. However, a search for MLS games would have yielded several results worthy of watching.
Reasons for watching a team vary, depending on rooting interest or betting slip. This week’s angle is ranking the teams by their watchability and success. This concept has been done before but on a strictly analytical basis. A human element — mine mostly — will be factored in. The drama of the weekend demands it.
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Here are the Week 7 MLS Power Rankings.
Late-night repeats
24. Colorado Rapids – Anthony Hudson should be the odds-on favorite for first manager fired. This Colorado Rapids team is constantly in his now infamous preseason form. Some aspects of Hudson’s plan seem to be producing results, but only in spurts. The ideas in the final third are as absent as oxygen in Aspen. The Rapids have played four games. They have given up three or more goals in four of those games. Colorado has played four home games, three away, with one home game postponed due to weather. They’ve scored 11 but conceded a league-leading 19. It is more likely opposing teams snuff out Benny Feilhaber’s creativity than it is Hudson plugs all of the leaks in defense. Tim Howard cannot end problems like he once did, nor can he react to the shot that results from him staying on his line. Colorado is in trouble.
23. New England Revolution – The best way to mix the new Star Wars trailer and those Scott Caldwell quotes in that tweet: ‘These are not the home results you are looking for.’ It’s getting ugly for the New England Revolution, and Andy Carroll will not help matters. Carles Gil and Andrew Farrell kept the game close, if not interesting. Beyond that, it seems Kraft ownership has lost interest completely, if they had any to lose in the first place.
22. Portland Timbers – Providence Park’s opening cannot come soon enough. The Portland Timbers have the talent to hang tough against the best MLS teams, but the travel demands are a huge distraction. Unconfirmed reports of new players will eventually come true, and so will the home stand. This team may not break through with a win in the next month, but as long as their spirits are not broken, their playoff chances are intact. For now.
21. Vancouver Whitecaps – The Vancouver Whitecaps had their fair share of possession. Yordi Reyna capitalized on a gifted goal. And yet there is only one point to show for their efforts. Blame it on VAR all you want Whitecaps fans, but the win should have been sealed before that controversial decision. This is a team with attacking talent, enough to not leave an easy decision in the balance so late.
20. San Jose Earthquakes – The San Jose Earthquakes midfield should be dizzy after the 2-1 loss to Houston. For every ball won in possession, two were lost. And then, from the turnovers, the Dynamo counter-attack was lethal. Jackson Yueill scored an equalizer, but San Jose never looked to be in firm control of a point. Shea Salinas could not keep up with Alberth Elis. San Jose cannot keep up with the upper-middle-class MLS teams. Matias Almeyda needs more than Tommy Thompson and a rejuvenated Chris Wondolowski to earn a string of confidence-building wins.
19. Real Salt Lake – Mike Petke send out a no-nonsense starting team, and they quickly took a 2-0 lead. Damir Kreilach and Justen Glad were back, Sam Johnson started proving the doubters (me) wrong, and Real Salt Lake held on for the 2-1 victory against Orlando City. The injury to Everton Luis could be the season for Real Salt Lake as he’s been the most irreplaceable player on the team. Jefferson Savarino did the work for Kreilach’s goal, but Luis has done the heavy lifting to keep this team together through this red card riddled rough start. This roster lacks a top-five MLS talent at any position unless Nick Rimando gets credit for the defensive organization sans Glad.
18. Chicago Fire – Rough teams, in rough weather, made for a rough watch. The Chicago Fire are not the most exciting right now. David Ousted had to pick up the two points he dropped, once Yordi Reyna started his goal celebration. Nicolas Gaitan received his first MLS start and did little but make simple passes. At least the remaining fans know he has survived training and can find pockets of space. Now, will he do much with it to support Aleksandar Katai?
17. New York City FC – Getting a result against Minnesota United in their stadium opener was always going to be a difficult task. Emotions do play a part in games, even among professionals. So New York City FC did well to snatch a draw. Ismael Tajouri-Shradi showed cold-blooded instincts to score a brace and quiet the crowd. His second salvaged a point from the game that cost goalkeeper Sean Johnson his positive footwork reputation. Johnson cannot blame the sad state of the Yankee Stadium pitch for this mishap.