MLS Power Rankings - Week 8

Shall I go worst to first, or first to worst? This week let's start with the bottom and work our way up.

12 - LA Galaxy (2-6-1)

Suffered their second straight home loss to a perennial MLS underachiever. At least this one wasn't the smack down they got from Real Salt Lake. I'm not sure this team could look anymore disinterested in winning. Veris is the lone bright spot right now but unfortunately it takes more than just one player, especially a defender, to win. Their scoreless drought is now at a club record 390 minutes and counting.

11 - Real Salt Lake (2-5-1)

Picked up their second win of the season and in a row by knocking off the KC Wizards 2-1. Five goals in the last two games is a heady improvement. If they string it to 3 wins in a row, or even a tie with a couple of more goals, they may very see some positive movement in the rankings.

10 - New York Red Bulls (1-1-5)

Congrats to Mo Johnston of finally finding his first win of the season and also for picking up Jean Philippe Peguero from the Colorado Rapids several weeks earlier. The Haitian international picked up the hat trick and the Red Bulls the 3 points. The good news with Red Bulls having a win under their belt is that they're probably the most consistent team in MLS. The bad news is that they’re consistently bad. RBNY now gets to try and keep this winning train rolling when they host league leading FC Dallas at the Swamp. Chances are, though, they'll run out of steam.

9 - Chivas USA (1-4-1)

On this side of reality, 4 goals should be more than enough to secure a win, especially against an historically moribund Red Bulls team. Unfortunately the planets aligned, there was a rip in the time-space continuum, or something else only Isaac Asminov could imagine happened this past weekend and the Goats were on the losing end of a 4-5 shootout. It also needs to be said that at this point in the season Chivas has played an average of 2 games less than everyone else also. So if you're wondering about their somewhat high ranking in relation to their record, then consider that. The wins will start coming.

8 - Colorado Rapids (3-3-1)

At least there are the majestic Rockies and other beautiful things to see and do in Denver because right now if you're expecting to find something similar at a Rapids game you're going to be very, very disappointed. They've managed to squeeze out 3 wins this season, two against similarly inept teams. It's nice that they're going to build a very nice and cozy stadium in the coming years, but I just can't see a time in the near future, especially with Clavijo as manager, that they are going to be something resembling a contender to go deep in the playoffs.

7 - Columbus Crew (3-3-2)

It's pretty apparent that the Crew made out better than the Galaxy in their 4-man swap two weeks ago. Ned Grabavoy gets a goal the first game and Joseph Ngwenya nabs one in the second. They managed the tie against DCU this past weekend. The loss of Frankie Hejduk and Jacob Thomas are a little less noticeable with the new additions, but their absences are still felt.

6 - New England Revolution (3-3-1)

There's no excuse for the 0-4 whipping the Revs took from FC Dallas this past weekend. Losing Clint Dempsey as an excuse will only go so far and they still have Taylor Twellman who very well could have been on the US World Cup roster. Getting Pat Noonan back playing 90 minutes will help but giving up 4 goals in 18 minutes is nothing short of unfathomable from a Steve Nicol team. I'd hate to be in the Revs training this week.

5 - Chicago Fire (2-1-4)

The traveling road show that is the Fire are nearing the end of their 9-city opening tour. With 2 games left before they get to move in to their new home, only suffering one loss is not a small accomplishment. The team's not quite clicking yet, though, instead managing to keep it together just long enough to get out of town with something to show for their efforts.

4 - Kansas City Wizards (4-3-1)

We're now at 6 straight games with only 1 goal scored a contest. It's enough that other teams are going to realize as long as they can put two into he net, that'll be enough to beat KC. With starting forwards Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff gone for national team duty, it is slightly forgivable that the Wizard's offensive production has dropped. But they've dropped their past two games so they better find some more goals from somewhere and quickly.

3 - Houston Dynamo (4-3-1)

Tough loss this weekend for the normally steady at home Dynamo. They're really starting to miss Brian Ching more and more. While Alejandro Moreno and Ronald Cerritos are quality players in their own right, they just don't bring the aerial presence and work rate that Ching was able to consistently give. Thankfully Houston was able to get Dwayne DeRosario back from a high ankle sprain so soon and with (at least that we could notice) minimal reduction in his ability to contribute as much as he has been.

2 - DC United (4-1-3)

Unlucky not to get the win at Columbus this weekend. They outshot the Crew 17-7 but were only able to put 1 into the back of the net. They visit Arrowhead Stadium to take on a declining KC Wizards team. Fortunately Freddy Adu is starting to make a surge, turning in his most complete game of the season against Columbus and Jaime Moreno seems to be more interested in the attack as well.

1 - FC Dallas (5-1-3)

When you post 4 goals on the New England Revolution in 18 minutes then hold them off to maintain the clean sheet and you sit at the top of the table in MLS, you get to be the Number 1 team in the Power Rankings. Getting Richard Mulrooney back from his ACL tear is already paying huge dividends. Kenny Cooper is a monster on the ball, Carlos Ruiz is clever as ever, Ramon Nunez is finding his scoring touch, and Ronnie O'Brien is a deft as ever with his crosses. Right now, the Hoops have the right formula for success. Not loosing anybody to for the World Cup sure doesn't hurt either.