We've got nearly a third of the season in the books, so we're probably beyond trends by this point. By now, teams are what they are, and that means some of them need to scramble – desperately, for a few – to change things up before it's too late.
Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and all comments are written by Matthew Doyle. All game times are Eastern.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 1</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dallas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Got four points from two games in four days with essentially one half from David Ferreira. Also did their work without George John and Andrew Jacobson, and missed Jackson for a bit as well. Finding a way to get results in those circumstances means it's official: Dallas are really good.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-DAL-v-POR/recap" target="_blank">Tied vs. Portland, 1-1</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-DAL-v-DC/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-D-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Seattle (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imapact-logo-3.png" style="width: 75px; height: 87px;"> |
<p>Montreal are now, finally, at the end of a brutal, busy stretch. They've played six games since April 24 across all competitions, but still managed to find enough gas in the tank to fly past Real Salt Lake in the final 10 minutes this past weekend. It's been a phenomenal stretch for the Impact.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-NY-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Lost at New York, 2-1</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-MTL-v-RSL/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 3-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-D-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Bye</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="width: 75px; height: 83px;"> |
<p>Fell asleep for a split second midweek vs. the Sounders, but bounced back in an incredibly important way at Houston on Sunday. SKC still aren't as consistent as we'd like to see, but with Kei Kamara back, and depth in defense (finally), it's a good bet the summer's going to be very good to them.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-SKC-v-SEA/recap">Lost to Seattle, 1-0; </a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-12-HOU-v-SKC/recap" target="_blank">Won at Houston,1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-W-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Sunday at D.C. United (5 pm, UDN-Univision Deportes)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 5</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 74px;"> |
<p>Slow, steady climb toward the top. The Timbers have dealt with serious injury issues in central defense, figured out a midfield rotation after some early-season questions, and hooked Donovan Ricketts up to the rejuvenation machine after his disastrous 2012.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-DAL-v-POR/recap" target="_blank">Tied at FC Dallas, 1-1;</a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-12-POR-v-CHV/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Chivas USA, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-D-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Vancouver (7 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 7</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The Red Bulls are actually just fourth on points-per-game in the East, and there are questions as to whether this is a good team on a roll, or if they're just having their typical mid-spring run of good results. We're starting to inch closer to the former.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-NY-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Montreal, 2-1;</a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-NE-v-NY/recap" target="_blank">Tied at New England, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-W-W-D</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Sunday vs. LA (1 pm, ESPN2)</li></ul> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Smashed D.C. midweek – as any good, healthy team should – then finally saw their 36-game unbeaten run come to an end against Sporting. What's it mean? Simple: The Dynamo are still a few pieces short (Omar Cummings, please get well!) of the team we thought they'd be. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-DC-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Won at D.C. United, 4-0</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-12-HOU-v-SKC/recap" target="_blank">Lost vs. Sporting Kansas City, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five</strong>: D-D-W-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Saturday vs. New England (8: 30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/losangeles_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Lack of "nastiness" was the reasoning kicked around the locker room after that somewhat disinterested-looking 3-1 loss in Vancouver. And hey... has anyone heard anything about a third DP? Hello? Is this thing on?</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-VAN-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Vancouver, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Wednesday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)<br>
Saturday at New York (1 pm, ESPN2)</li></ul> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 85px; height: 85px;"> |
<p>The scary thing about Seattle is that when Mauro Rosales plays like he has been recently, they look like they can build quality chances against anyone. The scary thing for Seattle is Rosales' injury history. For all the quality in their roster, they still live and die largely at the mercy of Mauro's fitness.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-SKC-v-SEA/recap" target="_blank">Won at Sporting Kansas City, 1-0; </a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-SEA-v-SJ/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. San Jose, 4-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-D-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday vs. FC Dallas (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/realsaltlake.png" style="width: 65px; height: 88px;"> |
<p>Those were some brutal points to drop in Montreal, especially since they'd done so well creating quality chances – real, honest-to-goodness quality chances – with their young, makeshift attack. The Power Rankings Politburo loves us some Devon Sandoval, but RSL aren't elite until Álvaro Saborío gets healthy.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-NE-v-RSL/recap" target="_blank">Won at New England, 2-1</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-MTL-v-RSL/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Montreal</a>, 3-2</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-W-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at Chivas USA (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul><ul></ul> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 90px; height: 90px;"> |
<p>Even without the injuries, few would have projected Colorado to be solidly in the Western Conference playoff picture. But that's exactly where they are, and we think it's where they'll stay. Put Oscar Pareja solidly into the early "Coach of the Year" balloting.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-CLB-v-COL/recap" target="_blank">Won at Columbus, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-D-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at San Jose (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 11</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>If you have a striker like Jack McInerney – someone who's locked in a little harder, a little more focused and a little more committed to getting the details right than the guys he's up against – you get wins like that one in Chicago. Few teams have that luxury.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-CHI-v-PHI/recap" target="_blank">Won at Chicago, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> D-W-L-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. LA (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>),<br>
Saturday vs. San Jose (4 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>12</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sanjose_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>If anything, this week reinforced just how important Marvin Chávez is to the Quakes – they average a full goal per game more with him in the lineup than without. They need to keep him healthy and on the field, or their season will end before the playoffs begin.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-SJ-v-TOR/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Toronto, 2-1</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-SEA-v-SJ/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Seattle, 4-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-D-D-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Colorado (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>13</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 9</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/columbus_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The Crew swear they keep outplaying teams, but there's only so many times you can say that while coming away with less than the full three points. It's not crisis-time – the middle of the Eastern Conference is too muddled – but a tactical reevaluation may be necessary.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-CLB-v-COL/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Colorado, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (5 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>14</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 15</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/vancouver_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 110px;"> |
<p>If they don't get that win against the Galaxy, it's fairly easy to imagine Vancouver's season going down in flames. As it stands, they've now positioned themselves fairly well, confidence-wise, heading into the Canadian Championship. A victory there could be a true turning point for the 2013 season.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-VAN-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. LA, 3-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-D-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Portland (7 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 16</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The Revs have only one multi-goal loss this season, so they're not road kill. They don't "feel" like a terrible team. But they generate so few chances – by far the fewest in the league – that they leave themselves very little margin for error. And as a result, they're near the bottom of the table. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-NE-v-RSL/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Real Salt Lake, 2-1</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-NE-v-NY/recap" target="_blank">Tied vs. New York, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-D-L-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Houston (8:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 14</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Dear MLS Fantasy players: Buy wide midfielders this week. Over the last three games, opposing wide attackers have combined for five goals and eight assists (including secondary assists) against a 3-5-2 that could charitably be called "gappy."</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-12-POR-v-CHV/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Portland, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-D-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Real Salt Lake (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 17</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>If you can't score, you're not going to win too many games. And the Fire were shut out for the fifth time this season against Philly on Saturday. Another midseason rebuild seems like it's got to come.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-CHI-v-PHI/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Philadelphia, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 18</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
Few things this season have seemed as inevitable as that late decider they conceded in San Jose. Ryan Nelsen, like every TFC coach before him, has a lot of work to do.<br><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-SJ-v-TOR/recap" target="_blank">Lost at San Jose, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-D-L-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Columbus (5 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live)</a></li></ul> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dc_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>D.C. are paying the price for a series of poor foreign signings. It's nearly to the point where they should be pining for the days of Branko Boskovic and Hamdi Salihi. Add in a dose of injuries and abysmal goalkeeping – somewhat remedied by Joe Willis in Dallas, at least – and you have a last-place club that doesn't look like they'll climb out of the cellar any time soon.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-08-DC-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Houston, 4-0</a>; <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-11-DAL-v-DC/recap">Lost at FC Dallas, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-L-L-L</li><li><strong>Next Game</strong><strong>:</strong> Sunday vs. Sporting Kansas City (5 pm, UDN-Univision Deportes<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">)</a></li></ul> |
