Week 8 MLS Power Rankings

Chicago are the biggest losers this week after two terribly unimpressive performances. Kansas City and Chivas are the biggest gainers and a clear distinction between the top teams in the league and everyone else is starting to take shape. Here's how the rankings break down this week:

1. Red Bull New York (LW: 2 / 5-1-2)

This needs no mentioning since it should be glaringly obvious to any MLS fan but Juan Pablo Angel is the real deal. I’ve watched the replay of his 2^nd goal a dozen times and it impresses me every time. A brilliantly placed ball is crossed into him in the box and JPA acts as if he’s going to shoot, only he fakes at the last minute (And sends Chris Armas flying) and puts it in the net with a world class finish. It sounds simple but the beauty lies in its subtle complexity. This is a very solid team, one only wishes more fans could show up to the stadium to see them.

2. Kansas City Wizards (LW: 4 / 5-2-1)

Eddie Johnson’s return to form couldn’t have come at a better time. As for the Wizards in general, they left a helluva of a statement upon finishing their work at Gillette Stadium. Coming back from a 2-0 deficit to take the 4-3 victory is certainly impressive, but the way the KC forwards just obliterated New England’s defenders (Which have been pretty consistent all year) has to shock some fans at the very least. Kansas City was scary earlier in the year when they were beating down on the league’s worst. Now they’re plain nasty. (In a very, very good way)

3. New England Revolution (LW: 2 / 5-2-2)

I still feel they’re one of the elite teams in the league but you simply can’t allow an opponent to come back from 2 down at home, let alone let them put up 4 goals on you. Heaps was abused and manhandled by Eddie all night, but really the entire New England backline was suspect. Luckily they get to play Salt Lake next week. I’m predicting at least 2 goals….from Twellman alone.

4. Colorado Rapids (LW: 5 / 4-2-3)

It’s hard to get a read on this team and they’re frustratingly inconsistent but at least they finally picked up a second home win. Inconsistency aside, this team still has 15 points accumulated and is sitting pretty at 5^th in the standings. Only time will tell whether this team is good enough for the long haul.

5. DC United (LW: 6 / 3-3-1)

Well that didn’t take long. Reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated, as anyone who watched their game against Houston can attest to. I forgot how good Christian Gomez is but a vintage performance from him this past Saturday erased any doubts. DCU are finally starting to gel and even, *gasp*, playing solid defense! NY, NE, and KC may have new company in the next few weeks. (Which begs the question: How incredibly stacked is the East this year?)

6. FC Dallas (LW: 3 / 5-4-1)

Can someone remind this team how much talent their roster has? I’ll admit Chivas USA are a scrappy bunch but to get shutout by the Goats? After last week I thought Dallas was ready to compete consistently in the top of the league but I can see now how terribly incorrect I was. This teams needs a shakeup immediately.

7. Chivas USA (LW: 11 / 3-3-2)

Disclaimer: I’m half-Cuban.

So I may be a bit biased about Maykel Galindo but regardless, no one can deny his importance on the field and the great season he’s had thus far. Chivas are one of the most adventurous squads in the league and its cost them a couple of points early on but if they can become more efficient and effective in their attack I can easily see Chivas contesting for a playoff spot. I can see it now, Chivas and the Galaxy duking it out for the last spot in the playoffs.

8. Houston Dynamo (LW: 7 / 2-5-1)

They still find themselves in an offensive rut and now their situation is becoming increasingly serious with each week. We’re ¼ through the season and Houston, with 5 losses already, has a lot of ground to make up against the rest of the playoff contenders. They have too much talent to continue struggling like this (I mean c’mon, they won the MLS Cup last year) but one has to wonder if a DP is needed to ensure better football?

9. Toronto FC (LW: 10 / 2-5-1)

The Canucks finally showed their grit away from home and you have to think that Toronto views this tie as a victory. The degree of confidence within this team is rising every week; they’re no longer the whipping boys of MLS folks.

10. Los Angeles Galaxy (LW: 9 / 1-3-2)

If you’re Landon Donovan right now, you should be sitting in a pool of your own nervous sweat. With the prospect of Beckham missing some league games after his debut to play with the English National team and Donovan already missing plenty of game action to attend this summer’s tournaments, you have to wonder how large of a tailspin will this franchise find itself in.

11. Columbus Crew (LW: 12 / 1-2-5)

We now know Andy Herron is fully awake. Although it was a solid performance by the Crew, they really need to find a way to convert some of these ties into wins. They lead the league with most ties and if just one of two those ties had been victories, the Crew would in a very unfamiliar position: top half of the table.

12. Chicago Fire (LW: 8 / 3-4-1)I got some flack for suggesting the firing of Dave Sarachan a couple of weeks back but the Fire have only gotten worse since then. Now riding a 4-game losing streak, something HAS to give to improve this situation. Do you think Blanco is going to care about his level of play if the Fire find themselves near the bottom of the league? Scary times for Chicago fans…..

13. Real Salt Lake (LW: 13 / 0-4-4)

Sigh….moving on.

What to Watch For: MLS Week 7 Preview

Here are the five burning questions that will be answered this week in MLS Action:

1. Can Toronto Maintain Home Supremacy?
After an impressive performance by TFC (Backed by a doubly impressive and energetic home crowd), the onus is on the Canucks to build on this newly gained momentum. They have the good fortune of hosting two games this week, although their opponents, Houston and D.C. United respectively, will be on the offensive and will test an admittedly weak defensive backline. With Dichio out for one game and De Rosario back in Canada, I see Houston snatching the three points. Toronto recovers later in the week to tie D.C. United.

2. Will the Real L.A. Galaxy Please Stand Up, Please Stand Up?
Landon Donovan is THE best player in MLS. Easily. And unfortunately, all the burden will be on him this week to perform in the second "superclasico" of the season against Chivas USA. The Galaxy have been plagued by inconsistency all season but if they can build on the success from the Open Cup victory against New York, this team has the potential of doing serious damage in a fairly competitive West division. I think the Gals get it done and paste three on the Goats, 3-1 for the final.

3. Can the Red Bulls Right the Ship?
If the Red Bulls defense was a ship, they'd be entering Titanic mode right about now. They've let in seven goals in their past three games, a tally that is simply unacceptable for a team hoping to contend for a championship. They face a scrappy Columbus team that won't threaten for many goals but will force the Red Bulls to attack with everything they got - which may potentially leave them open in the back. Look for Arena to make some lineup changes (Regan, you're back on the bench where you belong) and Juan Pablo Angel to open up his regular season scoring account. Red Bulls win it 2-1.

4. Will Twellman Be Stopped?
Playing like a man on a mission (And perhaps fighting desperately for a spot in CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer), Twellman leads the league in goals and has led his team to first place in all of MLS. However, they're playing a Dynamo team that's finally starting to gel, so I don't see the Revs getting much away from home. They'll lose this game 2-1, but don't be surprised if Twellman still manages to get on the scoresheet.

5. And Finally, Will Real Salt Lake Win a Game?
Unfortunately Utah fans, I don't see it happening this week either. Dallas is being led by a youth movement right now, as Toja, Ramon Nunez, and Richetti are all playing phenomenal football right (Carlos Ruiz, who?) And if Kenny Cooper has truly found his scoring touch, this may be a slaughter. 3-1 Dallas.

Other scores:

Away - Home
FC Dallas 1 - 1 Chicago Fire
Kansas City Wizards 2 - 1 Colorado Rapids

Players of the Week:
Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario, Ramon Nunez

Breaking News: Abel Xavier to LA Galaxy

Since Beckham signed with the Galaxy, there's been no shortage of trade rumors the entire season. Everyone from Zidane to MLS domestics like Carlos Ruiz have been linked up with the squad but nothing has yet to transpire. Until today folks.

The Galaxy have announced the acquisition of a new defensive enforcer for the June 15 transfer window in Abel Xavier. The 34 year old former Portuguese International comes on a free transfer from Middlesbrough, having previously played for Everton, Liverpool, Roma, and even Hannover 96 with Clint Mathis for a short period of time.

It's an extremely curious pickup for the Galaxy, although after last week's performance it's probably a good call. Although Xavier primarily plays on the right wing, he has learned to play central defense this past year with Middlesbrough and the Galaxy are starving for depth in that position. Even though he won't make it to the states until mid-June at the earliest, the possibility of Albright being called in for US National duty makes this move a little more understandable.

The one mark on Xavier over his career has been his penchant for controversy. He was suspended several months by FIFA after Euro 2000 for going after a referee and failed a drug test in 2005. As you can see by the picture, the man is an interesting figure to say the least, but perhaps his charismatic (or notorious?) nature will attract some new fans to MLS.

I can see Xavier being the Dennis Rodman of the league, a player fans love to hate. Because his play has dropped off over the years and at his age, I hope the Galaxy aren't paying him more than $150-200,000, but salary figures have yet to be released.

There just never seems to be any shortage of excitement with the Galaxy.

Week 6 MLS Power Rankings

1. New England Revolution (LW: 2 / 4-2-1)
Firing on all cylinders, it’s easy to see that the Revs are not going to settle for anything less than an MLS Cup victory this year. It’s nice to see Twellman performing at such a high level, especially after his new contract signing. His contract seems very justified at the moment; perhaps management can start justifying new contracts for some of their other players as well....

2. Red Bull New York (LW: 1 / 3-2-1)
I would drop them down even further after their abysmal performances in the past couple of weeks but no one besides the Revs stepped up to the challenge. Reyna haters have to admit that the Bulls look like a completely different team without his steady presence in the midfield. Their player acquisitions have focused on revamping the offense but the defense should be the biggest concern for the New York side at the moment. And let’s not get started on the attendance woes either.

3. Houston Dynamo (LW: 6 / 2-1-2)
Although primarily moving up because everyone in front of them lost, I still believe the Dynamo deserve this high ranking. De Rosario should be getting paid DP money soon as he is easily a top-five forward in this league and I think Houston is finally ready to put behind the wear and tear of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and is ready to move up the standings.

4. Los Angeles Galaxy (LW: 5 / 1-1-2)
I know, I know, this may seem questionable since they lost this past week, but if I had to bet in a game between the Galaxy and either the Wizards, Rapids, or Fire, I’d have to go with the Hollywood boys. They played an extremely tight game against the Revs and were unlucky not to get any points from it.

5. Kansas City Wizards (LW: 3 / 4-0-2)
Poised to stay in pole position, they got tripped up this week by Dallas but are still in contention for the top spot in the east. To be fair, they doubled Dallas’ shot output and probably should’ve gotten the win. On a positive note, Harrington is looking like the early favorite for Rookie of the Year.

6. Colorado Rapids (LW: 7 / 3-2-2)
Can this team make up its mind on how good they want to be? In the same week they can only get a draw against arguably the worst team in the league and then travel cross-country on three days rest to beat one of the best teams in the league away from home….are you kidding me? I think the Rapids have the potential to be a really good team but they need to start playing well on a consistent basis to pose any real threat in the standings.

7. Chicago Fire (LW: 4 / 3-1-2)
A shock result against Toronto leaves this team reeling shortly after getting stumped by the same margin against New England just a week ago. That defense is looking absolutely porous right now and some adjustments need to be made immediately or things could get out of hand in a hurry.

8. FC Dallas (LW: 8 / 3-1-2)
Who needs Ruiz? With “El Pescadito” on the bench, the Hoops looked just fine in dismantling a solid Kansas City team. Led by Cooper and the surprising play of Juan Toja, perhaps Dallas has finally turned the corner and found the scoring touch I said was lacking earlier in the year. If I was the GM of FC Dallas, I would be seriously entertaining any trade options for Ruiz this instant. I think they’re better off without his antics.

9. D.C. United (LW: 9 / 1-1-3)
The week off earlier this season helped United get back on track so hopefully for D.C. faithful this additional bye week will continue the recent return to form. That match in Toronto though just got a lot more difficult.

10. Columbus Crew (LW: 10 / 1-4-1)
They may just break the record for most MLS ties this year. It was a pretty even match against Chivas however, and Schelotto finally got some action with his first assist of the year on Grabavoy’s second goal of the year. This Crew team may not be as talented as some other MLS sides but they’ll be a tough team to beat each and every week. I smell a potential upset against New York this week.

11. Chivas USA (LW: 11 / 2-1-3)
Can’t really complain with getting a point on the road, but they’ll need to start picking up full points soon to keep up with the suddenly competitive west. Razov is looking sharp and on form, which can only spell good things for Chivas as the season progresses. They have a great chance for Revenge in the second Superclasico against LA this week so let’s see how Chivas recovers from their first encounter.

12. Toronto FC (LW: 13 / 1-0-4)
Bravo Toronto, Bravo. BMO Field is going to have an electric atmosphere the entire year and Toronto really raised the ante (and its level of play) to respond to the enthusiasm espoused by its fans. Ronnie O’Brien and Danny Dichio made an ENORMOUS difference for the squad, as O’Brien backed up his several all-MLS selections with an absolutely sensational performance. A great start for the franchise and a big matchup against D.C. awaits the boisterous Canadian crowd.

13. Real Salt Lake (LW: 12 / 0-4-2)
At least Toronto had an excuse for being winless. Admittedly, they looked increasingly better against Colorado this past week but being the sole MLS team without a win is still depressing for a squad that doesn’t have much to look forward to. Coach Kreis needs to remove Ballouchy from the center and finally let Adu start running the show.

Week 5 MLS Power Rankings

1. Red Bull New York (LW: 1 / 3-2-0)
Although the Bulls still managed to hold on to first this week, their seemingly tight grip on the position has been significantly loosened by their performances over the past week. After having the game against Real Salt Lake in the bag, the defense (and some controversial officiating) allowed two goals in the closing minutes to allow Salt Lake to snatch the draw. They also suffered a mid-week defeat and elimination from the U.S. Open Cup against the Galaxy, as backup goalkeeper Cronin had an impressive 14 saves. The defense has been lackluster lately and is something that needs to be corrected immediately for the Red Bulls to have any hope of winning a title this year. At least Juan Pablo Angel finally arrived (And opened up his scoring account in the US with a goal against the Galaxy).

2. New England Revolution (LW: 3 / 3-2-1)
The St. Louis tandem of Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston is working wonders right now, as the Revs move up to 2nd place in the rankings for the first time all year. They managed to set aside their frustrations from a controversial tie against D.C. United by defeating the Fire 3-1 in an important statement game. They’ve somehow found a way to ignore all the potential distractions this off-season and are simply focusing on playing good football.

3. Kansas City Wizards (LW: 4 / 4-0-1)
There are still some lingering questions as to whether this team is the real deal, but they managed to defeat a good opponent in the Columbus Crew and are currently atop the MLS standings with the most points in the league. Attendance concerns aside, the Wizards are looking sharp and if Eddie Johnson can continue his impressive play, the East will have plenty of formidable squads competing to take back the trophy from the west this season.

4. Chicago Fire (LW: 2 / 3-1-1)
They lost their key match-up against the Revs earlier this week but they’re still a top contender in the East – as long as Rolfe and Barrett provide the scoring, the Fire shouldn’t be too hurt from their defensive lapses. Mapp needs to assert himself a bit more however; he should be dominating the league on a weekly basis. Injuries have hampered him but he needs to be the leader of this team and needs to be unquestionably one of the top players in the league for the Fire to have any chance at grabbing some hardware.

5. Los Angeles Galaxy (LW: 6 / 1-1-1)
Replete with two impressive goalkeepers and a player in Landon Donovan that refuses to let the Galaxy limp out to a poor early season start, the Galaxy will continue to look impressive and won’t be in bad shape by the time Beckham comes. Many were questioning whether the Galaxy could even make the playoffs this years; however, I believe the question should be whether or not anyone in the West will contend with them this year. Perhaps I’m overrating them a bit, but yes, I do think they’re that good.

6. Houston Dynamo (LW: 9 / 2-1-2)
If you’re looking for an answer to my previous question, the Dynamo may just be it. Did anyone see DeRosario last week? Someone must have lit a fire under his ass, because I haven’t seen him play like that all year. The Dynamo finally woke up and realized the 2007 MLS Season was underway because they certainly looked like the defending champions against the Rapids last week.

7. Colorado Rapids (LW: 5 / 2-1-2)
Nice way to come up short Colorado. A win at home over Houston could have moved the Rapids into the upper echelon of the league, but after squandering their one-goal lead, they’ve fallen backwards into the middle of the pack. Besides Roberto Brown, who else is going to step up on this team and provide an offensive spark? Beckerman has failed to live up to much of his preseason hype and Gomez has seemed to disappear at times in the past couple of games. Someone needs to supplement Brown in the attack or this team will have trouble staying in the middle of the league table.

8. FC Dallas (LW: 7 / 2-1-3)
They have a big game against Kansas City this week to see whether or not they can correct their scoring ailment. If they can have an impressive performance on the road against the Wizards then they can perhaps be on their way to matching the potential that their roster (on paper) shows.

9. D.C. United (LW: 11 / 1-1-3)
They finally managed to pick up some points: getting a tie against the Revolution and picking up their first win of the season against Chivas. Soehn’s curious lineup changes seemed to work during the past week but I believe he needs to find a solid starting lineup and stick to it if United want continued success. Playing four in the back was an obvious change and the United faithful have to be glad it was finally done. The offense is finally starting to click as Moreno and Gomez got on the scoreboard, let’s see if Fred can follow up that success.

10. Columbus Crew (LW: 8 / 1-3-1)
Their lack of scoring continues to haunt them. With Scheletto now on the field, perhaps it could all change in their next home game against Chivas, but the front office should still be worried about their poor goal count. McBride as a mid-summer transfer perhaps…..?

11. Chivas USA (LW: 10 / 2-0-3)
The controversy with Guevara obviously weighed them down as they came out flat against D.C. Preki needs to right the ship quickly, as Chivas needs to stay in contention not only in the west, but for a possible wild card spot as well.

12. Real Salt Lake (LW: 12 / 0-3-2)
I was ready to spew some more vitriol at Real Salt Lake after they went down 2 goals to New York but they somehow managed to mount a comeback and that deserves a little bit of praise. Good job by Adu to show some flashes of skill (And finally make it seem that he actually belongs on the field) but more effort is needed if they want to avoid being the last team in MLS to win a game.

13. Toronto FC (LW: 13 / 0-0-4)
Maybe all they needed was a little bit of downtime. You have to hope Mo Johnston did something over their break to correct all the problems this team has, but they’re hosting a D.C. United team that’s just starting to find its groove. Not a very enviable positon to be in if you’re a Toronto fan.

Analysis: 2007 MLS Player Salaries

Salaries for all 13 MLS teams were released, offering the public its first view of exactly how much DPs like Beckham, Juan Pablo Angel, and Claudio Reyna would be earning in their first years. Here are the teams, ranked by highest base payrolls:

01 Los Angeles Galaxy	$8,056,189	$9,179,949
02 Red Bull New York	$4,334,616	$4,896,657
03 Chicago Fire	$4,185,826	$4,464,613
04 Kansas City Wizards	$2,429,925	$2,625,550
05 Colorado Rapids	$2,322,114	$2,431,764
06 Houston Dynamo	$2,215,849	$2,292,049
07 Real Salt Lake	$2,173,437	$2,607,531
08 Toronto FC	$2,130,520	$2,453,708
09 D.C. United	$2,003,278	$2,163,103
10 New England Revolution	$1,992,948	$2,087,948
11 FC Dallas	$1,992,804	$2,285,629
12 Columbus Crew	$1,807,199	$2,044,249
13 Chivas USA	$1,750,375	$1,885,875

And based on MLS Standings as of 05/05/07, here’s how well (or how poor) teams are doing in relation to their team salaries:

1. Kansas City Wizards (+3 Spots)
2. Red Bull New York (Equal)
3. Chicago Fire (Equal)
4. New England Revolution (+6)
5. Colorado Rapids (Equal)
6. FC Dallas (+5)
7. Chivas USA (+6)
8. Columbus Crew (+4)
9. Los Angeles Galaxy (-8)
10. Houston Dynamo (-4)
11. Real Salt Lake (-4)
12. D.C. United (-3)
13. Toronto FC (-5)

It’s a bit unfair for the Galaxy as the majority of their salary is attached to a player who has yet to make an appearance on the field for them yet, but for the most part, it seems MLS teams are getting exactly what they put in. New York, Chicago, and Colorado are all performing as expected given their salaries and a number of teams are showing the positive aspects of frugality. In my opinion, the two teams most mismanaged have to be Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC. Some of their players are grossly overpaid and (Specifically in Toronto’s case), lack a solid core of star players to achieve any success this season. Naturally, I have to include my list of Overpaid players:

Top 5 Overpaid Players in MLS:

5. Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles Galaxy - $112,500)
Has yet to score a goal this season and has easily been one of the worst players for the Galaxy. Lacks any semblance of confidence in his game and although he has a strong body frame to work with, simply fails to win headers and dominate play in the box.

4. Facundo Erpen (D.C. United - $115,000)
Makes mind-boggling mistakes on defense and single-handedly costs United crucial goals. Although the entire backline has been particularly porous this year, Erpen has led the charge throughout his MLS career as a perennial liability. It’s terrible to see productive players like his teammate Bobby Boswell make nearly four times less in salary than Erpen.

3. Andy Welsh (Toronto FC -$195,000)
Brought in from England to help solidify Toronto’s midfield, he’s been completely lackluster and it’s been difficult to even spot him on the field during most games. Fortunately enough, most of his teammates are overpaid AND playing just as poorly, so his own difficulties aren’t as magnified.

2. Shaka Hislop (FC Dallas - $220,800)
So what if he played in the World Cup and has over 50 shutouts in the English Premier League. At 38 years of age, the man simply can’t get it done anymore and his poor play at net have cost Dallas some critical points to start off the year. And he’s not even their starter! To pay a backup goalie in MLS over $200,000, you seriously need to be smoking something fierce. Unfortunately, Dallas’ play has been anything but fierce.

1. Carl Robinson (Toronto FC - $315,000)
I feel like Toronto is constantly bashed in this blog, and I don’t purposely mean to, but it’s difficult not to criticize just how bad this team has become. I know they’re only an expansion squad, but they have seriously overrated the majority of their players. But it should really come as no surprise that Robinson is playing poorly. He struggled just to crack the starting lineup at the bottom of the English Championship level, so of course he’s going to struggle in MLS. And at $315,000, his performance is simply criminal.

Chivas USA Show Guevara Red Card and Pink Slip, Trade Him to Toronto FC

So with the institution of the Designated Player rule, the LA Galaxy were able to obtain David Beckham, global icon and essentially marketing gold, and their city rivals got…..Paulo Nagamura and a draft pick?

After just four games, Chivas has decided to cut the strings on talented, but temperamental all-star Amado Guevara, trading him to Toronto FC for the aforementioned Nagamura and draft pick. Guevara’s short time with Chivas certainly wasn’t awe-inspiring; his stats for the season – 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 red card. Obviously, Chivas realized after Guevara’s game against the Galaxy (Where not only did Donovan completely outshine him in the midfield, but he was pulled in the 56th minute and proceeded to knock down an assistant referee to garner the red card) that he wasn’t worth the trouble, no matter how talented Guevara could ‘potentially’ be.

It’s an unfortunate situation for the Chivas organization, as they’ve basically reduced the value of their DP slot to utterly meaningless, having initially traded the slot away for Guevara in the first place. The mind-boggling aspect of this trade is trying to comprehend why Mo Johnston would want Guevara and why Toronto’s front office would assume that Guevara would enjoy the Canadian atmosphere. The Johnston-Guevara combination obviously didn’t work well when they were both Red Bulls so its simply absurd to believe that a couple of months apart would suddenly change things. And I’m sure Guevara is an enormous admirer of Canadian weather (Not).

I believe this is simply a hasty decision made by both parties. It’s rare to find a trade that works out negatively for all parties involved, yet somehow Chivas and Toronto have managed to do just that. And just for the record, Mo Johnston may be the worst surveyor of talent this league has ever seen. Yes, you can quote me on that and yes I will stand by that comment for the rest of the season.

Week 4 Power Rankings

Week 4 Power Rankings:

1. Red Bull New York (LW: 1 / 3-1-0)
Waterreus isn’t as flashy as some other GKs in the league, but he’s just as impressive. The Red Bulls have yet to allow a goal and Bruce Arena’s penchant for 1-0 finishes is taking form. Simply put, RBNY is unquestionably the best team in the league right now and should get even better when their Angel comes to the city. The only flaw this team has is its inability to light up the scoreboard but even that should change with Juan Pablo in town.

2. Chicago Fire (LW: 2 / 3-1-0)
The Fire are looking very impressive, largely thanks to Chris Rolfe’s terrific season thus far. With two goals and three assists to his name already, Rolfe is becoming an integral part of the Fire’s midfield attack. They already look in mid-season form and they have several players (Mapp, Barrett, Pause) who should be pushing for All-Star bids later on in the year.

3. New England Revolution (LW: 5 / 2-1-1)
They stepped it up when they had to. Twellman is on a tear and they’re showing no signs of a team dealing with controversy (Shalrie Joseph’s contract issues). This is a monstrous week for them as they play the Fire and reeling DC United. They can theoretically move to first place in the league and bury DC in one fell swoop. Now that’s something to play for.

4. Kansas City Wizards (LW: 8 / 3-0-1)
I take back everything I said last week about Eddie Johnson. I am firmly convinced that EJ will be competing for the golden boot all year long. However, until he starts scoring against top teams (And at this point, I’m not sure whether Toronto even classifies themselves as an MLS-level squad), I’ll still hold my reservations. It’s an overly strict stance, I know, but Wiz fans, take solace in the fact that your team moved up four spots and is one point off from 1st place.

5. Colorado Rapids (LW: 4 / 2-1-1)
It’s only Real Salt Lake but the Rapids still pulled off an impressive performance on the road, with Beckerman opening up his goal account and Roberto Brown coming back nicely from his suspension. I’m not sure whether or not this team is legit yet, which explains the drop in ranking, as their only matches against top teams left them with a tie and a loss. Their next game against Houston should reveal far more about this team than their game against the Utah pretenders.

6. Los Angeles Galaxy (LW: 11 / 1-1-1)
Wow, welcome to the 2007 MLS season, Mr. Donovan. As much as US soccer fans love to bash Landycakes, you simply can’t deny his ability to take over a game at this level (Or against the Mexican National team). I’ve been waiting for a type of performance like this all year, and Donovan appropriately saved it for the SuperClasico. The Galaxy can compete with any team when Donovan plays like this. The only thing that should worry LA fans is the play of Nate Jaqua. The man simply cannot score goals, and quite frankly, I’m not so sure he’s good enough for MLS. This is the 2nd week I’m calling him out. Show me something soon.

7. FC Dallas (LW: 3 / 2-1-3)
What a poor showing for the Hoops this past week, coming out flat against two of the top teams from the East. This team lives and dies by the form of their forwards, but Ruiz’s penchant for yellow cards certainly doesn’t help things either. It’s always a bad statistic when your top forward has more yellow cards than goals. Dallas needs to clean up their play soon or they’ll quickly find themselves hovering near the bottom of the table.

8. Columbus Crew (LW: 10 / 1-3-0)
If someone told you before the season began that the Crew would be one of the last unbeaten teams, would you have believed it? Well lo and behold; the Crew are sitting pretty with six points and zero losses. They’ve already pitched three shutouts this season but I’ll take the wait-and-see approach with this team for now.

9. Houston Dynamo (LW: 6 / 1-1-2)
I find this statistic particularly mind-boggling: In four games, the Dynamo have scored exactly ONE goal. ONE goal. Think about that for a second. The defending champs, a team featuring two of the best forwards in the league, are having a curiously difficult time finding the back of the net. Granted, their schedule has been one of the toughest in the league, but they still need more offensive production than what they’re currently showing.

10. Chivas USA (LW: 7 / 2-0-2)
They sure could have used Kljestan this past weekend. A slight hiccup for the Goats and while their fans are surely displeased to see yet another loss in their “rivalry” with the Galaxy, I still think Preki has them on the right path. They’re just a fun team to watch and the youth on this team will make them a fan favorite across the MLS.

11. D.C. United (LW: 9 / 0-0-3)
I just don’t know anymore. I thought everything could simply be blamed on Erpen, but he didn’t even start against the Crew, and DCU still found a way to look completely inept. The lack of motivation in this team is starting to become quite disturbing. Perhaps they’re taking the complete opposite approach from last season. Instead of blazing through the beginning and then fading towards the end, they’re taking this part of the season off and prepping for a massive unbeaten streak to end the year. Yeah, that’s it….

12. Real Salt Lake (LW: 12 / 0-2-2)
I’m just going to repeat, verbatim, most of what I said last week:
I'm going to be harsh here. This team is pathetic. Their situation is pathetic. And quite frankly, I think I've listed them too high in these rankings. I'm not even sure if Real Salt Lake, in this current iteration, will be around the league in 3-4 years. They are a prime contender for relocation and I don't blame city officials for having a lack of confidence. At least Adu decided to play somewhat decently, although for someone hyped as the future of the US national team, this string of results has to be disappointing.

13. Toronto FC (LW: 13 / 0-0-4)
Their fans are passionate and the atmosphere at BMO field was electric. It’s a shame this team hasn’t found a way to score a goal, especially since they about approximately 67 forwards on the team. Maurice Edu wasn’t impressive, although the kid still has some rust to work off. Ronnie O’Brien can’t come soon enough, eh? And has Toronto placed any phone calls to Fulham yet for Radzinski?

Fulham FC Relegation = Good for MLS?

Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, and Clint Dempsey all ply their trade at Craven Cottage for Fulham FC. All three happen to be prominent U.S. National team players. And all three may be looking for a playing home next year. Seems farfetched? Read on.

The current English Premier League season has seen epic battles at the top and bottom of the table. For London-based club Fulham, their campaign has been unexpectedly dragged into the relegation zone, and with only three games left in the season; the club faces the grave possibility of being relegated down to the Coca Cola Championships. Here’s how the standings currently look like at the bottom:

GP Pts GD
15 Sheff Utd 36 38 -19
16 Fulham 35 36 -19
17 Wigan 36 35 -22
18 West Ham 36 35 -27
19 Charlton 36 33 -24
20 Watford 36 24 -32

Fulham’s remaining games are: Arsenal (Away), Liverpool (Home), and Middlesbrough (Away). It’s a difficult run-in to say the least and complicated further by their current form, having not won in 10 games and only salvaging four points during that stretch. What does this mean, however, for the three aforementioned players? Well, if Fulham do indeed get relegated (A very real scenario at this stage), the club may be looking to offload the three Americans, which could pay dividends not only for rival EPL clubs, but for the MLS as well.

First I’ll start with Dempsey. Having just arrived a couple of months earlier, his transfer from the New England Revolution to Fulham hasn’t been quite ideal. He has struggled throughout the season to get minutes with the club and in his nine club appearances, he has yet to tally a goal or an assist. Despite his poor record at the club, I believe Dempsey is the least likely of the three to return to Major League Soccer.

Especially having just left the league, I believe Dempsey will still want to prove himself abroad and may look to either transfer into a newly promoted club next year or stay with Fulham in the Championship level (Unlikely however). His potential is probably enough to garner a look with another low-level EPL team and unless an MLS team is willing to shell up a DP for him, Dempsey probably stays on the other side of the pond.

Bocanegra had a similarly poor start to his career at Fulham but has turned into one of the most consistent performers on the team. Even as a defender, he’s second on the team in total goals with five (Which probably doesn’t say much for the rest of Fulham’s squad) and has been a valuable cog in Fulham’s backline. Although he’s made a fair share of mental mistakes, I think Bocanegra’s play has probably done enough to pique the interest of several squads in the EPL. I can see a mid-level club like Middlesbrough or Man City pick him up.

Although I think Bocanegra would be an attractive pickup for any MLS club, his price tag will probably be too high, and being a defender, I’m not sure how much marketing value he can provide to a team (Even if he’s a US Nat fan favorite). And at 27 years of age, he’s hitting his prime right now and is probably best served honing his craft in the EPL. Now believe me, that’s not a knock at all on MLS, its simply the prevailing sentiment American national players have at that age that places an emphasis on European competition.

That leaves only one American, the pride of the U.S. National team, and arguably the best forward to don the USA kit, Brian McBride. Last seen on US national television quite literally spilling his blood for the country, McBride, at 34, has only a few more seasons left in him before he needs to hang up his boots. But of course, one could easily mistake McBride for being in his mid-20s with his sensational play throughout the season. It’s no surprise that he leads the team in goals (12 in all club competitions); he’s simply found a way to maximize his talent using his physical attributes and a wise mentality that comes with age.

With Fulham facing the specter of relegation breathing down the necks, now is the perfect time for McBride to return home to MLS. In fact, I get giddy inside just thinking about the possibility. Although he’s in the last stages of his career, he’s managed to maintain himself at a remarkable level and obviously still has a lot left to offer. If he can score 9 goals in the Premiership, he can easily hit a mark of 10-15 goals for an MLS club. And McBride would provide the perfect opportunity for an MLS club to use a DP for another American all-star. He has more name recognition than Reyna, and unlike Claudio, has plied his trade in MLS before and will certainly give his all for the MLS team that calls his number. The man can be a very marketable entity and can attract fans to the stadium, provided his penchant for scoring critical goals. It just seems like a perfect fit for McBride and MLS.

McBride can still earn a high salary if given DP status and MLS gets another (albeit slightly older than ideal) prolific player capable of not only producing on the field, but having positive off-the-field effects as well. A team like Chicago (McBride was born in Illinois) or Columbus (His former club) would be instantly improved with McBride starting at forward. Imagine a lineup of Blanco and McBride up top with Mapp and Thiago supporting and providing excellent service?

I know Fulham F.C. is a popular club for US supporters but if anything positive can be taken out of their possible relegation, it’s the prospect of having a quality player like McBride roaming a quality pitch near you, perhaps even as soon as this summer. My mouth is watering already; yours should be too.

MLS Week 3 Power Rankings

1. Red Bull New York (2-1-0)
Most telling statistic: 0 goals allowed. They've already showcased their high-scoring potential, but the theme of their season will be their defensive staunchness. The only thing to worry about is whether Mathis can consistently play well and keep his head in the game. (But with Juan Pablo Angel coming, is that even be a problem.) A very scary team at the moment, look for the MLS hype machine to start pumping 17-year-old Jozy Altidore as the next great American hope.

2. Chicago Fire (2-1-0)
They'll be tough to beat at home all year, as long as attendance figures stop declining. Justin Mapp is placing himself amongst the league's elite and if Barrett can continue his scoring streak, the Fire can certainly give RBNY a battle for East supremacy throughout the season. Adding Blanco mid-season is only icing on the cake for this team.

3. FC Dallas (2-1-1)
The slight aberration against RBNY aside, Dallas is slowly becoming the league's top offensive powerhouse. Nunez just went off for two goals, and combined with the potent attack of Ruiz and Cooper, the Hoops should have no problem racking up the goals. Defensive woes, specifically at GK (I'm looking at you Hislop) need to be corrected, but once Sala comes back, Dallas should be more than set to make a title run.

4. Colorado Rapids (1-1-1)
They've had a fairly difficult schedule in spite of their two home games to start the season but the Rapids have improved tremendously over last year's squad. Herculez Gomez seems to have regained his touch and if Beckerman can start complementing his consistency with some goals, the Rapids will be in the top half of the standings throughout the year.

5. New England Revolution (1-1-1)
The Crew tie certainly hurts them a bit in these rankings, but I can see New England giving the Bulls some serious competition this season. Twellman is a legitimate top-five forward and I truly believe the Revs have one of the best mid-fields in the league (Of course, that's only if Shalrie stays in New England). Still, there's something about this team that's a bit off-putting as they don't come off to me as a top-title contender. But with their consistency, its difficult to write them off. Of course, the season's early so we'll see how things shape up but so far coach Nicol should be pleased.

6. Houston Dynamo (1-1-1)
People see this team as one of the elites, but all I see is a very over-hyped, overrated squad. They've scored exactly 1 goal in three games, and with two of the league's "premier" attackers in DeRosario and Ching, that's an absolutely pitiful scoring tally. They tied a poor Galaxy team and while they only lost by 1 to the Red Bulls, they showed no semblance of the team that took the MLS Cup last year and gave Pachuca a helluva two-game series in the CCC. Maybe they just haven't gelled yet. They better hope that's the reason.....

7. Chivas USA (2-0-1)
Yes, they are for real. Sure it was Real Salt Lake, but that 4-0 beating highlighted the stylistic, flare-oriented type of play that Preki is instilling in this team. They have an absolute beast guarding the goal and their young squad is already showing flashes of brilliance. I personally love Cuban refugee Maykel Galindo and I think he's going to be a top-10 scorer in this league. Their 'star' player Guevara needs to assert himself more, but other than that, Chivas has definitely removed any negative connotations still lingering from that awful inaugural season.

8. Kansas City Wizards (1-0-1)
Their rampage through D.C.'s defense caused shockwaves around MLS, and although they've come down a bit after their loss to the fire, the Wiz remain a potentially scary dark horse in the east. I'm still not convinced on EJ suddenly become a world-beater and I don't think KC has quite the roster to do any serious damage come playoff time but small improvements (And the acquisition of Argentine midfielder Marinelli) will certainly keep them fighting for a wild-card spot.

9. D.C. United (0-0-2)
How the mighty have fallen. Obviously, I'm not going to pull the rug under them as so many others have already, but something needs to be done IMMEDIATELY regarding that defense. I'm probably a bit biased, but I still think DCU have the best offense in the league and I'm confident they'll return to a sense of offensive normalcy. I expect them to shore up that defense soon, either through formation changes or mid-season replacements. However, DCU will be in it at the end of the season and should still be considered one of the top title contenders. But any thoughts of dominance should be squashed right this instant, no one is a home-run favorite in this league and DCU will have to improve considerably if they hope to take home any trophies. The tide of parity raises all boats?

10. Columbus Crew (0-3-0)
Well at least they finally scored. The youth of this team is holding them back presently (Mentally at least), but they'll be responsible for much of the team's successes later on in the year. It will be difficult for the Crew to reach the playoffs this year but they're going to be a competitive bunch throughout the year, even if their propensity for draws carries out through the season. Potential is the name of the game here.

11. Los Angeles Galaxy (0-1-1)
Beckham can't come soon enough. On paper, their roster looks top notch but somehow that's not translating to on-the-field success. I'm sure Donovan will come alive and tear things up as usual, but someone else needs to pick up the slack as well (Ahem, calling Nate Jaqua). Seriously though, if Jaqua doesn't score at least 10 goals this year, especially with Beckham coming to town, the kid should be banned from MLS. Or at least temporarily suspended until he learns to use his 6'3 frame to actually win some balls in the air.

12. Real Salt Lake (0-2-1)
I'm going to be harsh here. This team is pathetic. Their situation is pathetic. And quite frankly, I think I've listed them too high in these rankings. I'm not even sure if Real Salt Lake, in this current iteration, will be around the league in 3-4 years. They are a prime contender for relocation and I don't blame city officials for having a lack of confidence. BTW, has anyone told Freddy Adu that the season started a couple of weeks ago? If he's still harboring notions of playing for Manchester United, someone needs to break the news to him soon.....you're just not good enough kid.

13. Toronto FC (0-0-2)
They have great fans....And um, a pretty stadium to stare at. To be honest, this team is an exact replication of their head coach. Feisty and competitive, but just not completely competent. I can see Toronto stealing a few games here and there, but they re surely won't resemble '98-era Fire. They won't resemble 1st year Chivas either though, so that has to be a plus. Wynne will help but Buddle and Eskandarian need to find their scoring touch or this team will have a tough time scoring goals all year.