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The biggest result in MLS Week 17 was the Columbus Crew shutting out the Houston Dynamo 3-0. The Crew [10-3-4] lead the Eastern Conference and are snapping at the heels of the LA Galaxy [12-2-4], who looked untouchable just a few weeks ago.
Steve Zakuani earned MLS Player of the Week for scoring a brace of goals in Seattle Sounders' 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids.
In summer friendlies, the Kansas City Wizards surprised just about everyone by beating Manchester United 2-1 even though they played a man down from the 39th minute when captain Jimmy Conrad was sent off. This coming week, all eyes are on the MLS All-Star game Wednesday night. Under the direction of coaches Bruce Arena and Dominic Kinnear, the 2010 All-Stars take on Manchester United.
1. LA Galaxy: (-) Los Angeles (12-2-4) is slipping a little and this week tied the Earthquakes 2-2, and their closest competitor Columbus Crew is only two wins behind. This week the Galaxy host the Chicago Fire who will have already announced a new designated player to replace Blanco.
2. Real Salt Lake: (-) Real Salt Lake (9-4-4) tied Chivas 1-1 with a goal by Ned Grabavoy and next week will collect three more points when they host DC United.
3. Columbus Crew: (-) The Crew (10-3-4) decidedly top the Eastern Conference after shutting out Houston Dynamo 3-0 even without Steven Lenhart. With 34 points, they're now second in the League to the Galaxy. This week the goals came from Emilio Renteria, Andy Iro assisted by Schelloto (his sixth assist of the season), and Leandre Griffit in the 90th minute. This week Columbus visit Chivas USA.
4. New York Red Bulls: (-) The Red Bulls had a bye week in which they surprisingly beat Manchester City 2-1 in a friendly. This Saturday it's back to action when the visit the Houston Dynamo.
5. San Jose Earthquakes: (-) The Quakes did well to tie the Galaxy 1-1 and this week host Seattle.
6. FC Dallas: (-) FC Dallas tied Toronto 1-1 at noisy BMO field which is no small feat. Milton Rodriguez assisted by David Ferreira scored the equalizer in the 77th minute. Dallas visit Colorado this Saturday and could walk away with at least a point.
7. Toronto FC: (-) Toronto tied surging Dallas at home with the goal coming from Maicon Santos, assisted by Julian de Guzman. This week TFC visit Kansas, who will be full of confidence from their 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
8. Colorado Rapids: (-) The Rapids lost 2-1 to Seattle will the lone goal coming from Omar Cummings, assisted by Pablo Mastroeni. Colorado will be challenged when ambitious FC Dallas visit this Saturday.
9. Houston Dynamo: (-) The Dynamo were shut out 3-0 by the Crew and need to get three points when Newy York visits this Saturday.
10. Chicago Fire: (-) The Fire had a bye and now must wind up to visit the Galaxy this Sunday.
11. Seattle Sounders: (-) The Sounders beat Colorado 2-1 with a brace of goals by Steve Zakuani, who won MLS Player of the Week. This week Seattle visit Chivas.
12. Kansas City Wizards: (-) In their bye week, the Wizards beat Manchester United 2-1 and that adrenalin will help them when Toronto FC visit this week.
13. Chivas USA: (-) Chivas tied Real Salt Lake 1-1, which might be their best accomplishment of the season so far. Jesus Padilla scored the unassisted goal.
14. New England Revolution: (-) The Revolution had a bye and this week visit the Philadelphia Union.
15. Philadelphia Union: (-) The Union had a bye and this week host the Revolution.
16. DC United: (-) DC United had a bye and this week visit Real Salt Lake for a tough game.
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Comments
I wouldnt put Houston in the top 10 and I'm a Dynamo fan if that gives you any indication on how bad they are right now.
Hopefully, FC Dallas will come away with 3 points from Colorado this Saturday.
No change in any of the power rankings from last week???
Dallas still 6? (They are playing better than that)?
Houston still 9? (They are playing worse than that)?
Seattle still 11? (They are playing better than that)?
Looks like you mailed this one in.
Rex, Houston did deserve to drop and although Fire has the better squad - I genuinely like this team, they haven't done anything to deserve promotion and neither did the lower teams.
Ken,
Dallas and TFC ended up like I thought they might at BMO - very competitive teams right now, I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas did get 3 points at the Rapids.
Dave,
Didn't mail it in, just wasn't overly impressed. Outside of the Crew's destruction of Houston, nobody was all that convincing of a change in the order. Seattle isn't going anywhere here till they show consistency. Quakes didn't deserve to get bumped down after a tie with the Galaxy and I just don't believe that Thierry Henry is going to hurt the Red Bulls.
The good thing here is that the quality of some of these mid-range teams has really improved over the season (what you're talking about I think) and with new internationals coming in, it's going to get even better.
Thanks for the feedback.
I just think the idea, that someone didn't do enough the previous week to move up or down from your previous weeks rankings, is flawed.
If a team is currently a better, stronger team than another, then they deserved to be ranked higher; regardless if one team had a bye, or the other teams only tied.
Like I said though, thanks for your work.
How could Seattle NOT move up this week? A win over a playoff contender, Nkufo coming to the squad and Alonso and Jaqua back to health isn't enough to bump them up? You argue about consistency, that is exactly what Alonso brings to the squad and the team has performed well the last three weeks with 7 points out of 9, what more does a team have to do to move up in your rankings?
Crollaa,
Seattle worked real hard to get down here and while they have Zakuani and Alonso stepping up, they also have their biggest performers stepping down or out of the picture entirely. It's a shame a club that set such a high standard couldn't keep pace.
There isn't much point to arguing since I gather that you don't actually watch all the games. I would like to point out that Montero and Keller have been absolutely incredible the last 3 or 4 MLS games... so I'm not really sure who you're referring to when you say that some of our best players aren't performing. If you are claiming that Ljungberg is one of our best performers, you are simply wrong, he has never performed with the team.
It's difficult to get wins when your target forward, best defender and the center midfield general are all injured at the same time. Now not only is Jaqua back, but Nkufo is here. Alonso is back. Parke is performing really well now.
But, like I said, you clearly aren't paying close enough attention to the team to make an accurate ranking system.
Criollaa,
Like I said, it's a shame a club that set such a high standard couldn't keep pace. It's also a shame when as you say, "your target forward, best defender and the center midfield general are all injured at the same time," but that doesn't get them a pass.
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