Chicago Fire 3rd in inaugural Examiner MLS Power Rankings

April 29, 11:49 PMChicago Fire ExaminerRoman Kashuba

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Chivas is on top, Sasha is excited
(Bill Kostroun, AP)

Welcome to the inaugural Examiner MLS Power Rankings.  Personally, the compiled rankings seem to place Colorado a little too high and the FIre just a hair low, but otherwise they look pretty good.  Here are my rankings to compare:

1) Chivas USA - 5 wins in 7 games is impressive in the parity-conscious MLS, but only the victory against Seattle stands out as impressive. Chivas' next two months are their toughest and we'll see the goats drop points with consistency.

2) Chicago Fire  - The look and feel of a team that refuses to lose, much like the Crew last year and Houston the year before. If Hamlett can tighten up the defense a bit, the Fire will separate from the pack quickly.

3) Seattle Sounders FC -  A healthy dose of away games should fade the Rave Green like a whirl in a hot washing machine (sorry).

4) Toronto FC - Just can't trust a team that starts Chad Barrett. I've been burned too many times. If Toronto finds a striker in the summer transfer market they'll be toward the top of the table, if not back to mediocrity.

5) Real Salt Lake - The 6-0 drubbing serves notice to the league that Real Salt Lake will make good use of its 2 games in hand.

6) DC United - Giving away points isn't the best strategy, but with 2 solid rookies DC will only get better as the season wears on.

7) KC Wizards - Yes, they found two goals in 15 minutes against the Fire, but who hasn't this season? Playing up a man for the majority of the game against NYRB and just squeaking by speaks volumes about this team.

8) New England Revolution - The Revs play the anti-football to perfection. The club will continue to churn out ugly wins and hard-fought draws. The key is to limit the 6-0 drubbings.

9) Houston Dynamo - Finding goals without DeRo has proved much harder than expected. If Holden finds his legs, Houston will jump up the table.

10) Colorado Rapids - The thin mountain air will keep the Rapids competitive. Playing the Galaxy twice this early helps pad the points.

11) Columbus Crew - This team is just as dangerous as last year's, they just have to convince themselves they can hold a lead.

12) San Jose Earthquakes - This team needs Huckerby to spearhead the attack. And a defense to stop the leaks in back. And they need to find a place for Convey. And . . .

13) LA Galaxy - New coach, same problems.

14) New York Red Bulls - Beating RSL is the crowning achievement of this season, but the road gets a bit easier in May. Last year's Western Conference champs will struggle to make the playoffs, just like last season. Another year at the helm, another disappointment for the coach-pillaging Red Bulls.

15) FC Dallas - If Cooper's European aspiration come to fruition, Dallas will have a hard time finding the back of the net, let alone the win column.

FIRE HEADLINES:

Columbus Crew 2-2 Chicago Fire
Blanco plays dress up for the Spanish Yellow Pages Directories in the US
Chicago Fire 2 - 2 Kansas City Wizards: Disappointment Report
San Jose 3-3 Chicago Fire match report
Chicago FIre to play Northwestern in spring friendly
Chicago Fire defeats UIC 3-0 in benefit match
Fire draw at D.C.
Fire Defeat Dallas 3-1
2009 Chicago Fire Salaries

SEE ALSO:

Wednesday Morning Hot Links 4/29
Goal of the Week nominees ranked
Wednesday Morning Hot Links
Upon Further Review: Chicago Fire 2-2 Kansas City Wizards
Chicago Fire v. Kansas City Wizards Match Preview
Upon Further Review: San Jose Earthquakes 3 - 3 Chicago Fire
C.J. Brown interview with Jared Montz
Upon Further Review: Chicago Fire 1-0 New York Red Bulls
Upon Further Review: D.C. United 1-1 Chicago Fire
Reliving the 1998 MLS Cup
The perfect villain: Marco Etcheverry
Upon Further Review: FC Dallas 1 - Chicago Fire 3