Major League Soccer Power Ranking Index  - April 25, 2014


Hello Folks, this week we added Soccer America to our sources for the index.  You will also notice the previous week's power rankings in parenthesis as well as some added comments.


1. (1) Real Salt Lake - 7 pts

I don't expect this team to stay undefeated all year long, but I am really happy that former goalkeeper Jeff Cassar is doing great so far.  For the longest time, everyone thought goalkeepers were just weird and crazy.  But the former Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion player is helping the reputation of the GK union immensely with his teams efforts week in and week out.  One of the only other goalkeepers who has a head coaching job in MLS is some guy named Bruce Arena.  Can we say "hot new trend"??  With all this being said, the heroics of Nick Rimando suggests that this RSL defense might have some holes.

2. (2) Sporting Kansas City - 15 pts

If it were me, this team would be a little farther down.  However, time and time again, Aurelin Colin and his squad prove me wrong.  If Montreal was a gimmee putt, then this weekends game in New England is a long down hill 10 putt with a couple breaks.  Stakes aren't too high so there's a decent chance they will sink it.  New England will remember last years playoff exit and hopefully find the same form that got them to the Eastern Conference semi-final game.

3 (3) FC Dallas - 17pts

Can someone tell me when the last time this team left the state of Texas?  Sporting KC March 14th!  One away game in the last 6 weeks is a dream for the wives and girlfriends of an MLS team.  Great test this week traveling to the home of Barack Obama and playing against a United team that has found some momentum and looking to equal last years total number of wins.

4. (5) Seattle Sounders - 25 pts

Has anyone heard of this Clint Dempsey guy??  A month ago, everyone was blaming him for leaving England.  Now there are articles mentioning that his time there laid the foundation for this years dare I say resurrection???  Finding his form is a huge boost not only for those coffee drinkers up there in Seattle, but to our country's hopes of tying a game in this years world cup.  If the Sounders take care of Colorado this weekend, watch out MLS..... Sigi is on the warpath!

5. (8) Los Angeles Galaxy - 35 pts

If anyone watched their game last week, this team would be in the top 3.  The only reason they are not on top is due to their lack of games.  The first 70 minutes were a clinic on how to play in the difficult BC Place.  Unfortunately, Leonardo and Pinedo decided to give the Caps a huge gift.  Rob Friend adds a dimension taken out of the Goonies text book and Dan Gargan looked great at right back.  Another off weekend for #donovan135 and the boys.

6. (4) Columbus Crew - 36 pts

Federico Higuain is a stud.  Greg Berhalter is organized.  I really like this team.  Can't figure out how they did not get 3 points last week but I still have faith.  Dominic Oduro is doing a lot of hard work up front but hasn't found his scoring touch.  Hosting New York will be a great opportunity to propel this team back into the top echelon of the league.

7. (7)  Colorado Rapids - 38 pts

I'm not going to lie.  After two big wins in Canada I was looking for Pablos team to make a statement at home.  Instead, the conditions got the best of the game and the Rapids never really looked like they were the better team in a huge western conference match up against the Quakes.  Edson Buddle was never close to the century club and it was the crossbar, rather than Clint Irwin who saved the Rapids.  This week they have a difficult fixture at CenturyLink field, home to Seattle's Best Soccer.

8.  (6) Toronto FC - 44 pts

A foot surgery that was "planned" before the preseason? I am always the last one to find out about these things.  A weekend off gives this team a time to rest, and to figure out their identity without their big stars.  No Defoe, No Bradley.  Now that's a bloody big deal.

9.  (9) Vancouver Whitecaps - 56pts

All hail Kekuta Manneh.  A loss this last weekend and people in Vancouver actually might have been calling for the return of Judas Sanvezzo.  Ok, well that's a lie.  The "Our all, Our honor" mantra means no mas for the player born in Presidente Prudente.  Did you see what I did there?  A little Spanish for the Brazilian player who speaks Portuguese, played for a Canadian club in an American futbol league,  and who now plays in Mexico.  Oh, man do I get sidetracked.  This week will offer a difficult encounter traveling to the State that Joseph Smith built.  Let's hope there were no bike rack incidents in Van City and NRC gets the nod.  He won't be happy after spending 180 minutes watching first division North American football up close.  An angry Nigel is an entertaining Nigel.

10. (11) New England Revolution - 67 pts

I can't figure out this team.  I want to love them.  The whole league is waiting for them to recapture the form they had during the end of 2013. A huge double save from Bobby Shuttleworth rescued a point in Chicago. This week they know they can make a huge statement if they can beat Sporting.  America's top Model Benny Felihaber vs Vietnam's top model Lee Nguyen could be the match up which determines this game.  I really can't decide who's going to win this one.

11. (9) Philadelphia Union - 68 pts

Oh the Union.  After last week's boring game versus the Dynamo, this team has a chance to separate them from the bottom of the conference.  People would say that if they don't get all 3 points this weekend they are in trouble.  I totally disagree and think they just need to focus on playing well.  The points will come and as we all know with the East, it just takes one run a year and you are in the playoffs.  Zac Macmath is playing well and the Union just need to get the offensive part of their game to mirror the efforts of the defense.

12. (12) Houston Dynamo - 72 pts

Most of the rankings were done before their game against the Red Bulls.  Expect a huge drop from them next week unless we see some fireworks at home hosting the Timbers.  With no Brad Davis around, and the Dynamo in a tailspin, I think we can all see a strong correlation between the two.  Will the former league MVP candidate be ready for this weekends match?  Who knows.  But this is what we do know:  Dominic Kinnear will have his team fired up on Sunday.  Caleb Porter will have his team fired up for Sunday.  Merrit Paulson's twitter will be on fire.  I'm expecting a physical battle with Jean-Claude Van Dam coming off the bench.

13.  (13) DC United - 77 pts

They have a chance to equal last years total for the number of wins.  That alone should tell you how bad last year's team was.  Ben Olsen's job is riding on this momentum wave and there's no reason to believe they can't beat Dallas at home.  Andrew Dykstra has been one of the stories out of DC but who knows how long he can keep the homegrown Bill Hamid on the bench once he returns from injury.

14. (16) New York Red Bulls - 84 pts

Henry does it Wright!!  After a 4-0 shelling of Houston Dynamo on Wednesday expect a huge test against Columbus this weekend.  If the team can pull of a double this week, expect them to jump into possible single digits in next weeks Power Ranking Index.  Freddy Prince Jr. has his team playing great right now and the supporters of Red Bull nation are starting to forget there will be another team across the way next year.

15. (15) Chicago Fire - 90 pts

Frank Yallop has to be sick to his stomach.  If the Fire had actually converted two penalty kicks this year the team would be tied for 3rd with a game in hand.  Perhaps they should let Sean Johnson take them because, well, I just think it would be cool to let a GK take penalty kicks.  He can't do any worst right.  On the positive note, Team Amerikwa seems to have his goal scoring dance moves down.  Too bad we can't see them these next two weeks.  His red card means we will all have to wait until the Fire travel to the big apple in May to show them off again.

16. (13) Chivas USA - 92 pts

So is this where the wheels begin to fall off?  Every year it seems there is lots of cautious optimism surrounding the club.  Under Chelis, they had 10 points in 5 games.  Now they have 6 points after 7 games and have a huge test as they go up the road to San Jose.  A very difficult place for Dan Kennedy to regain his confidence after last week's gaffe, but I expect a player of his caliber to put in a fine performance on Saturday night.  Wilmer Cabrera is different then Chelis and this team is different then last years.  They have gone to Portland and New York to get a point.  Can they do this in San Jose??  Don't be against Torres.

17. (17) Portland Timbers - 101 pts

Last week was a weird one for this team.  I felt they were outplayed for the most part, but created the best opportunities of the game by far.  Maximus Urrati (it's a long name) could have potentially scored two to three goals in a 10 minute span in last week's game.  However Nick Rimando and his lack of finishing prevented him from doing so. Is Ryan Johnson really missed this much?  The game against Houston this week is very intriguing.  If the team keeps creating the these types of chances, they won't be down in these rankings for long.

18.  (18) San Jose Earthquakes - 102 pts

Yannick Djalo injured, Adam Jahn red carded.  The schedule has not really helped this team one bit.  The cure:  a home game against Chivas USA.  If this team can learn to break teams down like years past, look for them to get right back into the playoff race.  Still waiting for Shea Salinas to play his best.  When he does, San Jose is a different team.  The emergence of JJ Koval has been the brightest spot in this gloomy start.  This week's game is a must win if they want to be in the playoff conversation.  It's early, but San Jose knows how important this game is.

19. (19) Montreal Impact - 114 pts

Frank Klopas has to be asking himself what's he's gotten himself into.  In all honesty, Marco Di Vaio does not look like the same player as last year and that's the difference.   The defense has always been shaky but if we don't see Jeb Brovsky playing this weekend after a 4-0 loss, the Jebi Knights may start to revolt.  With the Union coming to town, this is a big opportunity to prove this year's start won't reflect the quality of this team.