MLS Rankings: Week 15

Every week the New England Soccer Today crew will look beyond the standings to rank each of the 18 Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This week Brian O’Connell and Sean Donahue contributed rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker’s name and the rank they gave that team.

T1. FC Dallas (9-4-4, 31 points)
Walloped Portland 4-0 in front of the home supporters and look dangerous going into the summer. (Brian – 3) … Huge victory over Portland proves the loss to K.C. was a fluke. Dallas has lost just once in their last 12 matches. (Sean -1)

T1. Los Angeles Galaxy (9-2-8, 35 points)
Did they really settle for a scoreless draw to San Jose last week? This season just gets more bizarre by the week. (Brian – 2) … … The return of Landon Donovan should greatly aid the Galaxy who are struggling to find consistency in the absence of their captain, but they’ll need someone to step-up in goal in Rickett’s absence. (Sean – 2)

T1. Seattle Sounders (8-4-7, 31 points)
Six games unbeaten and the Sounders are finally awakening from their early season slumber. And they’re getting contributions from all over the pitch – just ask journeyman Roger Levesque. (Brian – 1) … Recovered from a shaky start to beat the Revs and go six games unbeaten. Have played four teams well under .500 during that stretch however (Sean – 3)

4. Real Salt Lake (7-3-5, 26 points)
Draw to Fire was tough to watch, but rebound nicely against Toronto. Although they may not be in top form, Salt Lake is still one of the deepest teams in MLS. (Brian – 4) … Big win over Toronto breaks a streak of three consecutive draws and could be just what Real needs going forward. (Sean – 4)

5. Columbus Crew (6-4-6, 24 points)
They’ve won three of their last four, including last week’s 4-1 annihilation of the Rapids. Still, it’s hard for me to believe in them (or anyone else in the Eastern Conference, for that matter). (Brian – 5) …. With wins in three of their last four, the Crew are the hottest team at the top in a very weak Eastern Conference right now and it’s tough to rank them this high. (Sean – 5)

6. Philadelphia Union (7-4-5, 16 points)
Scoreless draw to SKC is followed up with a dramatic three-goal comeback against a typically-stingy Chivas defense. Yes, you read that correct. Three goals scored by the Union. In one game. (Brian – 6) … A .500 record and just one win in June? Hardly the performance of contender. (Sean – 6)

7. New York Red Bulls (5-3-9, 24 points)
I get that they’re missing a bunch of players right now, but the Red Bulls are easily the most disappointing side in MLS. But I wouldn’t worry too much about it, especially after they traded away Dwayne DeRosario for Dax McCarty straight up. SMH. (Brian – 7) … Poor month for the Red Bulls, but at least they should be aided by several players returning from the Gold Cup. Not sure McCarty is who they needed in their midfield however… (Sean -7)

T8. San Jose Earthquakes (5-5-5, 20 points)
Draw to L.A. was pretty impressive, although not putting one through when striker-turned-keeper Mike Magee went between the sticks was a wasted opportunity. (Brian – 9) … Disappointing Draw to LA under the circumstances, but the Earthquakes have still lost just once in their last 10 matches. (Sean – 8 )

T8. Sporting Kansas City (4-6-5, 17 points)
Yeah, that’s right – I put them over five teams with higher point totals. And why not? They’re undefeated in their last five, and have turned a corner now that they have a place to play.  (Brian – 8 ) … Looks like a new home was just what Sporting needed. K.C. is on the way up. (Sean – 9)

T10. D.C. United (4-5-6, 18 points)
Can’t hold onto three points against H-town, as Brian Ching scores a last-minute leveler. What is this team? And where are they going? (Brian – 10) … Zero wins in June and D.C. have hardly impressed lately. Outshot and out-possessed at home by Houston.(Sean – 11)

T10. Houston Dynamo (4-6-7, 19 points)
Rally back twice against D.C., but the fact remains that their defending hasn’t been up to snuff this season. (Brian – 11) … Outplayed D.C., but Houston has just one win since April. (Sean – 10)

12. Colorado Rapids (5-5-7, 22 points)
Where do I start with Colorado? They’re mediocre at home, they’re mediocre on the road, and then they get crushed by Columbus. Is this how championships are defended? (Brian – 12) … Colorado hasn’t just been losing lately, they’ve been getting trounced. Just one win in their last nine matches. Yikes (Sean – 12)

13. Chicago Fire (2-4-11, 17 points)
Don’t look now, but the Fire are unbeaten in their last seven, albeit, only one of those seven is actually a victory. Yet, it’s still an improvement over their 11-game winless streak. (Brian – 13) .. If Chicago could just learn to turn their ties into wins, they’d be golden. A smaller schedule in July could help.  (Sean – 13)

14. Chivas USA (4-7-5, 17 points)
Slumping badly, and Saturday’s embarrassing 3-2 loss is proof that the Goats still have work to in the front and back. (Brian – 14) … Blew a great chance for some road points in Philly and the struggles continue for Chivas. (Sean – 15)

15. Vancouver Whitecaps (2-7-8, 14 points)
The only team in the bottom four to actually pull off a victory in their last five games. But, it’s little consolation, as the Caps keep coming up short. (Brian – 16) … A nice little run with a draw at Seattle and a win over Philly was positive for Vancouver, but they were halted by a streaking K.C. this weekend. (Sean – 14)

16. Portland Timbers (5-7-3, 18 points)
It wasn’t long ago that the Timbers were one of the hottest teams in MLS. Now? Well, they must have plunged themselves into a tub of ice water since, with only one point in their last five matches. (Brian – 15) When the highlight of June was a blown two goal lead in a 3-3 home draw, you know you had a bad month. (Sean – 16)

17. New England Revolution (3-8-6, 15 points)
Winless in their last seven, but perhaps the most troubling statistic is that they’ve only recorded two multi-goal games this season. (Brian – 17) … The signs of life they’ve been showing the past few weeks were present in the first 20 minutes against Seattle, but in the last 70 minutes the Revs looked as poor as ever. (Sean – 17)

18. Toronto FC (2-7-9, 15 points)
Loss to Salt Lake was expected. Then again, there are very few instances when a loss isn’t expected when Toronto steps onto the pitch. (Brian – 18) … Worst defense in the league along with a poor offense is getting this team nowhere. (Sean -18)