MLS Rankings: Week 12

Every week the New England Soccer Today crew will look beyond the standings to rank each of the 19 Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This week Sean Donahue and Ryan Lanigan contributed rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker’s name and the rank they gave that team.

1. Real Salt Lake (9-3-2, 29 points)
Three game winning streak and Salt Lake still aren’t playing their best football. (Sean – 1) …  They are off to their best start in club history and got a nice late winner against FC Dallas. (Ryan – 1)

2. (+1) New York Red Bulls (8-3-2, 26 points)
Home draw against Chivas goes down as a disappointment, but the Red Bulls go unbeaten in the month of May. (Sean – 2) …  A tie at the beginning of the season against Chivas USA might have been unacceptable, but the way Chivas has been playing, it’s not a bad result. (Ryan – 2)

T3. (+3) Sporting Kansas City (8-3-1, 25 points)
A much needed win after a poor patch for Kansas City and it comes against a strong team in San Jose. (Sean – 4) … A great bounce-back win over San Jose. Two nice goals and now they have some time to get ready for their next MLS opponent: Toronto. (Ryan – 3)

T3. (+1) D.C. United (8-4-3, 27 points)
Not one of their better performances, but D.C. makes it three wins in a row with a win over New England. (Sean – 3) … They came out in the second half very flat but did well to recover and take back the lead for three points. (Ryan – 4)

5. (-1) San Jose Earthquakes (8-3-3, 27 points)
Hold onto second place despite just two wins in six matches in May. (Sean – 5) … They did well to beat LA, but they surely wanted to do better against KC. (Ryan – 5)

6. (-4) Seattle Sounders (7-3-3, 24 points)
The started the month of May so positively with three wins in three games, but have since picked up just two points in four games. They really need Fredy Montero to start finding the back of the net with regularity again – at times this month it seemed like he was finally getting on track. (Sean – 6) … A tough week for the Sounders. They are now winless in their last four games. (Ryan – 6)

T7. Vancouver Whitecaps (5-3-4, 19 points)
May ended on a pretty poor stretch for the Whitecaps, who are still struggling a bit offensively. (Sean – 9) … Things haven’t gone swimmingly for the Whitecaps as of late, without three points in their last three games. Nice to see Darren Mattocks get a goal though. (Ryan – 7)

T7. (+1) Houston Dynamo (4-3-4, 16 points)
It hasn’t been too flashy from the Dynamo, but they’ve been getting results. A good spell of rest after their friendly with Valencia comes at the right time. (Sean – 8 ) … This upcoming stretch is going to be key if they want to be tops in the East. (Ryan – 8 )

9. (+1) Columbus Crew (5-4-3, 18 points)
Where did that come from? The Crew finish May unbeaten, including a shocking road with in Seattle and a solid home win over the Fire. (Sean – 7) … The best week in the MLS went to Columbus as they shocked Seattle and then went on to beat Chicago. Some time off in the MLS before they travel to New England. (Ryan – 10)

10. (+2) Colorado Rapids (6-6-1, 19 points)
It’s been hard to know what Rapids team will show up in Pablo Mastroeni’s absence due to a concussion. This past weekend they had just enough to get a win over Montreal. (Sean – 10) … As usual, the Rapids continue to be inconsistent, but good enough to beat Montreal. (Ryan – 9)

T11. (+3) Chivas USA (4-6-3, 15 points)
Four games unbeaten is an accomplishment for Chivas, even if it’s mostly ties. If Agudelo can continue to score, this team could make a run. (Sean – 12) …  Getting points from both games against New York and Seattle is a good accomplishment, and, even better, Juan Agudelo netted his first for the Goats.

T11. (-3) Chicago Fire (5-4-3, 18 points)
Finding some consistency is key for the Fire as the look to move up the standings in the East. (Sean – 11) … After a big win against FC Dallas, the Fire were reduced to smoke when the streaking Crew beat them. (Ryan – 12)

13. (-3) New England Revolution (4-7-1, 13 points)
If you weren’t yet sold on the impact Clyde Simms has had on the team, his absence the past two games should’ve done it. (Sean – 13) … It’s early, but Saer Sene has looked to be the best offseason acquisition in years.  (Ryan – 13)

14. (+1) Portland Timbers (3-5-4, 13 points)
It’s been a bit better from Portland lately, but they need to get three points at home. (Sean – 14) … Points in four straight games with a win sprinkled in there. (Ryan – 14)

15. (-2) Montreal Impact (3-7-3, 12 points)
So much for the turnaround. The Impact are looking like the expansion team they are again. (Sean – 15) … After their brief winning streak, Montreal has now gone winless in three straight. (Ryan – 15)

T16. FC Dallas (3-8-4, 13 points)
Dallas needs to turn things around fast. The rest of the West isn’t waiting. (Sean – 17) … Two losses in one week, and four in their last five without a win. (Ryan – 16)

T16. (+1) Los Angeles Galaxy (3-8-2, 11 points)
If you had told me the Galaxy would struggle without Omar Gonzalez, I’d have believed you. If you told me they’d be in last place in the West? Well, I would’ve called you crazy. With Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane away, it’s not getting any easier. (Sean – 16) … I take back when I said LA still could turn it around and compete for a title. (Ryan – 17)

18. (+1) Toronto FC (1-9-0, 3 points)
Toronto outplays Philly and gets their first win. That playoff guarantee still isn’t happening. (Sean – 18) … Getting your first win doesn’t exactly mean things are automatically going to get better…but they might. (Ryan – 18)

19. (-1) Philadelphia Union (2-7-2, 8 points)
Have to put Philly at the bottom for that loss. Ugly. (Sean – 19) … No one ever wants to be the team that gives the winless team their first win….but the Union were lucky enough to be that team. (Ryan – 19)