{"id":10523,"date":"2012-03-22T07:38:28","date_gmt":"2012-03-22T11:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=10523"},"modified":"2012-03-22T07:39:37","modified_gmt":"2012-03-22T11:39:37","slug":"mls-rankings-week-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=10523","title":{"rendered":"MLS Rankings: Week 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

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, Julian Cardillo and Ryan Lanigan contributed rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker\u2019s name and the rank they gave that team.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. REAL SALT LAKE<\/strong> (2-0-0, 6 points)
\nMy preseason MLS Cup pick is looking good so far. RSL started last year just as well however \u2013 can they actually sustain the great form this season? (Sean \u2013 1) \u2026 RSL are on an early roll and have been lighting it up offensively. Tough team to beat. (Julian) \u2026 This team has looked the best out of all the teams so far this season. There is no doubt they are top of the league. (Ryan \u2013 1)<\/p>\n

2. SPORTING KANSAS CITY<\/strong> (2-0-0, 3 points)
\nYou can only beat the team that\u2019s put in front of you. They won, as expected, against the Revs. (Sean \u2013 3) \u2026 KC have a very well-rounded team, and it continues to show. Nevertheless, they were helped by a red card in their last game against New England. (Julian -2) \u2026 The mark of a good team is beating teams you\u2019re supposed to beat, and doing so handedly. Up a man on the Revs, and KC buried them. (Ryan \u2013 2)<\/p>\n

3. SEATTLE SOUNDERS<\/strong> (1-0-0, 3 points)
\nTough exit from the CONCACAF Champions League, but with some great options up top now to partner Montero \u2013 as shown on Saturday \u2013 the Sounders will be tough to beat in MLS. (Sean \u2013 2) \u2026 David Estrada put on a show, which demonstrates that the Sounders really do have lots of attacking options. The CCL loss may have just been a hiccup. (Julian \u2013 4) \u2026 David Estrada netted a hat trick for the Sounders in their first MLS game of 2012, making Seattle look like a real threat this season. (Ryan \u2013 3)<\/p>\n

4. COLORADO RAPIDS<\/strong> (2-0-0, 6 points)
\nImpressive road win under the circumstances, but I\u2019m still not quite sold on this edition of the Rapids. (Sean \u2013 5) They got the job done, even with one less man. They have a solid group, whether that continues remains to be seen. (Julian \u2013 3) \u2026Two games, two wins for the Rapids. New skipper Oscar Pareja has the team thinking with a winning mentality. (Ryan \u2013 4) \u2026<\/p>\n

5. LOS ANGELES GALAXY<\/strong> (1-1-0, 3 points)
\nFinally showed the form they are capable of against D.C. I think we saw the real Galaxy on Sunday, (Sean \u2013 4) \u2026 The Galaxy looked like they returned to form against DC, but they still have some defensive issues to figure out. And what happens when Robbie Keane leaves for Euro? (Julian \u2013 5) \u2026 After a rough start, the Galaxy used their star power (Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan) to pick up their first \u2018W\u2019 of the season. (Ryan \u2013 5)<\/p>\n

6. HOUSTON DYNAMO<\/strong> (2-0-0, 6 points)
\nIf Houston\u2019s going to get back to the MLS Cup this season it\u2019ll have to be because of their defense. So far that defense is looking capable of it. (Sean \u2013 6) \u2026 The MLS Cup runners up have started out well though they\u2019ve taken on two of the weaker teams in the league. (Julian \u2013 6) \u2026 Along with Sporting KC, they are the lone bright spots for the East. They have also won on the road, something they struggled to do last season. (Ryan \u2013 6)<\/p>\n

7. PORTLAND TIMBERS<\/strong> (1-0-1, 4 points)
\nTimbers struggled mightily on the road last season, so a win at FC Dallas is a great result and sign early in the season. (Sean \u2013 7) \u2026 Portland have looked solid in their first two games, but if they can\u2019t get a positive result against a battered New England team their discipline needs to be looked at. (Julian \u2013 9) \u2026 Impressive to go on the road and pick up a draw with FC Dallas, who were very impressive in their first game of the season. (Ryan \u2013 7)<\/p>\n

8. FC DALLAS (1-0-1, 4 points)<\/strong>
\nDisappointing to draw at home after having the early lead, but Dallas still looks capable of causing damage this season. (Sean \u2013 8 ) \u2026 Their international signings and homegrown talent together have been promising so far. It\u2019s a competitive conference, let\u2019s see whether league experience factors into their performance. (Julian \u2013 8 ) \u2026 Tough to surrender a draw at home, but there is promise for Brek Shea and the red and white. (Ryan \u2013 8 )<\/p>\n

9. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS<\/strong> (2-0-0, 6 points)
\nSomeday they\u2019ll play a good team \u2013 then we\u2019ll talk about moving up the rankings. (Sean \u2013 9) \u2026 Solid start for the Whitecaps, but their tests haven\u2019t exactly been top notch. We\u2019ll see what happens once the season really takes off. (Julian \u2013 7) \u2026 Despite a victory over lowly Chivas USA, a win is a win. You can\u2019t deny their 2-0 start. (Ryan \u2013 9)<\/p>\n

T10. CHICAGO FIRE<\/strong> (0-0-1, 1 points)
\nGood fight back to get a draw in a tough away crowd, even if it was against a weaker opponent. (Sean \u2013 10) \u2026 Nice job to snag a point out of Montreal but the midfield was relatively unimpressive. We\u2019ll see if the insertion of Arne Friedrich in the defense will change anything. (Julian \u2013 13) \u2026 The Fire did well to get the equalizer on the road to take away a point. (Ryan \u2013 10)<\/p>\n

T10. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES<\/strong> (1-0-1, 3 points) \u2013Ugly loss to Houston after an ugly win over the Revs. They seemed to improve their offense in the offseason on paper, but it hasn\u2019t shown in reality. (Sean \u2013 11) \u2026 The Quakes have broken even to start the season, but they need their team to work around Wondo and Bernardez if they\u2019re going to make the playoffs. (Julian \u2013 10) The Earthquakes were handed a gift in their goal against the Revs, but struggled to find the back of the net against Houston. (Ryan \u2013 12)<\/p>\n

12. MONTREAL IMPACT<\/strong> (0-1-1, 1 point) \u2013 Decent showing against Chicago, but they need to get three points out of games like that at home if they are to go anywhere in their first season. (Sean \u2013 12) The Impact looked like a pretty fluid side against Chicago. A late error forced them to settle for a draw. (Julian \u2013 11) \u2026 This might be higher than some others, but they are exceeding the (low) preseason expectations. (Ryan \u2013 11)<\/p>\n

13. TORONTO FC<\/strong> (0-1-0, 0 points)
\nRough start in Seattle, but the CCL win over the Galaxy provides hope. (Sean \u2013 13) \u2026 Still winless to start the season and losing Torsten Frings is hard, but this looks like a different season for Toronto. (Julian -12) \u2026 One game, one loss. (Ryan \u2013 14)<\/p>\n

14. NEW YORK RED BULLS<\/strong> (0-2-0, 0 points)
\nIn fairness, they\u2019ve had two tough road games to start the season. Still, this team should be doing much better with the money they spend. (Sean \u2013 15) \u2026 Utterly disappointing so far. On paper, they ought to be a top 3 team in this league. Their play proves otherwise. (Julian \u2013 14) \u2026 Two tough losses that have a lot of people up in arms in Jersey. (Ryan \u2013 13)<\/p>\n

15. DC UNITED<\/strong> (0-2-0, 0 points)
\nTwo losses to two of the top teams in the league to start the season. Not ideal, but I still believe this team has improved from last year. (Sean \u2013 16) \u2026 Nick DeLeon put a smile on DC fans\u2019 faces by scoring the first goal of the season, but growing pains are likely as United look for a new identity. (Julian \u2013 15) \u2026 Tough game against a determined Galaxy team, but will need better showings the rest of the year. (Ryan \u2013 15)<\/p>\n

16. COLUMBUS CREW<\/strong> (0-1-0, 0 points)
\nIdeal this week after a disappointing loss in Colorado to open the season. (Sean \u2013 14) \u2026 Colorado is a tough place to play, but the Crew looked lifeless. They should have done a better job once they got a man up. (Julian \u2013 16) \u2026 They have a chance to redeem themselves against Montreal this week, but that\u2019s not as easy as it sounds. (Ryan\u00a0 – 17)<\/p>\n

17. PHILADELPHIA UNION<\/strong> (0-2-0, 0 points)
\nIt was always going to take some time to adjust to their offseason moves, but the Union need to start showing better if they wish to make the postseason this year. (Sean \u2013 17) \u2026 They\u2019ve managed to score goals, but something is off. Maybe it\u2019s the controversy the Peter Nowak is creating. (Julian \u2013 18) \u2026 Weird to see keeper Zac MacMath blunder like he did. (Ryan \u2013 16)<\/p>\n

18. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION<\/strong> (0-2-0, 0 points)
\nHarsh red card or not, the Revs have really struggled so far this season. Something needs to change. (Sean \u2013 18) \u2026 Like DC, there will be growing pains. But the excuses are going to have to stop soon. This team needs to defend better and score goals. Who\u2019s going to step up? (Julian \u2013 17) \u2026 No goals scored and the four allowed. Tough to face Sporting KC down a man. \u00a0(Ryan \u2013 18)<\/p>\n

19. CHIVAS USA<\/strong> (0-2-0, 0 points)
\nLosing at home to a team that had never won on the road in its history earns Chivas a spot on the bottom. (Sean \u2013 19) \u2026 \u00a0Chivas are dealing with injuries and a lack of identity, which is translating into losses. (Julian \u2013 19) \u2026 I know it\u2019s early, but what\u2019s the future of this team? (Ryan \u2013 19)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Real Salt Lake holds tight onto the top spot in this week’s rankings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":723,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nesoccertoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/rslfeature.jpg?fit=490%2C225&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10523"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10523"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10530,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10523\/revisions\/10530"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}