Now that season is winding its way toward the very end, we here at SB Nation Soccer felt the concept of tiers had kind of run their course. For the final few weeks of the season, we’ve decided to go with the traditional 1-18 rankings in an attempt to really sus out who we think are the best teams in any given week.
MLS Power Rankings, Week 29: Now We’re Getting Serious
SB Nation Soccer’s editors rank the MLS teams from 1-18.
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We’ve given our voters the directive to treat the rankings not as a reflection of the standings, but more of a snapshot of current form. In short, we want to know who would win a game on a neutral pitch on any given week.
There aren't a lot of huge surprises, especially at the top and bottom of the rankings. Our voters were nearly unanimous in placing the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake 1-2-3. Likewise, they were almost unanimous in putting the San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps 16-17-18. Outside of that, there was much more debate. The team with the biggest range was the Chicago Fire, who were as high as 6 and as low as 14.
1. Galaxy: There’s really no debating this. As impressed or unimpressed as you may be with the Galaxy, if the season ended today they would go down as possibly the best regular-season team in MLS history. Their 2.06 points per match are unequaled in the post-shootout era, as is their +23 goal difference. Average ranking: 1.0
2. Sounders: The Sounders clearly can beat any team out there right now. Even the Galaxy aren’t unbeatable when Seattle’s playing like this, but I still need to actually see them beat LA in MLS play before I think it will happen. - Dave Clark, Sounder at Heart. Average ranking: 2.1
3. Real Salt Lake: Despite some recent struggles, we have seen this year that Real Salt Lake are capable of beating (or being beaten by) anyone. While that will cause RSL fans some anxiety, it has to also suggest they could be a very dangerous team to face in the playoff. Perhaps the things that are the two biggest question marks are: Can Javier Morales regain full fitness and match sharpeness for the playoffs, and can the RSL defense that was so dominant at times this year find the consistency needed for the playoff? - Denzel Eslinger, RSL Soapbox. Average ranking: 3.2
4. Sporting Kansas City: Sporting Kansas City is the fourth-best team in MLS right now thanks to a powerful and often-unpredictable offense that is backed by a surprisingly resilient defense. At the end of last season, I predicted in another medium that KC would be 2011's breakout team - they have finally started proving it, storming to the top of the Eastern Conference and displaying a level of consistency in play that is missing from the rest of the East's top clubs. Among a group of teams that have been fighting it out amongst each other for the East's automatic berths, I really only see KC as the team that can regularly put their best up against the top clubs in the West and expect to have a chance at a result more than once in a blue moon. With an embarrassment of riches up front, a settled midfield trio led by the perennially-underrated Davy Arnaud and an effervescent Graham Zusi, and a rock-solid defense with Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin that is marshaled by Jimmy Nielsen, KC has what it takes to go places this post-season, and I see a Conference Finals appearance in their future. - Steve Stoehr, The Bent Musket. Average Ranking: 4.1.
5. Philadelphia Union: After the first four spots, the uniformity really starts to break down. The Union were ranked as high as third and as low as seventh. Fifth seems about right, though, for a team that has displayed some real punch, but also some real struggles. Average ranking: 5.52
6. FC Dallas: Just a few weeks ago, you'd have probably found them in the top 3, but after a stretch of games in which they've won just once in the past two months, it's hard to put them any higher than this. Our voters had them anywhere from fourth to 11th. Average ranking: 6.2
7. Colorado Rapids: Their win last week ended a five-match in which they claimed just two points. Maybe you can argue they should be above FC Dallas after beating them this week, but that's probably quibbling. They were as high as 4, but no lower than 10. Average ranking: 7.2
8. Columbus Crew: No one is impressed by this team, and can you blame them. No one had them higher than 6, but no one had them lower than 10. Average ranking: 8.1
9. Houston Dynamo: Hard to know what to make of the Dynamo. They are clearly capable of winning at home, but have really struggled on the road. Our voters weren't quite sure what to make of them either, as they got votes ranging from 6 to 12. Average ranking: 9.1
10. Chicago Fire: The Fire have been the third best team in MLS since June. That’s June, which was four months ago so this isn’t some fluke run. They shot themselves in the foot a couple hundred times to start the season so they’re out of the playoff hunt, but put them in the Eastern Conference playoffs right now and they would be one of the favorites to win it. - Ryan Rosenblatt, SB Nation. Average ranking: 10.0
11. DC United: There was actually a high level of agreement on United, most of our voters thought they were either the 11th or 12th best team in the league. Average ranking: 10.8
12. Portland Timbers: Another team that our voters aren't quite sure what to make of, but for the most part they fell in the 11-12 range. They were as high as 8 and as low as 14. Average ranking: 11.8
13. New York Red Bulls: Despite their massive payroll, our voters have really soured on the Red Bulls. The range went all the way from 8-15, but most voters saw them as somewhere in the 11-13 range. Average ranking: 12.1
14. Chivas USA: The last of the teams that is remotely in the playoff conversation, they are clearly the lowest on the totem pole. No one saw them any better than 13. Average ranking: 14.1
15. Toronto FC: Despite a run that seemed to be a harbinger of better things to come, they have fallen off considerably. No one really thinks highly of them anymore, as they were only as high as 13. Average ranking: 15.2
16. San Jose Earthquakes: They are not very good and our voters were in pretty general agreement. Average ranking: 15.6
17. New England Revolution: Remember what I said about the Quakes? Just that only worse. Average ranking: 17.0
18. Vancouver Whitecaps: They are well on their way to having one of the worst seasons in MLS history. Nuf said. Average ranking: 17.7.
How It Works: Each of the 21 participants puts Major League Soccer’s clubs from 1-18.
Who participated: Jeremiah Oshan (SB Nation, soccer); Aaron Campeau (SB Nation, soccer); Ryan Rosenblatt (SB Nation, soccer); Drew Epperley (SB Nation, soccer); Phillip Quinn (SB Nation, soccer); Steve Davis (Daily Soccer Fix); Martin Shatzer (Black and Red United); Scott Kessler (Brotherly Game); Zach Woosley (Dynamo Theory); Denzel Eslinger (RSL Soapbox); Robert Jonas (Quake, Rattle and Goal); Daniel Robertson (Big D Soccer); Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart); Duncan Fletcher (Waking the Red), Steve Stoehr (The Bent Musket); Tweed Thornton (Hot Time in Old Town), Ben Schneider (Once a Metro); Josie Bekcer (LAG Confidential); Alicia Ratterree (The Goat Parade); Brenton Walters (The Vancouver Whitecaps Offside).
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