Not a lot of changes in SB Nation Soccer's MLS Power Rankings in Week 10. The Houston Dynamo moved back into Tier 2 and there was a little bit of shuffling within the tiers, but nothing too major. It looks like everyone still considers Real Salt Lake a Tier 1 team, but there are definitely starting to be doubts.
MLS Power Rankings, Week 10: Real Salt Lake Still On Top, But It’s Tight
The Houston Dynamo move back into Tier 2, but otherwise it was a pretty quiet week.
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As usual, I’ve turned over the tier explanations to the various editors around the SB Nation Soccer world.
| Playing For The Shield | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Real Salt Lake |  100% (66 out of 66 points) |
 | New York Red Bulls | 98% (65 out of 66 points) |
 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 98% (65 out of 66 points) |
Real Salt Lake remains in the top tier of the power rankings, but their once dominant hold on the top spot may be loosening. It's not that they are playing poorly, but they just aren't the team they were before the CONCACAF Champions League final and the Javier Morales injury. At the moment, they simply cannot generate offense and score goals at a high enough level, but they are still getting results which in the end is what matters. There's no reason to take them out of the top tier yet, but the other teams behind them are quickly catching up and it's not as clear cut anymore just who the best team in MLS is at the moment.
- Zach Woosley, SB Nation/Dynamo Theory
| Enjoy The Playoffs | ||
|---|---|---|
 | FC Dallas | 77% (51 out of 66 points) |
 | Philadelphia Union | 72% (48 out of 66 points) |
 | Colorado Rapids | 66% (44 out of 66 points) |
 | Seattle Sounders | 62% (41 out of 66 points) |
 | Portland Timbers | 59% (39 out of 66 points) |
 | Houston Dynamo | 51% (34 out of 66 points) |
The Seattle Sounders may be losing some respect in broader MLS circles, but they still have a strong defense (6th in League by GA per game), continue to be at least average on the road and are starting to get back to decent health in the midfield. They aren’t going to blow anyone out, and they never have. But Sigi Schmid has the team getting results with 8 points in their last 5 (tied for 4th in MLS). Facing two of the better teams this week will either pull Seattle way up, or push them way down. Four points is a good target for the Rave Green in Week 10.
- Dave Clark, Sounder at Heart
| Still Something To Prove | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Columbus Crew | 34% (23 out of 66 points) |
 | Chivas USA | 30% (20 out of 66 points) |
 | DC United | 30% (20 out of 66 points) |
 | San Jose Earthquakes | 28% (19 out of 66 points) |
 | New England Revolution | 27% (18 out of 66 points) |
The Quakes have put in three straight solid performances and taken seven points of he nine on offer, demonstrating lethality and organization that was lacking earlier in the season. Against the Revolution they demonstrated that goals can come from more than just Chris Wondolowski, and if their offense can continue with that level of potency then they should be right there when the season ends.
- Steve Stoehr, The Bent Musket
| At Least There's No Relegation | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Chicago Fire | 10% (7 out of 66 points) |
 | Toronto FC | 3% (2 out of 66 points) |
 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 3% (2 out of 66 points) |
 | Sporting Kansas City | 1% (1 out of 66 points) |
If Chicago wasn’t coached by Carlos de Los Cobos, I’d be tempted to rank the Fire in the next highest tier. The team has fought hard and played tough through injuries and a higher amount of position battles than most squads. The team is not getting blown out in any of their games. However, these 2-1 losses and 1-1 draws feel like trademark Carlos de los Cobos games after he has coached 40 matches. It’s time for him to start delivering victories or face the consequences.
- Tweed Thornton, Hot Time in Old Town
How It Works: Each of the 22 participants puts Major League Soccer’s clubs into one of the four tiers. Teams in the top tier get three points. Next tier, two points, then one, then zero. Voters can put as many teams into each tier as they see fit. Though the vote total orders the teams, the clubs are intended to be grouped, not sorted. Although some of the names may indicate otherwise, the point of this is to assess current form and our voters are instructed to place teams in tiers based how those teams will fair in coming weeks.
Who participated: Jeremiah Oshan (SB Nation, soccer); Kevin McCauley (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); Chris “UZ” White (Burgundy Wave); Zach Woosley (Dynamo Theory); Denzel Eslinger (RSL Soapbox); Robert Jonas (Quake, Rattle and Goal); Daniel Robertson (Big D Soccer); Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart); Andy Edwards (The Daily Wiz); Geoff Gibson (Stumptown Footy), Duncan Fletcher (Waking the Red), Steve Stoehr (The Bent Musket); Tweed Thornton (Hot Time in Old Town), Ben Schneider (Once a Metro); Jeff King (The Goat Parade).
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