Just to prove that results do matter in SB Nation Soccer's MLS Power Rankings, it appears our voters are slowly starting to sour on Real Salt Lake. While still in the top tier, they received just 10 of 18 votes. Based on the metrics of our poll, if they lose two more votes they would drop out of the top tier for the first time this season. The loss to Toronto FC this week was hardly inspiring.
Major League Soccer Power Rankings, Week 22: Real Salt Lake Stumbling
New York Red Bulls continue their way down our weekly poll.
Also falling down the charts at a precipitous rate is the New York Red Bulls, who now find themselves in the third tier. They didn't lose this week, but a 2-2 tie against the lowly Chicago Fire was just as bad in the eyes of many of our voters.
On the flip side, we have the Columbus Crew and the Colorado Rapids starting to draw significant support for top tier status. While both are still very much in Tier 2, they now have nine top tier votes between them after both won this weekend.
| Playing For The Shield | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Los Angeles Galaxy |  100% (54 out of 54 points) |
 | FC Dallas | 100% (54 out of 54 points) |
 | Seattle Sounders | 98% (53 out of 54 points) |
 | Real Salt Lake | 85% (46 out of 54 points) |
Oddly enough, our voters were not particularly worried about the Seattle Sounders' tie at home to Chivas USA. They actually picked up top tier votes this week. Maybe that's a reflection of how highly our voters are starting to think of the Goats.
| Enjoy The Playoffs | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Columbus Crew | 75% (41 out of 54 points) |
 | Colorado Rapids | 74% (40 out of 54 points) |
 | Philadelphia Union | 66% (36 out of 54 points) |
 | Sporting Kansas City | 57% (31 out of 54 points) |
It was just a few weeks ago that the Philadelphia Union were knocking on the door of Tier 1 and now they have fallen behind two other Tier 2 teams and have just a solitary voter giving them top tier status. The Crew and the Rapids deserve some of the credit though. After looking shaky early on, they now look to be real contenders.
| Still Something To Prove | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Houston Dynamo | 44% (24 out of 54 points) |
 | New York Red Bulls | 42% (23 out of 54 points) |
 | DC United | 42% (23 out of 54 points) |
 | Chivas USA | 37% (20 out of 54 points) |
Our voters once again see very little difference between these teams. On any given week, an argument could be made for any of them being considered Tier 2. Unthinkable just a few weeks ago, it’s now looking perfectly reasonable that the Red Bulls could actually miss the playoffs despite the league’s second highest payroll.
| At Least There's No Relegation | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Portland Timbers | 14% (8 out of 54 points) |
 | San Jose Earthquakes | 11% (6 out of 54 points) |
 | Toronto FC | 7% (4 out of 54 points) |
 | Chicago Fire | 0% (0 out of 54 points) |
 | New England Revolution | 0% (0 out of 54 points) |
 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0% (0 out of 54 points) |
All of our voters have completely written off the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and Vancouver Whitecaps. The same can not quite be said for the Portland Timbers and Toronto FC. Both teams still look pretty shaky, but with 10 playoff spots either one of those guys could probably make a run.
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); 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).
See More:
