Revamped MLS power rankings
We are five weeks into the MLS season and still it’s not easy to confidently put out a confident MLS Power Ranking. For that reason, I’ve opted to switch the format for the rankings that run in this space week-to-week. I’ve gathered the votes from the weekly Winter Park MLS Coffee Club — a group that includes myself, Dart McCarty (father of New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty ), David Zusi (father of MLS midfielder Graham Zusi ) and Scott Smith (former University of Virginia soccer player and current UCF professor) to come up with a weekly top 10. The rankings are an average of our four top-10 lists. Yes, I know Zusi and McCarty have dogs in this fight, but they assure me that the rankings won’t read: “1. New York Red Bulls/Sporting Kansas City, 20. Everyone else.” Scores are averaged out with 10 points for first place down to one point for 10th place. Each team’s record and points in the MLS table is shown below. Top 10 Power Rankings
1. Vancouver (4-1, 12 pts.): The Whitecaps have won ugly and convincingly.
T-2.New York Red Bulls (2-0-1, 7 pts.): Jesse Marsch has them playing good soccer.
T-2. Seattle (2-1-1, 7 pts.): The Sounders are rounding into form.
4. FC Dallas (3-1-1, 10 pts.): A loss to Portland dropped Dallas.
5. New England (2-2-1, 7 pts.): Beginning to look like team we thought it’d be.
6. Real Salt Lake (2-0-2, 8 pts.): Javier Morales is playing fantastic and they are getting results.
T-7. D.C. United (3-1, 9 pts.): D.C. finds a way to win, and there’s something to be said for that.
T-7. Sporting Kansas City (2-1-2, 8 pts.): The comeback win over Philly was not too convincing.
9. LA Galaxy (1-2-2, 5 pts.): The defending champs are usually slow starters, but always dangerous.
10. Columbus Crew (1-2-0, 3 pts.): A bizarre schedule is making it hard to evaluate the Crew. Others receiving votes: Orlando City, Toronto
Game of the week
LA Galaxy at Seattle Sounders, 7 p.m. Sunday, Fox Sports 1 The Buzz: There are a few good games on the docket this week, including two intriguing contests (New England at Colorado and Sporting Kansas City at Real Salt Lake) and another rivalry matchup in D.C. United at New York Red Bulls. This Western Conference game takes top billing, though, as two perennial powers square off.