Well an interesting week with 4 MLS teams out of action (that will hurt them), 2 of the top 3 teams would lose a match and over half the teams will change spots from last week.
16. Chivas USA (-2)
In a cruel twist of fate, Chivas drops despite not playing a MLS match. They are in SuperLiga and I couldn't tell you if they are winning or losing in that competition, but their next MLS match is when they will head to Rio Tinto Stadium and face Real Salt Lake on the 24th.
15. DC United (-2)
When you lose two matches in a week you are going to fall, only my belief that Chivas are in a total freefall keeps United from the very bottom spot. How bad is it for DC United? Well it took MLS Comish Don Garber to select Jamie Moreno in order for them to get someone on the All Star team, wanna bet he will never see the pitch? Like their fellow cellar dweller Chivas, their next match will be at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake on July 31st.
more after the jump:
14. New England (-2)
I feel bad for New England, through no fault of their own do they move down, but when the teams below you pull of wins and you don't have league matches it costs you. They will come back to MLS action on the 31st of July when they head to PPL Park to face one of the teams that dropped them down this week, the Philadelphia Union.
13. Kansas City Wizards (+3)
Beat the top team in the East on Wednesday on the road, and then get a result against Colorado on the road and it will move you up. Still not sure how good KC might be but with Omar Bravo coming to join them, they could be moving up a bit more in the future. Up next is a July 31st matchup against Toronto FC at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
12. Philadelphia Union (+3)
I am going to take a bit of a leap of faith here, the Union aren't a real contender for a playoff spot with just 14 points in 14 matches but consider the fact that they have only lost once at home and that was a last second stoppage time goal to San Jose. Now remember that they have 16 matches left and 10 of them are at home, plus 6 of their last 9 matches are at home. Their next MLS match will be at home against New England on the 31st of July, don't be surprised if they make things interesting for teams at the end of the season.
11. Houston Dynamo (-)
They didn't move down because nobody was impressive enough to move in front of them, they didn't move up because they didn't play anyone in league play. Houston doesn't get much of a break after Superliga as they will have to head to Columbus on Saturday to face the Crew in a matchup of 3 of the last 4 MLS Cup Champions.
10. Chicago Fire (-1)
Unlike Houston, the Fire get passed up while being off from MLS action, this might give them a chance to get their first DP Nevy Castillo integrated to their roster, and word is that they are looking for another one. Whatever it is they will have a big task as their next league match has them heading to the Home Depot Center to face the Galaxy.
9. Seattle Sounders (+1)
A win over DC United may not seem like much but when you consider they should have gotten a win over FC Dallas last Sunday, had it not been for a costly red card. They outplayed DC and they are slowly showing us signs of what they are capable of. They have a huge match against Colorado, a team ahead of them in the Western Conference standings on the 25th, they need wins at home and this one is really a must win.
8. Colorado Rapids (-)
Colorado knows how important points at home are, not beating Kansas City this weekend might be 2 points that could cost them come October. Conor Casey had a couple chances to put the match away and failed, now they have to travel to Seattle and try to get a result in front of 36,000 very loud Sounder fans.
7. Toronto FC (-2)
It isn't just the loss to Philly that moved TFC down this week, it was the fact that they got outplayed by an expansion team. Now they may think that adding a second DP is the solution, but for TFC the issue hasn't ever been the lack of talent, the issue has been getting them to play together as a team. Can Preki do what the rotating coaching staff hasn't been able to do? They will host the very solid FC Dallas on Saturday, so far at home TFC has been very tough to beat.
6. New York Red Bulls (-)
No wins in their last 3 matches, a team that seems to have lost focus amid all the flashbulbs and the big spotlight as finally all the talk is over and Thierry Henry has arrived, but just as that looks to have settled down comes the rumor that yet another big name might be on their way as the 3rd DP to New York. Their next league match will have them heading down to Houston on July 31st, I wonder if Henry will enjoy 95 and 80% humidity?
5. San Jose Earthquakes (+2)
So how does San Jose move up in a week without a MLS match? Easy New York, Toronto, and Colorado did nothing to prevent it. Their refusal to die against Philly and pulling out a huge road win keeps them in the playoff hunt, and next up is a chance to prove that they belong here as they head to the HDC for a faceoff against the LA Galaxy on Thursday night. Big match for San Jose, real big.
4. FC Dallas (-)
A big win over RSL on Saturday, FC Dallas is making a case for themselves to be considered an elite MLS team, and they can prove it this week by getting a road win over Toronto FC. Their 2 losses are impressive but with just 5 wins, they will need to do more to take the next jump.
3. Columbus Crew (-)
So two matches at home, midweek you look horrible and get beat by the KC Wizards and I believe that your mystique is over and everyone can see that you are an average team. Then you beat up on New York at home on Saturday, and once again keep me in the dark as to how good or average you might just be. Now you will play host to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, the big question is what Crew team will show up.
2. Real Salt Lake (-)
Flat, lackluster, unimpressive, all of those terms could be used to describe RSL's loss at FC Dallas where history was stronger than desire. Listen you can't win every match, but I have to admit I was a bit confused by what RSL was trying to do against FC Dallas, but you can expect that they will be firing on all cylinders when Chivas USA comes to town on Saturday night.
1. Los Angeles Galaxy (-)
After getting beat by New England a couple weeks ago, LA pulled out a very tough fought win over DC United. They got the win, but didn't look nearly as impressive as we have seen them in the past. Perhaps the doubt of Landon's future, maybe the talk about their next DP coming in has them unfocused. Now they get a busy schedule with CCL but first they will need to face off against San Jose on Thursday night.
Should be a fun couple weeks to end July.
OFF MY SOAPBOX