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Goal.com MLS Rankings: San Jose Sinking
Goal.com's Kyle McCarthy runs the ruler over Major League Soccer's clubs after another week of play. California teams anchor both ends of the spectrum, with Chivas USA still tops and the San Jose Earthquakes trembling at the bottom.
May 11, 2009 7:41:07 AM
1. Chivas USA – One of these days, Maykel Galindo's second-half profligacy is going to cost the Goats points. (1)
2. D.C. United – The next four teams are practically interchangeable at this point. I'm placing United second based on two factors: (1) they're playing the best football out of the four and (2) they have the highest point total. (4)
3. Seattle – Have to consider a draw at home to Los Angeles as two points lost, even with the Galaxy's ability to bore the world to tears and James Riley's second-half red card. The offense isn't clicking, but Sounders FC should have been two goals to the good by halftime after referee Tim Weyland ignored Seattle's legitimate shouts for a penalty after Dema Kovalenko's rash challenge on Nate Jaqua. (3)
4. Toronto FC – Probably didn't deserve to be in the game heading into the second half of Saturday night's 3-3 draw with D.C. United. Dwayne De Rosario made United pay for letting the Reds linger. (5)
5. Chicago – If Chicago's going to play at a pedestrian pace, it needs better quality from its service into the penalty area. This is a team that could move the ball a lot faster than it does right now. (2)
6. Houston – Wade Barrett and Eddie Robinson should be afraid. Very, very afraid. Geoff Cameron and Andrew Hainault won't be leaving the starting XI when they're in this sort of form. That's 403 minutes without conceding for the Dynamo. (9)
7. Colorado – Did anyone miss the Rapids this weekend? (7)
8. New England – Is anyone surprised that Matt Reis responded to allowing Stuart Holden a softie last weekend by pulling out two or three key saves in Chicago? (10)
9. Kansas City – Claudio Lopez is quietly having a pretty decent season. Josh Wolff, too. It's the cracks in the normally resolute defense that are causing the problems right now. (6)
10. Real Salt Lake – In the context of RSL road performances, Saturday's 1-0 draw at Chivas wasn't bad. In the context of road performances in general, it wasn't good enough. The road performances will have to get better with four of the next six matches away from Rio Tinto Stadium. (8)
11. Columbus – A much better team with Emmanuel Ekpo out wide and Eddie Gaven in the middle. (11)
12. New York – When the Red Bulls assembled their track team this winter, they had something like Friday night's 4-1 demolition of San Jose in mind. (13)
13. Los Angeles – It isn't pretty, but it sure is effective. Columbus will test the Galaxy's six-match unbeaten streak (1-0-5) at the HDC this weekend. (14)
14. FC Dallas – It's not that the Hoops deserve to move up... (15)
15. San Jose – ...but rather that the Earthquakes deserve to dwell in the basement this week. (12)
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page!
2. D.C. United – The next four teams are practically interchangeable at this point. I'm placing United second based on two factors: (1) they're playing the best football out of the four and (2) they have the highest point total. (4)
3. Seattle – Have to consider a draw at home to Los Angeles as two points lost, even with the Galaxy's ability to bore the world to tears and James Riley's second-half red card. The offense isn't clicking, but Sounders FC should have been two goals to the good by halftime after referee Tim Weyland ignored Seattle's legitimate shouts for a penalty after Dema Kovalenko's rash challenge on Nate Jaqua. (3)
4. Toronto FC – Probably didn't deserve to be in the game heading into the second half of Saturday night's 3-3 draw with D.C. United. Dwayne De Rosario made United pay for letting the Reds linger. (5)
5. Chicago – If Chicago's going to play at a pedestrian pace, it needs better quality from its service into the penalty area. This is a team that could move the ball a lot faster than it does right now. (2)
6. Houston – Wade Barrett and Eddie Robinson should be afraid. Very, very afraid. Geoff Cameron and Andrew Hainault won't be leaving the starting XI when they're in this sort of form. That's 403 minutes without conceding for the Dynamo. (9)
7. Colorado – Did anyone miss the Rapids this weekend? (7)
8. New England – Is anyone surprised that Matt Reis responded to allowing Stuart Holden a softie last weekend by pulling out two or three key saves in Chicago? (10)
9. Kansas City – Claudio Lopez is quietly having a pretty decent season. Josh Wolff, too. It's the cracks in the normally resolute defense that are causing the problems right now. (6)
10. Real Salt Lake – In the context of RSL road performances, Saturday's 1-0 draw at Chivas wasn't bad. In the context of road performances in general, it wasn't good enough. The road performances will have to get better with four of the next six matches away from Rio Tinto Stadium. (8)
11. Columbus – A much better team with Emmanuel Ekpo out wide and Eddie Gaven in the middle. (11)
12. New York – When the Red Bulls assembled their track team this winter, they had something like Friday night's 4-1 demolition of San Jose in mind. (13)
13. Los Angeles – It isn't pretty, but it sure is effective. Columbus will test the Galaxy's six-match unbeaten streak (1-0-5) at the HDC this weekend. (14)
14. FC Dallas – It's not that the Hoops deserve to move up... (15)
15. San Jose – ...but rather that the Earthquakes deserve to dwell in the basement this week. (12)
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com’s MLS page!
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