MLS Form Guide ULTRA, Week 1: Step One

Soon.

This post is part one of a larger project. I’ll be posting the second part – a narrative summary of MLS Week 1 – in another space, and I’ll drop a link in this space [You complete me!] when that goes up. All the stuff below is part of a results-tracking project, which will get more complete and robust as the season progresses. With only one game in the book for the season, there’s very little to work with. Still, all the commentary below that isn’t just a plain, factual statistic* is based on assumptions stated in an earlier post.

Anyway, look at this if you wanna, it’s going up regardless, from now until the end of 2019. Teams are listed in the (very) rough order of the number of points earned so far. * These posts will have typos, and through the season. I do my best, and it is rarely good enough. Bottom line, if something looks off, double-check it. All errors are, and will always be, unintentional.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS, 1-0-0, 3 points, 4 gf, 1 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

v CIN

4-1

N/A

Current Judgment: That was nothing but the expected.

Next Game: v. Colorado Rapids

TORONTO FC, 1-0-0, 3 points, 3 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-0 home, 1-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

@ PHI

3-1

N/A

Current Judgment: After Toronto’s CCL flame-out, this catches the eye. I rated Philly…

Next Game: Day off! (then v. New England Revolution on March 17)

DC UNITED, 1-0-0, 3 points, 2 gf, 0 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

v ATL

2-0

N/A

Current Judgment: Strong result, but it’s probably worth checking into Atlanta’s line-up.

Next Game: @ New York City FC (where anything but a tie will be notable).

LOS ANGELES FC, 1-0-0, 3 points, 2 gf, 1 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

v SKC

2-1

N/A

Current Judgment: Same as above; who started for SKC? (I’ll research this in the other post.)

Next Game: v. Portland Timbers (where a win would announce intentions).

LOS ANGELES GALAXY, 1-0-0, 3 points, 2 gf, 1 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

v CHI

2-1

N/A

Current Judgment: de minimis.

Next Game: @ FC Dallas

MONTREAL IMPACT, 1-0-0, 3 points, 2 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-0 home, 1-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

@ SJ

2-1

N/A

Current Judgment: Bears watching

Next Game: v. Houston Dynamo (again, bears watching).

MINNESOTA UNITED FC, 1-0-0, 3 points, 3 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 1-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

W

@ VAN

3-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Delighted, and on at least two levels (e.g., liking Minnesota, not Vancouver)

Next Game: @ San Jose Earthquakes

COLORADO RAPIDS, 0-0-1, 1 point, 3 gf, 3 ga, (0-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

v POR

3-3

N/A

Current Judgment: As noted in the extended comments (see above), both their ringers rang. That’s good.

Next Game: @ Seattle Sounders (this, on the other hand, is not good).

PORTLAND TIMBERS, 0-0-1, 1 point, 3 gf, 3 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

@ COL

3-3

N/A

Current Judgment: Pending…

Next Game: @ Los Angeles FC (good test, looking forward).

REAL SALT LAKE, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

@ HOU

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: Eh.

Next Game: v. Vancouver Whitecaps (this would be a good, validating win).

COLUMBUS CREW SC, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

v NYR

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: No, please, tell me about your work again.

Next Game: @New England Revolution

FC DALLAS, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

v NE

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: a little less than de minimis, but the new guy gets time.

Next Game: v. Los Angeles Galaxy (watch this space).

HOUSTON DYNAMO, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

v RSL

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: The shrugging emoji.

Next Game: v. Montreal Impact (see above)

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

@ FCD

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: A road draw against a solid Western Conference team is a good start.

Next Game: v. Columbus Crew SC (a win would really help)

NEW YORK CITY FC, 0-0-1, 1 point, 2 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

@ ORL

2-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Noted…

Next Game: v. DC United (better test).

NEW YORK RED BULLS, 0-0-1, 1 point, 1 gf, 1 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

@ CLB

1-1

N/A

Current Judgment: Steady as she goes.

Next Game: Day off! (Then v. San Jose, aka, dignity must-win).

ORLANDO CITY FC, 0-0-1, 1 point, 2 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

D

v NYC

2-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Good result, on the balance. I’ll be digging into this one too.

Next Game: @Chicago Fire

ATLANTA UNITED FC, 0-1-0, 0 points, 0 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

@ DC

0-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Not good result, but also not a big deal.

Next Game: v. FC Cincinnati (if this isn’t a win, tho…)

CHICAGO FIRE, 0-1-0, 0 points, 1 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

@ LA

0-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Let it go, Jake. It’s Chicago…

Next Game: v. Orlando City SC (they must be the authors of their own redemption)

PHILADELPHIA UNION, 0-1-0, 0 points, 1 gf, 3 ga, (0-1-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

v TFC

1-3

N/A

Current Judgment: Whoa. Guys? (Another one I’ll be digging into.)

Next Game: @ Sporting KC (SHIT! And they’re angry!)

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES, 0-1-0, 0 points, 1 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

v MTL

1-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Not an ideal start for Mr. Almeyda….

Next Game: v. Minnesota United FC (the bar has raised, by common consent; count on nothing)

SPORTING KC, 0-1-0, 0 points, 1 gf, 2 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

v LAF

1-2

N/A

Current Judgment: Reasonable loss, they’ve got time.

Next Game: v. Philadelphia Union (with all the variables around SKC (e.g., CCL), I’m more keyed on Philly.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS, 0-1-0, 0 points, 2 gf, 3 ga, (0-1-0 home, 0-0-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

v MIN

2-3

N/A

Current Judgment: Hard to say, but also probably not great.

Next Game: @ Real Salt Lake (another L wouldn’t stun me).

FC CINCINNATI, 0-1-0, 0 points, 1 gf, 4 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)

Last Ten: N/A

L

@ SEA

1-4

N/A

Current Judgment: As noted in the extended comments, this was to be expected. They weathered it.

Next Game: @ Atlanta United FC (feels like a Christians to the lions situation).

That’s it. I’ll update soon (and pray the formatting doesn’t go bat-shit).