 |
| Imma win brain damage. |
For those wondering, I have achieved full, Buddhic
understanding of how the Major League Soccer calendar works. After that, this
was a week both short and full. In no particular order…
Starting with local interest, FC Cincinnati filed another
brief in its own defense as a team that can compete in MLS courtesy of a road win over the New England Revolution. I posted extended thoughts on the game
earlier, but, as far as I’m concerned, Cincinnati gets to soar until some team
drags them back down to Earth.
A curveball hit a couple other reputations this weekend:
even if it’s hard to apportion debit and credit in Orlando City SC’s road win
over the New York Red Bulls it pumped some volume into the whispers around the
latter’s slow start. Seeing the Philadelphia Union pass Columbus Crew SC to
death flags the weekend’s other eye-catching result. Everything else in this
competition-/talent-starved weekend ended more or less as expected – e.g., FC
Dallas beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 in Dallas and Los Angeles FC beat Real Salt
Lake, in LA, as expected (c’mon), by a(nother) final score of 2-1. Thus ended a
short-handed Week (in every sense of the word), with some reputations tarnished
(New York Red Bulls), some burnished (FC Cincinnati, maybe Philly), and some
rusted (the New England Revolution).
With only a grand (rough) total of 10(?) teams of 24
(right?) this weekend, I kept my comments on the individual teams who played in
MLS-Week-Less-Than-4 both fairly brief and heavily-conditioned. I'll move teams up and down according to whatever theory after everyone in MLS gets more or less on sync as to what Week they're all on (don't hold yer breath) Besides that, the teams
you expected to do well generally are, and the San Jose Earthquakes still suck
and, no, the New England Revolution is not remotely sorted out. All of it’s
still complicated, obviously, but there’s also probably still more than a little
truth to how I organized every team in MLS (please tell me that’s right) down
below. Enjoy!
SEATTLE SOUNDERS,
3-0-0, 9 points, 10 gf, 3 ga, (2-0-0 home, 1-0-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
W
|
W
|
|
v CIN
|
v COL
|
@ CHI
|
|
4-1
|
2-0
|
4-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Perfect record, scoring freely, defending
just fine…just note the competiton.
Next Game: @ Vancouver Whitecaps. REALLY hard to see Seattle
losing that one…
DC UNITED, 2-0-1, 7
points, 7 gf, 0 ga, (2-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
D
|
W
|
|
v ATL
|
@ NYC
|
v RSL
|
|
2-0
|
0-0
|
5-0
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: On the one hand, they’re playing teams
with problems running from slow starts (e.g., Atlanta and NYCFC) to sucking
eggs on the road (RSL). On the other…they haven’t given up a goal, guys.
Next Game: @ Orlando City SC. Looks a little different after
Orlando kept the Red Bulls way off the board. Still a decent chance for DC to
get their road mojo going.
LOS ANGELES FC, 3-0-1,
10 points, 10 gf, 5 ga, (3-0-0 home, 0-0-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
W
|
D
|
W
|
|
v SKC
|
v POR
|
@ NYC
|
v RSL
|
|
2-1
|
4-1
|
2-2
|
2-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Having three of four games at home makes a
case that they’re walking on risers, but still taking all comers thus far.
Solid start, though, and they look like a team to watch.
Next Game: @ San Jose Earthquakes, a fairly easy step into
the next road experience.
COLUMBUS CREW SC, 2-1-1,
7 points, 4 gf, 4 ga, (1-0-1 home, 1-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
L
|
|
v NYR
|
@ NE
|
v FCD
|
@ PHI
|
|
1-1
|
2-0
|
1-0
|
0-3
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: In studying the match-up against Philly, I
floated the idea that Columbus might “suffocate into [Philly] submission.” That
held up for 25-30 minutes before the Union passed them to shreds. Stingy as
they’ve been, however, this loss gets a pass/probation.
Next Game: v Altanta United. Two teams looking for
redemption, but from different angles: Atlanta needs to crawl out of a hole,
while Columbus needs to keep things safe at home.
MONTREAL IMPACT,
2-1-0, 6 points, 6 gf, 4 ga, (0-0-0 home, 2-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
|
@ SJ
|
@ HOU
|
@ ORL
|
|
2-1
|
1-2
|
3-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Sure, the opposition isn’t the tallest, but
Montreal has picked up 2/3 of the points. As you’d expect a good team to do.
Next Game: @ Sporting KC, this team’s next step into road
game Hell (two more games after). If they keep up this average of points, they
might have some juice in 2019.
MINNESOTA UNITED FC,
2-1-0, 6 points, 8 gf, 5 ga, (0-0-0 home, 2-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
W
|
L
|
|
@ VAN
|
@ SJ
|
@ LA
|
|
3-2
|
3-0
|
2-3
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: I’ll be reviewing this one too, but that
looks like a fighting loss, and a good sign.
Next Game: @ New England Revolution, which looks even better
today than it did a week ago.
SPORTING KC, 1-1-1, 4
points, 4 gf, 3 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-1-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
W
|
D
|
|
@ LAF
|
v PHI
|
@ COL
|
|
1-2
|
2-0
|
1-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: They’re definitely punching low early,
but, until further notice, that’s a basic pattern of taking care of business
through CONCACAF Champions’ League congestion.
Next Game: v. Montreal Impact, an opportunity to start
swaggering.
NEW YORK RED BULLS,
1-1-1, 4 points, 5 gf, 3 ga, (1-1-0 home, 0-0-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
W
|
L
|
|
@ CLB
|
v SJ
|
v ORL
|
|
1-1
|
4-1
|
0-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: They lacked for inventiveness and
incisiveness, and with only one goal scored between two teams not from San Jose
that opens up questions about the attack.
Next Game: @ Chicago Fire, which is suddenly rather
important.
HOUSTON DYNAMO,
2-0-1, 7 points, 6 gf, 4 ga, (2-0-1 home, 0-0-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
|
v RSL
|
v MTL
|
v VAN
|
|
1-1
|
2-1
|
3-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: That’s a damned solid record for Houston,
but they’ve been good at home since 2017(?), and those are not exactly power
teams. (Yes, I know what I wrote about Montreal.)
Next Game: @ Colorado, the first road game of the season, a
classic trap-ortunity. (That’s a trap for Houston, a vital opportunity for
Colorado.)
LOS ANGELES GALAXY,
2-1-0, 6 points, 5 gf, 5 ga, (2-0-0 home, 0-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
|
v CHI
|
@ FCD
|
v MIN
|
|
2-1
|
0-2
|
3-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: More impressive given Minnesota’s start
(and on the road), but that’s still two marginal results at home…at least until
I look into it further. Definitely a result to review.
Next Game: v Portland Timbers, who have the league-worst
defense, anyone, and that hands LA a baby gazelle situation that they’d be wise
to exploit.
FC DALLAS, 2-1-1, 7 points,
5 gf, 3 ga, (2-0-1 home, 0-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
|
v NE
|
v LAG
|
@ CLB
|
v COL
|
|
1-1
|
2-0
|
0-1
|
2-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: The win over Colorado gives Dallas grounds
to claim the crown of MLS’s grind-kings (as in, grinding out results). Solid
start.
Next Game: @ Real Salt Lake, which should be intense, but
also a good chance to build their defense’s legend.
TORONTO FC, 2-0-0, 6
points, 6 gf, 3 ga, (1-0-0 home, 1-0-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
W
|
W
|
|
@ PHI
|
v NE
|
|
3-1
|
3-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: TFC has a lot of baggage to drop before
they look real again, but I’m still lingering over that road win over Philly.
Next Game: v tie-happy New York City FC. A win here, and TFC
might have their legs under them.
FC CINCINNATI, 2-1-1,
7 points, 7 gf, 5 ga, (1-0-0 home, 1-1-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
W
|
|
@ SEA
|
@ ATL
|
v POR
|
@ NE
|
|
1-4
|
1-1
|
3-0
|
2-0
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Well, well, well. Well. I’ll go on at
length later tonight (and drop in a link
right here), but that start looked like HELL, and look at FC Cincy take just
over half the available points…
Next Game: v. Philadelphia Union, which should give them
something new to learn about/manage (e.g., a CRAZY possession team). It’s also
possible that the Union will be the first team since Seattle not going through
chaos/crap form.
REAL SALT LAKE, 1-2-1,
4 points, 3 gf, 8 ga, (1-0-0 home, 0-2-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
W
|
L
|
L
|
|
@ HOU
|
v VAN
|
@ DC
|
@LAF
|
|
1-1
|
1-0
|
0-5
|
1-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: The road continues to be their curse, the
Vancouver Whitecaps their salvation.
Next Game: v FC Dallas, with what looks like another long
season on the road, RSL have a positive need to pick up points at home.
NEW YORK CITY FC,
0-0-3, 3 points, 4 gf, 4 ga, (0-0-2 home, 0-0-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
|
@ ORL
|
v DC
|
v LAF
|
|
2-2
|
0-0
|
2-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: No, that isn’t good. Will definitely
review this, but a team of ambition (as announced by a $9 million signing)
doesn’t swallow dropping four points at home lightly.
Next Game: @ Toronto FC. An unlikely win would look great on
paper, another draw would do…sort of.
COLORADO RAPIDS, 0-2-2,
2 points, 5 gf, 8 ga, (0-0-2 home, 0-2-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
L
|
D
|
L
|
|
v POR
|
@ SEA
|
v SKC
|
@ FCD
|
|
3-3
|
0-2
|
1-1
|
1-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: I’m guessing they’re a couple steps above
strictly mediocre, but only a couple. Not yet competitive.
Next Game: v Houston Dynamo, a decent chance to, you know,
win?
ATLANTA UNITED FC,
0-1-2, 2 points, 2 gf, 4 ga, (0-0-2 home, 0-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
W
|
D
|
|
@ DC
|
v CIN
|
v PHI
|
|
0-2
|
1-1
|
1-1
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: As a Cascadia inhabitant, I feel the MLS
season’s generosity in my bones, but, golly, have the mighty fallen. And until
further notice.
Next Game: @ Columbus Crew, which is not remotely a gift.
Even with the past week’s slip, Columbus holds a 1.0 goal/game average.
PORTLAND TIMBERS,
0-2-1, 1 point, 4 gf, 10 ga, (0-0-0 home, 0-2-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
L
|
L
|
|
@ COL
|
@ LAF
|
@ CIN
|
|
3-3
|
1-4
|
0-3
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: With the defense unable to keep out the
goals (hello, MLS-worst defense!), things officially slipped to alarming. As
hinted at in my extended comments, Portland still has one hell of a A-team. It
also appears to have one hell of a drop-off.
Next Game: @ Los Angeles Galaxy…and I got nothing, including
optimism.
PHILADELPHIA UNION, 1-2-1,
4 points, 5 gf, 6 ga, (1-1-0 home, 0-1-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
L
|
D
|
W
|
|
v TFC
|
@ SKC
|
@ ATL
|
v CLB
|
|
1-3
|
0-2
|
1-1
|
3-0
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Last week, I dubbed their home game
against Columbus a “tough, but very important match-up for Philly.” They
responded. No less importantly, David Accam responded. He scored a great solo
goal for the game winner.
Next Game: @ FC Cincinnati, which presents as a fairly steep
challenge. A Philly win should impress.
ORLANDO CITY SC, 1-1-2,
5 points, 5 gf, 6 ga, (0-1-1 home, 1-0-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
D
|
L
|
W
|
|
v NYC
|
@ CHI
|
v MTL
|
@ NYR
|
|
2-2
|
1-1
|
1-3
|
1-0
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Earned a clean sheet in an unusual place.
That’s worth noting. Best case, it’s the first draft in re-writing the script
for Orlando.
Next Game: v DC United
NEW ENGLAND
REVOLUTION, 0-3-1, 1 point, 3 gf, 8 ga, (0-2-0 home, 0-1-1 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
D
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
|
@ FCD
|
v CLB
|
@ TFC
|
v CIN
|
|
1-1
|
0-2
|
2-3
|
0-2
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: “How long does the broad trend of
mediocrity have to keep up before people start wondering whether or not Brad
Friedel is the problem.” That’s from last week and that’s staying up till it
makes sense to take it down. They looked like shit out there today.
Next Game: v. Minnesota United FC, a must-win on a pure
dignity/continued employment level.
CHICAGO FIRE, 0-2-1, 1
point, 4 gf, 7 ga, (0-1-1 home, 0-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
D
|
L
|
|
@ LA
|
v ORL
|
v SEA
|
|
1-2
|
1-1
|
2-4
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Just when you thought Chicago was cooked,
the heat rises. Especially for a team without a meaningful home-field
advantage.
Next Game: @ New York Red Bulls, which just got more
interesting. If they can keep them out…
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS,
0-3-0, 0 points, 4 gf, 7 ga, (0-1-0 home, 0-2-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
|
v MIN
|
@ RSL
|
@ HOU
|
|
2-3
|
0-1
|
2-3
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: Waiting for something to call a positive…
Next Game: v. Seattle Sounders, which should let people see
whether the week off was enough to sort some shit out.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES,
0-3-0, 0 points, 2 gf, 9 ga, (0-2-0 home, 0-1-0 away)
Last Ten: N/A
|
L
|
L
|
L
|
|
v MTL
|
v MIN
|
@ NYR
|
|
1-2
|
0-3
|
1-4
|
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Current Judgment: “Wasted no time in settling to the bottom.
Jesus Christ.” That’s last week’s note with one ungrammatical phrase removed.
No change.
Next Game: v Los Angeles FC, and just plain bad timing.
That's all for this half-assed week. See you in the next one.
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