Due to the long, long tail below, I’m going for an all-time short preamble for this post, as well as the one for the Eastern Conference. The goal here is simple: remind readers where all the teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference left off going into the Leagues Cup break (also, re Leagues Cup, smoke ‘em if you got ‘em), pass on short note as to how each Western Conference team did in that tournament, flag any (potentially? arguably?) notable comings into and goings out of the roster, and look ahead to the next eight games or so for all involved.
Here are the sources I consulted: the current conference standings, the bless’d and holy Form Guide, the group stage standings and knockout round brackets from the Leagues Cup, as well as the list of results, and the “all transactions” page on MLSSoccer.com. Oh, and I watched a lot of the highlights from the Leagues Cup.
I believe the rest speaks for itself, so, with no further ado. (And, goddamn, here’s to crushing the preamble.)
St. Louis CITY FC
13-8-2, 41 pts., 23 games played; 43 gf, 27 ga (+16); home 8-3-1, away 5-5-1
Last 10 League Results: WLTLLWWWLW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Tricky to read, honestly, due to the five wins in that mix: v HOU, @ SJ, v COL, @ TFC and v (pre-Messi makeover) MIA. And anytime they’ve come against one of the West’s better teams, regardless of venue – e.g., @ FCD, v RSL – they’ve lost. Maybe it’s that simple?
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Not at all well, really. The fates dealt them a tough hand – i.e., Columbus Crew SC on the road and Mexico’s famous Club America at home – but, since this is a discussion about long-term prospects against your better teams....
Fresh Moves
Nothing major. They signed an Icelandic winger with highly-tenuous ties to the Icelandic national team named Nokkvi Thorisson and picked up defender Anthony Markanich from the Colorado Rapids.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
St. Louis plays five of their next eight games on the road, most against the decidedly middling middle of the Western Conference, but, honestly, their record speaks for itself at this point. And seeing them sort things out going into the Leagues Cup break gives me enough faith that they’ll stay somewhere around the top of the West. They’ll avoid the worst fate – i.e., missing the playoffs – in any case.
Here are the sources I consulted: the current conference standings, the bless’d and holy Form Guide, the group stage standings and knockout round brackets from the Leagues Cup, as well as the list of results, and the “all transactions” page on MLSSoccer.com. Oh, and I watched a lot of the highlights from the Leagues Cup.
I believe the rest speaks for itself, so, with no further ado. (And, goddamn, here’s to crushing the preamble.)
St. Louis CITY FC
13-8-2, 41 pts., 23 games played; 43 gf, 27 ga (+16); home 8-3-1, away 5-5-1
Last 10 League Results: WLTLLWWWLW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Tricky to read, honestly, due to the five wins in that mix: v HOU, @ SJ, v COL, @ TFC and v (pre-Messi makeover) MIA. And anytime they’ve come against one of the West’s better teams, regardless of venue – e.g., @ FCD, v RSL – they’ve lost. Maybe it’s that simple?
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Not at all well, really. The fates dealt them a tough hand – i.e., Columbus Crew SC on the road and Mexico’s famous Club America at home – but, since this is a discussion about long-term prospects against your better teams....
Fresh Moves
Nothing major. They signed an Icelandic winger with highly-tenuous ties to the Icelandic national team named Nokkvi Thorisson and picked up defender Anthony Markanich from the Colorado Rapids.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
St. Louis plays five of their next eight games on the road, most against the decidedly middling middle of the Western Conference, but, honestly, their record speaks for itself at this point. And seeing them sort things out going into the Leagues Cup break gives me enough faith that they’ll stay somewhere around the top of the West. They’ll avoid the worst fate – i.e., missing the playoffs – in any case.
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| How we all see LAFC. |
Los Angeles FC
10-6-7, 37 pts., 23 games played; 34 gf, 25 ga (+9); home 7-2-3, away 3-3-4
Last 10 League Results: LLWWLLLTWT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Pretty damn soft, even if Houston has their number for some goddamn reason. If anything, it does the opposite of mitigating their late shaky run of form. The record they compiled wouldn’t even be good for a mid-table team, never mind a team laboring under LAFC’s eternal weight of expectation.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They finally nodded toward those expectations by absolutely destroying the first two teams they played – FC Juarez (7-1), then Real Salt Lake (4-0) – before getting knocked off at the door to the semifinals by Mexico’s Monterrey...which would have looked totally reasonable had Nashville smothered them in the ensuing semifinal.
Fresh Moves
LAFC returned Eddie Segura (injuries?) and added Cristian Olivera, a player I don’t know from Adam (young Uruguayan winger, apparently), but also lost forever-budding world-beater Jose Cifuentes. So, maybe a little more subtraction than gain, but I’m content to sit back and seeing what happens.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The glib pundit muscle memory kicked back in after the Leagues Cup run, thus LAFC returns to the ranks of the competitive teams, if only from the broadcast booth. Good as that run was, I don’t see how it erases the shlumpy form going in. Fortunately, LAFC has a tough run of games on re-entry (v MIA, @ POR, v LAG, @ STL, @ PHI), so we should get a real quick reading as to whether the real LAFC stood up during the Leagues Cup or over the regular season. Just to note it, it’s fun not knowing how to place these guys...
Real Salt Lake
10-7-7, 37 pts., 24 games played; 35 gf, 34 ga (+1); home 4-4-4, away 6-3-3
Last 10 League Results: LWTWWTWWTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Pretty damn average, but their road record speaks volumes: this is a team that knows how to win tricky games – e.g., St. Louis away, routing Orlando City SC at home – and they’ve won plenty lately. RSL was one of the hottest teams going into the Leagues Cup break.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They beat the shit out of the Seattle Sounders only to have Monterrey kick exactly as much shit out of them. RSL followed that up by kicking the shit out of Leon and then getting a little more shit kicked out of them by LAFC in the quarter finals. A real hand-buzzer of a performance, really.
Fresh Moves
RSL made their biggest move prior when they returned Cristian Arango to MLS, but they also added Braian Ojeda on August 1 – who I think I spotted in the Leagues Cup (not bad for a young one, getting thrown right in). In the interest of airing subtexts, RSL’s ambition over this season has impressed me. And I, like you, value the gratification of a good prediction/impulse.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Looking at their next six games - @ LA, v HOU, @ POR, v COL, @ SJ, v FCD – the thing I’m looking to see is whether RSL takes more than half the points. At their best – i.e., the neighborhood they’ve moved into - they do that comfortably. The ass-ripping at LAFC has been noted, but I’m betting on them as a Top 5 in the West team.
Seattle Sounders
10-8-6, 36 pts., 24 games played; 29 gf, 23 ga (+6); home 6-3-4, away 4-5-2
Last 10 League Results: WLTTLTWWLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
I see an amount of futility that must feel like a slap in the face for a team with Seattle’s history. Dropping dumb points like they’re hot and everywhere they can – e.g., a home loss to the road-shy San Jose Earthquakes – and they bagged just six points over their past six home games, including a couple against teams they would have throttled two seasons ago.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
So very not well. Got thrown out like bums. Seven goals allowed and with a -5 goal differential. Ouch.
Fresh Moves
Just graduating midfielder Paul Rothrock out of their MLS Next Pro affiliate, the Tacoma Defiance. Maybe less than one would expect, but what I know about Seattle’s overall roster situation wouldn’t fill so much as a thimble.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
To state the achingly obvious, Seattle could find themselves in trouble if they don’t pick up a bit. Actual danger? Eeehhh. They play four of their next six on the road, some in tricky venues (@ MIN, @ ATX, maybe @ FCD), plus they host a Portland Timbers team that spooks them (and yet no one else) and, yeah, just everything – i.e., the last 10 games, the Leagues Cup debacle – makes you wonder whether the Sounders have any real juice this season. You never put a revival past ‘em, but nothing I see really points to one.
10-6-7, 37 pts., 23 games played; 34 gf, 25 ga (+9); home 7-2-3, away 3-3-4
Last 10 League Results: LLWWLLLTWT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Pretty damn soft, even if Houston has their number for some goddamn reason. If anything, it does the opposite of mitigating their late shaky run of form. The record they compiled wouldn’t even be good for a mid-table team, never mind a team laboring under LAFC’s eternal weight of expectation.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They finally nodded toward those expectations by absolutely destroying the first two teams they played – FC Juarez (7-1), then Real Salt Lake (4-0) – before getting knocked off at the door to the semifinals by Mexico’s Monterrey...which would have looked totally reasonable had Nashville smothered them in the ensuing semifinal.
Fresh Moves
LAFC returned Eddie Segura (injuries?) and added Cristian Olivera, a player I don’t know from Adam (young Uruguayan winger, apparently), but also lost forever-budding world-beater Jose Cifuentes. So, maybe a little more subtraction than gain, but I’m content to sit back and seeing what happens.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The glib pundit muscle memory kicked back in after the Leagues Cup run, thus LAFC returns to the ranks of the competitive teams, if only from the broadcast booth. Good as that run was, I don’t see how it erases the shlumpy form going in. Fortunately, LAFC has a tough run of games on re-entry (v MIA, @ POR, v LAG, @ STL, @ PHI), so we should get a real quick reading as to whether the real LAFC stood up during the Leagues Cup or over the regular season. Just to note it, it’s fun not knowing how to place these guys...
Real Salt Lake
10-7-7, 37 pts., 24 games played; 35 gf, 34 ga (+1); home 4-4-4, away 6-3-3
Last 10 League Results: LWTWWTWWTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Pretty damn average, but their road record speaks volumes: this is a team that knows how to win tricky games – e.g., St. Louis away, routing Orlando City SC at home – and they’ve won plenty lately. RSL was one of the hottest teams going into the Leagues Cup break.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They beat the shit out of the Seattle Sounders only to have Monterrey kick exactly as much shit out of them. RSL followed that up by kicking the shit out of Leon and then getting a little more shit kicked out of them by LAFC in the quarter finals. A real hand-buzzer of a performance, really.
Fresh Moves
RSL made their biggest move prior when they returned Cristian Arango to MLS, but they also added Braian Ojeda on August 1 – who I think I spotted in the Leagues Cup (not bad for a young one, getting thrown right in). In the interest of airing subtexts, RSL’s ambition over this season has impressed me. And I, like you, value the gratification of a good prediction/impulse.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Looking at their next six games - @ LA, v HOU, @ POR, v COL, @ SJ, v FCD – the thing I’m looking to see is whether RSL takes more than half the points. At their best – i.e., the neighborhood they’ve moved into - they do that comfortably. The ass-ripping at LAFC has been noted, but I’m betting on them as a Top 5 in the West team.
Seattle Sounders
10-8-6, 36 pts., 24 games played; 29 gf, 23 ga (+6); home 6-3-4, away 4-5-2
Last 10 League Results: WLTTLTWWLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
I see an amount of futility that must feel like a slap in the face for a team with Seattle’s history. Dropping dumb points like they’re hot and everywhere they can – e.g., a home loss to the road-shy San Jose Earthquakes – and they bagged just six points over their past six home games, including a couple against teams they would have throttled two seasons ago.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
So very not well. Got thrown out like bums. Seven goals allowed and with a -5 goal differential. Ouch.
Fresh Moves
Just graduating midfielder Paul Rothrock out of their MLS Next Pro affiliate, the Tacoma Defiance. Maybe less than one would expect, but what I know about Seattle’s overall roster situation wouldn’t fill so much as a thimble.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
To state the achingly obvious, Seattle could find themselves in trouble if they don’t pick up a bit. Actual danger? Eeehhh. They play four of their next six on the road, some in tricky venues (@ MIN, @ ATX, maybe @ FCD), plus they host a Portland Timbers team that spooks them (and yet no one else) and, yeah, just everything – i.e., the last 10 games, the Leagues Cup debacle – makes you wonder whether the Sounders have any real juice this season. You never put a revival past ‘em, but nothing I see really points to one.
Austin FC
9-9-5, 32 pts., 23 games played; 32 gf, 32 ga (+0); home 6-3-3, away 3-6-2
Last 10 League Results: LWLLWWTWLW
Strength/Location of Schedule
The biggest thing I see is Austin winning the head-to-heads against direct, mid-table rivals – e.g., FC Dallas, Minnesota (home and away) – because that explains what got them to the top of the middle. In the middle of a bar-room melee and holding their own, basically.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
The short version: back-to-back 1-3 losses to Mexico’s less glamorous teams (Juarez and Mazatlan), so, no, I can’t imagine that’s how they wanted things to go...especially not after seeing Juarez get fucking dismantled by LAFC in the knockouts.
Fresh Moves
Austin made real moves, if in the small pond of MLS, by rescuing Matt Hedges from Toronto FC and trading (poor) Diego Fagundez to the Los Angeles Galaxy for Memo Rodriguez. For the record, absent any context, I don’t make that last trade.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The Leagues Cup (I’ll say it) face-plant aside, Austin has done well enough to make me think they stay about where they are – and probably through the end. The next six aren’t easy – also, how does every team in MLS have four of the next six on the road? – but that’s what my gut’s whispering.
San Jose Earthquakes
8-7-8, 32 pts., 23 games played; 28 gf, 29 ga (-1); home 7-1-4, away 1-6-4
Last 10 League Results: TWTWTLLTTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
The (on-paper) strong wins in that mix – over Philly at home, Seattle home and away – make mysteries of some of the rest. Their home firm tailed off and that’s tripping ‘em a little.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
It was always going to come down to whether they could beat the Portland Timbers or vice versa, and that failure almost certainly sealed the ‘Quakes fate. So, more of the same in a lotta ways.
Fresh Moves
Looks like the ‘Quakes saw the same punchless offense as everyone else, so they took out loans on a couple forwards, Toronto’s Ayo Akinola and Matthew Hoppe from Middlesbrough(‘s bench, I imagine). I know Akinola better than Hoppe, but those strike me as basically sane moves.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
San Jose’s a team I can see falling out. And their next five games - @ VAN, @ SKC, v LAG, v MIN, @ DC – look like an ideal double-blind study for testing that theory.
Vancouver Whitecaps
8-7-7, 31 pts., 22 games played; 38 gf, 32 ga (+); home 7-2-4, away 1-5-3
Last 10 League Results: WLWTTWLLWW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Despite some stumbles – e.g., drawing Sporting Kansas City and losing to Seattle at home – Vancouver picked up most of what they played for at home. Also of note: their home record probably wouldn’t have come into such focus had they not played seven of their past 10 games at home. The ‘Caps have almost certainly improved, but they’ve been living off home-cooking...and yet not really feasting.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They “won” in penalties against Leon and, like so many before them, won outright against the Los Angeles Galaxy. And then they took Tigres UANL to the wire in the first leg of the knockouts, even if it doesn’t look like they covered themselves in glory in the penalty shoot-out. I’d put it at meeting expectations and leaving a tip.
Fresh Moves
Vancouver arguably made their biggest move of the break when they shipped Julian Gressel to Columbus. Fortunately, they picked up at least one wingback player to plug that whole in Richie Laryea, plus Sam Adekugbe (if I knew anything more than what I saw on social media, I’d say so; also, some people made it look like a big deal).
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Holy fucking road game, how does Vancouver play seven of their next eight on the road, what with all the teams above doing four of their next six? Are there still home games? Suffice to say, we’re collectively poised to learn a lot about the ‘Caps between now and October.
FC Dallas
8-9-6, 30 pts., 23 games played; 25 gf, 26 ga (-1); home 6-3-2, away 2-6-4
Last 10 League Results: TLLWLLWLLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Mmmm...falls somewhere between tricky and challenging, but that feels like a detail next to the blunt fact that Dallas has been bad over the ten games rolling into the break. A good team can’t drop games like DC United at home or even the Colorado Rapids or Portland Timbers on the road.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Pretty damn valiantly, based on what I saw. After a surprisingly sturdy Charlotte FC side beat them on penalties, Dallas went on to beat Necaxa and Mazatlan before pushing Lionel Messi & the Inter Miami CF to a 4-4 draw. They lost that last one on penalty kicks, but Dallas had a real run.
Fresh Moves
Dallas shipped Justin Che to Brondby and traded Edwin Cerrillo to the Galaxy, while adding a pair of midfielders – Asier Illaramendi and Liam Fraser – from (genuinely) parts unknown. So, la plus ca change...
Expectations for the Stretch Run
I see four home games of six in Dallas near-term future, the balance of them winnable (e.g., v ATX, v ATL, v SEA, v CLB), so, yeah, it’s very much showtime for FC Dallas. Also worth noting: their margin of error is more or less gone.
Houston Dynamo FC
8-10-5, 29 pts., 23 games played; 26 gf, 31 ga (-5); home 7-2-2, away 1-8-3
Last 10 League Results: LLWWWLLTLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Long story short: an impressive winning streak (v LAFC, @ LAFC, v SJ) surrounded by a lotta shit. Outside that win over LAFC, Houston’s bad on the road to a point where one doesn’t so much think about it as accept it as reality.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
After losing to Orlando on penalty kicks, the Dynamo pushed through to the Round of 16 by white-knuckling through one penalty-kick shout-out after the other, first against Santos Laguna, then against their old antagonist from the mid-2000s, Pachuca (epic games; seriously). Brave and serviceable, kind of like them...unless they’re on the road.
Fresh Moves
Houston put an end to the ill-starred Sebastian Ferreira era (#RIP), but they also lured a Polish midfielder named Sebastian Kowalcyzk from a Polish club I’ve never heard of (Pogon Szczecin). All I expect at this point is an excess of the letter “z,” but the Polish youth set-up thought well of him.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The good news: Houston has a home-stand coming, with five of their next eight in Houston. The bad news: v POR, v CLB, v STL, v VAN, v FCD. That’s a lot of must-win for any team, but it’s more of that for Houston. I will say this: the Dynamo looked pretty damn fluid when I caught them in the Leagues Cup. Translating that into goals has been a defining issue...and they didn’t do much to change that. Fwiw, if I had to point to one side of the scales in their future...the finger would go to the lower of the two.
9-9-5, 32 pts., 23 games played; 32 gf, 32 ga (+0); home 6-3-3, away 3-6-2
Last 10 League Results: LWLLWWTWLW
Strength/Location of Schedule
The biggest thing I see is Austin winning the head-to-heads against direct, mid-table rivals – e.g., FC Dallas, Minnesota (home and away) – because that explains what got them to the top of the middle. In the middle of a bar-room melee and holding their own, basically.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
The short version: back-to-back 1-3 losses to Mexico’s less glamorous teams (Juarez and Mazatlan), so, no, I can’t imagine that’s how they wanted things to go...especially not after seeing Juarez get fucking dismantled by LAFC in the knockouts.
Fresh Moves
Austin made real moves, if in the small pond of MLS, by rescuing Matt Hedges from Toronto FC and trading (poor) Diego Fagundez to the Los Angeles Galaxy for Memo Rodriguez. For the record, absent any context, I don’t make that last trade.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The Leagues Cup (I’ll say it) face-plant aside, Austin has done well enough to make me think they stay about where they are – and probably through the end. The next six aren’t easy – also, how does every team in MLS have four of the next six on the road? – but that’s what my gut’s whispering.
San Jose Earthquakes
8-7-8, 32 pts., 23 games played; 28 gf, 29 ga (-1); home 7-1-4, away 1-6-4
Last 10 League Results: TWTWTLLTTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
The (on-paper) strong wins in that mix – over Philly at home, Seattle home and away – make mysteries of some of the rest. Their home firm tailed off and that’s tripping ‘em a little.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
It was always going to come down to whether they could beat the Portland Timbers or vice versa, and that failure almost certainly sealed the ‘Quakes fate. So, more of the same in a lotta ways.
Fresh Moves
Looks like the ‘Quakes saw the same punchless offense as everyone else, so they took out loans on a couple forwards, Toronto’s Ayo Akinola and Matthew Hoppe from Middlesbrough(‘s bench, I imagine). I know Akinola better than Hoppe, but those strike me as basically sane moves.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
San Jose’s a team I can see falling out. And their next five games - @ VAN, @ SKC, v LAG, v MIN, @ DC – look like an ideal double-blind study for testing that theory.
Vancouver Whitecaps
8-7-7, 31 pts., 22 games played; 38 gf, 32 ga (+); home 7-2-4, away 1-5-3
Last 10 League Results: WLWTTWLLWW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Despite some stumbles – e.g., drawing Sporting Kansas City and losing to Seattle at home – Vancouver picked up most of what they played for at home. Also of note: their home record probably wouldn’t have come into such focus had they not played seven of their past 10 games at home. The ‘Caps have almost certainly improved, but they’ve been living off home-cooking...and yet not really feasting.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They “won” in penalties against Leon and, like so many before them, won outright against the Los Angeles Galaxy. And then they took Tigres UANL to the wire in the first leg of the knockouts, even if it doesn’t look like they covered themselves in glory in the penalty shoot-out. I’d put it at meeting expectations and leaving a tip.
Fresh Moves
Vancouver arguably made their biggest move of the break when they shipped Julian Gressel to Columbus. Fortunately, they picked up at least one wingback player to plug that whole in Richie Laryea, plus Sam Adekugbe (if I knew anything more than what I saw on social media, I’d say so; also, some people made it look like a big deal).
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Holy fucking road game, how does Vancouver play seven of their next eight on the road, what with all the teams above doing four of their next six? Are there still home games? Suffice to say, we’re collectively poised to learn a lot about the ‘Caps between now and October.
FC Dallas
8-9-6, 30 pts., 23 games played; 25 gf, 26 ga (-1); home 6-3-2, away 2-6-4
Last 10 League Results: TLLWLLWLLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Mmmm...falls somewhere between tricky and challenging, but that feels like a detail next to the blunt fact that Dallas has been bad over the ten games rolling into the break. A good team can’t drop games like DC United at home or even the Colorado Rapids or Portland Timbers on the road.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Pretty damn valiantly, based on what I saw. After a surprisingly sturdy Charlotte FC side beat them on penalties, Dallas went on to beat Necaxa and Mazatlan before pushing Lionel Messi & the Inter Miami CF to a 4-4 draw. They lost that last one on penalty kicks, but Dallas had a real run.
Fresh Moves
Dallas shipped Justin Che to Brondby and traded Edwin Cerrillo to the Galaxy, while adding a pair of midfielders – Asier Illaramendi and Liam Fraser – from (genuinely) parts unknown. So, la plus ca change...
Expectations for the Stretch Run
I see four home games of six in Dallas near-term future, the balance of them winnable (e.g., v ATX, v ATL, v SEA, v CLB), so, yeah, it’s very much showtime for FC Dallas. Also worth noting: their margin of error is more or less gone.
Houston Dynamo FC
8-10-5, 29 pts., 23 games played; 26 gf, 31 ga (-5); home 7-2-2, away 1-8-3
Last 10 League Results: LLWWWLLTLT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Long story short: an impressive winning streak (v LAFC, @ LAFC, v SJ) surrounded by a lotta shit. Outside that win over LAFC, Houston’s bad on the road to a point where one doesn’t so much think about it as accept it as reality.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
After losing to Orlando on penalty kicks, the Dynamo pushed through to the Round of 16 by white-knuckling through one penalty-kick shout-out after the other, first against Santos Laguna, then against their old antagonist from the mid-2000s, Pachuca (epic games; seriously). Brave and serviceable, kind of like them...unless they’re on the road.
Fresh Moves
Houston put an end to the ill-starred Sebastian Ferreira era (#RIP), but they also lured a Polish midfielder named Sebastian Kowalcyzk from a Polish club I’ve never heard of (Pogon Szczecin). All I expect at this point is an excess of the letter “z,” but the Polish youth set-up thought well of him.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The good news: Houston has a home-stand coming, with five of their next eight in Houston. The bad news: v POR, v CLB, v STL, v VAN, v FCD. That’s a lot of must-win for any team, but it’s more of that for Houston. I will say this: the Dynamo looked pretty damn fluid when I caught them in the Leagues Cup. Translating that into goals has been a defining issue...and they didn’t do much to change that. Fwiw, if I had to point to one side of the scales in their future...the finger would go to the lower of the two.
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| Somewhat common theme... |
Minnesota United FC
7-8-7, 28 pts., 22 games played; 26 gf, 30 ga (-4); home 2-2-6, away 5-6-1
Last 10 League Results: WTLTLTWLWT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Fun fact: Minnesota owes much of the success it has to Houston and Portland, the two teams that combined to give the Loons their only four wins over their past 17 games. Outside that, I see a couple blowouts that shouldn’t have happened – e.g., 0-4 at Montreal and 1-4 v Austin – and a handful of ties. The stuff of treading water in the shallow end of the pond.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
After coming in second in what turned out to be one of the Leagues Cup’s softer groups (ft. Puebla and Chicago Fire FC), Minnesota did themselves incredibly proud, gritting out results against strong competition (i.e., Columbus and Mexico’s Toluca), before a loud, final face-plant at Nashville in the quarterfinals. Going the other way, I thought they looked good.
Fresh Moves
I never saw Teemu Pukki play till the Leagues Cup, so he feels like a new player to me – and he’s got a tidy shot. After that, they added Ethan Bristow (defender, from Tranmere) and recalled Jan Gregus back from Nashville. And the only player they gave up was Kemar Lawrence...which, whatever you think of Lawrence (for me, he’s solid), that’s still a fairly positive window.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
That staggeringly shitty home record aside, I’d call them heightened. Minnesota played a really strong Leagues Cup, they seem to have unlocked Hlongwane , Reynoso’s back, Pukki did some promising things...and they’ve got at least three winnable home dates – e.g., v SEA, v COL, v SKC – plus three more home games to turn around said staggeringly shitty home record. Make the Wonder Wall sing, you assholes.
Sporting Kansas City
6-11-8, 26 pts., 25 games played; 31 gf, 36 ga (-5); home 5-5-2, away 1-6-6
Last 10 League Results: WTWLTLWTTL
Strength/Location of Schedule
SKC’s late home form looks a little better if you slip their 4-1 win over Portland into the mix and the only actual flaw I see in the home form that got them back in the mix is the 0-1 loss versus Chicago back in (SKC’s) Week 21. In SKC’s defense, they’ve done as well over the past 10 games as most teams in the stumbling West...but they also dug a hell of a hole at the start of the season.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Between pushing FC Cincinnati to penalty kicks and beating Chivas de Guadalajara, they showed the same level of belief that got them back into the mix...Toluca handing them their asses, on the other hand, couldn’t have helped.
Fresh Moves
Not a damn thing. A little surprising, but teams/front offices tie their own hands all the time, yeah?
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Because SKC worked hard as they did to get their noses close to the surface, acknowledging the fact they’re still on the wrong side of the playoff line and with more games played than any team in MLS feels like spitting in some random kid’s face (and who does that?). And the way they sputtered going into the Leagues Cup break makes me doubt they’re going to tear through what’s ahead. I expect random pain-in-the-assery from them, but that’s about it.
Portland Timbers
6-9-8, 26 pts., 23 games played; 26 gf, 33 ga (-7); home 5-3-3, away 1-6-5
Last 10 League Results: LLTWTLTLTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Speaking strictly as a homer, every game tracks as Mission Impossible when the local team plays like shit. To continue with the homer perspective (for anyone who found this post on accident, the Timbers are my first team), three more or less unexpected points against Columbus Crew SC felt like proof of concept for the signs of life I’ve seen in the Timbers over the past month. That does not and cannot excuse the dumb points the Timbers have dropped – e.g., the ones dropped v MIN, v CHI, v NYC – but I’m keeping the faith that they’ll find a path through the soft parts above and snag a trip to nowhere in the playoffs.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Against the plain reality that they lost both games against Mexican teams, even if two of the best right now, and therefore only beat an erratic, road-shy San Jose team...the Timbers’ Leagues Cup felt like more proof of concept. This is 1,000% a case of you had to be there, watching every minute, but...
Fresh Moves
...to paraphrase the Holy Grail, they’re not dead yet. The Timbers gave up on the Pablo Bonilla Experiment (and neutrals who don’t track red card stats are hereby forgiven for not knowing who that is), but they padded the midfield by swiping Bryan Acosta from the Colorado Rapids and added the Brazilian winger Antony...and, sure, I’d like to think it could have been more exciting, but it also could have been much, much worse.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The good news: most of the points the Timbers gain or lose will come against Western Conference teams, most of them immediate rivals (e.g., @ HOU, v VAN, v RSL, @ ATX, v SJ, v COL). They have their fate in their hands, just like God’s got the whole world, etc...that said, I’m calling the next four games (@ HOU, v VAN, v RSL, @ SEA) pivotal. A team can only fall so far behind....
Los Angeles Galaxy
4-10-7, 22 pts., 22 games played; 25 gf, 37 ga (-12); home 3-4-2, away 1-6-5
Last 10 League Results: LLWTTTTWWL
Strength/Location of Schedule
They’ve picked up three quality wins over that stretch – e.g., RSL, v LAFC and PHI – and the ties in between don’t look so bad in isolation. Against the backdrop of the Galaxy’s shitty season, on the other hand...
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Lost both games, so, no, not great, but still respectable on the evidence and chatter. Maybe they’ll be tall enough to ride the big-kid rides one day.
Fresh Moves
It’s fair to say the Galaxy got as aggressive as possible by trading Fagundez and Michael Barrios away from Austin and Colorado, respectively, plus adding defender Maya Yoshida (who?), adding Edwin Cerrillo (shit...did I get this backwards in the Dallas section?), and....wow, 37-year-old, yet fairly successful English forward, Billy Sharp.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
To be clear, the Galaxy shouldn’t make me nervous vis-a-vis the Timbers, and yet they do. Add in the fact they’ve got five of their next seven at home (v RSL, v CHI, v HOU, v STL, v MIN, v POR), plus a couple plausibly winnable road games (@ SJ, @ ATX), and...no, I don’t understand my own anxiety.
Colorado Rapids
3-10-10, 19 pts., 23 games played; 16 gf, 30 ga (-14); home 1-4-7, away 2-6-3
Last 10 League Results: LLLTLTLWTT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Unbeaten at home in their last five games – hey! – but they still picked up just seven points at home over a stretch when they played seven of ten games at home. And they lost all three of the road games. And Robin Fraser is somehow still employed...
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They lost both games. They had Toluca and Nashville in their group, but still...shocker.
Fresh Moves
Apart from signing a very young Sidnei Tavares with minimal professional minutes with Porto B, they appear to have given up on their season. But I repeat myself.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
I see exactly ONE bright spot in all of the above. This will be a season of unrelenting pain for Rapids fans and they have my fullest sympathy. God willing, it won’t be record-breakingly terrible.
Fin.
7-8-7, 28 pts., 22 games played; 26 gf, 30 ga (-4); home 2-2-6, away 5-6-1
Last 10 League Results: WTLTLTWLWT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Fun fact: Minnesota owes much of the success it has to Houston and Portland, the two teams that combined to give the Loons their only four wins over their past 17 games. Outside that, I see a couple blowouts that shouldn’t have happened – e.g., 0-4 at Montreal and 1-4 v Austin – and a handful of ties. The stuff of treading water in the shallow end of the pond.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
After coming in second in what turned out to be one of the Leagues Cup’s softer groups (ft. Puebla and Chicago Fire FC), Minnesota did themselves incredibly proud, gritting out results against strong competition (i.e., Columbus and Mexico’s Toluca), before a loud, final face-plant at Nashville in the quarterfinals. Going the other way, I thought they looked good.
Fresh Moves
I never saw Teemu Pukki play till the Leagues Cup, so he feels like a new player to me – and he’s got a tidy shot. After that, they added Ethan Bristow (defender, from Tranmere) and recalled Jan Gregus back from Nashville. And the only player they gave up was Kemar Lawrence...which, whatever you think of Lawrence (for me, he’s solid), that’s still a fairly positive window.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
That staggeringly shitty home record aside, I’d call them heightened. Minnesota played a really strong Leagues Cup, they seem to have unlocked Hlongwane , Reynoso’s back, Pukki did some promising things...and they’ve got at least three winnable home dates – e.g., v SEA, v COL, v SKC – plus three more home games to turn around said staggeringly shitty home record. Make the Wonder Wall sing, you assholes.
Sporting Kansas City
6-11-8, 26 pts., 25 games played; 31 gf, 36 ga (-5); home 5-5-2, away 1-6-6
Last 10 League Results: WTWLTLWTTL
Strength/Location of Schedule
SKC’s late home form looks a little better if you slip their 4-1 win over Portland into the mix and the only actual flaw I see in the home form that got them back in the mix is the 0-1 loss versus Chicago back in (SKC’s) Week 21. In SKC’s defense, they’ve done as well over the past 10 games as most teams in the stumbling West...but they also dug a hell of a hole at the start of the season.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Between pushing FC Cincinnati to penalty kicks and beating Chivas de Guadalajara, they showed the same level of belief that got them back into the mix...Toluca handing them their asses, on the other hand, couldn’t have helped.
Fresh Moves
Not a damn thing. A little surprising, but teams/front offices tie their own hands all the time, yeah?
Expectations for the Stretch Run
Because SKC worked hard as they did to get their noses close to the surface, acknowledging the fact they’re still on the wrong side of the playoff line and with more games played than any team in MLS feels like spitting in some random kid’s face (and who does that?). And the way they sputtered going into the Leagues Cup break makes me doubt they’re going to tear through what’s ahead. I expect random pain-in-the-assery from them, but that’s about it.
Portland Timbers
6-9-8, 26 pts., 23 games played; 26 gf, 33 ga (-7); home 5-3-3, away 1-6-5
Last 10 League Results: LLTWTLTLTW
Strength/Location of Schedule
Speaking strictly as a homer, every game tracks as Mission Impossible when the local team plays like shit. To continue with the homer perspective (for anyone who found this post on accident, the Timbers are my first team), three more or less unexpected points against Columbus Crew SC felt like proof of concept for the signs of life I’ve seen in the Timbers over the past month. That does not and cannot excuse the dumb points the Timbers have dropped – e.g., the ones dropped v MIN, v CHI, v NYC – but I’m keeping the faith that they’ll find a path through the soft parts above and snag a trip to nowhere in the playoffs.
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Against the plain reality that they lost both games against Mexican teams, even if two of the best right now, and therefore only beat an erratic, road-shy San Jose team...the Timbers’ Leagues Cup felt like more proof of concept. This is 1,000% a case of you had to be there, watching every minute, but...
Fresh Moves
...to paraphrase the Holy Grail, they’re not dead yet. The Timbers gave up on the Pablo Bonilla Experiment (and neutrals who don’t track red card stats are hereby forgiven for not knowing who that is), but they padded the midfield by swiping Bryan Acosta from the Colorado Rapids and added the Brazilian winger Antony...and, sure, I’d like to think it could have been more exciting, but it also could have been much, much worse.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
The good news: most of the points the Timbers gain or lose will come against Western Conference teams, most of them immediate rivals (e.g., @ HOU, v VAN, v RSL, @ ATX, v SJ, v COL). They have their fate in their hands, just like God’s got the whole world, etc...that said, I’m calling the next four games (@ HOU, v VAN, v RSL, @ SEA) pivotal. A team can only fall so far behind....
Los Angeles Galaxy
4-10-7, 22 pts., 22 games played; 25 gf, 37 ga (-12); home 3-4-2, away 1-6-5
Last 10 League Results: LLWTTTTWWL
Strength/Location of Schedule
They’ve picked up three quality wins over that stretch – e.g., RSL, v LAFC and PHI – and the ties in between don’t look so bad in isolation. Against the backdrop of the Galaxy’s shitty season, on the other hand...
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
Lost both games, so, no, not great, but still respectable on the evidence and chatter. Maybe they’ll be tall enough to ride the big-kid rides one day.
Fresh Moves
It’s fair to say the Galaxy got as aggressive as possible by trading Fagundez and Michael Barrios away from Austin and Colorado, respectively, plus adding defender Maya Yoshida (who?), adding Edwin Cerrillo (shit...did I get this backwards in the Dallas section?), and....wow, 37-year-old, yet fairly successful English forward, Billy Sharp.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
To be clear, the Galaxy shouldn’t make me nervous vis-a-vis the Timbers, and yet they do. Add in the fact they’ve got five of their next seven at home (v RSL, v CHI, v HOU, v STL, v MIN, v POR), plus a couple plausibly winnable road games (@ SJ, @ ATX), and...no, I don’t understand my own anxiety.
Colorado Rapids
3-10-10, 19 pts., 23 games played; 16 gf, 30 ga (-14); home 1-4-7, away 2-6-3
Last 10 League Results: LLLTLTLWTT
Strength/Location of Schedule
Unbeaten at home in their last five games – hey! – but they still picked up just seven points at home over a stretch when they played seven of ten games at home. And they lost all three of the road games. And Robin Fraser is somehow still employed...
So, How’d Their Leagues Cup Go?
They lost both games. They had Toluca and Nashville in their group, but still...shocker.
Fresh Moves
Apart from signing a very young Sidnei Tavares with minimal professional minutes with Porto B, they appear to have given up on their season. But I repeat myself.
Expectations for the Stretch Run
I see exactly ONE bright spot in all of the above. This will be a season of unrelenting pain for Rapids fans and they have my fullest sympathy. God willing, it won’t be record-breakingly terrible.
Fin.
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