MLS Power Poll: Week 29 and guess who is on top

ajc.com

It’s time for my weekly MLS Power Poll, the only MLS Power Poll that recognizes that arbitrarily ranking teams means nothing in the grand scheme of things and is done just to spark debate and not attach importance to the reporter’s ego.

1. Atlanta United (17-5-6)

Last week: 1.

Result: 3-0 win at Colorado.

How they got here: LWWWWDWWWLWLDWDWDWLWDWWDWWLW.

-

2. New York Red Bulls (17-7-5)

Last week: 2.

Result: 3-3 draw at D.C. United.

How they got here: WLWLWLWWWWDLDWWWLWWWLWWDDWWLD.

Tim Parker had a horrible game against D.C.

-

3. Sporting KC (15-7-6)

Last week: 5.

Result: 5-1 win at San Jose.

How they got here: LWWDWWDWLWWDDWDWLLDLLWWWWLWW.

This team should scare Atlanta United supporters.

-

4. Columbus (12-8-8)

Last week: 3.

Result: 0-0 draw at Dallas.

How they got here: WWDWLLLDWDWWWDDDLLWLLWWWLDWD.

Good result for the Crew.

-

5. L.A.F.C. (13-7-8)

Last week: 4.

Result: 1-1 draw vs. New England.

How they got here: WWLLWWWDWDLDLWWWDWDLDLLWWDWD.

-

6. Dallas (14-6-8)

Last week: 6.

Result: 0-0 draw vs. Columbus.

How they got here: DWDDWWLDWDWWWWLWWLWDWLLWDLWD.

Bad result for Dallas.

-

7. Seattle (13-9-5)

Last week: 9.

Result: 2-1 win at Vancouver.

How they got here: LLLDWLDWLLLWLDLWDDWWWWWWWWW.

This is counter to the rest of the MLS world, but I’m still not sold on this team.

-

8. NYCFC (14-8-7)

Last week: 7.

Result: Off.

How they got here: WWWDWWDLWLDWLWDWLWWWWLDWLDLLD.

-

9. Philadelphia (12-12-4)

Last week: 8.

Result: 4-1 loss vs. Montreal.

How they got here: WDLDLLWLLWWDWLWLLLWLWLWWWWDL.

Just when you start thinking that the Union are quality....

-

10. Real Salt Lake (13-10-6)

Last week: 10.

Result: 1-1 draw vs. Minnesota United.

How they got here: DLWLWLWLLWLWWWLDLWWLDDWDLWWWD.

Have to do better against teams like the Loons. It will get its chance on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz.

-

11. Montreal (12-14-3)

Last week: 12.

Result: 4-1 win at Philadelphia.

How they got here: LLWWLLLLWLLLLWLWWWWLWDLDDWLWW.

Huge win last week should secure a playoff berth if they can get one more.

-

12. Portland (12-8-8)

Last week: 11.

Result: 4-1 loss at Houston.

How they got here: LLDDLWWWWWWDDDWWDDWWLLLLWDWL.

A weird team.

-

13. D.C. United (9-11-8)

Last week: 13.

Result: 2-1 win vs. Minnesota United and 3-3 draw vs. New York Red Bulls.

How they got here: DLDLLWLLWDLDLDWLLWDWWWLLWDWD.

So, here’s my take on Ben Olsen: I’m not sure what he’s doing that is making D.C United that much better. It seems to me that Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta have simply taken over the team. The tactics aren’t great. They still mostly play the same long balls they did before. This time, there are a few players with skill scoring on them.

-

14. Vancouver (11-10-7)

Last week: 14.

Result: 2-1 loss vs. Seattle.

How they got here: WWLDWLLLWLDDDDWWLLWLLWDWDWL.

Another coach that should be on the hotseat.

-

15. Toronto (8-14-6)

Last week: 16.

Result: 5-3 win vs. L.A. Galaxy.

How they got here: LLWLLDWLLWLWDLLLDLLWWDLDWLLW.

I’ve wondered how long it was going to take for another player to finally get in Michael Bradley’s face about how often he confronts referees after every single call. Good for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to finally say enough is enough.

-

16. L.A. Galaxy (10-11-8)

Last week: 15.

Result: 5-3 loss at Toronto.

How they got here: WLDWLWLLLLWWLDWDDWWWDWLDDLDLL.

Keep Zlatan and jettison the rest.

-

17. New England (8-10-10)

Last week: 17.

Result: 1-1 draw at LAFC.

How they got here: LWDWWLDWDWLDDWDDWDLLLDLLLDWD.

They aren’t out of the playoffs yet, but it can’t lose anymore.

-

18. Houston (8-13-7)

Last week: 19.

Result: 4-1 win vs. Portland.

How they got here: WLDLDWLWDWWLLWLDWDLLLLLDLW.

This team....could be really good. But something isn’t right.

-

19. Minnesota United (9-16-3)

Last week: 18.

Result: 2-1 loss at D.C. United and 1-1 draw at Real Salt Lake .

How they got here: LWWLLLLWWLLDWLLLWLWWWLLDLLLD.

Will the team keep Adrian Heath around for one more year of so-so soccer?

-

20. Chicago (7-15-6)

Last week: 21.

Result: 4-0 win vs. Orlando.

How they got here: LLDWLWDLWLLWLWDDDWLLLLLLLLDW.

Too little, too late.

-

21. Colorado (6-16-6)

Last week: 20.

Result: 3-0 loss vs. Atlanta United.

How they got here: LDWDWLLLLLLLLDWWLLDDLWWDLLLL.

A team with some talent, but its comments about playing hard in the second half against Atlanta United didn’t ring true.

-

22. Orlando City (7-18-3)

Last week: 22.

Result: 4-0 loss at Chicago.

How they got here: DLLWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLWLLLDLLDLL.

66 goals allowed. 66. Holy moly.

-

23. San Jose (4-16-8)

Last week: 23.

Result: 5-1 loss vs. Sporting KC.

How they got here: WLLDDDLLLWDLLLLDDDLLLDWLDLWLL.

Things aren’t going to get any easier this week in this lovely city, which appears to have stopped thinking about aesthetics as soon as it realized how much money was going to be made on computers, software and the internet.