Week Seven Rankings

So Sporting KC won't go undefeated after all. Bummer. A 34-0-0 team would have been impressive. Okay, maybe that's impossible but Sporting KC nonetheless appeared headed towards another win before Saturday's game at Portland and came away empty-handed for the first time in 2012.

That was not enough to knock them off their perch. After all, they are still the best team in the league and did come away with three points from their quick swing through Cascadia.

Here's how I see the MLS teams through seven weeks of the season:
 
1. Sporting KC: So they're human after all, even if they dealt themselves the lethal blow.
2. San Jose: Red cards helped in win over RSL but San Jose are in top form.
3. Seattle: A week off to recharge and rediscover their attack
4. Real Salt Lake: Espindola put them in a huge hole
5. Chicago: Yeah, it was against lowly Toronto but that was an encouraging road showing
6. Houston: Ching-Bruin combination deadly once more; this is a developing force
7. New York: Terrible showing; was Marquez absence that damaging?
8. LA Galaxy: Saunders PK save helps Galaxy continue on road to recovery
9. DC United: Attack is silent one match, deadly the next
10. Vancouver: Recovered well from midweek loss to have post another clean sheet
11. Colorado: Nearly got a gift draw; still, this team's got some issues that need resolving
12. FC Dallas: Hartman's absence wasn't reason enough for loss; where was the attack?
13. Chivas USA: Is this 1-0 home loss trend someone's idea of a bad joke?
14. New England: Huge test coming up at Red Bull Arena
15. Portland: So the Timbers can hold on to leads
16. Philadelphia: Not a bad result at HDC at all; boring team but it might work
17. Columbus: Offense wakes up just in time to see the defense suffer
18. Montreal: A road point! Hey, anything on the road for them deserves an exclamation mark
19. Toronto FC: As bad as season has gone, firing Winter will only make it worse

Week Six Rankings

My power rankings for the week. No-brainers for the first and last spots, everything else around the league is up for grabs.

1. Sporting KC. Six of six. Unstoppable. Have to be considered favorites to run away with Supporters' Shield.
2. San Jose. Responded to New York, twice. Salinas injury could be tough to overcome.
3. Real Salt Lake. Can't fault them for getting run over by Sporting KC.
4. Seattle. Finally scored. Sounders can go on woeful scoring droughts, strange considering their talent.
5. New York. Marquez.... what. was. that?
6. Chicago. We love the Chris Rolfe signing.
7. Houston. If Will Bruin can consistently find the back of the net, Houston will be tough to take down.
8. FC Dallas. They like to save it late, don't they?
9. Chivas USA. Nine points out of nine on the road - no fluke here.
10. Colorado. Survived Mullan's first trip to Seattle; no points but no brawl either.
11. LA Galaxy. A win, yes, but there were still holes in Galaxy's performance.
12. DC United. Maicon Santos is flourishing alongside Dwayne De Rosario.
13. Vancouver. Massive tests as Sporting KC and FC Dallas visit this week.
14. New England. Makings are there for decent side but can't give up late goals.
15. Philadelphia. Is it possible to not feel good after a win?
16. Columbus. Talk about punchless.
17. Portland. Is it time to question whether John Spencer is the right man for the job?
18. Montreal. Couldn't hold on to a road lead with handlebars.
19. Toronto FC. Abysmal. Rock bottom continues to be deeper than we all thought.

Week Five Rankings

Okay, I tried to figure out this week's power rankings. It's not a science and there is no formula, but I tried my best to figure out some sort of formula. No matter how you rank em though, I think it's safe to say that RSL and Sporting KC would top most... well they should top all power rankings out there right now, and the schedule gods have complied with a table-topping matchup at Livestrong Sporting Park as RSL visit Sporting KC on the weekend.

But before we get into those matchups...

1. Sporting KC: A perfect start, 15 out of a possible 15 points. They've earned this perch

2. Real Salt Lake: Gotta hand it to 'em, RSL improved tremendously from Wednesday to Saturday

3. San Jose: Broke through the vaunted Whitecaps backline... ok, Vancouver's record-setting defense

4. Seattle: Burch could've raised the ultimate middle finger, but Seattle's point is well-earned nonetheless

5. New York: Dominant performance on the road against tricky opponent; not bad

6. Houston: Houston... Houston... oh yeah, I remember them. Kinnear's team.. yeah, that's right...

7. Colorado: Say what you will about Espindola's handball but marking on Saborio's goal was nonexistent

8. Chicago: Some teams have played six games already; Chicago is one of two to have played three

9. FC Dallas: Late heroics vs New England, could be massive confidence-booster
10: Chivas USA: This team's not nearly as bad as many thought it would be
11. New England: What a heartbreaking defeat; draw vs Dallas would've been just

12. LA Galaxy. Had em way too low last week (brain fart?) but they're certainly not Top 10 material

13. Columbus: A complete whipping at hands of New York; was that an aberration?
14. Vancouver: So you were saying how this defense was grandiose... 

15. DC United: DC vs Dallas - four goals; DC's other four games - one goal

16. Montreal: Félicitations pour cette victoire historique

17. Portland: Ownership talked about playoffs before season began; how about competing first?

18. Philadelphia: Wonder if the Union found their offense on their off weekend

19. Toronto FC: 45 minutes away from CCL final, an eternity away from MLS Cup playoffs

Week Two Rankings

After Week Two, here's how the teams stand in my eyes:

1. Real Salt Lake: Strong, convincing victory; Espindola and Velasquez each off to tremendous starts.

2. Seatte: Who needs Fucito (or EJ for that matter) when you've got Estrada?

3. LA Galaxy: Keane finally finds his confidence, Galaxy reap rewards.

4. Sporting KC: SKC's attack just gets scarier and scarier every game.

5. FC Dallas: Perez with the first of his double-digit goal total this year.

6. Portland: Showed grit to overcome road deficit

7. Houston: A pair of 1-0 road wins to open season; not bad.

8. Colorado: Surprising 2-0 start? Playing a bad Philly team helped.

9. Vancouver: If Whitecaps can score consistently on set pieces, watch out.

10. Chicago: Weathered Montreal's impressive crowd and tough team for a valuable road point.

11. Columbus: Week off for the Crew, but still move up because they're not as bad as others.

12. San Jose: Offense can't be just a one-man show.

13. New York: Defense/goalkeeping has been abysmal so far.

14. Toronto FC: Backline was in shambles throughout the loss in Seattle but Johnson's a star.

15. Montreal: Deserved to win the match, but nobody is feeling down about their crowd.

16. Chivas USA: Something has to start happening up top; no difference makers in there now.

17. Philadelphia: MacMath has some maturing to do, and needs to do it quickly.

18. DC United: Pitiful showing; DeLeon helps save some face.

19. New England: Don't worry Revs, you probably would have lost 3-0 with 11 men.

MLS Rankings: Week One

Alright, let me try my hand at these...

1. Real Salt Lake: Tore apart defending champs at their place.
2. Seattle: Will get more accurate read once league play starts.
3. LA Galaxy: Um... they're still pretty good.
4. Sporting KC: Took a late winner but got job done.
5. FC Dallas: Blas Perez will be solid, and if Villar can score regularly, watch out.
6. Portland: Were very impressive in come-from-behind win.

7. Houston: Dull but effective; a bit fortunate to have gotten a point.
8. New York: Cooper had a nice goal; perhaps he should start.
9. Vancouver: Le Toux-Hassli could be nasty.
10. Colorado - Can Rapids be halfway exciting for a change? Pareja might make em so.
11. Chicago - Love the Arne Friedrich signing. Love love love it.
12. Columbus - Lots of work for Warzycha to do.
13. San Jose - Wondo scores, 1-0 win... formula for success.
14. Toronto FC: If Torsten Frings plays defense all season, he's a Defender of Year candidate.
15. Philadelphia: Sorry Philly, but this team's not very good
16. DC United: Gonna be a long season in nation's capital.
17. Chivas USA. Deserved better than to lose at the death.
18. New England. Not much to take away from San Jose, except knowledge that Revs are punchless.
19. Montreal. Sorry, but expansion teams start at the bottom until they can prove otherwise.