The Mane Land MLS Power Rankings: Week 9

Remember when Michael settled all the family business in The Godfather? After taking their licks early in the year, Toronto and New England look primed to go on a Corleone death streak. That is until international tournaments strip their rosters bare over the summer (Damn you, MLS!).

Per usual, Wade Williams has this weekend's recap hot and ready off the grill for you.

1. LA Galaxy (Last Week: 1)

This weekend, LA produced a lineup that included an 18-year-old, two blonde-mohawks, no Landon Donovan, no David Beckham, no Robbie Keane, and only one DP. The team that MLS changed its own rules for isn’t even using said rules. Talk about ungrateful!

In the end, this extended Robbie Keane-less streak will be good for the champs. They've thrown Bradford Jamieson into the fire to some success, and they've found a way to be unbeaten in four.

2. Seattle Sounders (Last Week: 3)

Seattle continues to prove why striker pairings are the most important part of the field in MLS. Don't get me wrong, Seattle has quality all through the team, but the Dempsey-Martins relationship is absolutely the key to this team's success. The big question for the Sounders: Can they get past LA in the playoffs? No other result can make this season a success.

3. New England Revolution (Last Week: 7)

Is this an overreaction? Maybe. The Revs dethroned NYRB from the ranks of the unbeaten, and the scariest thing about this team is they still don't look like they've gelled completely, and yet they still do things like this.

Call me completely on board.

4. New York Red Bulls (Last Week: 2)

5. FC Dallas (Last Week: 5)

After the thumping they put on Houston this week, Dallas continues to be one of the most entertaining teams in the league.

6. D.C. United (Last Week: 4)

DC just keeps on keeping on. They’re off to their best ever start, and Ben Olsen continues to push himself to the front of the pack of his coaching generation.

7. Vancouver Whitecaps (Last Week: 6)

8. Columbus Crew (Last Week: 8)

9. Real Salt Lake (Last Week: 9)

10. San Jose Earthquakes (Last Week: 10)

When I saw that RSL and San Jose were playing this week, I wasn't the least bit excited. Is it possible for two teams squarely in the playoff discussion to be this boring? (Of course it is. This is MLS after all.) Throw in the fact that this game was on Univision, which forces the raging dumpster fire that is Ramses Sandoval and Paul Caligiuri upon us, and I was as excited for this game as I was for last year's Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Sadly, my expectations weren't wrong. Of the two goals in this game, one was a blatant offside that wasn't called and the other was an own goal. This was #MayPac-level boring, but at least it didn't cost $100.

11. Sporting Kansas City (Last Week: 11)

12. Toronto FC (Last Week: 15)

As I discussed last week, the BMO Field construction has set Toronto up to play 17 of its last 27 games at home. This team cracks the top ten next week, especially if Giovinco keeps doing things that turn me into a giddy school girl.

13. Chicago Fire (Last Week: 12)

14. Houston Dynamo (Last Week: 13)

15. Portland Timbers (Last Week: 14)

This was Portland's third 0-0 draw this season.

#FireCalebPorter

#I'dRatherWatchPortlandia

16. Orlando City (Last Week: 16)

As always, injury provides opportunity. Assuming that Brek Shea moves into the midfield to make up for the loss of Kevin Molino, this looks like a big opportunity for Luke Boden.

17. Colorado Rapids (Last Week: 19)

18. Philadelphia Union (Last Week: 18)

19. New York City FC (Last Week: 17)

20. Montreal Impact (Last Week: 20)

Call me cynical, but that meltdown in the CCL final was always going to happen, wasn't it? It's MLS vs. Liga MX in the CCL, and unlike in USA vs. Mexican international matches, Liga MX is, was, and will be dominant for some time to come. MLS's only hope is that a super team (i.e. LA of three years ago) puts more priority into CCL and still gets some luck on the road south of the border.

Polling Closed