While most of the rest of the world's soccer leagues stopped for the FIFA international fixture window, Major League Soccer said, "Take a break? Nah." With all 20 teams in action, the league saw several of its stars out on international duty while their club teams carried on in their absence.
It's always a great debate among MLS circles whether the league should try to take a break during some or all of FIFA's international windows, but while last season MLS took a two-week break for the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, this year MLS has matches during every single window for international matches. What does this mean? There could be several opportunities for teams to be without their star players for extended periods of time. Teams will have to fight through that. Who that doesn't help is those of us who have to do power rankings to gauge how good (or bad) these teams really are.
Week 4 is no exception to that. Some of the teams missing stars showed that they can still win, while some teams that were at or near full strength faltered. Some teams that have started off slow have gained some momentum, while others seem to be content with mediocrity. Either way, there is a bit of movement in this week's power rankings, and until these teams can settle into themselves, it looks like we will continue to have some movement each week.
What are your thoughts? Who's ranked too high or too low? Whose ranking is right on the money? Sound off in the comments below.
Rank
|
Team
|
LW
|
Points
|
GP
|
Comment
|
1
|
|
1
|
10
|
4
|
Scoreless draw against Seattle, but still maintain the top spot.
|
2
|
|
5
|
7
|
3
|
Could they be the best team in the East so far? Ugh.
|
3
|
Vancouver Whitecaps |
10
|
9
|
4
|
Continuing their winning ways and they’re rising up the ladder.
|
4
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
Loss in the New England winter weather not too big of a deal
|
|
5
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
No Zardes, No Keane…no points after a DCU goal at the final whistle
|
|
6
|
Seattle Sounders |
3
|
4
|
3
|
Team isn’t quite clicking yet despite keeping their main stars during the international window.
|
7
|
|
9
|
6
|
3
|
The fact we have 6 points despite massive injuries is absolutely amazing
|
8
|
Orlando City |
6
|
5
|
4
|
Very entertaining draw at Montreal despite numerous absences due to international callups/injury
|
9
|
New York City FC |
4
|
5
|
4
|
Prediction: their small home field will cost them once again down the road
|
10
|
7
|
3
|
3
|
Did good to equalize against RSL but terrible to allow game winner mere minutes later
|
|
11
|
14
|
5
|
4
|
Good on them to hold NYCFC scoreless despite their maintaining a full squad with the international window.
|
|
12
|
New England Revolution |
16
|
4
|
4
|
Revs probably want to use the yellow MLS ball the rest of the season
|
13
|
15
|
5
|
3
|
Got the game winner against a depleted TFC team, but can they take this momentum with them to San Jose?
|
|
14
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
2 steps forward, 2 steps back for Columbus
|
|
15
|
Houston Dynamo |
12
|
5
|
4
|
Fell victim to the "Colorado won’t score so we shouldn’t either" trap
|
16
|
13
|
3
|
4
|
Adi is hot for them, but they need others to step up.
|
|
17
|
20
|
3
|
4
|
Chicago beats Philly and finally get some points on the books.
|
|
18
|
Colorado Rapids |
17
|
3
|
3
|
Over/Under for number of games it takes for Colorado to score a goal: 6
|
19
|
Montreal Impact |
19
|
2
|
3
|
Scoring early and holding on is what they will need to do in CCL play on 4/7
|
20
|
|
18
|
2
|
4
|
Started from the middle, now they’re here…at the bottom.
|