Team | Total vote count | First Tier votes | Last week's Tier |
Tier 1 - Teams Contending For Cups | |||
Real Salt Lake | 30 | 10 | 1 |
Columbus Crew | 30 | 10 | 1 |
FC Dallas | 30 | 10 | 1 |
LA Galaxy | 29 | 9 | 2 |
Tier 2 - Teams Likely in the Playoffs | |||
NY Red Bulls | 21 | 1 | 2 |
Seattle Sounders | 20 | 0 | 2 |
Colorado Rapids | 20 | 0 | 2 |
SJ Earthquakes | 17 | 0 | 3 |
Tier 3 - Teams On the Outside Looking In | |||
Chicago Fire | 9 | 0 | 3 |
KC Wizards | 7 | 0 | 4 |
NE Revolution | 7 | 0 | 4 |
Toronto FC | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Tier 4 - Teams Competing for #3 Draft Pick | |||
Chivas USA | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Philadelphia Union | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Houston Dynamo | 1 | 0 | 4 |
DC United | 0 | 0 | 4 |
As we welcome two new MLS blogs into our network this week, we're now in double digits for the power ranking voters. Thanks to our new Colorado Rapids blog Burgundy wave and Chicago Fire blog Hot Times In Old Town for joining in.
What does that mean? It means that we have four teams in each tier for the first time since April.
The LA Galaxy needed only one win over the Columbus Crew to vault themselves back into the top tier. They've established themselves once again as the favorites to win the Supporters' Shield after that big win. Or is it just the return of David Beckham that has our voters optimistic about their chances? Eh, we are a sarcastic group, but probably not.
New England moved up to the third tier despite their loss to Chivas USA. Perhaps a delayed reaction to their big win last week over the Seattle Sounders? And the Kansas City Wizards moved up despite it being their bye week. Hey, I don't claim to fully understand the voting.
Meanwhile, Toronto FC correctly determined that the only way to avoid falling down into the bottom tier after losing to D.C. United was to fire every decision maker in the organization.