Photo courtesy of Tim Heitman | USA TODAY Sports
MLS All-Star week concluded and MLS regular season play resumed. We learned a lot this week about who the contenders and the pretenders of playoff contention are looking to be and it truly seems like no one wants to be in the playoffs. I mean, I don’t want to have to be the team that takes on LAFC. I don’t think anyone would. Regardless of my opinion, the fact remains that MLS Playoffs are lurking around the corner. Who is making the push and who seems to be on their way out?
10. Inter Miami FC (Last Week: N/A)
Inter Miami seem to be turning the corner at just the right time. The David Beckham experiment in South Florida is paying off as they find themselves on a four-match unbeaten run with 10 goals scored throughout those matches. The addition of Alejandro Pozuelo during the summer transfer window was the piece they seemed to have been missing as he is providing assists and goals for his new squad after his departure from Toronto. Could Inter Miami redeem themselves after such a poor season last year?
9. NYCFC (Last week: #7)
I found the defibrillator! (please see next #8 for this joke) It was on the NYCFC bus where they attack sprung to life, but their defense was the nail on their own coffin. NYCFC are not showing themselves to be the MLS Cup champions of last season and the departure of Taty Castellanos is proving this to only be more true. They are in desperate need of a victory and there is not reason they should not get one as they a club not in the best form in Charlotte.
8. New York Red Bulls (Last week: #6)
Anybody got a defibrillator on them? Because the Red Bulls offense have gone scoreless in back-to-back matches now and it does not seem to be getting better anytime soon. Orlando dictated their way and should have had more chances than the score line shows. You would have thought after the embarrassment they faced against the Lions in the US Open Cup would have put a spark of revenge in them. Yeah, maybe this team are not as good as I thought of them to be.
7. Columbus Crew (Last week: #9)
Columbus was a penalty away from stringing together two big victories that could have aided their climb in the Eastern Conference standings. The glimmer in Columbus is the beauty that is Cucho Hernandez. What a summer signing he has been as he is a dream number nine. He can hold up, he can make the lung-busting runs and the best part, he can find the back of the net.
6. FC Dallas (Last week: #8)
Things out West are certainly finding themselves interesting as FC Dallas are starting to find their stride with a comfortable victory over San Jose. Jesus Ferreira continues to show why he deserves to be on the plane to Qatar and Dallas look to really be a thorn in the side of their Western foes. However, with their next five matches being played against real quality sides, it will bode well for post season confidence if they can get through without a loss.
5. Minnesota United (Last Week: #4)
What a show Minnesota put on for the MLS All-Star break which saw the MLS take the convincing victory over Liga MX. This MLS victory allowed the Loons to get a huge victory of their own over Nashville SC. Nashville has been an incredible expansion side with the likes of Hany Muktar and Walker Zimmerman. But they were no problem for Adrian Heath and company, who walked away with a much needed 2-1 victory and a hold of a home playoff match.
4. Montreal (Last week: #5)
Montreal makes a needed leap over Minnesota this week with a huge win over the Houston Dynamo. I don’t like thinking that one player can be the difference in a squad but Djordje Mihailovic being back and more importantly, being healthy, has dramatically changed the way Montreal play. His ability to pick up his head and play a clean pass or relieve pressure allows the players around him to join the attack and score goals in bunches. The only really worry is the defense who can’t seem to keep a clean sheet with only two in their last ten matches.
3. Philadelphia Union (Last Week: #3)
Philly bounce back from their loss to Cincinnati with an emphatic win over the Chicago Fire. Their remaining schedule is favorable to say the least with most of their remaining matches being played against clubs below the playoff line. Not only can they hold their top spot in the East, but they can also play spoilers to those with postseason dreams.
2. Austin FC (Last Week: #2)
The hardest part about Philadelphia and Austin is deciding who should be number two and number three. Ultimately, I give the edge to Austin. They are a more fun club to watch and the have a real MVP contender in Driussi who just scores when he wants. We have an exciting matchup coming soon between the Trees and LAFC. Could we be seeing a Western Conference Final preview?
1. LAFC (Last Week: #1)
Stop me if you have heard this before, LAFC win…. Again. Make it seven straight after their victory over D.C. I said it a few weeks ago but anything less than MLS Cup victory for this club will force a reassessment for many players. This LAFC club must be the most talented roster ever put together in MLS history and it isn’t close. 2017 Toronto or 2012 LA Galaxy would have a hard time keeping up at this point.
