DC United jumps into second tier, while the Red Bulls, Dynamo and Timbers all go down a tier.
Jun 6, 2011 - The SB Nation Soccer MLS Power Rankings tend to be relatively predictable. There doesn't tend to be a lot of week-to-week change, mainly because it's aggregating the rankings of 20 different editors, and that's especially true when there are a bunch of ties. For whatever reason, though, there were some significant changes this week despite six matches ending in a deadlock.
The biggest change is FC Dallas moving into the top tier, essentially replacing the New York Red Bulls. The Toros are currently riding a nine-match unbeaten streak, while the Red Bulls have not won since May 7. We also saw DC United move into the second tier, while both the Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers dropped into the third tier.
As usual, I've asked various editors from around SB Nation to share their thoughts on their rankings.
| Playing For The Shield | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Los Angeles Galaxy
|
 100% (60 out of 60 points) |
 |
Real Salt Lake
|
91% (55 out of 60 points) |
 |
FC Dallas
|
85% (51 out of 60 points) |
FC Dallas were expected to be one of the best teams in MLS at the beginning of the year, but a slow start and the loss of reigning MVP David Ferreira had it looking as though things might not end that way. Dallas have responded in impressive fashion however and though they're certainly a different team without Ferreira they haven't lost a game since his injury. At this point they're five points behind the LA Galaxy's league-leading 30 with two games in hand, and there's little about the way they've performed to suggest that their success is unsustainable in any meaningful way. Their ability to compensate for such a huge loss is surprising, but with nothing to suggest that they aren't for real they have to be considered legitimate Supporters Shield contenders.
- Aaron Campeau,
| Enjoy The Playoffs | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
New York Red Bulls
|
80% (48 out of 60 points) |
 |
Philadelphia Union
|
76% (46 out of 60 points) |
 |
Seattle Sounders
|
65% (39 out of 60 points) |
 |
Colorado Rapids
|
63% (38 out of 60 points) |
 |
DC United
|
50% (30 out of 60 points) |
New York has done enough to play themselves out of the top tier, for me they have all the talent to be one of the top teams in MLS but lately they have done their very best on the pitch to make themselves look like a team that is just a very average team with no wins in their last 5 matches and just one win on the road so far this season.
- Denzel Eslinger,
| Still Something To Prove | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Houston Dynamo
|
45% (27 out of 60 points) |
 |
Portland Timbers
|
45% (27 out of 60 points) |
 |
San Jose Earthquakes
|
36% (22 out of 60 points) |
 |
Chivas USA
|
33% (20 out of 60 points) |
 |
Columbus Crew
|
31% (19 out of 60 points) |
 |
New England Revolution
|
18% (11 out of 60 points) |
Chivas USA is the team of the moment right now. They’ve quietly lost just two of their last 11 games and it seems like Robin Fraser is turning things around faster than many expected.
| At Least There's No Relegation | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Chicago Fire
|
8% (5 out of 60 points) |
 |
Vancouver Whitecaps
|
1% (1 out of 60 points) |
 |
Toronto FC
|
3% (2 out of 60 points) |
 |
Sporting Kansas City
|
1% (1 out of 60 points) |
The four teams in the bottom tier have a combined total of five wins. No one is here by accident.
How It Works: Each of the 20 participants puts Major League Soccer's clubs into one of the four tiers. Teams in the top tier get three points. Next tier, two points, then one, then zero. Voters can put as many teams into each tier as they see fit. Though the vote total orders the teams, the clubs are intended to be grouped, not sorted. Although some of the names may indicate otherwise, the point of this is to assess current form and our voters are instructed to place teams in tiers based how those teams will fair in coming weeks.
Who participated: Jeremiah Oshan (SB Nation, soccer); Kevin McCauley (SB Nation, soccer); Aaron Campeau (SB Nation, soccer); Ryan Rosenblatt (SB Nation, soccer); Drew Epperley (SB Nation, soccer); Phillip Quinn (SB Nation, soccer); Steve Davis (Daily Soccer Fix); Martin Shatzer (Black and Red United); Scott Kessler (Brotherly Game); Chris "UZ" White (Burgundy Wave); Zach Woosley (Dynamo Theory); Denzel Eslinger (RSL Soapbox); Robert Jonas (Quake, Rattle and Goal); Daniel Robertson (Big D Soccer); Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart); Andy Edwards (The Daily Wiz); Geoff Gibson (Stumptown Footy), Duncan Fletcher (Waking the Red), Steve Stoehr (The Bent Musket); Tweed Thornton (Hot Time in Old Town), Ben Schneider (Once a Metro); Jeff King (The Goat Parade).
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The U are the Rodney Dangerfield of the league
No Respect. They come back from a controversial PK to tie it up against the defending champs and they still can’t get into the upper tier? How is RBNY still ranked above them?
by Fear the RUSH on Jun 6, 2011 8:22 PM EDT reply actions
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