Reading MLS Standings

by Dave Clark on May 2, 2010 2:20 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

The Sounders have already played seven matches. The Columbus crew just wrapped up their fourth. If you read the current standings at MLSsoccer.com you will notice that the Sounders are in 5th.

Don't believe them.

Due to the different amount of games played the only way to compare teams is based on points per match (or you could do percentage of points won). Now the first tie-breaker for MLS is actually head-to-head, but at this point I feel a more accurate way to rate teams would be to look at Points Per Match Played, a first tie-breaker of number of games remaining (since that gives a team opportunities to earn points that other teams don't have) and lastly by Goal Differential.

By this measure the Sounders are 9th and three of the teams in front of them have 2 or 3 games in hand.

Team	Played	Pts	PPM	GD
LA	6	16	2.67	8
New York	6	15	2.50	4
Columbus	4	8	2.00	3
San Jose	5	9	1.80	0
Houston	6	10	1.67	3
Colorado	6	10	1.67	2
Kansas City	5	7	1.40	1
Chicago	6	8	1.33	2
Seattle	7	9	1.29	0
New England	6	7	1.17	1
Salt Lake	6	7	1.17	1
Chivas USA	6	7	1.17	-3
Toronto	6	6	1.00	-5
Dallas	5	4	0.80	-1
Philadelphia	5	3	0.60	-5
DC	5	0	0.00	-11

Seattle's early season, starting with a complete roster rather than one that kept adding players during the season was an opportunity to take an early lead. That opportunity is now gone.

While we continue to see positive signs the mantra of "If they keep playing like this the points will come" can't let the team relax. That has been true for a month now. Only the match at Salt Lake was played poorly in general, and they got the draw there. The losses to Red Bull, Toronto and the draws with Dallas and Columbus were all matches where Seattle was the "better" team.

Those two points in four really should be five, or maybe seven. Seattlewas not the better team in the only portion of the match that matters. Seattle is a talented MLS side, one of the most talented, and they have a great coach.

Is the shift from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-2-1-3 going to be the difference maker?

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Comments

I hope that we stay with the 4-3-3 for a few games at least.

It definitely seemed to be a noticeable improvement in quality of play.

I agree, we can’t wait to earn points. We’re not going to take 100% when NKufo gets here. We need to be in a strong position. Not top, but I think we need to be in playoff position. We can’t depend on one player to push us into the playoffs.

We’ve given points when we should have taken them. We now need to take full points when we aren’t expected to do so.

LA, NY away. Let’s get our new formation all up in their business.

by Cornchops on May 2, 2010 2:59 PM PDT reply actions

when do we play both LA and NY away?

by gstommylee on May 2, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

May 15 @ NY; July 4 @ LA

We will probably have N’Kufo for the LA match.

Because if it's not Love | Then it's the bomb ... | That will bring us together

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 2, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Window opens on July 15th

So still without him.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 2, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

oh ...

For some reason I was under the impression that since he was already signed the plan was for him to join the team as soon as the Swiss were eliminated from the WC.

Because if it's not Love | Then it's the bomb ... | That will bring us together

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 2, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

He can join for training prior to the window opening

but can’t play in a competitive match.

So we should still root for Swiss failure.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 2, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions

UGH, not gonna like that. That’s 3 games against hard oppoents before kufo arrives that Seattle could potentially have problems with.

by gstommylee on May 2, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

I meant

LA here, NY away. Our next to matches.

The way LA is playing, one point would not be unacceptable. Same for NY away.

To make up for lost chances, I’d like a minimum of four.

Wouldn’t it have been easier to do that in Dallas-Toronto?

by Cornchops on May 2, 2010 3:45 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I don’t know about the LA game. Given Seattle’s issue at putting the ball in back in net. We would have to extremely Mark up Buddle then pray LA doesn’t find a hole and have another player score.

by gstommylee on May 2, 2010 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Maybe I'm naive

I honestly believe that given the choice of having, say, 12 points and having our play trend downward and being stuck with eight and having our play trend upward, I’d take the eight. Obviously, it would be nice have those 12 points (let’s just assume wins against Dallas and CBus) and be playing the way we are.

Still, we’re about a quarter of the way through the season. A lot can change. I think I’d be more worried if we were getting points but looking bad and feeling satisfied than getting fewer points, but looking good and feeling the urgency to keep playing better.

Because if it's not Love | Then it's the bomb ... | That will bring us together

by Jeremiah Oshan on May 2, 2010 3:44 PM PDT reply actions

Bird in the hand

that proverb would seem to apply here

and yes, a lot can change, for every team.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on May 2, 2010 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Donovan

Will he still be in LA come July 15? That could be a major hit to LA.

by Cornchops on May 2, 2010 5:44 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed, but

I think when the Sounders were playing badly but getting okay results (RSL, Dallas, Philly) they still realized the need to improve and worked hard at it. I think they would have worked hard to improve even if the results would have been okay. There’s no reason the team couldn’t have their play trending up and have the theoretical 12 points.

by Nevtelen on May 2, 2010 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions