The MLS table: this week's PPM / extrapolated / trend standings

Here are the latest PPM/extrapolated/trend standings:

Sounders: It is far short of a disaster to have only taken the draw from Saturday.  While it is true that Chivas are well back, and it looked like three points for the taking to some extent, Chivas had been enjoying an uptick in form recently, and they were at least denied two points too keep them well behind in the standings.  And for the Sounders, as long as we are all prepared for a tense playoff fight down the final third (or so) of the season, the result does very little harm to our status.  It does increase the importance of three points in our next league match, the weekend after next, against a team in direct contention for the #8 spot at the moment in the Fire.

Here are my MLS strata based on the rankings, using both the PPM/21-match standings and the "trend 30" as guides.

1): The Supporters Shield contenders: 

#1 LA Galaxy, all alone this week.  they had suffered a recent form dip, with just 8 points in their last 7 matches heading into last weekend (those two wins over lowly DC United and a Sounders club that looked pretty awful at the time).  However, a big road win over NYRB - recently the toast of MLS with their big signings - has righted the ship, at least for now... In the meantime, Sounders fans will be wishing they return to their juggernaut ways on the coming weeks, with their next three against San Jose, K.C., and Chicago, three teams we have in interested in seeing not get the points.

2) Playoff locks:

#2 RSL, #3 Dallas, #4 Columbus.  Huge win for RSL over Columbus, but there is a gap to the Galaxy, so they sit here for now, although its also worth noting they now own the best GD in the league.  Dallas is the hottest team in MLS, with 22 points - no losses - over their last 10 matches.  After a slow start - 4 points in their first 5 matches - they have lost just once - to the Galaxy - since and have been cruising along at a 2.07 PPM since.  Combine this with a hot finish last year and this is a team that looks extremely capable.  Then again, RSL also had only 4 points after 5 matches, and have been at 2.19 PPM since...

3) the race for the playoffs:

#5 NYRB, #6 Sounders, #7 Colorado, #8 San Jose, #9 TFC, #10 Fire.  The caveat here is that NYRB - who themselves have been quite mediocre as of late - is "locked in" as the #2 in the East, with a considerable gap back to TFC and Chicago, but lets just pretend MLS is a single table (and GD is the first tiebreak) shall we?!  I keep hearing that Colorado has a tough schedule, but they've been cruising along so far.  San Jose has been on a slight dip, despite the win over KC.  The Sounders, who I have #6 in my rankings due to homerism and their hot recent trend, did themselves no favors but held on to the #8 in PPM thanks to TFC's midweek loss to NYRB.  Both TFC and Chicago are nearly tied with Sounders on PPM for that last playoff spot, and we will learn a lot about Chicago as they make up some of their whopping 5 matches in hand.

4) Outside looking in: 

#11 N.E. #12 K.C., #13 Chivas, #14 Houston.  The Revs' trend is downright Sounder-ific.  I have been looking for one or more among K.C., Chivas, and N.E. to start making some noise, and N.E. has certainly answered the bell.  San Jose's win over K.C. wasn't all bad, as it took some starch out of the collar of a team that was looking feisty.  Chivas obviously has a lot of work to do and are running out of time, and then there is Houston.  As good as Dallas has been, Houston has been that crappy, with just 4 points - no wins - coming from their last 10.  I would not be surprised to see them give Philly a "challenge" at #15

5) Fuhgetaboudit: 

# 15 Philly, #16 D.C. United.  If Philly are going to make themselves relevant - and I though I saw that possibility a couple weeks back - they are going to have to do more than get draws with all these home games remaining.  And while there is a considerable gap back to D.C. - for whom I simply felt like not giving their own tier to adequately describe their suckitude - Philly is also below the "magical" 1 PPM mark, which in the spirit of the "Mendoza Line" in baseball I'm calling the "Red Bull" line (NYRB was the only MLS club to finish below 1 PPM in '09).  I have already devoted too many characters to this group...

Looking ahead, aka "who the Sounders should root for", this week:

N.E. and Chicago face off midweek in Illinois is what in easily the game of the week, and I'm going to say we would just like to see a draw.  i would rather not see N.E. pick up points but if I must i'd certainly rather they win.  I don't believe you have to spend too much time studying the table above to determine this is a monster matchup for both clubs.

Saturday: 

NYRB @ TFC: operating under the premise that the Sounders catching NYRB is irrelevant (again, the pesky #2 Eastern thing) we ought to be rooting for NYRB to take all three, with a draw being acceptable as well... unless of course, TFC decides to start a scintillating run to the East #2 and we can catch NYRB, except who's thinking that far ahead.  Let's just merely hope for the more immediately practical...

L.A. @ S. J. lets see that L.A. express get rolling again!

CRapids @ Crew: if the Crew could be so nice as to take all three that would be fantastic, thanks!

N.E. @ K.C: This one really depends on what the Revs accomplish Wednesday night, and one thing I do NOT want to see is see them take 6 points on the week and move to 1.35 PPM, adding another horse to the race for the playoffs.  You can't go wrong with a draw, keeps points away from both teams, and K.C. well back...

Chicago @ Houston: This would be a nice time for Houston to recover from their crapitude.  If Chicago gets 6 points next week, they would rocket to 1.5 PPM, 4 points puts them at 1.39, 3 at 1.33, 2 at 1.28, 1 at 1.22, and 0 points at 1.17.  So what I am saying is, Chicago, if you could be so kind as to get 2 points or less?...

CUSA @ Dallas: virtually irrelevant, quite frankly, although it must be said the gap from the Sounders ahead to Dallas s ever so slightly less than the gap back to Chivas, BUT I'm not considering catching Dallas to be part of the discussion.  

Sunday:

Philly @ United: Hey, Philly can get back to the Red Bull line with a win.  Also, what is the worst PPM an MLS team has ever finished with (MLS hasn't always played 30-game seasons so keep that in mind) and can D.C. make a run at it.  Its a serious question, I don't feel like looking it up...