SBI MLS Rankings

The Houston Dynamo didn't play an MLS match last week but they still managed to remind us that they're the class of Major League Soccer.

The Dynamo's win and tie in SuperLiga were impressive and the same could be said for DC United, which went into the tournament on a slide. Tom Soehn's team looks to have turned things in around just in time for its East showdown against New England on Sunday.

So who dropped the furthest in this week's SBI MLS Rankings? Yes, the Red Bulls, who could fall as far as fifth place in the East before they take the field again.

Here are this week's MLS Rankings:

SBI MLS Rankings

1. Houston Dynamo

Last Week- Off (SuperLiga). This week- at Real Salt Lake (Saturday). Outlook- Dynamo has looked impressive in SuperLiga play, beating Club America and tying Morelia.

2. New England Revolution

Last Week- Beat Real Salt Lake, 2-1. Next week- vs. Kansas City (Thursday), vs. DC United (Sunday). Outlook- Pat Noonan is looking healthy and the Revs attack is hitting its stride. Now they need to find a way to beat the Wizards, who have had their number in recent years.

3. Kansas City Wizards

Last week- Beat Chivas USA, 3-2. This week- at New England (Thursday). Outlook- Wizards score three goals and none of them came from Eddie Johnson. That's a good sign if the Johnson-to-Blackburn rumors become a reality.

4. FC Dallas

Last week- Off. This week- vs. Colorado (Saturday). Outlook- Newly-acquired Brazilian Ricardinho looks dangerous and the Hoops have impressed in their SuperLiga matches.

5. Chivas USA

Last week- Beat Red Bulls, 2-0 and lost to KC, 3-2. This week- Off. Outlook- Road win against Red Bulls was important but the Goats couldn't beat KC without Maykel Galindo. The real question is whether the Goats will add a star this summer.

6. Columbus Crew

Last week- Off. This week- at Chicago Fire (Saturday). Outlook- After a 3-1 friendly loss to Aston Villa, the Crew look to end Chicago's turnaround before it can get started.

7. New York Red Bulls

Last week- Lost to Chivas USA, 2-0. Next week- Off. Outlook- The Red Bulls are beat up and worn down and two weeks off couldn't have come at a better time.

8. DC United

Last week- Off. This week- at New England (Sunday). Outlook- Who would have thought that SuperLiga would help DC straighten itself out. United needs to beat the Revs to start the march back up the East standings.

9. Los Angeles Galaxy

Last week- Off. This week- at Toronto FC (Saturday). Outlook- The Beckham Circus is heading to an MLS city near you. Just not yet.

10. Chicago Fire

Last week- Beat Toronto FC, 3-0. This week- vs. Columbus Crew (Saturday). Outlook- Paulo Wanchope is ready to play and the Fire will look to build on its thrashing of Toronto. It won't be easy against an in-form Columbus squad.

11. Toronto FC

Last week- Lost to Chicago, 3-0. This week- vs. LA Galaxy (Sunday). Outlook- Mo Johnston's team looked so good a month ago but is falling apart just when the Beckham circus is set to hit BMO Field.

12. Colorado Rapids

Last week- Off. This week- at FC Dallas (Saturday). Outlook- Will the bye week help Fernando Clavijo figure things out? Rapids fans had better hope so because each passing weeks makes it more likely that Clavijo is sticking around the rest of the year.

13. Real Salt Lake

Last week- Lost to New England, 2-1. This week- vs. Houston Dynamo (Saturday). Outlook- Showed some signs of life against the Revs. RSL will need much more to have any chance against the red-hot Dynamo.

Comments

[AaronB]

You have to wonder if DC psychs themselves out of more MLS wins. I think several players may think that they are heads and tails above the competition and don't bring their "A" game, thinkning they get breeze by some teams.

The team looked solid in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, but started the season horribly. Then I think they settled in and needed a new challenge to wake them up again.

We'll see if they fall flat on their face when they reenter MLS play.