This week’s rankings are going to be a bit short due to lack of time on my part and lack of league games too to really draw much from. Nonetheless, here are your week’s power rankings.

1. (1) Houston Dynamo (34 pt.) – Dominate in the league and playing well in SuperLiga. I honestly wonder just how long this club can keep this up. We saw a slump early in the season that we all wondered about and now we see this kind of streak that the Dynamo are on and at this time of the season it makes you really wonder how long they can keep it up.

2. (2) FC Dallas (30 pt.) - Could have dropped them based on SuperLiga draws but I won’t. This isn’t a SuperLiga power rankings, its an MLS power rankings. No Beckham tonight against the Gals in SuperLiga should surely piss off plenty of fans who paid double or even triple for normal ticket prices (your’s truly is one of them). He didn’t make the trip and quite frankly it makes me wonder exactly how the Gals will perform against a Hoops team that is feeling like they have plenty to prove.

3. (3) New England Revolution (30 pts.) – Nice road win against RSL, they didn’t fall into any sort of trap that I thought they could have, which is good since they needed all the points that they could get to maintain their eastern lead over KC and the rest.

4. (4) Kansas City Wizards (29 pts.) – Pulled out a nice home win over Chivas on Sunday. People other than Eddie Johnson scored too no less. The question still remains, can that defense carry them to a title this season? I still have my concerns over it and I am sure plenty of others do as well.

5. (6) DC United (24 pts.) - Moves up thanks to a New York loss. I think the main thing United fans need to worry about is if this club has enough gas in the tank for the home stretch of the season. They are fairing well in SuperLiga but that shouldn’t be a issue that United fans should dwell in at this point. Just like KC, I question whether or not their defense can carry them to a title this season.

6. (5) Red Bull New York (27 pt.) - Slumps surround this club right now. People praised Clint Mathis for getting his game back and he hasn’t been anywhere to be seen for months, Claudio Reyna is starting to be one of the most over-paid players in the league, and Juan Pablo Angel is in the biggest slump of his short MLS career. WWBD…what will Bruce do? No games for a while, expect some deals to be made.
7. (7) Columbus Crew (25 pt.) - Firmly holding on to that playoff spot are the Crew. Definitely making me look good on that pre-season proclamation about them in that they would steal the final playoff spot and piss most of the league off. I think that will still come true.

8. (8) CD Chivas USA (27 pts.) - Sure I should rank them over New York but the win didn’t do much for my liking since they loss four days later. I know most clubs do the same in that situation but when you need to prove something to the league like the Goats needed to then you must do it. Chivas simply did not deliver on the road last week.

9. (9) Toronto FC (19 pt.) - Depth in the back is killing this club’s hope of reaching the playoffs this season. It just won’t happen. Coach Mo hasn’t pulled a deal in weeks, I wonder if he is sick?

10. (12) Chicago Fire (19 pts.) - I know it was only one win on the road but still, the first in a long while is something for the Fire. Maybe Blanco will do some good for this club. But the concern is if they still have the time to make up the ground. In the tight east anything is possible at this point.

11. (10) LA Galaxy (13 pt.) - Fairing alright in SuperLiga. But as a Dallas fan I should slam them to the bottom for not forcing Beckham to travel to even sign autographs. I think the league and the Galaxy are missing out on something by not making him to go every market. Dallas will be the only market that he doesn’t hit this season, not even for some signatures on a photo.

12. (11) Colorado Rapids (18 pts.) - The Beckerman deal may prove to be the last thing that Fernando Clavijo may ever do as the coach of the Rapids. Anyone even notice that they sent Roberto Brown packing a week or so ago? Wasn’t he leading the club in scoring too at one time?

13. (13) Real Salt Lake (9 pt.) - Bye bye Freddy, too bad you really didn’t help this club at all this season. One win, a few draws and plenty of painful losses. When will Real wake up and realize that they need a good central midfielder to carry this club?

Plenty of action around the MLS over the weekend, despite the fact that there were only three league games to even mention. The league also faired pretty well in SuperLiga action as well; currently all MLS clubs are in contention of moving on to the semi-final stage of the tournament with Mexico’s finest clubs.

First off I wanted to give everyone an update on the Freddy Adu situation. Most probably know this already but it is worth mentioning once more, his club Real Salt Lake and the MLS gave Adu permission to travel to Portugal over the weekend and discuss contracts and transfer fees with the Portuguese giant’s Benfica. Real even released a statement talking briefly about the transfer that is bound to happen in the next hours or so.

In other transfer news, it looks like FC Dallas may not be getting Brazilian Denilson after all. Reports are saying that two sides are still talking but a deal is very unlikely to happen at this point. Dallas, like the rest of the clubs in the world, only have two weeks left to sign anyone before the summer transfer window is closed on the 15th of August. Two weeks is a very tough time-frame for anyone to get a deal done on a big time signing.

As stated early, the MLS clubs are fairing well in SuperLiga. DC gained three points over the weekend with their win over Club America, the United now sit with four points after two matches. Houston as well is tied with the United in their group with four points after the Dynamo drew 1-1 with Monarcas Morelia.

In the other group, LA still sits with three points and a second place standing in the group despite losing to Chivas 2-1. FC Dallas came close to three points yet again but were unable to put the final touches against Pachuca as they drew 1-1.

The MLS clubs will now face off against one another in the final group match. The two Texan clubs will play host as DC travels to Houston and LA will head to Frisco to face the Hoops.

In MLS action this weekend the New England Revolution made easy work of Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City by a score of 2-1. Jeff Larentowicz netted the game winner in the 82nd minute, just a few minutes after Real tied the game on a Carey Talley penalty kick.

Sunday’s action proved to be a little more exciting. Chivas and KC went down to the wire as the Wizards snuck away a 3-2 win thanks to a late goal from Yura Movsisyan, his fifth of the season. Chivas returned to its old unlucky self on the road and was unable to reach second place in the west thanks to the loss. They still sit three points back of Dallas but with a game on hand they won’t be able to catch up anytime soon seeing how their next game isn’t for another two weeks.

Chicago lite up the sky by the lake in Toronto. The Fire down the Reds 3-0 thanks to goals from Ivan Guerrero, Calen Carr, and Floyd Franks…all house-hold names I know. Toronto never seemed to find a rhythm in the match and just looked like what most expansion teams look like, awful. No Jeff Cunningham may be the reason as the offense never got going with only five shots.

Toronto next will host the touring LA Galaxy and David Beckham while the Fire will tangle with the Crew in the Windy City.

More to come later today…power rankings and such should be up later tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Only a trio of games this weekend to mention in the MLS, while a four teams battle in SuperLiga. So far the MLS is fairing alright with two wins and two draws. So in all we do have seven games to talk about here. I failed to get the Wednesday night SuperLiga games preview out in time, I had a very busy and crazy day here on Wednesday as most people did in the Dallas area (yes, I am currently in Dallas if you didn’t catch that).

Anyways, MLS games first then SuperLiga.

New England Revolution at Real Salt Lake: I honestly want to say this could be a bit of a trap game for the Revs. We saw how some teams have faired this season going on the road to face Salt Lake, most of the time it has been at least a draw but there has been a time that an eastern side went in and lost. Question is which fate the Revs will endure on Saturday night.

RSL is still waiting on some big time signings but until then their midfield is still in shambles, which means their offense isn’t good enough to hang with a club like New England and their defense is still rather pathetic, which also means they won’t be able to hang with a club like New England.

This should be a game that Taylor Twellman turns up the heat on the scoring case for the season. We saw last weekend against Houston how dangerous Twellman really is, and same goes to Andy Dorman. I really feel New England just has too many weapons to deal with right now and Real just doesn’t have enough to cut it.

Real has played well against teams that aren’t in the MLS as of late. Tying Boca Juniors and beating Everton. Still, the fact remains those clubs are in pre-season mode and New England is not.

WVH Prediction: New England 3, Real Salt Lake 1

Chicago Fire at Toronto FC: This is the match-up that started the long downfall of the Fire back in May, a 3-1 loss in Toronto, giving the Reds their first club victory (and goal). Chicago hopes for something different has they have gone out and improved their attacking game with Blanco and newly acquired Wanchope (who I doubt will debut on Sunday but you never know). Adding to the attack only improves the Fire’s slim chances at reaching the playoffs and Toronto is their first step.

We now get to see exactly how good Blanco is against in-season players that the MLS will have. He looked good in his club debut against Celtic but I can honestly say things will be different in Toronto. The Reds are returning home for the first time in a long while, six games to be exact and you better believe they and their fans are hungry for three points.

This game in my head is honestly shaping up to be a draw and not three points for either side. I think Chicago will be up because of Blanco, even though I still do not understand why on Earth they did not improve that horrible defense of theirs that is the worst in the league. And I think Toronto will be up giving the reason I already stated earlier.

Its a safe prediction but probably a more accurate one.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, Toronto 2

Chivas USA at Kansas City Wizards: Chivas finally get the monkey off their back on the road as of last night thanks to a nice 2-0 win over the Red Bulls in New York. I said this two game road trip would either make or break the Goats and so far it is making them. A win over KC and they move into second in the west with Dallas. A loss keeps them in the playoffs though but doesn’t sound nearly as good.

KC is playing well and you better believe they will be a bit pissed from last week’s result, where the refs were terrible and were blowing calls left and right according to KC’s coach. After watching some of the game, I can’t do anything more than agree with him on that. I believe the Wizards will want to go out and prove that draw was a fluke last week and beat Chivas.

After last night I am not sure what kind of game this will be. A back and forth one I do know that. Eddie Johnson needs a running mate like Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo have for Chivas. Johnson is quickly going to realize if he hasn’t already, how much it pays to have another good scorer up top with you. Johnson is a one man show for the Wizards right now and that will only take them so far and not as far as they would like really.

This one smells like another draw really. Some goals will be scored but a draw only seems logical right now with these two teams current form.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, KC 1

SuperLiga games:

CF Pachuca at FC Dallas: Pachuca wasn’t the Mexican giants that we expected earlier in the week against LA, dropping that game 2-1. Dallas had a rough time with Chivas as well. Both teams need points and its a wonder who can get them after the last results. I think Dallas can pull this one out though even with the loss of Drew Moor in the back. I, like most Hoops fans are waiting on the signing of Denilson too right now.
WVH Prediction: FC Dallas 2, Pachuca 1

Chivas at LA Galaxy: This game looks interesting to me. Its a game I think that Chivas can win even though LA knocked off Pachuca thanks to a nice performance from Landon Donovan (way to step up LandyCakes). These games continue to be low scoring and I think this one will be no different.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, LA Galaxy 0

Club America at DC United: DC drew their first game while CA lost in Houston. DC showed they can score but also showed that they couldn’t hold on to a lead. Club America did not look that good at all against Houston. I think DC will find a weakness with Club America and get the all important three points.

WVH Prediction: DC United 2, Club America 1

Monarcas Morelia at Houston Dynamo: Monarcas got the late goal against DC on Wednesday and Houston blanked Club America. I honestly like the Dynamo’s chances again in this one. Houston should get the win and have the chance to lock up the group and advance to the next round.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, Monarcas 0

Since there hasn’t been any real news other than Chicago officially signing Paolo Wanchope, it is time to do the usual Thursday thing and preview the night’s prime-time affair. For the first time in a while the Houston Dynamo won’t be a showcase in the weekly game on The Duce. Surprising as it may seem, ESPN did want two new teams for once and a new location. Sorry, I love Texas as much as anyone else but time to move on a put on some different clubs.

Anyways, tonight we are blessed…or we are able to see Chivas USA take on the New York Red Bulls.

The Goats are and have been a one trick pony (no pun intended) this season on the road. Only five points on the road this season to go along with five losses. And New York has been one of the better home sides this season as well. Expect that trend to continue. New York gets a hungry Juan Pablo Angel back from suspension and you better believe he will want to pick up where he left off at in last week’s All-Star game against Celtic.

I think this game could have goals from both clubs as well. Last year these two put on one of the most goal-scoring games that the league had ever seen when New York won 5-4. In other words, don’t expect a lot of defense tonight with Angel and Atidore facing Razov and Galindo.

In the end the Red Bulls should walk with three points to their name and a possible brief stint at the top of the eastern standings again.

WVH Prediction: New York 4, Chivas 2

With FC Dallas on the brink of signing Brazilian Denilson to a designated player contract in hopes of making a deep run into the MLS playoffs, one Hoops player is wanting out. Midfielder Ramon Nunez has gone to the club and demanded a trade.

Nunez was not apart of the 1-1 draw with the Mexican Chivas side in last night’s SuperLiga game.

“I think I’m ready for a move,” Nunez said.

“Hopefully that’s in the works and can be done as soon as possible.”

Nunez has three goals and two assist to his name on the season but hasn’t been a vital part in the lineup for some time now. Most around the team believe one or two players will have to be dumped to make room for Denilson and Nunez is a contract that Dallas would be more than willing to cut in order to make the proper room. Most also figure that Marcelo Saragosa’s time in Dallas could be in doubt with the addition of Denilson because of the number of senior internationals that Dallas has and would need to have to be able to put Denilson on the roster.

I figure this is a decent thing for both sides. I like Nunez but too many times I watch him and think he is a fairly wasted talent out on the pitch. He should be a solid attacking midfielder but time and time again he misses chances that shouldn’t be missed or just looks lost out on the pitch. Getting rid of him wouldn’t be a huge loss to the Hoops as he hasn’t done a whole lot for them this season.

I figure SuperLiga is well worth talking about here as it starts tonight. Two MLS teams square off with two MFL teams. You excited? Are you? Are you?

CF Pachuca at LA Galaxy: Pachuca is probably the best club in Mexico and the Galaxy (even with Beckham and his sore ankle) are currently one of the worst MLS clubs. So what gives? Not a whole lot. The Galaxy have been ugly in recent games, even those in the World Series of Football against Tigres and Chelsea. I will say they did fare a lot better with Chelsea than with Tigres, which really looks weird to type here.

I wonder really if Beckham will even play tonight, in all honesty he shouldn’t, not even as a late second half sub for the Galaxy. No need to get him more injured than he already is. I have had ankle issues in the past and I can tell you he needs another week or so to really recover here.

The big load tonight will be on Landon Donovan for the Galaxy’s hopes at getting a win in this game. Lately we haven’t seen a whole lot from Donovan and I really wonder how he feels to have the spotlight away from him. He may act like it doesn’t bother him but something is definitely up with Donovan.

I think this game comes down to what kind of shape Pachuca is in at this point in their pre-season. We know when they are fit they are one of the best clubs in this side of the world. If they aren’t fit then this could be an interesting match. I think Pachuca somehow breaks away from the Galaxy late in the game and comes away win the all important first win of the tournament.

WVH Prediction: CF Pachuca 2, LA Galaxy 1

CD Guadalajara at FC Dallas: The Mexican Goats against the American Hoops. I was going to try and make it to this game but just ran out of time to get a ticket and really am too busy right now to go on a Tuesday night (though that won’t stop me next week when the Galaxy are in town on Tuesday night).

Chivas is in the same boat as Pachuca, if they are well and fit then they would have no problem handling a MLS team like Dallas but since they aren’t fully up for it and will be missing some key elements to their attack then you have to think that a club that is playing fairly well as of late like Dallas, should be able to win this game.

In a way I think if any MLS club is to win this competition it will be one of the Texan clubs or DC. Yeah, I give LA no hope for this tournament but I think Dallas stands a good chance at winning their group and getting into the semi-finals later on down the road.

It starts here with Chivas for the Hoops. Get an all important win early and set themselves up for a nice run in this tournament, where they won’t have many MLS games to worry about and will be at home for most of the time. I like Dallas’ chances tonight against Chivas who may be starting a youth player in the back as well. Ruiz should be able to get on board as well as a couple other guys.

WVH Prediction: FC Dallas 2, Chivas 0

Looks as though I missed this yesterday while I was out but Chicago has seem to land another impressive foreign striker to go along with Blanco and the injured Chris Rolfe. Costa Rican forward Paolo Wanchope, 30, is set to sign with the Chicago Fire sometime this week once a physical and all the paperwork takes place.

Wanchope has been rumored in the past to sign with an MLS club, most notably the Red Bulls back in the off-season.

For those who aren’t familiar with Wanchope, he is a very good striker with some gas left in the tank, I would say. He started off his career with Derby County, where he scored 28 goals in 83 games before being sold to West Ham United and then later to Manchester City. The last year or so he has bounced around a couple clubs but has been very important to the Costa Rican national team where he is second all-time in goals scored with 45 goals in 72 games.

Some may remember two goals that he netted against in last summer’s World Cup in the 4-2 loss to Germany.

Questions surround his health as he does carry a bad knee with him. If all is good there though this could be quite an attacking combination for the Fire who aren’t all that far away from a playoff spot still. But my questions still remains, why aren’t they improving that defense any?