I shuffled a couple tiers around, as the top group got one team bigger and the third tier got a few clubs larger. Really that third tier is just a bunch of mess that could either go up or down at this point. You could make your claim for any club being rated 11-17 here and I wouldn’t argue with it one bit.

Finally, the bottom tier is now a two team group. It is just sad down there.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (1)	8-3-2 26 pts.	Off this week and stayed at the top in the process. They lose Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando to national team duty but they get a struggling FC Dallas squad at home this week. Should be status quo when it is all said and done.
	2 (2)	7-2-3 24 pts.	They left it late but got a point at home against Columbus in a game they truly dominated in. Alan Gordon got his third of the season and is showing that this club has real depth for a change up top.
	3 (3)	7-2-2 23 pts.	Fredy Montero is heating up, which is nice considering he’s finally got his strike force behind him with Eddie Johnson, Alvaro Fernandez and Mauro Rosales all healthy again.
	4 (5)	8-3-1 25 pts.	It is hard not to like what the Red Bulls are doing these days. They are winners of five straight and have moved up a tier here. I’d still like to see this club take on a team above them here but we’ll have to wait on that.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (8)	7-4-3 24 pts.	Nice to see their DPs play like DPs here. Hamdi Salihi is showing that he was worth the wait here to get going and now that he’s on the same page as Dwayne De Rosario, look out, this club will continue to surge up the standings.
	6 (4)	7-3-1 22 pts.	Nice to see Teal Bunbury put two in the back of the net but it was not great to see them conceed two goals off set pieces. Winless run moves to four games for Peter Vermes’ club.
	7 (7)	3-3-4 13 pts.	Two draws in the week keep them at bay for me here. The big home run is about to kick off though, I’d expect some points coming up for this team.
	8 (6)	4-3-3 15 pts.	Injuries in the back are creeping in for the Fire. But a lack of toughness should really raise a few questions about this club’s ability to compete with the clubs above them.
	9 (10)	5-3-3 18 pts.	The Whitecaps should have gotten three points against Seattle but at least we’re finally seeing this big offensive group come alive here.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	10 (9)	5-6-1 16 pts.	The 2-2 draw at home to KC was a better showing than the 2-0 loss on the road in DC. Their defense really needs some work done on it as four goals given up in one week just will not cut it against the elite in this league.
	11 (13)	3-6-3 12 pts.	Tough not to make a break through with a man advantage on your own turf. They need a big outting against Colorado before they go on a three-week break.
	12 (14)	4-6-1 13 pts.	Saer Sene is having a nice season so far in New England but everything else just seems like the same old Revs to me. Decent, improving but nothing to really get overly attached to.
	13 (15)	3-4-3 12 pts.	Andy Gruenebaum nearly stole three points away from San Jose, which would have easily lifted this side up the rankings more than the draw did. Still, even with the draw this side is improving.
	14 (11)	3-6-4 13 pts.	Another frustrating outing for Schellas Hyndman. No Brek Shea for the two other games this week and now no Hernan Pertuz for the next three to four weeks. The defense is good but in shambled since no one is healthy enough (or not suspended) to go from game to game.
	15 (16)	4-6-1 13 pts.	Danny Califf and Juan Agudelo gave the Goats exactly what they needed in the 1-0 win over their LA rivals. Don’t look now but this side could be on the way up here.
	16 (18)	3-5-3 12 pts.	A draw and a win is a pretty good week for any club. Things are looking up for this club and it may be at the right time too with Colorado, Dallas and LA all struggling.
	17 (12)	3-6-2 11 pts.	Ugh. It is hard to get overly excited anymore about this club. The star power just isn’t enough while the defense continues to be the main issue.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	18 (17)	2-6-2 8 pts.	They drop more for the bad deals they continue to make than the result they produced on the road in Dallas.
	19 (19)	0-9-0 0 pts.	Just ugly at this point.

Tier one lost a club while a couple clubs inched their way into the bottom mess of clubs. Still, a lot is going on here and we’re starting to get a decent handle on who are the top sides in each conference and who are the bottom clubs.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (4)	8-3-2 26 pts.	Defenively this club was absolutely dominate against Seattle, what you would expect out of Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers.
	2 (2)	7-2-2 23 pts.	A late draw against Chivas was enough to keep them here. The Quakes continue to just grind away results.
	3 (1)	7-2-1 22 pts.	A nice win in Dallas followed by a tough loss at home against Salt Lake. They did end a five games in 15 days run though against RSL, winning four of five wasn’t too bad though.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (3)	7-3-0 21 pts.	The cracks are starting to get better in the defense for this club. Sure the red card to Roger Espindoza didn’t help against Chicago but it proved that this club still has a ways to go here.
	5 (10)	7-3-1 22 pts.	Rafa Marquez came back and the defense looked shaky but somehow things ended up alright and they club came out with two wins this week.
	6 (7)	4-2-3 15 pts.	Finally seeing more out of the Fire here and I am liking it. Dominic Oduro continues to score and others are chipping in as well.
	7 (8)	3-3-2 11 pts.	Definitely a special moment watching Brad Davis score the opening goal at BBVA Compass Stadium.
	8 (5)	5-4-3 18 pts.	Injuries are starting to pile up for Ben Olsen. Perry Kitchen is down with a serious knee injury and other young guns like Nick DeLeon and Chris Pontius are getting banged up as well.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	9 (9)	5-5-0 15 pts.	Off this past week, probably a good thing to as they have some important guys that need to be healthy.
	10 (6)	5-3-2 17 pts.	I think it was safe to say this club did not care about the game in New England. The Canadian Championship was probably a little more on their minds.
	11 (11)	3-6-3 12 pts.	Injuries are one thing but the amount of red cards this club is racking up is starting to be the real issue.
	12 (12)	3-5-2 11 pts.	This club is too hot and cold for my liking. Good in one half and terrible in another. Hopefully a rivalry game this week against Chivas will wake them up.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	13 (14)	3-5-3 12 pts.	Defensively the Impact are improving and Donovan Ricketts is looking like a MVP-type keeper once again. But offensively this club is struggling at putting the game away when they have a chance to.
	14 (16)	4-6-0 12 pts.	Good for Lee Nguyen to get some revenge on the Whitecaps.
	15 (18)	3-4-2 11 pts.	They earned a badly needed three points against Dallas. I’m not putting a ton of stock into it just yet though as they have a trip to San Jose coming up.
	16 (16)	3-6-1 10 pts.	Nice draw in San Jose, but conceeding another late goal to give up points can’t make Robin Fraser happy.
	17 (13)	2-6-1 7 pts.	Freddy Adu carried the club, then barried them on Sunday against New York. His second yellow for diving in the box gave New York the freedom to play their style and win the game late.
	18 (17)	2-5-2 8 pts.	They drop in the bye week for me. You just wonder if a week off did enough to help this club or not.
	19 (19)	0-8-0 0 pts.	Off this past week but got a win (finally) in the Canadian Championships. Could points finally be on the way this week?

The top tier gained a team while the second tier lost two sides (though they did gain a couple newbies as well). The bottom tier is still a total mess. Teams 13-18 are just a toss up and I totally understand any argument for anyone being higher/lower than they currently are. Only the Montreal Impact have an argument for being higher but I think it is safe to wait and see how their current run really goes.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (3)	6-1-1 19 pts.	Lock down defense is guiding this club. Only three goals given up this season. Yes just three!
	2 (2)	7-2-1 22 pts.	Crazy win on Wednesday followed by a crazy loss on Saturday. Really no need in moving the Quakes though I do think the loss shows some issues that will creep in down the road with this club. Depth worries me with this bunch but so far they’ve managed with some injuries.
	3 (1)	7-2-0 21 pts.	Sporting was idle for two weeks and came back with a thud of a game against Montreal. It won’t get any easier for this bunch as they play an in-form Chicago side next.
	4 (4)	7-3-1 22 pts.	You really never know what you’re going to get out of this side. A nice 2-1 win over New England that showed this club can win despite beind a man down for 20-plus minutes.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	5 (6)	5-3-3 18 pts.	Tough loss in the midweek but a nice bounce back in Toronto on Saturday. But how about this, Andy Najar playing at right-back against Toronto? It worked out alright as they left BMO Field with a shutout.
	6 (8)	5-2-2 17 pts.	Not a lot of people are taking about it but Gershon Koffie is starting to be a real bright spot in the center of the midfield for the Caps.
	7 (12)	3-2-2 11 pts.	Marco Pappa is finally heating up, which is exactly what this club needs.
	8 (9)	2-2-2 8 pts.	One more game until they open up their new stadium. Their seven-game road stretch seemed like it lasted ages.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	9 (10)	5-5-0 15 pts.	They were pretty much gifted a win in Frisco on Sunday. Still a win is a win.
	10 (11)	5-3-1 13 pts.	So many new faces in the lineup and a surprise win in LA. Now the gamble comes, does Hans Backe risk adding Rafa Marquez back to the starting lineup?
	11 (6)	3-4-3 12 pts.	Losing two players in one game is tough enough but to lose them within two minutes of one another in the first half is a death sentence.
	12 (5)	3-5-1 10 pts.	The turnaround was quick but the trip back down was even quicker.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	13 (13)	2-5-1 7 pts.	I wanted to move them down, and I probably should but I saw some true grit out of the Union against the Sounders that I just like better than any club below them here.
	14 (17)	3-5-2 11 pts.	Hottest team in the Eastern Conference. I kid you not with that statement.
	15 (14)	3-6-0 9 pts.	They got a goal at home but no win to show for once again.
	16 (18)	3-6-0 9 pts.	They win one at home then drop one on the road. Some cause for celebration I suppose with that. This team needs to find consistency if they want to compete for a playoff spot though.
	17 (15)	2-5-2 8 pts.	A 0-0 shutout is usually an okay thing and with the way the Timbers have been this season, they’ll take any shutout they can get.
	18 (16)	2-4-2 8 pts.	Tough to judge this team realy. Defensively they’re not terrible and will be better when Chad Marshall is good to go full time (too a head shot in practice apparently). Just no bite to that attack.
	19 (19)	0-8-0 0 pts.	Historically bad now. Yeah.

A decent amount of movement this week for me. The top three remain the same while the second tier continues to get interesting. The third tier continues to shrink though as another club dropped to the bottom group, which is also growing like weeds.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (1)	7-1-0 21 pts.	No games, no need to move them.
	2 (2)	6-1-1 19 pts.	Good to see someone other than Chris Wondolowski step up and score. I do worry about their defensive injury issues but for now, this club continues to impress. Big week ahead though with matches against DC and Vancouver.
	3 (3)	4-1-1 13 pts.	Not the prettiest of wins but three points nonetheless. Always good to get three points away from home though.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (4)	6-3-1 19 pts.	Probably deserved more points in Frisco in the midweek but they found a way to get back into the positive side of the standings on Saturday thanks to some late game heroics. Good teams know how to win ugly, and they certainly proved that.
	5 (5)	3-3-1 10 pts.	The missed PK by Robbie Keane worries me but there were plenty of times that LA look absolutely dangerous against Dallas. Give it times folks, this team will soon dominate like they should.
	6 (8)	4-2-3 15 pts.	Maicon Santos continues to be the best pickup Ben Olsen made in the offseason with two more goals. But the loss of Emiliano Dudar will hurt that defense in a big way.
	7 (6)	3-3-1 10 pts.	Two draws in one week isn’t bad but it isn’t great either. They came so close to a rare win in LA though as Jair Benitez became the goat in that one for them.
	8 (9)	4-2-2 14 pts.	Need something impressive to hang your hats on Whitecaps fans? This club has six shutouts on the season. Not bad at all.
	9 (7)	2-2-2 8 pts.	Just one more game until this long road trip is finished. Honestly, I’d say most Houston fans will take this record on this trip too.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	10 (12)	4-4-0 12 pts.	Conor Casey is back. While the 4-0 win was impressive I think seeing Casey return is all Rapids fans really cared about.
	11 (11)	4-3-1 13 pts.	Another big injury, this time to Thierry Henry. It could very well be a long few weeks without him up top too.
	12 (10)	2-2-2 8 pts.	The Fire may have deserved better but their offense failed to capitalize on any openings that the Sounders gave them.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	13 (13)	2-4-1 7 pts.	Their attack just lacks a certain bite to it this year. Simple as that.
	14 (15)	3-5-0 9 pts.	They get hammered in Colorado and move up? Yeah, that is just how big of a mess this bottom tier is at the moment. No one really deserves to be any higher than 13 at the moment.
	15 (14)	2-5-1 7 pts.	Nothing going right at the moment for this group.
	16 (16)	2-4-1 7 pts.	Not moving the Crew this week due to just the bad luck they had against Vancouver. Where on earth was the foul on Josh Williams? That should have been a goal and it should have been a tied game.
	17 (18)	2-5-1 7 pts.	First clean sheet of the year has to stand for something but games won’t get any easier here with Sporting Kansas City up next.
	18 (17)	2-5-0 6 pts.	They had to be better against New York and failed to deliver.
	19 (19)	0-7-0 0 pts.	Soccer is a cruel sports and their 3-2 loss at RSL is the definition of cruel.

Only a few real big movers this week, Real Salt Lake dipped to the second tier after a second straight defeat. Sure both losses were on the road and one was with a nine-man team for the majority of the game against San Jose but at some point we do have to acknowledge the fact that they have lost three times here.

Also sinking is the Colorado Rapids, losers of three straight.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (1)	7-1-0 21 pts.	Tough to see the perfect run come to an end on an own-goal but that is life. KC still has the top record and owns a nice lead on the rest of their conference foes.
	2 (4)	5-1-1 16 pts.	Raise your hand if you thought San Jose would be a top three team by the end of April? Yeah? Didn’t think so, outside of the Bay Area no one saw this turn around coming.
	3 (3)	3-1-1 10 pts.	Off for the week and no where to move them.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (2)	5-3-0 15 pts.	The losses are adding up for Jason Kreis. They have two games this week and if they stumble in the first game in Dallas (a place they’ve never won at) it could open up some interesting storylines for Saturday’s home game with Toronto.
	5 (6)	3-3-0 9 pts.	Two straight now and I think this group is finding their groove here.
	6 (5)	3-3-1 10 pts.	At some point this group will get it done on the road but it just wasn’t meant to be in Vancouver. Another tough week is ahead and we’ll know the true form of this club after playing RSL and LA in a week.
	7 (7)	2-1-2 8 pts.	It isn’t a great start to the season but Dominic Kinnear is probably totally fine that this season-opening road trip has gone this way. Only one loss and the rest have been points.
	8 (10)	3-2-3 12 pts.	Very impressive showing against New York. With a healthy Chris Pontius, this United squad has the talent on offense to beat nearly anyone in the league. Now if they can only get DeRo going.
	9 (11)	3-2-2 11 pts.	Tough loss but a decent win against Dallas made up for it. There is still a lot to figure out with this bunch. Defensively they are good when they are on the same page but offensively they haven’t shown up like we expected them to here.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	10 (12)	2-1-2 8 pts.	The Dominic Oduro and Patrick Nyarko show was good enough to get three points in Toronto but the defense nearly cost them three points. That has to improve if they want to contend this season.
	11 (9)	3-3-1 10 pts.	Without a tough midfielder like Rafa Marquez and a quality center back like Wilman Conde, this group has no answer for any sort of offense. DC just absolutely dominated them in the middle and on the flank.
	12 (8)	3-4-0 9 pts.	Losers of three straight show this group has a ton of growth to deal with here.
	13 (15)	2-3-1 7 pts.	Gritty 1-0 win has been a staple for this group under Peter Nowak. A nine-man Union squad got just enough to get by Chivas on the road to make it two straight wins.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	14 (16)	2-4-1 7 pts.	Yes they won on an own-goal but I’m sure they will take it any day of the week after a four game slide.
	15 (13)	3-4-0 9 pts.	Hard to argue with their road form but their play at home this season has been a disappointment.
	16 (15)	2-3-1 7 pts.	Better in the home draw but this club still lacks so much all around, espeically in terms of a true playmaker in the midfield.
	17 (17)	2-4-0 6 pts.	No games, no place to go for this week.
	18 (18)	1-5-2 5 pts.	Better showing in DC in the midweek but still a long, long way to go here.
	19 (19)	0-6-0 0 pts.	Fugly is a word right? If not then I think most of you will understand what I am talking about here when I say this club is down from fugly. At least guys like Reggie Lambe show promise.

The top two tiers are still where they were a week ago but the bottom tier got a little more crowded in my book. Saying all of that we have a new number one (I know I’m late to that party). Also, San Jose is slowly moving their way into the top tier, I think they are three more points from joining that mix.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (2)	6-0-0 18 pts.	Supporters’ Shield runs through them. Simple as that after the 1-0 win over Salt Lake. Still very impressived with their defense here, only one goal given up all season long.
	2 (1)	5-2-0 15 pts.	Tough loss on the road but this team will still be in the thick of things this season. No doubt in my mind.
	3 (3)	3-1-1 10 pts.	Gritty win at home over the Rapids. Still need more out of their offense with Eddie Johnson back in the mix but they are getting there.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (5)	4-1-1 13 pts.	So much quality with this starting XI. Defensively they are as sound as it gets in MLS, possibly one of the most underrated groups in the league today.
	5 (4)	3-2-1 10 pts.	Another late winner from this group. I think we’re slowly seeing the old Brek Shea here too, something Dallas fans have to be very thankful for. The team just turned it on late when it mattered most and got the three points.
	6 (8)	2-3-0 6 pts.	Finally. I’m sure that is what most people are thinking when they saw the result against Portland. It wasn’t pretty for the first 20 minutes but there was little doubt that they would lose once Landon Donovan bagged his first goal of the year.
	7 (6)	2-1-1 7 pts.	Tough not to get the full game in against the Fire. Still, a point is a point and their long road trip is quickly coming to an end with a winning record.
	8 (7)	3-3-0 9 pts.	In two of the three losses this season (not counting the NY loss here), the Rapids have been in it until the very end. Oscar Pareja has made his team attractive to say the least here.
	9 (9)	3-2-1 10 pts.	Against a tough defense this team isn’t nearly the same. They got two quick goals but then were fairly run over by a very talented San Jose squad.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	10 (9)	2-2-2 8 pts.	Ben Olsen is slowly but surely getting his club in position to contend here. The offense is starting to click and the defense is getting better by each game.
	11 (10)	2-1-2 8 pts.	The lone club off in Week 6, they get two big ones in Week 7 though against Salt Lake and Dallas.
	12 (11)	1-1-2 5 pts.	Tough not to play the full 90 due to rain but it looks like help is on the way offensively speaking with Chris Rolfe returning.
	13 (16)	3-3-0 9 pts.	Giving credit where it is due, the Goats can play anywhere. And Dan Kennedy is having a MVP-type season so far.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	14 (18)	1-3-1 4 pts.	Better in the 1-0 win over the Crew but still nothing amazing out of this club. But in my mind they are closer to the next tier than anyone else below them.
	15 (13)	2-3-0 6 pts.	I think it will just be that kind of year for this club. Decent but not worth writing home about.
	16 (14)	1-4-1 4 pts.	Four straight losses has me really wondering about this club. Defensively they aren’t any better than last year, and could be a little worse.
	17 (15)	2-4-0 6 pts.	Tough break at home to lose a second in a row. I have a feeling this will just be the story of the year for this group, get momentum only to lose it really quickly.
	18 (17)	1-5-1 4 pts.	They are such a gritty team but at the same time no one is really on the same page. That is why they have five losses so far.
	19 (19)	0-5-0 0 pts.	Another game, another loss. Only two goals scored this year just isn’t going to cut it.

I know I am still holding on to some clubs in some spots instead of going more off the actual standings here. Just how I am doing it this season folks. Give it some time.

Anyways, here is how I see things after Week 5 in MLS.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (1)	5-1-0 15 pts.	Two home wins this week sets up a massive match with KC this weekend. Its really 1a and 1b going in my mind, winner becomes early season Supporters’ Shield favorite.
	2 (2)	5-0-0 15 pts.	Nice win at home against LA. Their match with Salt Lake won’t be as easy but certainly a win there gets them to the top of the mountain for me.
	3 (3)	2-1-1 7 pts.	Solid road draw in DC. Nothing great to write home about but nothing too drastically bad to comment on either.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (7)	2-1-1 7 pts.	A late game-winner against New England gives this team a massive boost. They host Montreal this weekend in a game that should help them continue on up the standings.
	5 (8)	4-1-0 12 pts.	Really liking what I am seeing out of this club. Next win and I think they find themselves up another tier.
	6 (6)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Unbalanced schedule makes this no fun. At least their home opener is rapidly approaching.
	7 (5)	3-2-0 9 pts.	Tough road loss at Salt Lake but on all honesty they were dominated in that game.
	8 (4)	1-3-0 3 pts.	With all that talent and three losses they should be further down, I get it. One more loss and they will be, I just keep holding on to the belief that they are much better than they appear.
	9 (10)	3-2-0 9 pts.	Impressive stuff yet again from these guys. I think we’ll truly know if they are for real this weekend when they play San Jose and their tough defense. Last three weeks have been too easy for Thierry Henry and company.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	10 (9)	2-1-2 8 pts.	Their defense was due to give up some goals though I still believe they are a solid team here but they have to get that offense going before long.
	11 (11)	1-1-1 4 pts.	Another off week. Bummer.
	12 (14)	1-2-2 5 pts.	After one big out burst at home, United follows it up with a stinker that leads to a nil-nil draw.
	13 (13)	2-2-0 6 pts.	Got spanked. Simple as that.
	14 (12)	1-3-1 4 pts.	Another home loss is making this club look more like an expansion club than anything else.
	15 (15)	2-3-0 6 pts.	Tough loss in Dallas at the end of that match. Honestly the road was not as kind to them as it was the week prior, this club just ran out of steam late.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	16 (18)	2-3-0 6 pts.	Another big win on the road. I like the toughness this club is showing but honestly, it is time for them to get it done at home too.
	17 (19)	1-4-1 4 pts.	Historic first wins are nice but historic first road wins may be even better if they can make it two in a row in Dallas this week.
	18 (17)	0-3-1 1 pts.	No game but unlucky for them those around them did better this week.
	19 (16)	0-4-0 0 pts.	Yeah, its back to the cellar for this group.

My rankings saw a good amount of movement this week too. The tier system may not be loved by all but it makes my brain hurt less in writing these up each week. LA dropped out of the top tier for me and are in real danger of dropping even further down. I think they’re still a strong club but they have to act like one sooner rather than later.

Dallas is also on the verge of dropping down while San Jose is inching toward the second tier. Toronto and Philly joined the bottom group as well this week.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (2)	3-1-0 9 pts.	Comeback kids in Portland. Such a fantastic finish to the game against the Timbers. Big week ahead with two home games including a Rocky Mountain Cup clash with Colorado.
	2 (4)	4-0-0 12 pts.	Should they be number one? Maybe. I see the reasoning with the unbeaten record. I’m still holding out based on who they’ve beaten so far but boy does this club have Supporters Shield written all over them.
	3 (1)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Weak PK call gave them the loss but the fact remains they missed a lot of chances in this one to get points.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (3)	1-2-0 3 pts.	Ugly match against New England see them get bumped down a tier. Really expected more but a week off and a home game should have given this club three points.
	5 (7)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Another solid win for this bunch. Love the addition of Kamani Hill, he’s already paying off with one goal in his debut.
	6 (6)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Off for the week so no movement here.
	7 (5)	1-1-1 4 pts.	Probably should move them further down after the nasty loss on the road to DC. But with home games against New England and Montreal ahead, they have a chance to redeem themselves.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	8 (11)	3-1-0 9 pts.	I’ve been entirely too wrong about this club so far, their defense has been very impressive. If they offense can do more than a Chris Wondolowski goal, they will compete big time this season.
	9 (9)	2-0-2 8 pts.	Hard to believe it but they are one of two unbeatens left in the league (SKC being the other).
	10 (12)	2-2-0 6 pts.	Lots of goals yet again from Thierry Henry and company but let’s not get too excited about it, they came against an expansion club. Talk to me when they drop more than one on Houston, SKC, Seattle, Dallas, or even Vancouver or San Jose.
	11 (8)	1-1-1 4 pts.	Still trying to figure out this group but one thing is clear, Dominic Oduro can’t carry them each week. Someone else has to step up.
	12 (10)	1-2-1 4 pts.	Another tough loss but I must admit, seeing Darlington Nagbe shine like he has so far this season has really made me not focus on the losses but on his growth. Good stuff.
	13 (13)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Another quiet 1-0 win. Simple but nothing really that great about it.
	14 (15)	1-2-1 4 pts.	Nick DeLeon appears to be the real deal folks. If they can make it two in-a-row with a home win over Seattle, it will have give this team loads of confidence.
	15 (17)	2-2-0 6 pts.	The pairing of Clyde Simms and Shalrie Joseph is starting to be a good one. Finally Joseph can be himself in the midfield.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	16 (14)	0-3-0 0 pts.	No wins still and only one goal to boot. They get bumped down a tier as well and I see the argument for making them the bottom of the pile. I guess their CCL run is the only thing keeping them here for me, even though it shouldn’t effect this at all.
	17 (16)	0-3-1 1 pts.	A draw is one thing but one at home isn’t a good enough sign just yet. Amazing how much this club has degressed from last year.
	18 (18)	1-2-0 3 pts.	Still no offense from this bunch. Not entirely sure there will be a ton to hang their hats on from losing 1-0 at home to KC either.
	19 (19)	0-3-1 1 pts.	Not gonna get any love when you give up five goals in a game.

One thing to be clear, it’s March, it’s early and we don’t know a ton just yet. I didn’t do a ton of moving around this week with all the shake ups. Sporting KC moved up to the top tier but with a bit of caution considering they’ve beaten two clubs that were weak and one that was vastly depleted. Still, I do believe they are worth moving up here.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (3)	2-0-0 6 pts.	After getting pounded with chances early by Houston, the Sounders took a 10 minute run and never looked back. Are they the class of the league? Maybe, but they certainly made their case on Friday.
	2 (1)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Calling the home loss to Chivas fluky seems about right. Its one game and I’ll give them a slight pass for it. Felt they deserved much better.
	3 (2)	1-1-0 3 pts.	Off for the week, got a bump down but still in the top mix.
	4 (4)	3-0-0 9 pts.	Welcome to the top tier KC. While you didn’t move up in the rankings in my mind, they did deserve a notch up in the tier system. Let’s be honest though, they beat a very undermanned Dallas squad that was missing a ton of key players. Take away the late game-winner and they wouldn’t be moving up in my mind.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	5 (5)	1-1-1 4 pts.	Tough week without Brek Shea, Fabian Castillo, David Ferreira and Carlos Rodriguez. At one point they were playing with five defenders and three defensive midfielders. You can’t expect a ton of offense from tha but with limited depth in the attacking part of the field right now, it’s what Schellas Hyndman is dealing with.
	6 (6)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Looked good for the most part but that 10 minute stretch did them in when it was all said and done. Unlucky deflection and a PK marked an ugly turn of events on Friday. I still feel they are better than expected here.
	7 (7)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Playing without two key midfielders was always going to do them in against a hungrier New York team.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	8 (10)	1-0-1 4 pts.	Dominic Oduro scores yet again for the Fire. I’m liking this club so far here, I think they are a win (maybe two) from moving up here.
	9 (8)	2-0-1 7 pts.	Surprised to see a 0-0 draw out of this bunch but shouldn’t be surprised by the growing pains this group is going through here.
	10 (9)	1-1-1 4 pts.	Tough loss and really this club is better than the result. I’d expect better out of them when they return home.
	11 (13)	2-1-0 6 pts.	Very impressive win on the road for the Quakes. Chris Wondolowski continues to prove he is a beast while the Quakes midfield is showing they aren’t too shabby. I still need more consistentcy out of this bunch before I really jump on the bandwagon though.
	12 (14)	1-2-0 3 pts.	There is the offense we expected. Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper both showed up but it was having Wilman Conde and Rafa Marquez back in the lineup that made a big difference.
	13 (15)	1-1-0 3 pts.	Nice win at home against Montreal but nothing that really jumped out at us here.
	14 (10)	0-2-0 0 pts.	Guess it is going to be more of the same out of this bunch – that is at least until the CCL run is over.
	15 (16)	0-2-1 1 pts.	Missing a couple young players and managed to get a draw on the road isn’t bad. But not showing up offensively yet again makes matters worse.
	16 (12)	0-3-0 0 pts.	Time to push the panic button? Let’s get to 0-4-0 before we do that.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	17 (17)	1-2-0 3 pts.	Nice early goal that leads to the win but just too bad they had to play defense for 89 minutes afterwards. Still, its something out of this club.
	18 (19)	1-2-0 3 pts.	Nice win on the road for this club. I don’t think this result offers up a ton though as there are still plenty of issues all over the field. At least we know Dan Kennedy is back in form and that rookie Casey Townsend could be a front-runner for ROY.
	19 (18)	0-2-1 1 pts.	It was really only a matter of time before they found their way back to the bottom of the pile.

The rankings are still working out some kinks like most of the teams here here. Just like I mentioned last week, I’m sticking with the tier system for this season. I fell it breaks up the rankings better than just listing them 1-19 like I used to. One team moved up into another tier this week but just about everyone else remained where they were a week ago.

Team	Rank (Last)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
Top Tier (teams seen to be head and shoulders above the rest)
	1 (1)	2-0-0 6 pts.	Solid all over the park, Jason Kreis’ boys are already off to a strong start this season. Love seeing Luis Gil score here, he’s a guy you have to keep an eye on this season. Ton of potential.
	2 (2)	1-1-0 3 pts.	Got back to their old ways this weekend. Robbie Keane should have easily had three or four goals but a two goal effort was more than enough against a DC squad that was totally out matched.
	3 (3)	1-0-0 3 pts.	Welcome to the cult of David Estrada. The third-year striker is really coming into his own this season.
Second Tier (teams expected to reach the post season but not quite on the level of the top teams)
	4 (4)	2-0-0 6 pts.	A good win over a 10-man Rev squad. I do want to see how they do against a better team this week when Dallas comes to town. Can’t read a ton into the wins over DC and New England just yet.
	5 (5)	1-0-1 4 pts.	Depth was brought into question but for the most part this team is very solid. Take out a mis-kick by Kevin Hartman and it probably would have been another win. The first road game will provide more answers on this side though.
	6 (6)	2-0-0 6 pts.	Another road win here. Very promising stuff to say the least but just like KC, I want to see them against a better side. Not a ton we can get off of the Chivas and SJ wins yet.
	7 (7)	2-0-0 6 pts.	Bumping the Rapids into the second tier. Solid win on the road while being down a man for most of the second half. Oscar Pareja is getting it done, even if it isn’t pretty.
Third Tier (middle of the road in the league, teams could go either go in the playoffs or miss it entirely)
	8 (8)	2-0-0 6 pts.	Getting closer to that second tier themselves. Martin Rennie’s club got their first road win in MLS play. Still, just like other clubs at 2-0-0, can’t read a ton into the wins yet as they came against weaker sides.
	9 (9)	1-0-1 4 pts.	Darlington Nagbe looked dangerous in the second half and scored the Timbes’ lone goal in the process. Would love to see more of him on the field for John Spencer.
	10 (11)	0-0-1 1 pts.	Nice to see Dominic Oduro remind us that his 12-goal season in 2011 wasn’t a fluke.
	11 (10)	0-1-0 0 pts.	Leaving four main guys on the bench to start a road game was never going to spell good things for Aron Winter in Seattle. Still they get some credit for their CCL success in LA.
	12 (12)	0-2-0 0 pts.	Felt they should have earned a draw against Colorado. They’ve played better than their record suggests in my mind but some issues seem to be brewing in the locker room with Danny Califf’s injury.
	13 (13)	1-1-0 3 pts.	Way too conservative from Frank Yallop against Houston. Still not overly impressed with this club but at least they have three points to hang their hats on so far.
	14 (14)	0-2-0 0 pts.	That warm smell you’re getting is Hans Backe’s seat. I know they’ve been without Rafa Marquez and Luke Rodgers but still. A loss this weekend at home will be more crushing though to the faithful.
	15 (15)	0-1-0 0 pts.	No league game but two scrimmages against college teams filled the void for Robert Warzycha’s side this weekend.
	16 (16)	0-1-0 0 pts.	Ben Olsen goes to LA and leaves his two DPs on the bench to start out. Guess he knew that one was a lost cause.
Bottom Tier (could be a long year for these teams)
	17 (17)	0-2-0 0 pts.	Never expected them to do well in Kansas City to begin with but losing a man early in the match made it nearly impossible to expect any offense from this bunch.
	18 (19)	0-1-1 1 pts.	Nice moment for the club. Large crowd, first club goal. It was all very nice. Had Josh Gardner’s shot been a tad lower we’d be talking about a very special game for Montreal.
	19 (18)	0-2-0 0 pts.	Not sure what was worse from this club, the play on the field or the attendance at the Home Depot Center. Both were embarrasing.