First up I think LA has finished climbing the charts for now. They possibly even peaked too soon for that matter and now they are dropping games and sparking some defensive questions as they nearly back their way into the playoffs. Chicago isn’t much off that as far as backing into the post season but with another game at home that they fail to get three points you pretty much have to think that way.

In the middle of the order New England jumps up big time thanks to another win over Seattle. I think New England has a shot at Chicago’s second place seating in the eastern conference but I’ll again point out that Steve Ralston injury worries the hell out of me for them. I know even with the way that Shalrie Joseph is playing right now, which is MVP form, the loss of Ralston is a big one to their offense that is already not one of the best in the league.

Near the bottom I shook some things up with Dallas getting a nod up thanks to a big win over Salt Lake. I pretty much think that clubs ranked 10 and below have no shot at the playoffs now. We knew Dallas, KC, San Jose and New York were in that boat for a while but now I am adding Salt Lake and very close to adding DC to that mix.

As always feel free to take  your shots at my rankings below.

Team	Rank (Last Week)	Record (W-L-T)	Comments
	1 (1)	12-4-10 46 pts.	Just a couple wins shy of their second straight Supporter’s Shield trophies. Think most of us second guessed this club back in May.
	2 (3)	12-8-7 43 pts.	They get the bump up not because of LA and Chicago lack the ability to move up but because I like the fact the club re-signed Brian Ching to a long-term deal.
	3 (4)	10-6-11 41 pts.	Fire drop points at home again but their offense is showing more signs of life now that Brian McBride is back and good to go.
	4 (2)	10-6-11 41 pts.	Did LA peak too soon here? Starting to wonder if they are backing their way into the playoffs here.
	5 (8)	10-8-7 37 pts.	Shalrie Joseph better get some MVP votes (he’ll probably get mine if he stays on this form) but this season ending injury to Steve Ralston will do a number on their playoff chances.
	6 (6)	11-9-5 38 pts.	Draw at home against New York causes some concerns but their final slate is still fairly easy. I just don’t know if they will challenge LA or Houston for an automatic bid anymore from the west.
	7 (5)	9-7-11 38 pts.	Boy this club is dangerously close to falling out of contention here. Thankfully for them those battling below them aren’t doing well at the moment either.
	8 (7)	10-8-9 39 pts.	Another club I really battle back and forth with over their current playoff position. With a couple road games left I really question their chances.
	9 (10)	9-10-8 35 pts.	The own-goal wasn’t the only issue. Defensive mistakes cost this club a serious road win in Chicago. I still believe however their schedule sets them up nicely for a chance into the playoffs.
	10 (9)	8-7-12 36 pts.	With the injury to Josh Wicks I just don’t see this club reaching the playoffs this year.
	11 (13)	8-12-6 30 pts.	I said last year when Jeff Cunningham was traded from Toronto to Dallas that it was a deal that would really pay off in the long run for Dallas. Turns out it is.
	12 (11)	9-11-7 34 pts.	The playoff dream isn’t totally dead but it is dead in my eyes. Just too many clubs to over come with so little left.
	13 (12)	8-11-7 31 pts.	Not getting the result against Colorado pretty much summed up the season for this bunch. A whole lotta nothing.
	14 (14)	6-12-6 23 pts.	Some may forget that Ryan Johnson has scored nine goals this year for this offensively-challenged bunch.
	15 (15)	4-17-6 18 pts.	Two more points from 20 points. Can they do it? Two more road games and a home finale against a playoff hungry Toronto will certainly be tough.

Order of goals: Jamie Moreno, Ramon Sanchez, Ryan Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, Juan Pablo Angel, Dwayne De Rosario, Chad Barret, Brian McBride, Jeff Cunningham, Eddie Gaven, Fredy Montero, and Shalrie Joseph.

Eddie Gaven and Emilio Renteria are leading the charge for the Crew. (Getty Images)

And just with one weekend the playoff race really cleared up in my eyes. I may end up being wrong about a team or two but for the most part I have a pretty good feeling about six of the clubs that should be in the playoffs this season. The last two spots I am still going back and forth on but I will get into that shortly.

First of all we do know something new about the playoffs. The Columbus Crew are all but officially in if you do the math (The league finally updated their site to say the Crew clinched a spot). Even if they lost their last four games (which I wouldn’t bet on after this past weekend) they would still be at worst the sixth place team this year. Not bad. As for their Supporter’s Shield chances, well it really comes down to that game in hand I think. They took care of business this weekend against LA but really it is all down to how they handle these last four games. I think we’ll see a repeat Shield winner though, they just need two more to at worst tie for first though I believe they do hold a tiebreaker with Houston should that happen.

But let’s move on to see the current standings after this weekend’s set of games. Again for my purposes I use the give the first tiebreaker to the club with the most games remaining. After that its down to head-to-head and then goal differential.

SUPPORTER’S SHIELD RACE
Columbus (26) 12-4-10, 46 points
Houston (27) 12-8-7, 43 points
Chicago (27) 10-6-11, 41
Los Angeles (27) 10-6-11, 41
WILD-CARD BERTHS
Colorado (27) 10-8-9, 39 points
Chivas USA (25) 11-9-5, 38
Seattle (27) 9-7-11, 38
New England (25) 10-8-7, 37
LAST SEVEN OUT
D.C. United (27) 8-7-12, 36
Toronto (27) 9-10-8, 35
Real Salt Lake (27) 9-11-7, 34
Kansas City (26) 8-11-7, 31
Dallas (26) 8-12-6, 30
San Jose (25) 6-12-7, 25
New York (27) 4-17-6, 18

Out of the ones that are out of the playoff zone right now keep an eye on Toronto. I know they got a draw on the road this week but it was a big road point. Their remaining schedule is against very weak clubs. And with the news that New England’s Steve Ralston is out now for the year with an ACL injury they could be the club that catches up to the Revs or even the expansion Sounders who seems to be struggling.

I would have put DC on that list to watch out for based on their schedule but when they lost to San Jose this weekend at home it kind of made me think they won’t be in the playoffs this year. They still have hope but they have to find some defense before they can move on into the second season.

San Jose, Dallas and KC are still alive in the race for the playoffs thanks to guys like Ryan Johnson and Jeff Cunningham. But really they continue to play the spoiler role.

One club that is dangerously close to being in that spoiler role is now Real Salt Lake. Their loss to Dallas this week really should have showed everyone what I’ve been saying for months, they just aren’t a playoff club this year. With that may also be a pink slip for Jason Kreis once the season is over. They aren’t officially eliminated but winning their last three in a row just seems like a very tall task for this inconsistent bunch.

At this point though the magic number appears to be 42 points. I’ll honestly be surprised to find a club that clinches a playoff birth not have at least that number at the end of the year.

If I had to make a prediction today for the eight playoff clubs I’d say they would be Columbus, Houston, LA, Chicago, Colorado, Seattle, Chivas and Toronto.

I could be wrong on three of those wild card teams but something tells me Colorado will edge their way in on the last day; Seattle will find a way in and Toronto based on their schedule will get in. Just a hunch.

GBS is returning to MVP form, that is dangerous for everyone else. (Getty Images)

A full weekend is upon us here as we head into the final month of the season. Once again we have a weekend that has a lot of playoff implications from top to bottom. Can the spoilers like KC and San Jose step up and bring down some clubs gunning for the playoffs? Can teams like Columbus or Chicago make a push for the Supporter’s Shield once and for all? Or will someone like LA or Chivas step up and surprise them?

Lots of questions to be asked this weekend. Nearly every club is in action except for the Houston Dynamo who are busy putting the wraps on Brian Ching’s new four year deal.

As always feel free to post your score predictions below.

Saturday:

Seattle Sounders FC – at – New England Revolution:

If this game is anything like the one a month ago in Seattle you have to expect Sigi Schmid to figure out a way to get his offense more production out of the midfield. Last time around New England shocked the Sounders at Qwest Field thanks to a gutsy goal from Shalrie Joseph. After that goal New England clamped down in the midfield and never gave Seattle the space they needed to get things gong on offense. Seattle has to find a way to get Fredy Montero or Nate Jaqua into space in this one if they want even a shot at a tie. Seattle does have some confidence for once this season on the road thanks to a couple big road wins as of late in places like DC. If they can get Montero some space around goal they could steal some points, especially if the word is true about Joseph not being at 100%. I think New England could win this one too but to me this one sounds like a draw based on how Seattle has been as of late on the road.

WVH Prediction: New England 1, Seattle 1

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LA Galaxy – at – Columbus Crew:

LA has been solid on the road this year but they head into Crew Stadium possibly without David Beckham. You can also bet that the Crew aren’t going to want to give up that unbeaten record they’ve gotten at home anytime soon here either (yes I know they lost at home to Cruz Azul in the CCL this week but in MLS their record still speaks for itself). Beckham or not Beckham I think this one gets bogged down in the midfield enough that actually favors Columbus a little more than LA. The Galaxy need this big win if they want a true shot at the Supporter’s Shield. I just like the Crew’s chances a little more though here. Something tells me Guillermo Barros Schelotto is back to his MVP form and that is dangerous for all comers in MLS.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 2, LA 1

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Real Salt Lake – at – FC Dallas:

I feel like I haven’t seen Dallas at home in months (I missed their last home game due to my wedding) and now they bring in one of the worst road teams in the league. I think the chance to play spoiler is going to be in full effect tomorrow for Dallas. RSL needs three points in a big way but winning in Dallas hasn’t been easy for them over the years. They’ve found ways to drop points at Pizza Hut Park like you wouldn’t believe. Given the poor road effort this season by RSL and how well Jeff Cunningham has played for Dallas these last two months I am going with the homeside for the upset. I think this could be another one of those high scoring games that we’ve seen Dallas in this year since neither really defend that well. RSL will have to push the tempo but look for Dallas to push right back with a win.

WVH Prediction: Dallas 4, RSL 2

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Toronto FC – at – Chicago Fire:

It is about high time that the Fire got their act together at home here. Going only 4-4-5 at Toyota Park doesn’t strike fear into anyone’s eyes, especially when those four wins are over teams like New York and San Jose. Chicago needs points to push Columbus in the eastern standings as well as hold off others for the automatic bid in the east. Toronto is one of those clubs on the edge of the playoffs and need points no matter what. It could be a long night for the Reds though if they don’t slow down Brian McBride who looked great in return last week against Columbus. Stopping his is key to getting points. While I think Toronto will push Chicago well in this one I just see the Fire ending up on top. They seems to at least beat clubs that can’t win on the road like Toronto at home and I think that trend will continue.

WVH Prediction: Chicago 2, Toronto 0

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Colorado Rapids – at – Kansas City Wizards:

Boy the Rapids really did screw themselves in a big way these last two games against San Jose. Instead of getting the six points that they should have gotten they ended up with two similar draws. Now their playoff hopes go to KC where things aren’t gonna get easy with the way the Wizards have been playing as of late. Even with little playoff hopes the Wizards are certainly playing the role of spoiler very well. I think the Wizards will keep this one close but I see Colorado getting another late draw thanks to their wing play and thanks to Conor Casey who is trying to put away the Golden Boot race for the year. This one smells like a draw but don’t sleep on KC pulling out another win.

WVH Prediction: KC 1, Colorado 1

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New York Red Bulls – at – Chivas USA:

How lucky did Chivas get to have New York on their schedule twice this late in the year? Getting them at home should mean three points right? Its still possible but we honestly don’t know what to make of these Red Bulls under interim coach Richie Williams on the road yet. More than likely we can assume they will be the same old Red Bulls on the road here. Chivas has played well thanks to the addition of Maicon Santos up top. This one won’t be a blowout by any means but looks for Chivas to find a way to get three points and put some serious pressure on Home Depot Center mates LA and western conference leaders Houston.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 2, New York 0

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Sunday:

San Jose Earthquakes – at – DC United:

With the way the schedule lines up for DC in the last month or so they would only have themselves to blame if they failed to reach the post season again. DC looked good in CCL play this week as they dominated Marathon 3-0. United finally opened up the wing play and took over the game last night which is exactly what they have to do against San Jose who is struggling to find good wing play these days. DC needs to find their consistency with this game and build on the result from last night to continue to hold off New England, Toronto and Salt Lake for a playoff spot. I think San Jose gives DC a fight but late in the second half DC will do what they do best and that is put away the game.

WVH Prediction: DC 2, San Jose 1

Plenty of MLS clubs will be interested in tonight’s mid-week clash at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park as the Colorado Rapids host the San Jose Earthquakes. Plenty of clubs want Colorado out of the playoff picture while San Jose is hoping to not just play the role of spoiler but go on a crazy run of wins to get them back into the playoffs for the first time in a few years.

San Jose has the most games left of any clubs right now with seven and the Rapids are hoping to use this home game as a springboard up the western standings. A win tonight at home would put the Rapids for at least the next couple days above Seattle in the standings and just a point back of LA for the second automatic bid in the west.

The Quakes have to come into this game and slow down the attack of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. They did a good job last week in San Jose of not allowing them to use their speed and physical play to score goals, that is until the end of the game when the Quakes gifted Colorado a late PK that Casey scored easily to send the game home in a draw.

I think at home the Rapids find a way to get the three points. They don’t give up much at home and San Jose just flat out doesn’t win on the road (0-8-2) and doesn’t score on the road (8 goals all year away from Buck Shaw Stadium).

Look for Casey and Cummings to pace the offense into three points tonight.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 3, San Jose 1