Pour mes lecteurs réguliers: cette semaine, je suis en vacances au Québec, et en conséquence, ont seulement été en mesure de rattraper les points saillants des jeux cette semaine.
S’il vous plaît pardonnez cette Puissance Classement abrégée, je serai de retour la semaine prochaine avec un regard plus complet à des résultats de la semaine. Aussi, espérons-le Minnesota va gagner un match alors.
Les Canadiens, celui-ci va à vous, j’aime votre comté. Ironiquement les deux seules villes canadiennes, je ne l’ai jamais visités sont Ottawa et Edmonton. Pardon!
(wait, don’t go, I promise I haven’t run the entire PR through Google Translate)
#1. New York Cosmos – (11-2-6, 35 pts) – No Change
The Cosmos managed to eek out a win against Tampa Bay this weekend in classic Cosmos fashion. First, they played poorly, then everything suddenly went their way (please see the Tampa Bay Rowdies entry below), and finally they took advantage to finish off the game.
My problem is that this is now part of a much larger pattern for New York. They have not played convincingly for weeks now, and even at home, they’ve looked poor. It’s really, really hard for me to demote a team like the Cosmos, especially when they keep finding ways to win, and when their rivals for the top of the league still have obvious limitations in their own right. But for another week, this is where I make my disclaimer that the league’s top three teams seem very even at this stage.
New York travel to Puerto Rico this week, which has been a tricky matchup for other teams so far.
#2. Indy Eleven – (10-7-2, 37 pts) – No Change
Another win, another late goal for Indy to seal it. This time around, their victory seemed to have been a bit more deserved and entirely reflective of the balance of play. The Eleven had several opportunities cleared off the line before they got the winner.
You could flip the entire equation and say that if Daniel Fernandes hadn’t dropped two balls, the Eleven would’ve been walking away with a loss. That’s fair too, but Indy have been the poster children for the phrase “you make your own luck.” With energy and enthusiasm, they just come at you, and things tend to fall into place.
Next match is away at Carolina.
#3. FC Edmonton – (11-3-4, 36 pts) – No Change
Edmonton got the goal they needed against Minnesota and successfully kept their visitors out of the net. In other words, more of the same from this extraordinary unit.
Last season’s Ottawa Fury allowed 23 goals in 30 matches, a ratio of .766 goals per game, and by far the NASL record. But we’re now through 18 games, and Edmonton have conceded just 10 times, for .555 goals per game. That’s simply incredible.
Sunday’s win made it nine straight Ws at home for the Eddies, since losing at home to Minnesota in the spring. They won’t be able to make it ten this coming weekend, as they’re on the road in Tampa Bay.
#4. Minnesota United FC – (8-3-7, 27 pts) – Up One
Yes, Minnesota go up a ranking, despite losing this weekend in Edmonton. There are a few reasons for this. The first is that the teams ranked #4-8 last week all lost, which means that I could either put the #9 Carolina RailHawks (who drew one of the league’s worst teams at home) in this rank, or else a loser was always going to move to this spot. Second, of those miserable five teams, Minnesota had the most reasonable loss of the bunch. The Loons probably had the balance of play in their match, outdoing their opponents in virtually every statistical category and passing the eye test as well (I know there are United fans who will disagree with this statement). Add to it all that Minnesota played the one of the toughest matchups in the league on paper, and the Loons are the only reasonable choice for the fourth position.
But don’t mistake my acquiescence for enthusiasm. I’m certainly not pleased with what I watched on Sunday, nor do I believe that Minnesota really deserve to be anywhere close to New York/Indy/Edmonton at this point. It’s clear that somewhere along the line, those other clubs passed the Loons by.
There’s still some hope. With Ben Speas finally getting time, and Kevin Venegas seemingly near to recovery, Minnesota might actually get an attack going again. Injuries have been brutal for this team, and there’s still plenty of soccer left to be played. The Loons have a twofer this week. First, they host Tampa at midweek. Then they visit Jacksonville on the weekend.
#5. Rayo OKC – (6-7-6, 25 pts) – No Change
Oklahoma City have played impressively in the past two weeks, despite just taking a point from the games. But when you consider the opposition, away at New York and Indy, then you’ve got to give the Scissortails credit for their effort. Indeed, bonus points are in order, given their truly disastrous club situation. Had goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes played better in rainy conditions in Indy, then they might’ve gotten a point or three from that as well.
Miami FC come to pay OKC a visit next weekend, and beside the intriguing subplots (will someone still pay for that field?), it ought to be a good game between two intriguing teams.
#6. Tampa Bay Rowdies – (6-6-6, 24 pts) – Up Two
I cannot wait to see what Bill Edwards does this week.
To my eyes, both PKs were 50/50 calls, although the first, which came from a handball, was deeply unfortunate no matter whether it was right or wrong.
Credit to PC who made an immediate impact, the kind of production you can expect by paying a player of his caliber regularly. Boo to Darnell King, who got ejected by trying to fight confirmed Scotsman Adam Moffat. The Rowdies will miss him midweek away in Minnesota, and will be glad to have him back on the weekend, when they host the Eddies. Tough two weeks for the green and gold.
#7. Miami FC – (4-6-7, 18 pts) – Down Three
After thumping Minnesota last week, all of Miami’s goals got misplaced by Delta, and as a result they got shut out, embarrassingly, at home by the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Two amusing late goals from the visitors compounded the damage.
The teal and tangerine, who were on such a high last weekend, came crashing to earth. What does it say about a team when they can destroy Minnesota in Minnesota and then come around and lose to Fort Lauderdale? It says that they’re still inconsistent, ruinously so.
#8. Carolina RailHawks – (6-5-7, 23 pts) – Up One
Looks like Carolina had to dig deep after a nice comeback by the visiting Puerto Rico FC. With Matt Fondy, the RailHawks have gained the kind of presence up top that they needed so badly during the spring season. Omar Bravo hasn’t hurt either.
That being said, I know Puerto Rico have shown well this year, but teams have got to do better than get some wins against the Melos, especially at home, because it ain’t easier when you travel to their place.
The RailHawks host Indy next weekend.
#9. Shame – (5-3-10, 18 pts) – Shame
#10. Fort Lauderdale Strikers – (6-4-8, 22 pts) – No Change
Well done to Fort Lauderdale, who beat their crosstown rivals and maintained a bit of prestige in the midst of what has been a shambles of a season so far. I liked that the Strikers got both of their goals through some good old fashioned sticktoitiveness. That especially goes for the first one, where Paulo Júnior satisfyingly punished Wilson Palacios for being a dolt.
The red and gold play twice this week. They travel to Jacksonville over the weekend, then host Ottawa. That’s a possible six point week. Anything is possible.
#11. Puerto Rico FC – (1-4-4, 7 pts) – No Change
Puerto Rico continue to show plenty of guts, and continue to fall short of glory. Four draws and just a single win attest to that fact. In three of their draws this season, Las Naranjas scored first, and in all of them they led the match at one point. If they’re going to get more points and have a respectable season, they need to hold onto more leads.
The Melos host New York this coming weekend.
Now onto the grand finale:
#12. Jacksonville Armada – (3-6-10, 15 pts) – No Change to these rankings, but the world sure feels like a very different place.
ATTENTION! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!
I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
IF YOU ARE STANDING, PLEASE SIT DOWN.
IF YOU ARE DRINKING WATER PLEASE SWALLOW BEFORE PROCEEDING.
IF YOU ARE OUTDOORS, SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING, WTF ARE YOU DOING READING THIS WHILE DRIVING, PULL OVER REGARDLESS GODDAMMIT.
THE ARMADA HAVE WON AN AWAY GAME, I REPEAT, THE ARMADA HAVE WON AN AWAY GAME. WHOEVER THE NEW COACH IS, LOCK HIM OR HER UP WITH A LIFETIME CONTRACT. GIVE THEM THE KEY TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. LET THEM DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT PEOPLE DO IN JACKSONVILLE—FOR FREE.
***
Seeya next week.
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