Power Rankings, 1-30 | Matchday 7
We're entering a new era for domestic No. 10s, which I think is pretty, pretty cool
Three young domestic products – Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Niko Tsakiris – started as true No. 10s this weekend. All three scored or assisted.
Two other young domestic products – Owen Wolff and Quinn Sullivan – started as primary chance creators (basically as left attacking midfielders in 4-2-2-2s) as they have done all year.
Djordje Mihailovic started as a true 10 for Colorado as usual, while AZ Jackson and Caden Clark started as half-space merchants (AZ scored for Columbus; Clark had a hand in Montreal's goal). Jesus Ferreira also played some as a 10 for Seattle1.
18-year-old Santi Morales came off the bench for Inter Miami. 15-year-old Cavan Sullivan came off the bench for Philly. Brian Gutierrez would've started as Chicago’s #10 but is injured2.
I touched on some of this in my big Sunday night column:
• St. Louis CITY's big test, Charlotte FC switch it up & more from Matchday 7
That’s a significant number of guys playing a role that we just haven’t seen many Americans in since the Kljestan/Feilhaber/Nguyen trio of a decade back3. Feels like a page might've been turned here in terms of how we produce attacking talent, but also how we perceive that talent. That’s massively important to both the future of the league and of the US national team.
I also wanted to plug this, which I wrote for MLSsoccer last week:
• San Diego are for real, Zack Steffen is back: 5 MLS takeaways
tl;dr is possession matters, but please give it a click and check out the whole presentation.
Ok, into this week’s Power Rankings vote, which will be big in Portland:
Inter Miami: I know the Barça guys are psychos who want to play every single second, but if there was ever a time to just bring them off the bench for a 60th-minute line change, it was this weekend.
Vancouver Whitecaps: This team is so fucking good. If you’re not watching every week you’re letting yourself down.
Columbus Crew: Still unbeaten, and their xGD/90 has dipped only slightly from last year. Wilfried Nancy was practically begging for high-level reinforcements in the postgame.
Philadelphia Union: Sometimes ball not go in. 4
San Diego FC: Man, this might be too low. They’re one of the three most entertaining teams in the league, along with Columbus and the ‘Caps.
Minnesota United: Still lethal on the counter but still vulnerable because that’s the only club in their bag. They were lucky to walk out of the Bronx with all three points.
Charlotte FC: They’re still figuring some stuff out, but have match-winners who are keeping things pointed in the right direction.
LAFC: Look, I’m getting close to dropping them for real. But I’m more impressed by their CCC win over Miami than I am worried by their regular-season form. When they really focus, they’re still really good (even if the lack of midfield creativity has become glaring).
FC Cincinnati: Comfortable, even while missing six starters – including the whole backline5.
Orlando City: Not a great showing, but a great result. And Pedro Gallese’s been excellent since a rough first two games.
Chicago Fire: Played really well, just got on the wrong side of a couple of big moments and Carlos Coronel had a blinder. So it goes.
Nashville SC: Second straight week they played really well, but got beat by the opponent’s match-winners. Firmly believe it’s only a matter of time until these types of performances turn into three points on the regular.
Austin FC: Still tough to break down, and Brad Stuver is still awesome.
RBNY: Not a great performance, but a very good result. I think the shape change back to the 4-2-2-2 is the right call, but I worry about the lack of mobility in that front two.
Seattle Sounders: Should be a few spots lower after that turd. Am I keeping them above the Timbers for the sake of what has become a running BlueSky bit?
Portland Timbers: Yes. Yes I am.
FC Dallas: They’ve been good at digging results out of mediocre performances.
Colorado Rapids: Ok, my confidence is officially shaken. Also, let’s see one of the kids start getting Kevin Cabral’s minutes.
San Jose Earthquakes: That was awesome. And Tsakiris really brings something to the table, doesn’t he?
Real Salt Lake: Diego Luna’s that guy. Diogo Gonçalves does not seem to be. The upcoming schedule is BRUTAL.
Atlanta United: Zero attacking chemistry, and still regular backline errors. Bad combo!
NYCFC: Played really well once going 0-2 down, but yeah, they went 0-2 down. I dunno, man.
St. Louis City: Olof Mellberg’s coaching like a guy whose last team registered just 1.2 ppg.
LA Galaxy: Thought they looked better midweek, but the Maya Yoshida injury really makes it tough given what a catastrophe Zanka’s been.
Houston Dynamo: McGlynn as a 10 excites me, even if it’s not likely to last for long (I’m assuming he’ll move back a line when Ondrej Lingr is available).
Sporting KC: They really didn’t create much until the final half-hour, but once they got going they were fun and effective.
Toronto FC: Will the Italians play with that level of effort every week? Because if so, this team will climb.
New England Revolution: Zero assists on the season.
Montreal Impact: Good effort, but just don’t have the horses.
D.C. United: The roster makes no sense, the squad selection makes no sense, and the players looked like they quit on all of it this weekend.
Sounders fans maybe don’t want to talk much about that right now. Jesus is… struggling.
Is it worth mentioning that Luca de la Torre and Sergio Oregel started as free 8s for good teams? Not primary chance creators, but guys who have a lot of ball progression and attacking responsibility.
And unlike that trio, these guys are mostly all getting looks with the national team. Poch isn’t perfect, but he’s a shit-ton better than Jurgen ever was.
Especially for new No. 9 Bruno Damiani, who’s an xG machine.
At what point do we start to get seriously concerned about Matt Miazga’s absence? I thought he’d have been back a month ago.
Jesus starts at the 10 in Frisco this weekend and kills it.
My bet is that Lingr will take Bassi's place in the Houston lineup. Artur is not coming out, and Urso was a beast -- Olsen said Urso was best player on the field after the game.