| POS | TEAM | PLD | PTS |
| 1 | LA | 15 | 36 |
| 2 | RSL | 14 | 27 |
| 3 | CLB | 13 | 27 |
| 4 | NYRB | 13 | 24 |
| 5 | COL | 13 | 22 |
| 6 | FCD | 13 | 21 |
| 7 | TFC | 13 | 19 |
| 8 | SJ | 13 | 19 |
| 9 | HOU | 15 | 18 |
| 10 | CHI | 13 | 17 |
| 11 | SEA | 15 | 15 |
| 12 | KC | 13 | 12 |
| 13 | PHI | 12 | 11 |
| 14 | CHV | 14 | 11 |
| 15 | NE | 14 | 11 |
| 16 | DC | 14 | 11 |
In what has become a yearly tradition for Houston, once again they started the season off slowly on both sides of the ball. Every year, they start figuring things out on defense after a few games, and then sometime around midseason the offense kicks into gear. By the time the playoff run starts, both sides are very sharp; the great end of season form has led to consecutive championships.
Things have changed a bit since the two teams met a couple of weeks ago, and not just from the obvious Dallas angle. After playing a 4-4-2 all season long, RSL came out in a 3-5-2 against Dallas before substituting Olave out in the first half and reverting back to their original formation. Against Colorado, they stuck with the 4-4-2 but it had a much more defensive feel to it.
Although Gullit is a big fan of “sexy football”, the horrid Galaxy defense forced him to reign in his ambition a bit at the beginning of the year. In the preseason game against Dallas, where LA actually had the run of play, he brought out a 4-5-1 formation, relying on the counter to create opportunities. Since then, the Galaxy have benefited from having a run of games at home to start the season.
Jason Kreis has RSL playing a very aggressive, attacking style of soccer. They line up in a 4-4-2, but push a lot of players forward. The defense consists of two physical center backs who stay home and two outside backs who are free to move forward at will and support the attack on the wing. In the midfield, one player stays home centrally and has a defensive role, but the other three have primary roles in the attack.
The Earthquakes are coached by Frank Yallop and will run out a 4-4-2 formation, which he has preferred in his time coaching in MLS and has been used by the team in every game this season. Yallop’s reputation took a bit of a hit after the LA fiasco, but he remains one of the top coaches in the league and does a fantastic job of evaluating talent coming out of college and developing young players. These characteristics make him an ideal coach for an expansion franchise. The backline is a flat back four, focused on organization rather than allowing the outside backs to run up the flanks.
New England traditionally play in a 3-5-2 formation. The outside backs tend to stay a bit wide, and are allowed to join the attack at times, with the central defender holding a deeper position but not behaving as a sweeper. The midfield consists of a center triangle of two defensive mids positioned behind an attacking midfielder. On the wings, both players are expected to be two-way players and help out defensively, but are an essential part of the attack.
Chivas typically play a 4-4-2. In the past, the defense tended to hold a deep line because of slower central players, but they seem to be pressing up a bit more this season. Additionally, the outside defenders are encouraged to join the attack, and the combination of the two tactics has left Chivas vulnerable to the counter. When the outside back moves forward, one of the center backs slides over to cover, giving the backline a three man shape and forcing it to rely on tight man marking at the midfield stripe.
After going with a 4-5-1 almost exclusively last season with Chicago, Osorio has show his flexibility by implementing a 3-5-2 in New York. Although the formation names might be the same, this 3-5-2 operates much differently than one used by Coach Morrow in Dallas. The back three operate much the same, with the ball-side outside defender holding more of a wide position, and the defender on the off-ball side of the field sliding more centrally to help in the middle.
The Dynamo almost always play in a diamond 4-4-2 formation. The backline plays very physically and are expected to mark tightly regardless of where the forwards are on the pitch. The outside backs are given the liberty to join the attack out of the back but the team tends to allow the left back quite a bit more freedom than the right.
Preki runs Chivas out in a 4-4-2. In the midfield, both central players hold back defensively, while the outside midfielders move forward as wingers. The defense has a similar look as the central defenders hold back and the outside defenders join the attack. Chivas thrives on the counter, and works the ball outside and then back when moving forward.
Volume Fourteen
John has extra motivation; ratings, etc.
Here are the final #s.
It’s World Cup Tuesday, and all is well in FC Dallas land
Dallas beats Kansas City, 1-0
Big game against the Wizzz…..
Classy video from Nike.
On the opening day of 1860 training camp.
Cruz Azul has pulled out of the event.
El gato is cool like that.
FC Dallas doubles up Chivas USA, 2-1.
The MLS disciplinary report came out today and Arnaud’s on it.
So with the USA out, who will you be cheering for?
vs Cruz Azul on July 7th
… and we are back.
Here’s the audio from the interview.