MLS Power Rankings at Halfway: Shocking Surprises and Predictable Realities

Roughly halfway through the MLS season, and like many seasons before it, there is a large degree of unpredictability.One reason why the MLS format (with it's salary cap etc) is a good setup is that it promotes league parody first, and worries about nearly everything else second.For this reason (and, it should be said, many others) the defending champion often finds itself in a difficult spot.The 2011 champs, the L.A. Galaxy, are no different, spending much of the early part of this year falling back to earth as abruptly as possible.Yet as past giants struggle, last year's struggling teams begin to rise. Now, halfway through the newest MLS season, let's see where they stack up: 1. San Jose Earthquakes (11-4-4): Armed with league leading scorer, and one-man bailout machine Chris Wondolowski, the Earthquakes have rattled off several last-second wins so far this year. They're far from being a one-man team, but if anyone asks you who the MVP is so far, make no mistake it's San Jose's talisman. 2. D.C. United (10-5-3): Our first major surprise on the list comes early! D.C., long bereft of any good news (let alone a playoff bid since 2007), have found their groove thanks to a ...

Why David Beckham Should Have Been Picked for Team GB at the Olympics

Stuart Pearce has made a catastrophic error in omitting David Beckham from Team GB.No current performing athlete has done more for the London Olympics than David Beckham. And yet he doesn't even find himself in the team.If you cut him open he bleeds England, but he is one of those human beings who help make Britain Great. He is one of the finest ambassadors this country has ever produced. Stuart Pearce is a proud and stubborn man, who was one of Manchester City's worst managers ever. It sums up his ability that he didn't get the England job.Frankly, Team GB is a mere consolation prize, although he is qualified by having done quite a good job as England U21 coach.His position on Beckham can be summed up by this quote:"In regard to ticket sales or merchandising or whatever, I'm a football man. I pick solely on footballing ability and I have to back my opinion. I feel very sorry for David; I know how much it meant to him."However, his boss's (Andy Hunt, BOA Chief Executive) opinion is captured by this quote from the same article:"I think I learned the same time as everybody else, by the press release. In an ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: 10 Bold Predictions

After snapping a two-game losing streak on Sunday against the Chicago Fire, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy go on a tour of the Pacific Northwest, starting on July 14 against the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field.Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT/11 p.m. ET and will be televised by NBC Sports. Here are 10 bold predictions for Saturday's contest at Jeld-Wen.Begin Slideshow

MLS All Star Rosters 2012: Complete Listing and Analysis of First XI

The 2012 MLS All Stars have been announced, and the squad certainly isn't lacking for star power. You'll recognize some of the big names, as David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry have all been announced for the squad.And all deserve the honor.But the rest of the fan votes put together a pretty solid team, one that dabbles in a popularity contest but also leaves coach Ben Olsen with a strong foundation when picking his team. Let's take a look at who the fans voted on the team, and provide some analysis on how the team should look moving forward. First XIGoalkeeper: Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)Defenders: Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls)Midfielders: David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)Forwards: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)The rest of the roster will announced July 15th on ESPN. AnalysisIt should be noted that the First XI, as voted on by the fans, isn't guaranteed a spot on the team that will face Chelsea. The full squad of 18 members will be selected by ...

MLS All-Star Game 2012: Rosters, Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and More

For the eighth consecutive season, a team of MLS All Stars will take on a team from Europe in the league's All-Star Game. This year's opponent will be Chelsea, which is coming off a campaign where the team won the Champions League. The MLS side actually won the first four games in the series, defeating Fulham, Celtic, West Ham United and the Blues. It's important to note the European teams are usually early in their preseason preparations and play trial lineups whereas the MLS players are in midseason form. Everton and Manchester United have combined to win the last three games, though, meaning the MLS players will be looking to get back on the winning side of things. Here's a look at all the important information for the marquee game, a look at the First XI and a trio of players to watch.  Where: PPL Park in Chester, Pa. When: Wednesday, July 25 at 8 p.m. ET Watch: ESPN2 Live Stream: ESPN3.com   MLS First XI (Reserves to be announced) Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)  Defenders Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes) Aurelien Collin (Sporting Kansas City) Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) Heath Pearce (New York Red Bulls)   Midfielders ...

Chicago Fire 0-2 LA Galaxy: Fire Gets Rubbed out as Robbie Keane Strikes

Skittish would be a good way to describe the Chicago Fire’s 2-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on Sunday.Logan Pause and the Fire had no movement on the field in front of a sellout Toyota Park crowd.The Fire is trying to figure out how to work recently acquired Brazilian midfielder Alex into the lineup. They are also coping with the absence of midfielder Sebastian Grazzini, who left the team more than a week ago to tend to a personal matter.However, neither situation should serve as an excuse for the Fire, who simply did not take advantage of some good scoring chances.In the 55th minute, striker Dominic Oduro's attempt on goal went straight into the arms of Galaxy keeper Josh Saunders. It was a play that summed up the match. The Fire never had a better opportunity, despite turning up their desperation.After the match, Fire head coach Frank Klopas downplayed the defeat, describing it as just “one game.”Meanwhile, former United States head coach and current coach of the Galaxy Bruce Arena praised the “good effort” of his team.The Galaxy played without David Beckham due to a league suspension. Landon Donovan was supposed to be held out of the game, but the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: Rating the Galaxy Players

Talk about a statement victory. Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. with a 2-0 shutout victory over Frank Klopas' Chicago Fire. With the win, Los Angeles improve to 7-10-2 (23 points) and come into their road trip to the Pacific Northwest with fresh wind in their sails. Here are the player ratings for the Los Angeles Galaxy against the Chicago Fire. Josh Saunders: 7 Saunders was facing the firing squad but just needed to make three saves. A complete performance from the backline helped take a lot of the work off of the Galaxy netminder. Sean Franklin: 6.5 Patrick Nyarko had difficulty getting past Sean Franklin, although he was able to generate a few chances. However, Franklin did a solid job in limiting Nyarko's production. He needs to do better in delivering those long balls. A.J. DeLaGarza: 7 A.J. DeLaGarza had a tough nut to crack in neutralizing Dominic Oduro, but his speed was more than enough force Oduro to get subbed out on tired legs. What a workhorse. David Junior Lopes: 6.5 Logan Pause was outhustled today by the likes of David Junior Lopes. He suffered a ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: 6 Things We Learned

How do you shake off a poor week of results? Simple. As Al Davis would say, "Just win, baby." Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy did just that, shutting out Frank Klopas's Chicago Fire, 2-0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.With the victory, the Galaxy improve to 7-10-2 (23 points) and are back in the MLS Western Conference playoff race as they begin a grueling road stretch. The Fire drop to 8-6-4 (28 points).Here are six things we learned from Sunday afternoon's encounter between the Galaxy and Fire.Begin Slideshow

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders: Examining America’s Best Soccer Rivalry

You go to Portland to experience hipster Disneyland: brewery every quarter-mile, menus that feature meat wrapped in more meat and vegetables fried in animal fat.If you’re an East Coast native like myself, you go to smirk at the earnestness while enjoying its products. And, increasingly, if you’re an American soccer fan, you go to Portland because the city might be revolutionizing the MLS from the inside.That was the real reason I traveled to Portland to watch the Timbers battle their bitter geographical and cultural rivals, the Seattle Sounders, on June 24.Portland-Seattle has quickly become the gold standard—an example of how to market and root for the MLS.  Part I: BeginningsThe Portland Timbers name dates back to 1975 with a North American Soccer League (NASL) team, and was transferred to the United Soccer Leagues (USL) before catching on with the MLS.The city of Portland has long proclaimed itself Soccer City, USA. There is some justification. The MLS Timbers have sold out their soccer-only stadium for every game this season. Season-tickets are also sold out. The Timbers Army is legendary. You'll see why a bit later.But on June 24, when the Timbers met the Sounders in Portland, the home team found itself in an ...

San Jose Earthquakes Earn Difficult 0-0 Draw Against FC Dallas

Two days after being named MLS Player of the Month for the second time this season—a recognition of his three goals in as many league games during June, each of which ended up being the decisive goal in an eventual win—San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski very nearly showed the predatory instinct that has made him one of the premier players in Major League Soccer.In fact, were it not for two timely interventions by FC Dallas defender Hernán Pertúz and keeper Kevin Hartman, both of whom cleared Wondolowski efforts off the goal line, the Earthquakes could well have escaped a brutal stretch of games, which has seen them play six times in 18 days, with a 2-0 victory.But Dallas made interventions when it needed to, and the game, which failed to fire for most of the 90 minutes, ended in a 0-0 draw. A positive result from the Earthquakes perspective, especially when viewed in light of their 2-1 defeat to Portland Timbers on Tuesday.The draw took the Earthquakes' record this season to 11-4-4.Heat was a factor—it was 80 degrees in Frisco, Tex. by the time kickoff rolled around, and within 10 minutes Earthquakes keeper Jon Busch, recovered from an eye ...