Power Rankings, 1-30 | Matchday 1

I thought this was an astute and probably accurate take from Sam, who is the lead data guy for US Soccer (and was responding to this tweet of mine):

This version of the Power Rankings – very little data, lots of potential for overcorrecting – is the closest thing we'll get to testing Sam's hypothesis. These aren't really predictions, of course, more just me sticking my finger in the air and trying to figure out which way the wind is blowing. But we are kind of in the ballpark of what he's talking about.

Let's get to it:

1. LAFC: Excellent defensive performance and a terrifying attacking performance. Nine goals in two games, counting CCL. Getting another passer into central midfield (Stephen Eustáquio) looks great, as does David Martínez as a third attacking heat. A++ start to the Marc Dos Santos era.
2. Vancouver Whitecaps: Been a little logy out the gate with just one goal in 180 minutes, but I'm not concerned in any meaningful way.
3. Inter Miami: I'm not actually concerned about the Herons, either – they'll be fine. It just might take longer to fix the ball progression issues caused by the retirements of Busquets & Jordi Alba than many of us had thought.
4. San Diego FC: Utter domination of the bad team on the heels of an impressive CCL advancement. Note that they've been devastating on restarts through three games, which is an enhancement of last year's weapons systems.
5. Nashville SC: Buried a half-strength Revs side, just like they were supposed to. And now the back-ups get a midweek run-out to finish off their CCL tie. Good start for one of the true contenders.
6. Seattle Sounders: I just feel really badly for Jordan Morris and Hassani Dotson. Neither guy can ever catch a break, though once again the Sounders are built to endure absences.
7. FC Cincinnati: Among other things I really love what I saw from Samuel Gidi. And also... the vibe in that stadium any time Nick Hagglund does something notable is one of the best under-the-radar, only-for-the-sickos moments in MLS. Cincy fans love their hometown kid.
8. NYCFC: Here's where the cut-off is. I am reasonably sure the seven teams above this mark are really good, and am unsure of everything from this point onwards. So why the Pigeons at 8? Because they were good last year, got a decent road point via a credible performance, and have the pieces to be better next week (please play Seymour Reid).
9. FC Dallas: I've got them this high because the defense – including Michael Collodi in goal – is better than it showed against Toronto, and because in Musa and Farrington up top together, they have an elite thing to lean on for results.
10. Charlottetown AFC: Between the risk-averse game model and Kristijan Kahlina in goal, they've got a very high floor. That's good enough for 10th at this point, but I'm of the belief that they need to evolve over the course of the season to stay here.
11. San Jose Earthquakes: I'm out over my skis here. I know that. But this team was actively good for good chunks of last year and there is real reason to think they're already better this year.
12. Red Bull New York: That was beautiful, ambitious, winning soccer. And my god, that Adri Mehmeti all-touches comp is really something. I can't remember the last central midfielder who looked that composed in MLS at age 16.
13. Philadelphia Union: Might be an overreaction in the other direction here. Philly truly did look bad, though, and unprepared for D.C.'s plan to make the field big.
14. Portland Timbers: Diego Chara forever.
15. Houston Dynamo: I'm not going to eat crow on this yet, but that was a very good debut for the newcomers (Guilherme especially) and, eventually, the 3-4-2-1 with flying wingbacks. Reassessing priors.
16. LA Galaxy: Thought the front three showed promise, though... is it weird to say this team really needs Erik Thommy? If you really need Erik Thommy, can you be the 16th-best team in MLS? Or are you more, like, the 22nd-best team in MLS?
17. Columbus Crew: Sloppy, and still – even with Rudy Camacho back – guilty of basic breakdowns when defending in their own box. Henrik Rydström, in the postgame, sounded like a guy who'd just watched a bunch of the bleakest Bergman films. Pure Winter Light energy.
18. St. Louis City: I loved watching this team play. If they'd run up against any 'keeper except Kahlina, they probably take all three points.
19. Minnesota United: I do not have Yeboah Golden Boot Fever, no matter what Wes says. But this was a very good point to take on the road to start the season.
20. Austin FC: Jayden Nelson opened up some stuff for them, but they still couldn't really access the half-spaces in possession, as seen in this clip. Need more coordinated, purposeful off-ball movement in attack. That's never been the strong suit of Nico Estévez-coached teams.
21. Chicago Fire: Felt like a bit of an "uh oh." Controlled the game, but couldn't find an incisive moment. Got gifted the lead, and couldn't make it stand up. Just a little bit uh oh.
22. D.C. United: That was good! A smart, simple gameplan executed effortfully. And three points against a team that has kicked the shit out of them for half a decade. Good start.
23. Orlando City: Big uh oh. This team was a disaster for 70 minutes, though they did come back into it for the final 20. Maybe Óscar Pareja found something there he can build on.
24. Toronto FC: Capitalized on some errors but honestly, there was not much to like about this performance. Hopefully Josh Sargent gets up to speed quickly, and hopefully there's more reinforcements on the way.
25. Real Salt Lake: I thought they were going to get crushed, but the kids were pretty good. And I liked what I saw from the very mobile back three. 25 could end up feeling disrespectfully low in a couple of weeks.
26. Atlanta United: The Five Stripes are linked to an Argie No. 10 who'd surely be a DP, which... writing's been on the wall for a while.
27. New England Revolution: Battered and beaten. The gap between them and the league's best teams sure feels substantial after one week, and the absence of three starting defenders does not account for all of it.
28. Colorado Rapids: They were fine building from Zack Steffen in goal but zero ideas any other time they were on the ball. It's like the only thing they'd worked on was starting with the 'keeper. I will say, however, that they did become more threatening over the game's final 15 minutes once they subbed in some guys who can pass the ball.
29. Sporting KC: Battered in every phase of play.
30. Montréal Impact: Maybe not quite as big a mismatch as the scoreline indicated, but still pretty, pretty big.

Extratime reunion alert!

Get used to seeing this group back together again on Monday's Soccerwise. I also had the pleasure of spending an hour with Susannah on Kickback Committee, which will be coming out soon. Check those socials.