For the past few years The New England Revolution has dominated the MLS in the regular season and for most of the playoff. Yet they have no MLS Cups to show how great they truely are. Chris Albright has helped keep that backline strong providing great leadership through his time on the field. But there is no doubt this team belongs to Steve Ralston and in place of the injured Taylor Twellman is Adam Cristman with his 6 goals in 15 games. Ralston also has 6 goals to go along with his team leading 4 assist. Its almost the halfway point of the season and the revs lead the MLS and the Eastern Conference with a record of 10-4-3. Is all this enough to win a MLS Cup this year or at all for that matter? I would be suprised if they make the finals again for the 4th straight year as its never been done before in this young american league. Defender Jay Heaps has done well to keep the ball going the other way and keeping the ball out of the net. Overall this is a fantastic team with depth and i see them going far in the season but luck has been horrific as they cant finish a great season. Can this be the year they break out of a long cupless drought? Also they have advanced to the next round of the Superliga leading their group with a 2-0-1 record best in the tournament. The defending Champs Pachuca CF are back in the hunt which poses the biggest threat to New England winning their first Superliga Trophy. Atlante is scheduled to meet Revolution at home in the semi final wed. July 30th 8:00pm eastern time. Oh yea did i forget to mention they played in the semi finals for the US Open Cup Tue, August 12 against D.C. United. So this year they can come out with 3 cups which would solidify them as the best in america and show just how great they truely are. 

Seattle Sounders FC 

The Seattle Sounders FC announced a multi-year sponsorship with Microsoft Corp. and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. The landmark deal is highlighted by the 'Xbox 360 LIVE' logo featured prominently on the Sounders FC jersey. Sounders FC will debut its new uniforms when the team takes the field for the first time in Spring 2009. Xbox 360 also will be featured as the presenting sponsor of the Sounders FC annual international tour and will gain entitlement to the team's playing surface, "The Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field". Xbox 360 will be recognized as the official and exclusive video game console of Major League Soccer.

At the heart of the sponsorship is a commitment from the Sounders FC and Xbox 360 to collaborate in developing the team’s overall community and philanthropic initiatives. Additionally, the sponsorship gives Xbox 360 the right to use MLS league and team marks along with logos and marketing assets at league and select team events such as the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup, Major League Soccer’s championship game. The agreement includes player appearances, intellectual property, title nights, website presence, in-stadium exposure - including Xbox 360 fieldboards to be displayed at every MLS game. Xbox 360 also will be a sponsor of MLS grassroots and community initiatives including MLS Futbolito, the League’s official 4-v-4 soccer tournament. 

About Seattle Sounders FC
Launched in November 2007, Seattle Sounders FC became the 15th club in Major League Soccer and will begin play during the 2009 MLS season.  The ownership group includes film producer Joe Roth, Adrian Hanauer, Vulcan Sports & Entertainment and comedian Drew Carey.   The team has received deposits for over 16,000 season tickets since the announcement.  Visit www.soundersfc.com for more information.

Most of the teams up to this point have played 9 games in the MLS season with
only 2 teams, DC and Rev's playing 10 games. Its easy to say Chicago has been the
most dominate so far. David has made the Galaxy a huge threat in the West, teaming
up with Landon Donovon who leads the league with 9 goals to go along with 6 assists.
The star of this week is Cuauhtemoc blanco with his 1 goal 3 assist performance against
the New York Red Bulls who had the second best defence behind Chicago Fire.

 D.C. United(3-7-0) vs. Toronto FC(4-2-2)

D.C. United finally put together a winning performance on Saturday night, showing grit and resolve. Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio each scored in the second half to lead D.C. United to a 3-2 comeback victory over Toronto FC on Saturday in the second game of a home-and-home series. Gonzalo Peralta also tallied for United, which ended a four-game losing streak. Danny Dichio scored a pair of first-half goals for Toronto, which recorded a 1-0 triumph over D.C. United on Wednesday. Embattled United coach Tom Soehn kept with the same 4-4-2 shape and identical starting lineup from Wednesday night's 1-0 setback in Toronto, while his opposite number John Carver followed suit with TFC's first XI as the Reds looked to continue their six-game unbeaten run.

Houston(2-3-4) vs. San Jose(2-5-1)

For at least one night, the expansion San Jose Earthquakes were better than the champions they replaced. Kei Kamara and Ivan Guerrero scored second-half goals, and the Earthquakes beat the Houston Dynamo 2-1 Thursday night in a match between the current and former editions of Major League Soccer's Bay Area franchise.The result not only snapped San Jose's winless streak at four games, but it was also their first home win of the season. Brian Ching scored in the 88th minute of an unusual homecoming night for the Dynamo. The Dynamo had the better of play in the second half, but suffered a blow in the 62nd minute when defender Eddie Robinson was forced off with an abdominal injury. When the MLS Champs have the same amount of wins as a frachise in its first year you know theres a big problem.

Kansas City(3-4-2) vs. Los Angeles(4-3-2)

Landon Donovan posted a goal and an assist Saturday, leading the Galaxy to a 3-1 win over the Wizards. After Claudio Lopez gave the Wizards an early 1-0 advantage, Donovan answered back with his ninth goal of the season. moved atop the Western Conference with their second straight win. I think that the big difference today was Donovan's performance in the second half. Goalkeeper Steve Cronin turned away three shots for the Galaxy while the Wizards' Kevin Hartman recorded six saves. Whether it was tired legs after playing on the opposite side of the country a week ago or the weariness of the fifth game in a six-game road swing, the Wizards' defense was not up to the task of handling the league's highest-scoring offense.

Chivas USA(3-4-2) vs. Colorado(4-5-0)

Jesse Marsch and Jorge Flores each scored as Chivas USA held on for a 2-1 triumph over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night. Brad Guzan made six saves for Chivas, which won back-to-back contests for the first time this season. I feel like our team is starting to come around a little bit and the soccer is starting to catch up with the group. Chivas USA is back in contention meanwhile Colorado is slipping down in standings. The Rapids, who came into the game atop the West, got their goal on a long-range strike from Tom McManus, but still have to record back-to-back victories this season.The game began slowly, with each team holding possession mainly in midfield and across the back as any forays forward were stymied by bad passes and stout defenses. It wasn't until the 25th minute that either team looked dangerous.

Real Salt Lake(2-5-1) vs. FC Dallas(3-3-3)

Dominic Oduro came off the bench and scored two goals in a nine-minute span to lead FC Dallas to a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake and give Marco Ferruzzi a victory in his first game as head coach, in a game where both teams were reduced to 10 men. After Fabian Espindola put RSL ahead in the 69th minute, Oduro headed home a cross in the 83rd minute to bring FCD level. Then a minute into stoppage time Oduro slipped past RSL defender Nat Borchers and slotted the ball home for the game-winner. The victory was the first for FCD since April 20 against Chivas USA, and the first home win since April 12 against New York. Playmaker Javier Morales returned to the real salt lake lineup who leads the team with four assists. Kenny Cooper of the FC Dallas has been the real threat up front shooting 7 getting two on goal even though he didnt one. Meanwhile, Dario Sala made only 1 save of the night for Dallas.

New England(6-3-1) vs. Columbus(6-2-1)

Kheli Dube scored the only goal of the match in the 89th minute to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory against Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Crew Stadium. Dube poked home the rebound after William Hesmer saved a Shalrie Joseph penalty kick. Steve Ralston drew the foul after Ezra Hendrickson lunged in on the veteran playmaker and caught his foot as he dribbled across the top of the penalty area. new england is once again battling for fisrt in the East and has dealt with Columbus but against Chicago its a different story. Taylor Twellmen once again couldnt play due to injuries but once hes returned to the line up it should provide a huge boost in the offence.

Chicago(6-2-1) vs. New York(3-2-3)

Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco tore a much-vaunted defense to shreds with a goal and three assists to propel the Chicago Fire to a crushing 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday. The two meanest defensive units in Major League Soccer had begun this match with the Fire conceding just five goals so far this season at an average of 0.63 per game. For their
part, the Red Bulls boasted an 0.86 goals against average. Chad Barrett had two goals, and Chris Rolfe, Gonzalo Segares and Blanco also tallied for Fire, who pulled into a three-way tie with the idle Columbus Crew and New England Revolution atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Jozy Altidore had the lone goal for the Red Bulls, who dropped their first match at home this season. Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio was suspended for the match against his former team, watching the game from a suite after receiving a red card against Kansas City last weekend.

MLS Week 10

Wednesday, May 28

Houston at Dallas 8:30pm

Thursday, May 29

DC United at New England 7:30pm (ESPN)

Saturday, May 31

Los Angeles at Toronto 3:30pm

New York at Houston 8:30pm

San Jose at Real Salt Lake 9:00pm (Fox Sports C, Fox Sports E)

Columbus at Chivas USA 10:00pm

Sunday, June 1

Dallas at Colorado 3:00pm (Telefutura)

    I have Returned to touch on the 7 remaining teams. As you all know my last blog was written after week 3, well this post is a power ranking after week 4 but with just the teams i left out. Most of the teams on this list didnt improve as much so they still wouldnt make my 7 best.

8. New York Red Bulls 1-1-1

     Up a goal and man, the Red Bulls still couldnt beat the rev's. Coach Juan Carlos Osorio didnt need to look deep into his notebook to find where it went wrong in the 1-1 draw. F Juan Pablo Angel was taken out in the 46th minutes and M Claudio Reyna was injured in the 77th minute. Angel needs to rest that left hamstring cause if he keeps getting hurt the Red Bulls wont have that 1-2 punch with teamate F Jozy Altidore. Both men carry heavy firepower in the attack. The Back wall has some pretty good defenders in D Chris Leitch, D Carlos Mendes and GK Jon Conway. Coach Osorio will mold this team his own way just like how he did in Chicago last year taking them 90 minutes away from the MLS Cup finals. Could this be their year?

9. Toronto FC 2-2-0 

            Forget the NHL Playoffs, break up TFC after consecutive wins. Toronto FC's 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake last Saturday represented an important milestone for goalkeeper Greg Sutton. It was his first clean sheet since May 16, 2007 against Houston, and in essence, the clean sheet equalled a clean bill of health for the returning 'keeper. Scoring strong for the TFC's is F Jeff Cunningham comming into his 10 MLS season with 96 goals. Joining him in the attack is F Amado Guevara from Honduras, M Maurice Edu and M Laurent Robert who scored the 1-0 game winner. I wouldnt say this team can make it far, but they can put up a pretty good fight.

10. Houston Dynamo 0-1-3

      League Champs still looking for that elusive first win in '08. Im sure they are a bit tired from entering tournaments and traveling the world so lets give them more time. They did end up losing 2 good fowards after the '07 season transfering to Austria. F Brian Ching and M Dwayne De Rosario havent scored a goal in the MLS and these 2 usualy do the dirty work. GK Pat Onstad is one of the top goalies in the MLS but hes playing against fresh teams right now. Possession was key in the Dynamo's game against Los Angeles on Saturday. When the Dynamo kept the Galaxy from finding space to maneuver, the match was in the visitors' favor. D Wade Barret and D Eddie Robinson is all they need in the back line to defend Onstad. Its possible to see a good win streak by this team soon. 

11. Real Salt Lake 1-2-1

      Losing to a team with less MLS Seniority always adds salt to the wound. Coach Jason Kreis has a good squadthis year. The back line is a lot tougher in the defence. They brought in D Nat Borchers D Ian Joy and D Jamison Olave from Colombia who is a fierce defender in the middle. M Kyle Beckerman needs to continue to push foward and get involved more in the offence to help out F Robbie Findley. F Fabian Espindola should be putting up some good numbers in his second year in the MLS. This team looks realy good on paper but they need to get those results in. Its still the same Real Salt Lake for now.

12. DC United 1-3-0

      F Luciano Emilio looks a shadow of his former self, sluggish and his 1 goal speaks for itself. Like Houston this team has travled a lot in different tournaments so they might be a bit fatigue. They sure miss M Ben Olsen to provide some offence. He has been out after ankle surgery so DC needs to find someone to help out that midfield. M Marcelo Gallardo from Argentina was brought in to be that someone. They are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference with -4 in goal differential. That defence needs to step up in every game until good ol Ben returns to the lineup.

13. Los Angeles Galaxy 1-2-1

      This team is gonna suffer badly when M David Beckham and F Landon Donavon leave for international games. They have put their skills together the past 2 games for some goals. In the Houston game they connected twice for 2 fantastic goals. Other then these 2 player who eles can carry this team? D-M Joe Franchino had an instant impact on the Houston game, shoring things up in the middle of the park and helping the Galaxy maintain possession so they could get back into the game. D Chris Klein is a big part of the defence and needs to have good games. This team has a lot of work to do still.

14. San Jose Earthquakes 1-2-0

       A little finishing will go a long way for this smartly assembled defense. Coach Frank Yallop comming in from LA has a good squad entering their first season since 2004. 21 year old D Ryan Johnson has decided to leave english team Maidenhead Utd. to join D Ivan Guerrero and D Nick Garcia to form a solid defencive back. In the middle we got a great pair with M Ronnie O'Brein and M Shea Salinas. On the attack is F Kei Kamara with his great speed and strength. F Gavin Glinton has done a good job helping out that front line as well. Houston Dynamo entered realy strong and i see this team doing the same. Once they get that first lost of the playoffs they will come back hungry for more no doubt.