No Repeats of the 1998 Galaxy or 2001 Fusion Please

I really do hope that New England and San Jose meet in MLS Cup 2005, not just because I'm a selfish Earthquakes fan, nor because it would be a highly entertaining match, but because these two teams deserve to be there. So did the 1998 Galaxy and the 2001 Fusion (RIP), but we know what happened to them. However, the playoff system has changed since then, and since its implementation during the 2003 season, it has yielded positive results:

MLS Cup 2003: Fire v. Earthquakes (#1 seeds in their respective conferences)
MLS Cup 2004: United v. Wizards (#2 and #1 seeds in their conferences respectively)

MLS Power Rankings:

1. New England Revolution - Yes, they're back in first in my power rankings, but not without reason. On Saturday night, they absolutely demolished the Columbus Crew, not only looking as confident as they did in June, but with all of their star players back. Taylor Twellman and Shalrie Joseph are having MVP seasons, with Twellman making his case by scoring a hat-trick Saturday night. The move he made on Chad Marshall was absolutely sick. Matt Reis needs to keep that temper in check though.

2. San Jose Earthquakes - If they hadn't looked so sluggish for big stretches of the first half and parts of the second, San Jose would have easily remained in first place. That said, for a team that was passing so poorly at times, San Jose looked awfully strong on the counter, and they completely punished the Chivas defense for its mistakes. Good teams win these games 1-0, or even tie, but San Jose won 3-0. Oh, and who was that who scored San Jose's third goal? Brian Ching? Scary thought.

3. D.C. United - There's San Jose and New England and then there's everyone else, except when United are on their game. They beat Dallas in Dallas (apparently not as difficult a feat these days), securing vital points in that wild Eastern Conference playoff race, and leaping ahead of Chicago and Kansas City. Erpen has looked solid in the back, and if this team can get rested and healthy (that means not being drained after their Copa Sudamerica match in Chile) before the playoffs, watch out.

4. Kansas City Wizards - Kansas City is beginning to slump at the worst possible juncture in the season. They'll have to turn it around real quick after an ugly 1-0 loss to the Metrostars at home.

5. Chicago Fire - Still in the hunt for playoff positioning in the East, Chicago has to be looking over its shoulder at the Metrostars with their brutal road schedule still in full swing. That win over LA in LA was huge last week, but it's a rough road ahead.

6. Los Angeles Galaxy - Los Angeles absolutely drubbed (used with credit to Jack Edwards) Colorado on Saturday night 4-1. Yes, Colorado was a man down, but the Rapids had been playing considerably better soccer of late. Perhaps LA is beginning to turn things around, or perhaps they're simply continuing Steve Sampson's policy of beating the team's they have to, and blowing points against quality sides. However, the more San Jose wins, the smaller that magic number becomes for them to clinch first place in the West.

7. Metrostars - It's a shame that the Metrostars might miss the playoffs. No, they're by no means a great team, they possess a pretty scary (in a bad way) defense, but they've been getting points lately and have a ten game unbeaten streak at home (although it's more of a 2004 Columbus Crew type unbeaten streak). Can't say the same for teams in the West, like Los Angeles, Dallas, and Colorado, all of whom will make the playoffs.

8. FC Dallas - I was really tempted to put this team on the bottom, but the sad thing is, the teams below them are actually worse. Regardless, Dallas still hasn't won a game in their new home, Pizza Hut Park, and haven't won a league match since June. This team is quickly falling apart at the seams, and Colin Clarke doesn't appear to have the coaching savvy to make this team work. Ruiz looks like he doesn't care. Eddie Johnson still isn't in peak form (and it also doesn't look like he much cares either). Poor Ronnie O'Brien is still trying to do everything, but everything apparently isn't enough. At least Ramon Nunez has started to show flashes this season.

9. Colorado Rapids - What was that? A team that some pundits were beginning to think would be serious challengers in the playoffs sure looked like a total joke on Saturday night.

10. Columbus Crew - Just when the Crew were beginning to look like they were going to make a late season run at the playoffs, they completely bombed against New England. That loss makes such a run look extremely unlikely now.

11. Real Salt Lake - So do you think Real used their week off to gel as team and shore up their defensive problems? And as if things couldn't get any worse, word on the street is that Jason Kreis tore his ACL. Is Gustavo Cabrera the defensive answer? John Ellinger and Real fans better hope so.

12. CD Chivas USA - How can Westerhoff not start Brad Guzan? Seriously. And that defense is nothing short of atrocious. San Jose made Douglas Sequiera, Ezra Hendrickson, and company, look horrendous out there. At least Vergara learned that it ain't gonna be as easy as he thought.