Western Conference: A MLS Review

The MLS season is approximately one third of the way through already, so we've taken a look at how the Western Conference is shaping up. 

Colorado Rapids – Overall Position: 14th (Won 1 – Drawn 7 – Lost 2)

The Rapids went 602 minutes without a goal at the start of the season, before Dominique Badji scored the first in their 4-0 win over high-flying Dallas.

Torres has been Rapids' key performer

However, that is their only success to date and they sit bottom of the conference despite having lost just twice all season.

Pablo Mastroeni’s side have the joint-best defence in the Western Conference but they lack the goal scoring panache to go with his magnificent moustache.

Shining light: Gabriel Torres 

Colorado’s first ever designated player, who has trained with Manchester United, had flattered to deceive in his first two MLS campaigns.

But the forward has been involved in five of the Rapids’ nine goals, one assist and four goals, so will be key if they are to move up the table.         

Room for improvement: Vicente Sanchez

Like Torres, Sanchez arrived in 2013 but he has failed to match the form of his first two seasons with the club this time round.

The veteran Uruguayan has become an influential part of the Rapids midfield, however, he has failed to score or make an assist during Colorado’s difficult 2015 campaign.

Rating: 3/10

FC Dallas – Overall Position: 3rd (6 – 2 – 2)

Dallas started the season in blistering form winning three in a row before grinding out a 0-0 draw against Seattle, despite playing with 10 men for over an hour.

Following a surprise dip that included defeats to Portland Timbers and Colorado Rapids, Oscar Pareja’s men have returned to winning ways.

Blas Perez, Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz have formed a mouth-watering triumvirate in attack, and they are strong contenders for the Western Conference and possibly even the Supporters’ Shield.

Shining light: Fabian Castillo

The Colombian winger has come of age this season – Castillo has been a nightmare for just about every defender unfortunate enough to cross his path in 2015.

They have been unable to handle his dazzling dribbling that has led to a league-high five assists, as well as four goals already – an early MVP contender?

Room for improvement: Zach Loyd

Loyd is closing in on 150 regular season appearances for Dallas, but the centre back has struggled to command a defence which has conceded 13 times in 10 games.

It is the third worst record in MLS, and as the senior figure Loyd must ensure that they can replicate their brilliant backs-to-the-wall showing against Seattle more consistently.

Rating: 9/10

Houston Dynamo – Overall Position: 13th (3 – 4 – 4)

It has been a stop-start campaign for Houston, who have failed to produce any consistency in the early stages of Owen Coyle’s time in charge.

They are yet to record back-to-back victories but were exceptional when winning away at Toronto last time out, with standout player Giles Barnes at the heart.

Manager Coyle has got the best out of rookie Lovejoy

Dynamo have also found some promising rookies in Rob Lovejoy and Zach Steinberger, a big winning streak could be just round the corner for Coyle’s men.

Shining light: Giles Barnes

This could be the season Barnes finally lives up to the expectation that he has battled since bursting into Derby County’s first team almost a decade ago.

The striker, who has five goals already this season, is becoming ‘the man’ for Houston and he fully deserves his international debut with Jamaica.

Room for improvement: The Defence

Coyle was renowned for his side’s defensive solidity while in England but Houston have struggled to keep clean sheets despite Tyler Deric’s inspired performances.

They have conceded four goals in a game twice already this season and if they have any post-season aspirations they need to cut out the costly individual errors.

Rating: 5/10

LA Galaxy – Overall Position: 10th overall (3 – 5 – 3)

Nobody expected life to be easy in the post-Landon Donovan era, especially since Galaxy are traditionally slow starters, but 2015 has been one to forget so far.

Their best result of the season, a 1-0 win against Seattle, was arguably their worst performance and they are winless in 10 on the road.

Bruce Arena’s side have failed to find any kind of form and are yet to produce a performance of note – Robbie Keane can’t return soon enough.

Shining light: Jaime Penedo/Alan Gordon

We just couldn’t separate these two – only Seattle’s Stefan Frei, 36, has made more saves this season than Penedo, 34, whose stand out display came against the Sounders.

Gordon’s three goals have been worth five points to the Galaxy, he may not be the most technically gifted but he’s certainly effective.

Room for improvement: Gyasi Zardes

Zardes scored 19 goals in all competitions for Galaxy last season, but he has let his side down so far in 2015, scoring just twice.

Robbie Keane has been injured for the majority of the season and Arena needed Zardes to step up but instead he has gone missing in recent weeks.

Rating: 2/10

Portland Timbers – Overall Position: 12th (3 – 4 – 3)

Caleb Porter has built a young side in Portland, and Fanendo Adi has been a big plus for the Timbers, but results have also reflected this.

They were excellent against Galaxy, and beat high-flying FC Dallas with ease, but then lost at home to expansion side Orlando City.

Diego Valeri’s return will have lifted spirits and they are only a couple of good results from sitting comfortably in the play-off spots.

Nagbe's inconsistency is frustrating Timbers fans

Shining light: Alvas Powell

After a successful loan spell with the Timbers, Powell signed permanently ahead of this campaign and has produced a string of eye-catching performances in the Conference’s best defence.

The 20-year-old has made the right-back position his own and has become a real outlet for Portland going forward. A Jamaican DeAndre Yedlin perhaps?

Room for improvement: Darlington Nagbe

Perhaps the most infuriating player in MLS, Nagbe refuses to come good on a consistent basis for Portland – constantly teasing us with glimpses of his bountiful potential.

He started the season running rings around LA’s vastly experienced backline, but has reverted to type and gone missing for large chunks of the campaign.

Rating: 5/10

Real Salt Lake – Overall Position 11th (3 – 5 – 2)

Salt Lake started the season with an impressive five game unbeaten run, but have been unable to build on it, drawing five of their ten matches.

Goals have been the main problem for Jeff Cassar’s team who have failed to score in four of their last seven games.

Alvaro Saborio, Javier Morales and Luke Mulholland are their joint top-scorers with two goals each, and RSL look set for another unremarkable campaign.

Shining light: Nick Rimando

Like a fine wine, Rimando gets better with age – Salt Lake’s keeper has had a flawless campaign and saved Juninho’s stoppage time penalty to earn a point last week.

The Californian holds the MLS record for career clean sheets and at 35 he has become Jurgen Klinsmann’s first choice for the US national team.

Room for improvement: Alvaro Saborio

Alvaro Saborio is an out and out goalscorer – Costa Rica’s third highest scorer of all-time with 35 goals, he has 57 goals in 96 games for RSL.

However, the club’s DP has failed to match his usual standards this season, scoring just twice in nine appearances, and Salt Lake have struggled as a result.

Rating: 4/10

San Jose Earthquakes – Overall Position: 8th (4 – 2 – 4)

Since ending their 16-game winless streak against Seattle Sounders, the Quakes have surged up the Western Conference table to sit fourth.

Wondolowski has been vital for San Jose

Dominic Kinnear deserves great credit for revitalising a struggling side since moving from Houston Dynamo at the end of last season.

Rookie Fatai Alashe has also produced a series of good performances, and a play-off spot would represent an extremely good season for San Jose.

Shining light: Chris Wondolowski

Wondolowski has led by example for San Jose this season, scoring five times despite being asked to play in a slightly deeper role at times.

The US international has been the Quakes’ main man for almost half a decade now but even at 32, Wondo is showing no signs of slowing down.

Room for improvement: Innocent Emeghara

The Swiss international joined ahead of the 2015 season and started well, securing a 3-2 win over Seattle with a brilliantly taken goal to mark his second appearance.

Since then Emeghara has failed to score or make an assist and he has been an unused substitute in three of the Quakes’ last five games.

Rating: 7/10

Seattle Sounders – Overall Position: 5th (5 – 1 – 3)

They sit third in their conference and have a pair of strikers that would cause serious problems for any top European defence. 

It is difficult to say where the rest of the team is at, the defence looks good on the whole but they have conceded three goals twice this season.

They will cruise into the play-off spots but silverware may be beyond them if they lose Clint Dempsey or Obafemi Martins for a prolonged period.

Shining light: Clint Dempsey & Obafemi Martins

They’re so good together it is impossible to separate Seattle’s strikers who have combined to score or assist 14 of the Sounders’ 15 goals in 2015.

The pair are on course to score the most goals in a MLS season by a strike partnership – Chris Wondolowski(27) and Alan Gordon(13) scored 40 at San Jose in 2012.

Room for improvement: The Midfield

Sigi Schmid will worry if one, or both, of his strikers picks up an injury – his midfielders have only scored one goal without their assistance this season.

Creative midfielders Marco Pappa and Gonzalo Pineda are both yet to score – if the deadly duo dry up, the water isn’t very deep in Seattle.

Rating: 7/10

Sporting Kansas City – Overall Position: 9th (3 – 5 – 2)

Peter Vermes’ side have hit their stride in 2015, they have lost just once in their last eight and lifted themselves into the play-off spots.

Dom Dwyer’s form will be a concern for the side, but that has been negated, so far, by the splendid displays of US international Benny Feilhaber.

Dwyer has struggled in front of goal in 2015

He is an early MVP contender and if Dwyer can find his shooting boots, Sporting could be pushing for a top three finish in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. 

Shining light: Benny Feilhaber

The driving force behind Kansas’ promising start to the season, Feilhaber has been Sporting’s best player by some distance in 2015.

The former Derby County man leads the MLS assist table with five and also scored twice to rescue a point in the thrilling 4-4 with Houston Dynamo.

Room for improvement: Dom Dwyer

Dwyer is Kansas’ leading scorer with three goals, but Sporting fans will expect more from the 22-goal striker, who has failed to hit the heights of 2014.

The Englishman showed signs of returning to top form in their draw with D.C. United, but Vermes needs his main man to start shooting from the hip.

Rating: 6/10

Vancouver Whitecaps – Overall Position: 2nd (6 – 2 – 3)

If Vancouver maintain their early season form Carl Robinson is a cert for manager of the year, with Whitecaps playing straight out of the coaching manual.

Kendall Waston has been the rock in a defence that has kept six clean sheets so far, while Octavio Rivero has led a ruthless offensive line.

Pedro Morales has adds flair to a hard-working side and although they might struggle to go the distance, a top two finish is well within reach.

Shining light: Octavio Rivero

Whitecaps fans won’t have a bad word to say about their Uruguayan striker, who has done just what you expect of a DP – score a hatful of goals.

Rivero scored five goals in his first six games for the franchise, and has been the main reason Robinson’s side find themselves leading the Western Conference.

Room for improvement: Erik Hurtado

Hurtado was the fifth overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft after the Virginia-born striker scored 14 times in 18 games for Portland Timbers Under-23s.

Unfortunately he has failed to replicate that form in MLS, scoring just five times in 51 appearances for the Whitecaps and none this season.

Rating: 9/10

Images courtesy of R. Yeatts, Victor Decolongon, Rich Lam, Mike Zarrilli and Jamie Squire, with thanks