Posting early; thought I’d get ahead of matters-MLS before the CONCACAF Champions League kicks off - especially with something special in mind on that score. You’ll have to skip down for that; first, the news from the past week (or so; I’m seriously fuggin’ behind on a couple of these....funny thing about not checking the news daily)...and briefly!

CCL Hell
Holy divorce! Didn’t take Fox Soccer’s promise of lavish coverage at face value; could just be me, but the TV schedule (pdf) for Tuesday through Thursday reads “sleeping on the couch, asshole!”...or maybe that’s only the translation for married folk. Do they seriously want the husbands among us to choose between keeping tabs on the MLS delegation to the preliminary round, the USL’s delegation to the preliminary round, and, well...going without sex until the end of October? Hmm...maybe USL this week and MLS next? Still, very excited no matter how tacked on this thing seems... if you’re pissy about the fixture congestion, blame Superliga...that’s what I do, at least. If you’re wondering what the hell is going on, enjoy Steve Davis’ (sarcasm-puffed) preview to the CONCACAF Champions League.

Crew Reach the Summit
After threatening the previous week, some power rankers hoisted the Columbus Crew to the top of the MLS heap after Week 22 - notably, the heavy-hitters. I’m a little torn on this, being Crewphilic, in that I enjoy it without necessarily putting much stock in it? Someone somewhere (ah, one of the pundits who ranked ‘em Numero Uno) cast some doubts on his plug, pointing to the shortage of “real predators” up top. My quibble on that - and, again, this comes from someone who doesn’t entirely buy the Crew at #1; and I love this guy’s work - is...so? So long as the goals come, why worry about whose foot/head/body-part-o-the-day from whence the come? Bottom line: will the Crew end at #1 in the Eastern Conference (or, in plain English, overall given the Western Conference)? Can’t say that’s a bet worth taking. But breaking the playoff jinx? Oh yeah. (Brave as calling the sunrise, I know.)

Going and Goings
- Going back to the comment about missing all kinds of big stuff, Fernando Clavijo finally got canned/walked away? As a long-time follower/sympathizer in this situation, I'll say this; thank the diety of your choice, people of Colorado! Not being the bitter sort, however, I wish Fernando well...if only on a personal level and with all kinds of good wishes for the family emergency he’s facing. As for professionally, he can coach for anyone apart from teams I remotely like....and, then, not past the good-until date.
- Eddie Lewis to LA? Not sure how much he’ll bring...and hope he’s seen the last of horrific head injuries. I suppose the question is how excited are LA fans on this one, ‘cause I’m dubious.
- Not nearly as dubious, however, as I am on Carlos Ruiz to Toronto. Just treat it like a shot of tequila, folks. Wash this one down liberally with salt and lime.

Finally...
Just thought I’d point to the big striker/forward think-piece with which Kyle McCarthy led his weekly wrap for Goal.com. It’s worth the read and a couple minutes thought, even if you don’t agree with the details.

Now....the Nitty-Gritty!
Rather than post the usual wrap, I’m in a forward-looking mood tonight (and it is night, with the kids asleep, a quiet house and a pint of swill on the desk). Damn near every MLS team played at some point during the, frankly, grueling week that just passed. With some outside teams heating up, now seems like the time to weigh Week 22’s results against some thoughts on the road that will deadend with the MLS post-season...just eight weeks (and nine-to-ten games away; it’s a 30 game season, right?). Without any ado...and taking the teams alphabetically (hey...it’s easier)...and laying down my marker in the “Verdict” section, which is a simple “in” or “out” with regard to the playoffs...here goes:

Chicago Fire
This Week: LA 0-1 Chicago
Recent Form: Solid (don’t feel like counting; it’s relative in any case; click the link to see).
Forecast: Somewhere in the archives of one blog or another, I dubbed what Chicago’s approach as “Formula MLS,” which basically amounts to 1) being hard to score against, and 2) being able to score more than the other guys. With guys like Chris Rolfe and, apparently, John Thorrington (Goal of the Week, people) on the roster, Chicago is there.
Verdict: In.

Chivas USA
This Week: Houston 4-0 Chivas; Chivas 0-0 San Jose
Recent Form: What’s that word that isn’t good?
Forecast: Tricky with the first four letters in caps...that’s at a minimum. The trends suck, though, and the fixture congestion - hello, CCL! - ain’t helpin’. Tough call, here; they have some great players, but the injury bug has bit like a swarm of killer bees. This one might bite me, but...
Verdict: Out...too many moving parts.

Colorado Rapids
This Week: DC 3-0 Colorado
Recent Form: Eh...if you go back to July at least...
Forecast: Here’s the hook: Conor Casey played like a stud against KC and looked confident against DC. Colorado is one “spark” away from playoff safety; it doesn’t have to be Casey - it just has to be someone.
Verdict: In...based on past experience, if you bet on a team in a dog-fight, they hail from Denver.

Columbus Crew
This Week: Columbus 3-0 RSL
Recent Form: Good...after a little stinky patch in July
Forecast: The road ahead has “inter-conference” written all over it...so, thank god for the cushion. They’re up for it, though, even with some signs of surges bubbling from below.
Verdict: In...unless they shoot their own foot and don’t wash it.

DC United
This Week: New England 2-1 DC; DC 3-0 Colorado
Recent Form: Let’s call it erratic....and be happy that Superliga ended, ‘kay?
Forecast: With a Western-conference-rich run ahead, DC only has to “do the business.” Then again, there’s the whole CCL thing...and the Open Cup. To put a phrase to it, “saved by the West,” thus...
Verdict: In.

FC Dallas
This Week: KC 1-1 FC Dallas
Recent Form: Brilliant...so long as you asked around the bend of July/August
Forecast: Surprisingly tough road ahead, what with 5 of 9 games being played against the East. On the plus side, Dallas has broken the pattern from past years by starting slow(-ish). And, for that and because they seem to have the horses...
Verdict: In...why not, with what the rest of the West looks like?

Houston Dynamo
This Week: Houston 4-0 Chivas; Red Bull 3-0 Chivas
Recent Form: Pretty damn good.
Forecast: They’ll make it...or I’ll eat the rancid item of our readers’ choice. I’m reading some gloom-n-doom about their defense, but they’ll sort it...and score more if they don’t. I count the loss to New York an aberration anyway.
Verdict: In...with bells on, given the rest of the West.

Kansas City Wizards
This Week: KC 1-1 Dallas
Recent Form: Probably better than you’d think.
Forecast: If the East looked like the West, KC would have a shot. It doesn’t and they don’t...and, to think, just a week or two ago I flagged KC as the surprise team down the stretch (cough! cough! fickle! cough!). I think Curt Onalfo is the problem (look, with Clavijo gone I need a new axe to grind).
Verdict: Out...the victims of a tougher conference.

LA Galaxy
This Week: LA 0-1 Chicago
Recent Form: More “L” and “T” than “W”
Forecast: Arena may not help, but how the hell can he hurt? Against a weaker schedule, or if the teams they play lose the appetite, maybe. But the lopsided roster won’t go away and Eddie Lewis can’t save the defense...not even with Sean Franklin in there (he’s not injured, is he? Otherwise, forget it).
Verdict: Out....hey, they’re rebuilding.

New England Revolution
This Week: New England 2-1 DC; Toronto 1-1 New England
Recent Form:...looked better in July.
Forecast: Few teams are facing the fixture shit-stack that the Revs are. On the plus side for them, their regular season doesn’t end with a sting. They’ll get their guys back, get their groove on...and then torture us all by reaching the final again....and choking...again (seriously, hope it doesn’t happen, but would you be surprised? Honestly?).
Verdict: In...without a doubt, in. The only lock on the list.

Red Bull New York
This Week: New York 3-0 Houston
Recent Form: You gotta be kiddin’ me!
Forecast: It’s very easy to get high on this team....no, not like that....of course not...it’s an energy drink and nothing more! The thing is, they’re beating “people” - e.g. (sometimes) competent teams. The real test comes soon; Saturday, in fact, when they take on DC on less favorable ground. They’ll punch equal weight if they’re worth a poop...and I’m betting they are, now that have their people back (e.g. Juan Pablo and Dane, plus the rock-steady Dave Van Den Bergh).
Verdict: In...another dicey call.

Real Salt Lake
This Week: Columbus 3-0 RSL
Recent Form: You take the good, you take the bad, you take it all and then you have...
Forecast: Are you kidding? I don’t think they know what’s going to happen! All I’m gonna say is, I bet the absence of fixture collection is the one sure upside. Anyway, the “work-in-progress” vibe just won’t wash off...therefore...
Verdict: Out....and I hate to say that. C’mon guys!

San Jose Earthquakes
This Week: Chivas 0-0 San Jose
Recent Form: Uh-uh!
Forecast: If they just had to catch the West....maybe. But with the East gunning ahead and with five games of nine coming against desperate - and, by and large, decent - Western foes (Houston twice, FC Dallas, and, arguably, RSL) San Jose needs more wins than they have in ‘em.
Verdict: Out...but they’re fightin’!

Toronto FC
This Week: Toronto 1-1 New England
Recent Form: One lonely looking “W”.
Forecast: Like a lot of people, I really wanted this team to....ah, hell, that’s a lie. File this one under the wilderness rule - e.g. you have to spend time out there and earn it, people. Seriously, this is a much, much improved team, just not enough of one to make it out of the tougher MLS conference. My advice: find some younger players.
Verdict: Out.