MLS Takeaways: Week 10
Photo from Nashville SC
This week was a great time for MLS teams to make me look stupid.
Thanks, guys.
We’ll get to the culprits a little later.
Nashville defeats Atlanta 3-1
Nashville’s strategy is simple: Play good defense, and let reigning MVP Hany Mukhtar run the show.
Mukhtar hadn’t fully gotten going this season yet, but Saturday was what it looks like when he does.
Two assists and just controlling play led to an easy win for Nashville over their rivals down south.
It’s the strategy that has made them dangerous, and they’ll hope it continues going forward.
When it does, they’re almost unbeatable.
Miami defeats Columbus 2-1
Here’s one of the teams that made me look stupid.
I have praised Wilfried Nancy’s coaching abilities in Columbus so far this season, as well as last year, while wondering if Phil Neville was done in Miami due to poor performances with high expectations.
The perfect time for Neville’s Miami to take down Nancy’s Columbus.
Toronto defeats New York City FC 1-0
And here is the other team.
I have praised Ronny Delia’s coaching abilities in New York so far this season, as well as last year, while wondering if Bob Bradley was done in Toronto due to poor performances with high expectations.
The perfect time for Bradley’s Toronto to take down Delia’s NYC.
Sound familiar?
DC United defeats Charlotte 3-0
Rooney’s DC sure is fun.
And Benteke is finally getting hot.
With an expanded playoff, will DC find their way back to the postseason?
My gut feeling still says no, but the fact that it’s in question after what we expected from them this year is very impressive from Wazza.
New England draws Cincinnati 1-1
2.5 expected goals for New England and 2 expected goals for Cincy.
This will be one of the most exciting 1-1 draws you’ll watch.
Orlando City defeats LA Galaxy 2-0
A pretty dreadful performance for the Galaxy one week after they finally got their first win.
I’d like to chalk it up to them having to go cross country for this one, but they don’t deserve that benefit of the doubt.
Austin draws San Jose 2-2
On the plus side, Austin didn’t lose.
On the down side, drawing at home to a weak San Jose team isn’t good enough for a squad like this.
But baby steps, I guess.
Chicago draws New York Red Bulls 1-1
Chicago only managed to end up with 0.5 expected goals this match, and still got away with a point.
Great for Ezra Hendrickson’s guys, another struggle for Gerhard Struber’s Red Bulls.
Montreal defeats Sporting Kansas City 2-0
SKC can’t fire Peter Vermes. He’s a club legend.
But they can gently nudge him to a front office role, and they probably should.
This ain’t working anymore.
Portland defeats St. Louis 2-1
If you told me Portland would leave St. Louis with all 3 points, I wouldn’t be surprised.
If you told me that they would do it while completely controlling the play, something they aren’t prone to do and something St. Louis does not let teams do, I would be very surprised
Alas, that’s what happened!
Real Salt Lake draws Seattle 0-0
Rio Tinto stadium has been a house of horrors for the Sounders, and in some ways it still was with Kellyn Rowe going down with a “significant” knee injury, according to coach Brian Schmetzer.
But they still escaped with a point despite a multitude of other injuries going into this game.
Can’t be too upset with that.
Vancouver draws Colorado 0-0
Someone please give Robin Fraser some help.
Colorado does not have quality attacking threats, and when they do get those big chances, they miss them.
Fraser is a good coach.
Help get him the talent he should have.
Minnesota draws Dallas 0-0
There were two NHL game 7’s on while this game was on.
Not even I, a sicko MLS fan, would watch this over those two games.
So I didn’t! And it looks like I didn’t miss much.
