MLS Power Rankings: Cincinnati Struggles While a New Contender Emerges MLS Power Rankings: Cincinnati Struggles While a New Contender Emerges
MLS Power Rankings: Cincinnati Struggles While a New Contender Emerges

October 18, 2024

MLS Power Rankings: Cincinnati Struggles While a New Contender Emerges

A shake-up is underway in Toronto, Cincinnati’s troubles persist, and a fresh powerhouse is rising in the Pacific Northwest.

Welcome back to the Guardian’s MLS Power Rankings, where I take issue with your team—yes, your team specifically. Unless you’re the bottom-dwelling San Jose Earthquakes, in which case, you’ve got more significant problems than me adding to the pile.

As a quick refresher, these rankings aren’t your typical power rankings. We’re still listing teams from worst to best, but we’re also diving deep into a few teams across the league that are making waves or grappling with unique challenges.

“Complete Rebuild”

  1. San Jose Earthquakes
  2. Chicago Fire
  3. Sporting Kansas City
  4. New England Revolution
  5. Nashville SC
  6. Toronto FC

Toronto FC: A Club in Need of Reinvention

“TFC is in a complete rebuild… During an interview with the Canadian Press, “Everything is on the table,” declared Keith Pelley, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), which owns Toronto FC. Pelley, only a few months into his role since April, has quickly recognized the urgent need for a sweeping overhaul at the club. Toronto FC missed the playoffs this year, and without a game on Decision Day, their season is already over—giving them the freedom to start from scratch.

In reality, the rebuild is already underway. Pelley and general manager Jason Hernandez have teamed up with Marco Neppe, a former technical director at Bayern Munich, to conduct a “full organizational review” over the past few months.

Pinpointing Toronto’s problems is not difficult. Their academy pipeline has stagnated, failing to produce top Canadian talent despite their presence in a talent-rich region. Then there’s the issue of their overpaid, underperforming Italian stars. Federico Bernardeschi, the sixth-highest-paid player in MLS, put in a decent season with eight goals and six assists, while Lorenzo Insigne—who earns more than anyone in MLS except Messi—contributed only nine goals and managed just 1,352 minutes on the field.

However, the real challenge Pelley faces is rebuilding the club’s identity. Toronto FC doesn’t seem to have a clear plan for how they want to win matches. Will John Herdman, their manager, dictate the on-field philosophy? Will his tactical vision shape the type of players they sign? Toronto’s lack of continuity in their signings, especially saddling themselves with bad contracts, has left them directionless.

With the departure of former TFC president Bill Manning in July, the long-overdue rebuild is gaining momentum. Still, it can’t happen fast enough for a club that has lost its way.

Time for the Star to Step Up

23. Austin FC

22. FC Dallas

21. St. Louis City

20. Atlanta United

19. CF Montreal

18. Philadelphia Union

For four teams in the Eastern Conference, this Saturday’s final matchday of the regular season is solely focused on one objective: securing a playoff spot. DC United, CF Montreal, the Philadelphia Union, and Atlanta United are all competing for the last two postseason positions in the East, with the remaining 16 playoff berths already decided. The wildcard slots are still up for grabs, and the playoff-clinching scenarios can get intricate—check out the full details [here].

Atlanta’s requirements are straightforward: They must win against Orlando City and hope their rivals stumble. The Five Stripes will need a standout performance from Designated Player Alexey Miranchuk to achieve this. Since joining from Serie A’s Atalanta, Miranchuk, who plays as a No. 10, has been underwhelming, especially following his transition to MLS.

Signed to fill the void left by Thiago Almada, Miranchuk has struggled to find his rhythm in eight appearances, showing inconsistency as a playmaker. According to FBref, he ranks in the 30th percentile for non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists per 90 minutes among MLS attacking midfielders and wingers. The 28-year-old has undeniable talent, showcasing his ability to find space off the ball, a smooth first touch, and a skillful left foot. However, his final actions have been plagued by too much sloppiness in Atlanta.

Given the absence of a permanent manager and the challenges of a transitioning roster, Miranchuk’s struggles aren’t surprising. Nevertheless, if there’s ever a time for him to improve his performance, it’s now—on Decision Day.

The Rise of the Low-Profile Striker

17. DC United

16. New York Red Bulls

15. Portland Timbers

14. Colorado Rapids

13. Charlotte FC

12. Houston Dynamo

2024 has emerged as the year of strikers in MLS, surpassing expectations. New York City FC’s Alonso Martinez transformed from a seldom-used winger to a top-tier striker, currently ranking first in non-penalty goals per 90 minutes and fourth among all strikers in total non-penalty goals, according to FBref. Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White, acquired initially for allocation money after playing college soccer, has netted 15 non-penalty goals, solidifying his position as one of the best non-DP players in the league. Meanwhile, in his second season since graduating from Creighton, Duncan McGuire has recorded 10 non-penalty goals. Tani Oluwaseyi, who spent last year on loan in USL, has made a name for himself with eight non-penalty goals and has even earned a few caps for Canada.

Charlotte FC’s Patrick Agyemang also had a breakout season in his second year post-college. At just 23, he has overcome injuries and competition from multiple designated players to shine for Dean Smith’s squad. With nine non-penalty goals and three assists in 1,756 minutes, Agyemang has demonstrated his scoring ability while also becoming a nightmare for opposing center-backs with his dribbling. According to American Soccer Analysis’ goals added metric, which evaluates the impact of every on-ball action, he ranks seventh among regular starting strikers for dribbling value on a per-96-minute basis.

Agyemang’s long stride, strength, and rapidly improving composure make him a compelling and productive No. 9. If Charlotte decides to field a designated player over Agyemang in 2025, they might find themselves inundated with calls from other teams eager to acquire the late-blooming talent. More MLS clubs are beginning to realize that, with the right support system in place, they don’t need to invest heavily in foreign forwards; there’s valuable talent to be discovered closer to home.

A Mess in Cincy

11. Vancouver Whitecaps

10. Minnesota United

9. New York City FC

8. Real Salt Lake

7. FC Cincinnati

6. Orlando City

Things have taken a serious downturn for FC Cincinnati. The team has experienced two separate four-game winless streaks in its last 11 matches, resulting in the fourth-lowest points per game in the league during that span. The only teams below them are San Jose, Nashville, and New England—definitely a cause for concern.

So what went wrong for a Cincinnati squad that seemed poised to follow up their Supporters’ Shield win last year with another trophy this season? The issue lies in talent. Sporting director Chris Albright didn’t assemble a poor roster. Still, a combination of terrible injury luck and transfer misfires has turned 2024 into a challenging season.

With season-ending injuries to Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund, Cincinnati has been forced into an all-hands-on-deck scenario at center back. By my count, a staggering 10 different players have logged at least 100 minutes in the center-back position this year. Moving up the pitch, Aaron Boupendza was expected to step up in attack following the departures of Brenner and Brandon Vazquez. Unfortunately, Boupendza’s contract was terminated by MLS in August due to a series of off-field incidents.

Recognizing their urgent need for a boost during the summer transfer window, FC Cincinnati aimed for some significant signings in the attack. However, they missed out on Josh Sargent and German Berterame, ultimately bringing former St. Louis City striker Niko Gioacchini on a short-term loan.

Despite the turmoil, playoff success isn’t entirely out of reach. Lucho Acosta, Luca Orellano, and several key players have kept Cincinnati’s potential promising. However, with the playoffs just around the corner, they need to find a new on-field revenue stream—and quickly.

A New Contender Emerges

5. Seattle Sounders

4. LAFC

3. LA Galaxy

2. Columbus Crew

1. Inter Miami

Until recently, six teams appeared to be serious trophy contenders: Inter Miami, the Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, the LA Galaxy, LAFC, and Real Salt Lake. However, Real Salt Lake’s summer transfer window missteps derailed their season, removing them from the list. At the same time, FC Cincinnati fell short for the reasons mentioned.

Though they may not boast the star power of the four teams ranked above them, the Seattle Sounders present a compelling case to join the elite tier. Under Brian Schmetzer’s leadership, the team has recorded an impressive 12 wins, 2 draws, and just 2 losses in their last 16 regular-season matches. During this stretch, only Supporters’ Shield winners and potential MLS single-season points record holders Inter Miami have outperformed them in points per game. Additionally, Seattle ranks third in expected goal differential per game in MLS, with a +0.47 xGD, placing them ahead of all teams except the Portland Timbers and the Columbus Crew.

With the best defense in MLS, the Sounders excel in disciplined, compact defending, supported by outstanding individual performances within their 4-4-2 formation. This commitment to solid defense sets them apart from every other contender.

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author
Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.