Welcome back to the Guardian’s MLS Power Rankings, where I have a beef with your specific team and your specific team alone. I’ve hired Drake Callender to save me from any dangerous objects that will be hurled my way by readers angered by these rankings. Hey, he’s good enough for Inter Miami, he’s good enough for me.
Now, as a reminder, these aren’t your standard, run-of-the-mill power rankings. We’re still ranking teams from worst to first. But along with the rankings, we’re diving deep into a handful of teams from around the league who are doing particularly interesting things.
Austin, we have a problem
29) San Jose Earthquakes
28) Chicago Fire
27) Sporting Kansas City
26) New England Revolution
25) Nashville SC
24) Austin FC
Want to know who the worst team in the Western Conference has been in 2024, according to FBref’s expected goal differential metric? Hint: it’s not the San Jose Earthquakes, who have the Wooden Spoon all wrapped up. It’s not Sporting Kansas City, either. It’s Austin FC. Look, I know you didn’t need the hints because this section is clearly about Austin based on “Austin FC” being written in bold up above, but just let me have this, OK?
Austin are rocking a -0.54 xGD per 90 minutes, which means they’re allowing over half an expected goal more than they’re creating. Every. Single. Game.
One of the only reasons they’re still technically alive in the playoff race – and one of the only reasons they’re in a better spot in these rankings than the Quakes and SKC is because of Brad Stuver’s shot-stopping. Outside Stuver, who’s saving nearly a quarter of a goal more than expected per 90 based on FBref’s data, this year has been brutal for Austin. Just ask star Sebastián Driussi.
With sporting director Rodolfo Borrell about to enter his second full offseason, there are no shortage of big decisions to be made. Austin FC need a capable striker, they need a midfield playmaker, and their spine is one of the weakest in MLS. Then there’s the matter of Josh Wolff’s job, one that fans continue to call for. The to-do list is long. The time is short. Few front office members have as many high-profile calls to make this summer as Borrell.
Too little, too late
23) FC Dallas
22) St Louis City
21) Toronto FC
20) Atlanta United
19) DC United
18) CF Montreal
St Louis City’s fall from grace was speedy, if not actually all that graceful. They went…