MLS Round-up: Drogba’s delight as Robles breaks Red Bull records.

Didier Drogba could be the Jermaine Jones of 2015.
For critics of Major League Soccer, Jermaine Jones arrival was a perfect example of the bizarre set of rules which governs trades. The American international was part of a blind draw between the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution which the Revs won.

The fury of the Fire supporters only increased when they saw the dramatic impact Jones’ arrival had on New England’s season. The club went from a middle of the road side to a play-off storming monster that went all the way to the MLS Cup final where they only narrowly lost out to the LA Galaxy.

It could be argued that Didier Drogba is having a similar influence on the Montreal Impact albeit in less controversial circumstances. The Ivorian has given Montreal’s forward line strength, power and clinical finishing. On Saturday night he decided to add to his goal tally with a delightful free-kick that left Zac MacMath no chance.

Already the seventh in the club’s all-time goal-scorers list his leadership has been just as important as his play in the opposition penalty box. The Impact were nearly forced to take a draw when Lucas Pittinari fired a shot at goal from the edge of the box only for Evan Bush to palm the ball round the post. Upon the final whistle Drogba ran straight to Bush and jumped into his arms, appreciative of his goalkeeper’s role in earning them a vital win. It’s those little moments that are building a togetherness.

Defying their own history against the Rapids having lost the last three fixtures against them and conceded three, Saturday’s win also saw a first win against a Western Conference side in five games (two draws and two losses in the previous four). Their end of season bodes well for Maruo Biello in his attempts to earn the job permanently. In pole position to make the play-offs that opportunity comes with the pressure off for both Biello and Drogba, meaning they could very well be the Cinderella story of 2015.

New York City see their fate sealed by those above them.
With the final whistle in Colorado on Saturday came the conclusion of New York City FC’s play-off hopes. They will not compete in the post-season and thus can now begin their planning for 2016.

They may well reflect on the 2015 season with mixed emotions. Frank Lampard has begun his MLS career well and provided goals from midfield. Unfortunately he has done it far too late for it to be relevant in the context of their season. His decision to play in the sky blue of Manchester City over New York City was a particular low point for the club with Jason Kreis forced to wait a further three weeks after his belated arrival in the Big Apple due to injury.

Alongside him David Villa has often cut a frustrated figure but he has also recording an impressive 17 goals this season including six match-winning strikes. The combination of Villa and Lampard’s form has helped NYCFC pick up some important wins although it is not the only factor.

Kreis built this side from scratch, some of the parts were complete unknowns relative to MLS. He tried to pick players he knew - Sebastian Velasquez and Ned Grabavoy of Real Salt Lake – to create an organised unit as quickly as possible.

They have used six different formations this season in MLS with the 4-2-3-1 of recent weeks finally spelling success. A narrow defeat to D.C. United was unfortunate but their overall form at the end of the season remains good enough for fans to be positive.

A quiet end to what has at times been a polarising season for NYCFC in terms of emotions, this could prove a solid building block, but only if they learn from their mistakes and rectify them during the winter months.

Luis Robles record-breaking run highlights his importance to the Red Bulls.
The career of Luis Robles has been a peculiar one. A goalkeeper with FC Kaiserslauten and Karlsruher in Germany offers in Europe dried up and he returned to the United States, effectively acting as his own agent.

Ringing the front desk of MLS offering his services he eventually landed at the Red Bulls. From what was a less than grandiose arrival he has gone on to become a cornerstone of the side under both Mike Petke and now Jesse Marsch.

Breaking his own record for most single-season wins by a New York Red Bulls goalkeeper, he has made more post-season appearances than any goalkeeper in the club’s history. With 48 league wins under his belt, it ties him with US international Tony Meola and now puts him just seven games behind Meola’s overall club wins record.

Last month he produced a top quality performance against the Portland Timbers that included a truly brilliant double save to maintain his clean sheet. The mantra of the Red Bulls this season has been team work over star power, but in Robles they have someone producing individual brilliance but not at the team’s expense.

That could be a difference maker in the post-season as the club try to make the MLS Cup final. Set for the biggest test of the season with the post-season drawing closer they will be an intriguing watch.

Colorado Rapids edge towards the end of a disappointing season.
A drab affair on Saturday afternoon saw the Colorado Rapids record another home defeat. The club have recorded the fewest home victories in Major League Soccer this season (5) why also being the joint second lowest scorers at home.

Their last victory under Pablo Mastroeni came in late August and that is just one of the many stats that make it hard to see him maintaining his job at the start of the 2016 campaign. The club were not always in this position. Under Oscar Pareja there was an air of optimism and a clutch of young players that looked to have bright futures.

Much of that vibe has evaporated under Mastroeni as the lack of experienced heads on the coaching staff told. On the field, their play is dire and defensive. The 4-2-3-1 disappeared and Mastroeni used a 4-3-3 that often had 10 men behind the ball. After loosing 2-1 to the Columbus Crew SC recently he said: “We did everything we wanted to do.”

That was not the rousing cry of a man trying to build a winning culture and fans have understandably been eager for him to be replaced. However that would likely repeat the mistake of Pareja’s departure in which the team allowed themselves no time to find an adequate replacement.

The issues are now quickly mounting for the franchise. Their team looks devoid of any real attacking intent or creativity and with the recent departure of Shane O'Neill to Europe they are not giving off the aura of a team trying to he an elite side in MLS. As one Colorado Rapids fan wrote after the defeat to Montreal: “I would like to be upset….but this result was all too predictable.”

A team in a tailspin the concerning factor for all associated with the club is that the off-season does not seem like the cure to their problems it seems like an opportunity to further worsen their symptoms.

FC Dallas undone by fine margins during Supporters’ Shield race.

For those who say Major League Soccer’s regular season is largely inconsequential, note the importance of the Supporters’ Shield. The trophy that is awarded to the team with the best regular season record both Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas are still in the hunt for it.

FC Dallas are in a strong position and it’s hard to look past one of them, New York Red Bulls or LA Galaxy taking the prize. Vancouver have been a tad indifferent of late after a difficult week that saw them humbled 3-0 twice by Cascadia rivals the Seattle Sounders.

That made Dallas’ trip up north a winnable one even without Fabian Castillo who was on international duty with Colombia.

A game that was heading towards a 0-0 scoreline a late chance for Blas Perez was normally the kind of situation the Panamanian gobbles up. However he missed and both sides had to settle for a point. Of course that’s not terrible but with the fine margins that Dallas are playing by it could prove an important shift.

In fairness to Oscar Pareja’s men they require a slip-up from the Red Bulls regardless. That looks increasingly unlikely after they easily dispatched Montreal Impact last week, although for Dallas that might be a good omen. Of the last ten Supporters’ Shield winners, only two have also collected MLS Cup meaning they can keep their eye on the long-term and still come away with silverware.