American Soccer News

It’s the start of a new month, which means it is time to revisit our Twitter account standings! This table tracks the number of followers each Major League Soccer team has through its ASN Twitter account. We launched this feature
about six months ago.

1. (1). LA Galaxy: 837 followers (4 more than on April 9)
2. (2). Seattle Sounders FC: 620 (+3)
3. (3). New York Red Bulls: 615 (+35)
4. (4). Toronto FC: 529 (+63)
5. (5). Chicago Fire: 401 (+3)
6. (6). Houston Dynamo : 385 (-1)
7. (7). Chivas USA: 340 (+6)
8. (8). Columbus Crew: 325 (+9)
9. (11). Philadelphia Union: 317 (+35)
10. (9). DC United: 311 (+0)
11. (10). New England Revolution: 294 (+0)
12 (12). Real Salt Lake: 267 (+2)
13. (14). FC Dallas: 255 (+10)
14. (13). San Jose Earthquakes: 245 (-1)
14. (15). Kansas City Wizards: 245 (+8)
16. (16). Colorado Rapids: 191 (+7)

A very interesting month. For the first time since we’ve been keeping this table teams actually lost followers. Granted it was just one follower in both instances; @DynamoASN and @QuakesASN. But it is still surprising, particularly in the latter’s case. The Quakes have been performing better on the field since, well, since they became the Houston Dynamo. And nearby Silicon Valley should surely result in more tech-savvy (and Twitter savvy?) fans than in a place like Salt Lake City or Columbus (to grossly over-generalize)?

But it wasn’t just these two accounts that suffered. Growth was anemic or inexistent (0 new followers by @dcuASN and @RevsASN–the first time that’s happened too) in all but three accounts: @TorontoFCasn (the biggest gainer by far), @RBNYasn and @PhillyUnionASN. The Union jumped two spots and the Red Bulls are within striking distance of @SoundersASN, whom they trail by five followers–something that can easily be made up in the month ahead. @LAgalaxyASN remains far ahead in the distance but a paltry four new followers at least means it didn’t expand this lead.

Click to view round six

Click to view round five

Click to view round four

Click to view round three

Click to view round two

Click to view round one

Oh by the way: Just in case you were wondering, ASN’s “mothership” Twitter account, @amersocc, which covers broader (not always team-specific) issues affecting the American game, boasts 1,341 followers at the time of this writing. Our Women’s Professional Soccer account, @wpsASN, is followed by 703 people.

Gone are the days of MLS exhibition games until late summer when all but the sorriest squads made the playoffs. A spread of nine points at this point of the season will add up over the coming months. Into this breach march the undefeated LA Galaxy, who visit Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Wednesday night in a pivotal game that could have wide-ranging effects on the Western Conference race. ASN’s Pat Shea spoke to Rapids coach Gary Smith and midfielder Wells Thompson on the eve of the match.

Ivan Yeo previews the match from the Galaxy viewpoint.

The Kansas City Wizards began the season in perhaps the best possible fashion in a 4-0 romp over DC United. But as it turns out, the game may have said less about the power of the new look Wizards, and more about the ineptitude of DC United. Kansas City has only scored one goal in league play since the season opener. However, another game against DC United may be just the tonic that the Wizards need. They get their chance tonight. Nate Brinson previews that match.

Back east, the New England Revolution conclude a three-game homestand with Chivas USA. The encounter is the start of a stretch of six games in 17 days for Steve Nicol’s men, who are already stretched thin by injuries and Shalrie Joseph’s leave-of-absence. Hank Alexandre previews the match from a Revs viewpoint.

A busy weekend awaits for Major League Soccer with all 16 teams in action in a span of 36 hours. Several intriguing matchups are on tap. In Seattle, Sigi Schmid’s current team faces his old one with whom he won an MLS Cup in 2008. Columbus has played fewer matches than any team in MLS but with a 2-0-1 record is the only Eastern Conference side without a loss on the young season.

Speaking of Eastern Conference, what would you think if we told you DC United and the New York Red Bulls (who face each other tomorrow) occupied first and last place in that table? That DC was first and New York last, right? Wrong. The situation is exactly reversed. Hans Backe’s men, though far from impressive when fielding their first team, have a five point lead in the East, which means they will maintain their hold on first regardless of what happens this weekend.

The only team to take points from the LA Galaxy this season, the Kansas City Wizards, are the Red Bulls’ nearest competitor in the standings. With its 2-1-1 record the team formerly known as the Wiz visit the Houston Dynamo, who are off to a better-than-usual (for them) 2-2-1 start.

Further west, the best team in MLS hosts one of the worst. The Philadelphia Union, fresh off some draconian punishment from their coach, visit the Home Depot Center late Sunday. It will be interesting to see how, if at all, the newest MLS side respond to Peter Nowak’s motivational methods. ASN Philly has a full preview of that match.

Another surprising team, the Colorado Rapids, also play on the west coast, at San Jose. The Earthquakes finally appear to be gelling into something more reminiscent of the team they became, the Houston Dynamo, than the one they were the last two seasons.

The defending MLS Cup champions Real Salt Lake return home after a tough three game swing. They host Toronto FC on Saturday night. Read that preview here.

FC Dallas try again for their first win at New England Revolution, who face a difficult challenge without captain Shalrie Joseph.

Lastly, Chivas USA visit the Chicago Fire in a battle of teams in mid table in their respective conferences.