MLS Notes: Aug. 8

With the season more than half over the gap between play-off team and play-off dreamer is getting bigger. Chivas USA continues to hold the 10th play-off spot on 29 points, just one in front of Houston and a few teams sit behind them. However, we can already put the nail in the coffins of both Canadian clubs, Chicago Fire and most likely New England Revolution.

After a slip up against Portland last time out, LA Galaxy reasserted their dominance with a big win over FC Dallas. Sporting KC's unbeaten run was ended by Seattle as we saw a diabolical two-footed tackle by DP Omar Bravo; followed by an embarrassing display following Bravo's sending off.

In DC, Dwayne De Rosario continued to haunt his former club scoring a hat-trick and getting DC the draw against Toronto FC. This match featured some dubious officiating which led to two goals in the match. Andy Iro has proved to be a terrible signing for TFC. He has shown nothing but clumsiness and has given away penalties in the last few matches. He has faired just slightly worse than the man he replaced Nana Attakora.

It's a shame MLS added two extra teams to the play-offs. The obvious that a team with a below .500 record could win the MLS Cup is ridiculous. Instead of four teams fighting it out for the last play-off place, we would see six teams. This would then lead to games that mean that much more throughout the league. As we continue down the stretch I don't feel the added play-off places will matter as much as MLS believed as the gap continues to widens as most teams have just over 10-games to play.

New York continues to under perform, and we have seen the De Rosario-Dax McCarty trade has benefitted DC, and DC only. At the beginning of the season every pundit, including myself, used all the hyperbole they could think of to praise McCarty. But perhaps McCarty benefitted from the FCD system as he hasn't performed well this season. Many times he has been non-existent in matches.

Finally, Kevin Hartman holds numerous records in MLS for goalkeeping. He has been a great 'keeper in MLS throughout his career. But this a man that throughout his career has been error prone. In every match there are moments in which the ball comes into the box and fans hold their breath when Hartman goes near the ball. Hartman had two gaffs over the weekend allowing two goals from LA in FCD's 3-1 loss at the Home Depot Center.