We've reached the season's midpoint, when clubs take a breath, step back, take a good introspective peek at their own house and ... frequently fool themselves into thinking that something better is ahead.
First, let's examine some of the evidence that points to slightly dented self-examination.
"I am hesitant to go too far into it, but I will say, without insulting any other team, or having it sound like I am taking shots at other teams, that I think this team is disappointed being in second place." That's from Houston manager Dominic Kinnear, who does, at least, have some historical backing for his sentiments. When you are the two-time defending league champs, you get the benefit of the doubt.
Technically, his team is in fourth place. But never mind that. And never mind that Kinnear's side has just four wins in 16 matches. That puts Houston on pace for eight wins this year, which would represent a stunning drop from last year's 15. But let's move on for now. Here are comments on another team.
"We've played well. We've been fairly consistent. However, I don't think we've played to our potential yet, and I don't think that we have gotten the results that would be indicative of this team." This is what Real Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Just east of there, FC Dallas fired their coach because management and ownership didn't think the win-loss record was commensurate with the level of talent on the roster.
Even further East, New York Red Bulls manager Juan Carlos Osorio punctuated his team's bad loss (4-0) at Colorado over the weekend by ripping indirectly into his personnel, promoting his eagerness to arrive at the July 15 transfer window so he could scoop up the talent that will presumably rescue the season.
All this is well and good. And, to be fair, this is the professional athlete's general condition. They always believe things are pointed north, perennially on the way up.
But here's the deal: It's mid-July. Half the season is over. In most ways, you are what you are.
Hope springs in the spring, and in May and maybe even in June, it's certainly OK to think that good things are just around the corner.
But by July, to a large extent, again, you are what you are.
The good news is that Major League Soccer's playoff format remains forgiving -- even if a 14-team field this year makes it a little less so.
Every team remains in the playoff hunt, and a hot streak can ferry clubs a long way. But they all stand a better chance of gaining post-season grace by acknowledging what they are and the precise challenges ahead. At this point, there's a reason that New England and Los Angeles lead their conferences -- just as there are reasons that have teams landing in the middle of the pack and at the back of the bunch.
Take Houston, for example. Kinnear and GM Oliver Luck continue to kick the tires on new options at forward. But if they don't seal the deal on one, the Dynamo will continue to struggle in efforts to escape the frustrating draw zone.
Houston has tied half of its 16 games. Why so many? Just look at the latest draw, one that kicked off Round 15 of MLS matches, a scoreless tie at Real Salt Lake.
Houston's defense was good enough to keep an attack-minded RSL side from ever claiming the big goal. But at the other end, Houston managed just two shots on target. The result was a 0-0 tie, which isn't bad on the road. On the other hand, Kinnear's outfit has just two goals in its last four MLS matches. Good defense. Stagnant offense. Sounds like a draw waiting to happen, no matter how good the team feels about itself.
And that probably won't get it done in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Los Angeles fell at home over the long weekend to New England. Afterward, Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit bemoaned the state of his midfield, which he said panicked too frequently before intermission and gave away possession too easily.
(In truth, strong matches from Jeff Larentowicz and, especially, Shalrie Joseph, had a lot to do with New England's midfield dominance in the July 4 weekend's marquee matchup.)
Fact is, outside of David Beckham, Gullit doesn't have a midfield full of players who are especially comfortable on the ball. Alvaro Pires is still a holding type who is best when he gets the ball off his foot quickly. He is not particularly special at holding possession in tight spaces. Joe Franchino is more of a defensive destroyer. Mike Randolph is best when carrying the ball forward with speed.
Besides, Gullit's bigger problem is in the back, where he has yet to find a dependable center back to partner with the emerging Sean Franklin. Abel Xavier could be faulted for both New England goals Friday. So, Gullit's team probably would be OK with the midfield it has ... but only for that reliably unreliable defense.
Personnel change may be on the way in Dallas and New York. But how much? Dallas may have a bit of wiggle room, but major change could only happen if Kenny Cooper can be pried away with continued overtures from Norway's Rosenborg. And it's probably not a good thing for Dallas to lose its top scorer; Cooper has eight goals in 16 matches.
And how much can Osorio, already tethered to a pair of designated players, really reshape the roster at Giants Stadium?
Again, the Red Bulls are what they are to a certain extent. Their best hope is that the veteran DPs already on board, Claudio Reyna and Juan Pablo Angel, get 100 percent healthy and lead a heroic revival.
Assuming that valuable pair can get fit, that's something that's not so improbable.
TACTICAL CORNER
• Did a battle of sideline wits weigh heavily in the outcome of a big Eastern Conference meeting?
Columbus caretaker Robert Warzycha, subbing for manager Sigi Schmid, who was attending his stepdaughter's wedding in California, made a bold move in the waning moments of his team 2-2 draw with Chicago.
He tossed aside the Crew's usual 4-4-1-1 by adding attacker Steven Lenhart in place of defender Andy Iro in the 77th minute. Columbus trailed at the time, 2-1.
It seemed to work -- the home team began pressing for the equalizer. Chicago boss Denis Hamlett responded soon by subtracting attack-minded midfielder Justin Mapp in favor of defender Lider Marmol.
A minute later, the opportunistic Lenhart was on the spot for the equalizer as Columbus completed a two-goal rally.
Additionally, Hamlett might second-guess his own decision to remove Mapp (age 23) from the field instead of replacing one of his 35-year-old midfielders, Cuauhtemoc Blanco or Diego Gutierrez. Also subtracted from Chicago's starting 11 were Chris Rolfe (25) and Chad Barrett (23).
Would it have made a difference to leave one of the younger fellows on the field? We'll never know.
• New England midfielders Steve Ralston and Mauricio Castro had quiet nights Friday while the team made big noise with a "statement" win in Los Angeles. Joseph and Larentowicz controlled the midfield in New England's 2-1 victory, and Sainey Nyassi made life miserable for Los Angeles' left side, tearing up the flank with pace and enough variety to keep the Galaxy guessing.
But did Castro and Ralston really have quiet nights, or were they just focused on the disrupting the passing channels and keeping the Galaxy's big weapon from firing?
Teams that have success against the Galaxy are teams that limit David Beckham's opportunities on the ball. It forces the famous England international to drift and receive the ball inside, in spots where he's still dangerous, but where he's a bit less comfortable, at least.
Possession key in LA-Houston draw
Additional UEFA Cup berth for Bundesliga
DAVIS IN FOUR-WAY TIE FOR LEAD
