LA and Houston battle in the 2011 MLS Cup this weekend. (Getty Images)

Well, here we are, the final game of the 2011 season. MLS Cup 2011 or 2011 MLS Cup...whatever way you look at it we are at the final game of the year.

I've been sitting quiet all week on this game, mostly due to the work load I've had at my day job but also because there were other items to get through here.

Brek Shea won my MVP vote. (Getty Images)

I've been holding off on posting my year-end picks for all of the MLS awards until this week. The week of MLS Cup seemed to be as good of a week as any to post this material. With nothing else going on (aside from a US game tomorrow) it just seemed like the right time.

Fredy Montero and Alvaro Fernandez were a big part of the Seattle offense in 2011. (Getty Images)

I had every intention of doing this revisit sooner but things happen as you know. Today, we'll finally wrap up this positional rankings revisit with a look at the forwards.

To recap, here the midfield, defense and keepers.

CJ Sapong was named the 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year. (Getty Images)

When voting came out for the end-of-year awards in Major League Soccer one award was simple to vote on the Rookie of the Year. MLS announced that Sporting Kansas City forward C.J. Sapong has been named 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year.

Gary Smith is now out as head coach of the Colorado Rapids. (Getty Images)

You could see the writing on the wall with this for several weeks. Gary Smith was not happy and neither were the folks above him with the Colorado Rapids.

Today, they made it official as the club announced they would be parting ways with the only head coach in their club history to guide them to a MLS Cup.

The ballots have been tallied and we now know the finalists for the various end-of-season awards for Major League Soccer.

Last year it was easy to find some fault in the various finalists but this year, every award was fairly open enough.

LA and Salt Lake should be a fun battle to watch. (Getty Images)

So I went three for four in the semifinals with my picks. Real Salt Lake knocked out Seattle in what was a very entertaining series. The other three were good as well, but the conference finals should be very good to watch.

We're down to three more games this season the Conference finals on Sunday and the MLS Cup on November 20.

LA and Seattle had two of the top midfields in 2011. (Getty Images)

It has been a couple weeks since I revisited my 2011 positional rankings. I got caught up in the 2011 Expansion Draft lists something I will likely continue on today.

Today, we're looking back at the midfielder rankings.

Boy things got a little out of hand after the LA-New York game on Sunday. LA for the most part dominated the opening leg of the series between the two sides but things got ugly in a hurry after the final whistle was blown.

Rafa Marquez tossed the game ball at Landon Donovan which quickly caused a couple other players like Juninho and Adam Cristman to get involved Stephen Keel also stepped in and probably paid for it in a way.

David Beckham and Thierry Henry will hope to lead their clubs to a playoff win this weekend. (Getty Images)

I already submitted some picks for the playoffs over at BigDSoccer.com, you can read them there but seeing how I was wrong on one of them already I figured I can get a pass and just focus on the final eight here.

Columbus hopes to knock off Colorado tonight. (Getty Images)

I hate being quick with playoff previews but this one will have to end up being the case. Time has not been on my side today.

Tonight is the second wild card game of the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs. Last night the New York Red Bulls upset FC Dallas on the road and tonight the Columbus Crew hope to do the same against the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids.

New York and LA will have to deal with two cross country trips now. (Getty Images)

After last night's 2-0 win over FC Dallas, the New York Red Bulls did what some thought would happen set up a big time, blockbuster clash between them and the Los Angeles Galaxy in the playoffs. For the second time in league history the two big clubs meet when it matters most.

I snagged this off the Colorado Rapids' Facebook page. For those who think switching to a winter schedule is a good thing, consider this photo for a moment.

Dane Richards will have to step up tonight for New York. (Getty Images)

And so it begins, the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off tonight with the league's first wild card game between FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls.

With the new playoff format teams, players, media folks, fans, everyone really has no clue what the wild card round will really bring.

I meant to post this link on here yesterday about a story I did for SBnation.com on the New York Red Bulls' road play this season. I was a little busy yesterday afternoon with stuff I hope to be able to share with you all in the coming weeks. I'll have more on this playoff game (and the others) later on.

Interesting that only one playoff game is not on national TV in the US. Probably a wise pick by the league if you ask me.

Here they are (home team listed first):

• FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls – Wed., Oct. 26, 9 p.m. ET (FOX Soccer, TSN2)
• Colorado Rapids vs.

There may be no hotter team than the Houston Dynamo right now. (Getty Images)

The 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs are set. We have 10 clubs going for the big prize next month in Los Angeles and we start on Wednesday with the first wild card round in league history with FC Dallas hosting the New York Red Bulls.

Thirty-two weeks are in the books. Each team has played 34 regular season games and now we are down to ten teams competing for one prize the MLS Cup.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. L.A. Galaxy (19-5-10, 67 points)
2. Sounders FC (18-7-9, 63 points)
3. Real Salt Lake (15-11-8, 53 points)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1.

RSL is playing to not be a wild card team this weekend. (Getty Images)

It has been a long season and we have come down to this, one final weekend of games. The New York Red Bulls kind of took some of the sting out of the weekend with their 1-0 win last night over the Philadelphia Union.

Still there are some games with meaning this weekend.

Ready for another draft?

Major League Soccer announced today that the 2011 Re-Entry Process drafts will take place on December 5 and 12, 2011.

The priority order for the Re-Entry Process drafts is the reverse order of finish in 2011, taking into account playoff performance. The expansion club, Montreal Impact will have the 19th selection.

Luke Rodgers is calling for a victory tonight. (Getty Images)

It comes down to one final week for Major League Soccer. Week 32 is already underway after last night's 1-1 draw between DC United and the Portland Timbers. The team from the Rose City continues to fight on for another game while DC United sees their season and their playoff dreams come to an end.

LA's defense has been on top form this season. (Getty Images)

I am moving on in my look back at my preseason positional rankings. Yesterday we looked at the keepers, today we're diving into the folks in front of those keepers the defense.

Again these rankings are all about the starters and the depth behind them.

Donovan Ricketts and his backup Josh Saunders have been some of the best keepers in 2011. (Getty Images)

Before the start of the 2011 MLS Season I went through each position and ranked the teams by I thought would be the best at that position in 2011. With the final week of the season upon us, I figure it is a good time to go and revisit those rankings and call out where I was spot on and where I was way off.

My weekly recap is posted over at SBNation.com this morning. I go into the crazy playoff race, the MVP outlook and a couple other things. It was certainly a busy week in Major League Soccer that saw six clubs clinch playoff spots. One is left open for grabs, I may go more into that final spot today or tomorrow.

Well, Major League Soccer got what they wanted here a season that comes down to the final week that will decide the final playoff spot. Four clubs are still in contention for the 10th and final playoff spot and a lot can happen. Right now the New York Red Bulls sit in the driver's seat but Portland, DC and Chicago all have hopes of catching up and going to the playoffs.

Kasey Keller will have 60k+ fans on hand to see his final home game. (Getty Images)

The all important second-to-last week in the regular season for Major League Soccer. Six playoff spots are still up for grabs and a few clubs could clinch those berths this weekend. MLS is getting exactly what they wanted with this new playoff format, excitement down to the very last week.

RSL and Colorado face off tomorrow in a big Rocky Mountain Cup match. (Getty Images)

First off, I wanted to start off this post with a little "hey, I'm sorry" message. I know the amount of posts have gone down over the last week or so, mostly due to work. Sometimes you gotta let the job that pays the bills get in the way of the fun stuff.

Chicago faces Dallas in a must-win game tonight. (Getty Images)

It is coming down to the nitty-gritty in Major League Soccer. Week 31 kicks off tonight with two matches that have a lot on the line in terms of playoff implications. One is a rivalry game while the other could go a long way in determining possibly the number 2 pick in January's SuperDraft or whether or not DC United gets into the playoffs this season.

It is win and you're in for several clubs this week.

FC Dallas will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs if:

· They defeat Chicago (Oct. 12)

OR

· They tie Chicago (Oct. 12) AND

· There is a winner in the Portland-Houston game (Oct.

The DeRo for Dax trade was one of the biggest in 2011. (Getty Images)

Each year I do season predictions and nearly every year I boldly state that a trade will shake up the season (take that with a hint of sarcasm if you will). Well, this season is just like many of the past where teams wheel and deal in hopes of bettering their playoff hopes.

My weekly recap is posted over at SBNation.com this morning. I touched on the Galaxy winning their second straight Supporters' Shield trophy, Chris Wondolowski's 2010 being no fluke and who's slump is worse at the moment, RSL's or FC Dallas'. Enjoy.

RSL hopes to get back on track in Vancouver tonight. (Getty Images)

It is an international break weekend in the soccer world but unfortunately for some hoping to have a break we do have three Major League Soccer games to discuss in Week 30. As I posted earlier, two of the three games have playoff implications while the other game is more about playing for 2012.

With three weeks left there are still seven playoff berths on the line. Many teams can clinch in the next game while one hopes to hold on to their slim hopes.

FC Dallas will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs if:

• they defeat Chicago (Oct. 12)

OR

• they tie Chicago (Oct.

There are only three weeks left in the 2011 regular season campaign and 12 teams are still vying for seven remaining playoff spots. Two teams can clinch berths this weekend while two others could see their playoff dreams come to an end.

The LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, and Real Salt Lake have booked their tickets to the postseason, while Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the New England Revolution, and Toronto FC are now resigned to the role of spoilers.

My weekly 'What We Learned' post is up over at SBNation.com. Feel free to kick it out as I dive in to what took place in Week 29 in Major League Soccer.

Toronto FC hopes to hold off Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls tomorrow. (Getty Images)

Games this weekend in Major League Soccer are a little spread out. A handful tomorrow with another three on Sunday. We know for sure that a lot of clubs will be scoreboard watching this weekend as the playoff races are as tight as can be.

Here is a little article I just wrote over at BigDSoccer.com. Will October be a month that give FC Dallas some relief? We will certainly find out but I do find that schedule to be very favorable if Dallas only finds a way to show up once again.

RSL hopes to get back on track with a win in LA. (Getty Images)

Week 29 in Major League Soccer has already gotten off to a bang with last night's games. Out of nowhere the Chicago Fire go to Salt Lake and beat up on RSL in a 3-0 win. No one saw that coming and sure the officiating was questionable to some, you have to give Frank Klopas and his club some credit for continuing to make this playoff race an interesting one.

Columbus hopes to hold off Sporting Kansas City tonight. (Getty Images)

There are three midweek games in week 29. All three games have playoff implications with two key in the race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.With so much on the line this week, the standings are surely set to make another crazy change.

We are getting towards the end of the season here in Major League Soccer. The power rankings are getting towards the end of the year as well as we'll probably only do one or two more weeks of these.

Not too many big changes in the rankings here. FC Dallas continues to fall while Houston moves up a bit.