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League One Power Rankings - Week 9

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/01/21, 12:45PM EDT

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Madison makes its move ahead of the culmination of its road trip on Tuesday night

Fire up Ja Ja Ding Dong!

Throughout its history, the fun has been the point for Forward Madison FC. No matter what happens on the field, when you’re part of The Flock, you’re going to be entertained, whether at Breese Stevens Field, on social media, or anywhere else the club has made its mark in the Madison community.

Now, though, the Flamingos have something great to offer on the field as well. Up to second place in the League One standings, and now No. 2 in the League One Power Rankings, there’s something that appears to be building through Head Coach Carl Craig and the established and new players. Through four games, Madison not only is putting together strong performances on the field – the most recent back-to-back wins against fellow Birb clubs Union Omaha and South Georgia Tormenta FC – but the underlying numbers for the way the teams performing make it look like a serious title contender.

Consider that while the side has scored six goals this season, according to American Soccer Analysis its current Expected Goals mark is 7.97xG, second only in the league to a Fort Lauderdale CF team that has played twice as many games. How about that the Flamingos’ Expected Goal Differential is at 5.33, best in the league and more than 1.5xG greater than that of current League One leader Greenville Triumph SC?

It can be easy to get lost in the numbers sometimes, but what all indicators are showing – both on the field and in the metric spreadsheets – is Forward Madison is a serious title contender, and y’all better watch out.

Here’s how everything else looks right now. As always, feel free to come and yell at me on Twitter (@NJEMurray).

Biggest Movers

Rank

 

Team

Change

Summary

1 Greenville Triumph
(4-0-1)
Week 9: --

Last Week: 1
Greenville might have had the week off, but its goalkeeper Dallas Jaye was in action over the weekend for Guam against China in FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
2 Forward Madison FC
(3-0-1)
Week 9: @ FTL, v. OMA
1
Last Week: 3
The Flamingos are flying with a solid defense now getting some consistent attacking support to go with it. It can complete a Birb Cup trifecta tonight in Fort Lauderdale.
3 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
(3-0-1)
Week 9: @ TRM
1
Last Week: 4
The Red Wolves’ game-winner wasn’t quite as dramatic against Richmond this past weekend, but the victory created a clear separation point between the top four and the rest as we begin June.
4 Union Omaha
(3-1-1)
Week 9: @ TOR, @ MAD
2
Last Week: 2
Omaha’s undefeated run came to an end at the hands of Forward Madison, now they head west to face Toronto before a chance at revenge against the Flamingos on Sunday evening.
5 Richmond Kickers
(2-3-1)
Week 9: v. NE

Last Week: 5
The Kickers aren’t showing the consistency they need quite yet, and with the Revolution II now level with them on points Saturday’s game has a lot more going for it than you might have thought.
6 FC Tucson
(2-2-1)
Week 9: v. TOR
5
Last Week: 11
Two games, two road wins, and suddenly life is very good at FC Tucson. Now comes the part where the side translates that form to its home venue, where it will look for its first win on Saturday against Toronto.
7 New England Revolution II
(2-2-1)
Week 9: @ RIC
3
Last Week: 10
The Revolution II have picked up four points from their last two games, and right now that’s good enough to get you into the mix for a playoff spot. Saturday’s game in Richmond is going to be big with trips to Omaha and Madison to follow.
8 Toronto FC II
(1-1-1)
Week 9: v. OMA, @ TUC
2
Last Week: 6
So, TFC II couldn’t quite keep up the pace from its opening game, but even if it conceded late getting a point on the road in North Texas is still a positive, and Garrett McLaughlin has flown out of the gates with three goals in three games.
9 North Texas SC
(2-3-1)
Week 9: --
1
Last Week: 8
North Texas get this week off after its late draw with Toronto and will be training its full attention on a rematch with Greenville Triumph SC on May 13 after the 4-0 drubbing it was handed earlier this season.
10 North Carolina FC
(0-3-1)
Week 9: v. FTL
3
Last Week: 7
This started off great for North Carolina FC, then quickly went downhill. Getting that first win against Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night is going to be essential.
11 Fort Lauderdale CF
(3-5-0)
Week 9: v. MAD, @ NC
2
Last Week: 9
Two losses on the spin for the first time has Fort Lauderdale looking good in the points column, but not so much in the games played department. Another two-game week awaits against Madison and NCFC.
12 South Georgia Tormenta FC
(1-6-0)
Week 9: v. CHA

Last Week: 12
Saturday’s loss to Forward Madison FC means Tormenta FC is on a four-game losing streak for the first time in League One. That’s got to end, fast.

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