Other than the Seattle Sounders occupying lead, the early-season Western Seminar power structure is still arranging itself out heading into Week 7. With that said context, the Extratime crew recently disputed which club can lay insurance claim to being the second-rate out West. As you can visualize, a few possibilities were kicked around based upon very early returns from the 2021 MLS campaign. Examine out the full clip listed below and also a couple of teams they highlighted, with co-hosts Calen Carr, David Gass as well as Andrew Wiebe making the instance for different sides. Sporting Kansas City Gass chose Sporting Kansas City, in 2014's regular-season winner in the Western Conference. Peter Vermes' group is presently in 2nd put on 13 factors. "I feel rather comfortable stating it's SKC," Gass claimed. "Even with the issues they contend facility back, I assume \ [Alan \] Pulido is entering kind and also if he's not, he's still a fantastic chance creator for this group. They have actually got choices in the facility, \ [Daniel \] Salloi's beginning to get goals, and also if it's not him, they have actually got choices there also. Jaylin Lindsey and also Graham Zusi, that offers you a bit of deepness at fullback now that they really did not have. " As Gass highlighted, SKC aren't without flaws. But they have actually racked up 3 goals in back-to-back games and have Pulido as well as midfielder Gianluca Busio as game-changers. Winger Johnny Russell is still rounding into form, as well. "I do not really feel fantastic about any one of these groups, yet I still believe SKC," Gass said. "General quality along with efficiencies today, that's my second-best team in the West. " Los Angeles Football Club Carr's first reaction was LAFC, a team that's only simply obtaining Carlos Vela back to full health and wellness as well as Diego Rossi right into the kind of kind that sustained his MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi honor in 2020. Those 2 forces alone are extremely effective, Carr said, also if LAFC's taken just 2 success from their very first six video games. "We see Vela returning right into the team, we see Rossi returning into type and also we see what they can do," Carr claimed. "I still don't believe they've hit their best degree yet. " That's all in addition to LAFC's midfield structure, with the deep-lying Eduard Atuesta securely amongst the league's best. And also at facility back, Eddie Segura as well as Jesus David Murillo provide a stronger protective resolve than they had for most of last season. "I such as the method this group is mosting likely to discover their form as well as we're simply starting to see a peek at that," Carr stated. Portland Timbers Wiebe compared Portland to a supply that gets on the rise, highlighting what in 2014's MLS is Back Tournament champs can come to be. "I think it's the Timbers because when I assume of best, I think about whose level.. has the most possible to increase," Wiebe stated. "And also to me, their development can be rapid, whereas I'm uncertain aside from LAFC, because of Carlos Vela, any of the other teams in the West have that possible to make a big dive. " Portland's largest challenge will be injuries, with enemies Sebastian Blanco and also Jaroslaw Niezgoda still working their back from season-ending knee troubles in 2020. Then, the hits have just being available in 2021-- they got in last weekend break's 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy with nine players out. Gass pressed back rather, staying even more skeptical that head trainer Giovanni Savarese's team can reach its full potential. "It's a good group," Gass claimed. " There's a ton of skill, I get what you're claiming. When every person is healthy as well as fit, there's a chance that this could be one of one of the most skilled lineups in MLS. Yet you can not just go there now and claim they're currently the second-best team in the Western Conference. " Houston Dynamo FC The Dynamo were also highlighted, with Carr providing his old group some love. They currently rest 4th in the West as well as have actually taken factors from both Sporting and also LAFC at BBVA Stadium. This beginning comes in comparison to the 2020 period, in which Houston ended up bottom of the West during head instructor Tab Ramos' initial year at the helm. "I have actually been thrilled with the Eager beaver," Carr said. "I picked them to be in the playoffs, I think just barely, but they have actually left to a good start up until now. There's at the very least a course forward for them. " Carr indicated offseason signings that are moving Ramos' task along. Center back Tim Parker, midfielder Joe Corona and also forwards Fafa Picault and Maxi Urruti are some characteristics of those efforts Noel Caliskan T-Shirt. Along the same lines, Gass competed that they're a number of huge actions far from being cemented on top. "They didn't head out as well as spend large money as well as I would certainly still such as to see, perhaps at some point they go out into the market as well as be a little a lot more hostile," Carr said, "yet the moves that they have actually made up until now in the offseason, you have to say-- you go man for man and also the actions that they have actually generated, and you're like, 'OK, wow, this has actually most definitely boosted the side currently. '" Jonathan Sigal -