5 things we learned in MLS Week 11: Hamstrings, trades, and a daring dream

Week 11 of the 2016 MLS season saw four days of fixtures jam-pack the schedule as teams prepare to pick up points ahead of a break in June for the Copa America Centenario.

Here's what we learned in Week 11:

The unfortunate truth about Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore injured his hamstring while missing a penalty for Toronto FC. It's strange enough that he stepped up to take it, since Sebastian Giovinco usually does. Perhaps Federico Higuain had a point.

It's an incredible stroke of bad luck for the U.S. international striker, who hasn't shaken this chronic hamstring issue despite years of trying.

This isn't the first time Altidore has suffered a hamstring issue. He hurt his hamstring in the 2011 Gold Cup, the 2014 World Cup and, now, just a few weeks before the 2016 Copa America.

Like him or not, a Designated Player striker needs to score goals. His hold-up play is a nice little bonus, but if Altidore is perennially on the treatment table rather than scoring regularly, you've got to ask if he's worth the massive investment.

The LA Galaxy dare to dream

Speaking of Designated Player strikers, the LA Galaxy were linked this week to the signature of another huge star player as Zlatan Ibrahimovic called an end to his time with Paris Saint-Germain.

After the Swedish international announced his intention to leave Ligue 1, reports emerged that the Galaxy were heavy favorites to sign him. The pesky three-DP limit problem notwithstanding (and, believe us, it won't stand), MLS will do anything it can to bring Zlatan to the league in some capacity.

Will the LA Galaxy #DareToZlatan?

Related - Zlatan's next step: 5 potential destinations

Rapids' heart trumps Red Bulls' brain

There's been something of a shift in results this season ... or, rather, how teams achieve their goals in the first third of the campaign.

Last year, the New York Red Bulls' high-press system and tactical look propelled the team to the top of the East, while the Colorado Rapids fought and fought but struggled and suffered in the bottom of the West.

This year, the tables have turned. The Rapids, first in the league at the moment, are being rewarded for their grit and determination while the Red Bulls - fourth from the bottom out of all 20 teams - have lost seven matches and look thoroughly outplayed by their opposition.

"In this league the parity is such that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. The edge that you get in this league is more psychological than it is anything tactical," Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni told the Denver Post. "And when you believe that you're a good team, and you start to play to that standard, other teams perceive you as that team."

There's an ugly side to the beautiful game

Playing soccer comes with risks. Just ask Vancouver Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo, who suffered a jaw fracture following a horrific collision with Chicago Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson.

(Warning: Graphic content)

MLS trades are very, very weird

(Courtesy: @MLS)

A few days after dressing down teammate Higuain for denying him a chance at a hat trick, Columbus Crew star striker Kei Kamara found himself packing his bags and heading for Boston, having been traded to the New England Revolution.

It's a significant trade, as Kamara is a Designated Player, making what New England sent to Columbus in exchange something of a head-scratcher:

Targeted and general allocation money, a first-round draft pick in 2017, a second-round draft pick in 2018, and a future cut of a transfer fee. No players, though, despite the fact the Revs had three forwards on rotation in their 4-2-3-1 formation prior to Kamara's acquisition in Charlie Davies, Juan Agudelo, and Teal Bunbury.

Kamara was a favorite in Columbus, so news of his trade didn't go down well with fans of the Crew: