Candidates aplenty for Major League Soccer MVP race
by Steve Davis on Oct 19, 2010 7:59 AM EDT
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Major League Soccer’s MVP race is more wide open than a Nebraska cornfield. (That’s a sly shout-out to Omaha, which is being vocal in its pursuit of an MLS franchise. You go, guys!)
I ranked the Top Ten candidates yesterday at SI.com. The thing is, there are so many good candidates that Round 30 this week could still have something to say about it all. In my mind, David Ferreira and Landon Donovan are 1 and 1A, with a gaggle of deserving candidates jumbled up right behind them.
Here is my current list. (I’ll include the brief explainers for the top pair, but for the comments on Nos. 3-10 you’ll have to follow the link. Copyright laws and all, ya know?) But do consider this: Juan Pablo Angel is tied for third in MLS goal scoring, and his overall contributions have certainly helped drive the Red Bulls comeback this year. Plus, he was my preseason selection as MVP. Boo, me!
But with all the great candidates, I can’t find a way to squeeze him into the Top Ten. It’s a great field and a great race this year.
1. David Ferreira (FC Dallas): Almost every FC Dallas attack goes through the Colombian playmaker, who has eight goals and 13 assists. His creative skills and ability to nimbly navigate congestion have been huge in FCD’s breakthrough campaign.
2. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles): Donovan, last year’s MVP, says his vote will go for Ferreira. Still, he’s built an exemplary case himself with seven goals and a league-leading 15 assists (despite missing six games due to World Cup).
3. Edson Buddle (Los Angeles)
4. Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)
5. Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
6. Fredy Montero (Seattle)
7. Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia)
8. Omar Cummings (Colorado)
9. Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto)
10. Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)
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Olave
Nice to see the big man get some credit.
Indeed
I think the change in Jamison mental game, no red cards, no silly fouls, physical size to dominate and the speed that simply a man of his size shouldn’t have. I was amazed that he didn’t get a call up for the Columbian national team, and hope his green card turns to full US Citizenship, imagine him next to Gooch for the USMNT?
I like defenders getting some credit, and am always amazed that keepers rarely get MVP mention, both Rimando and Hartman have been incredible this year.
Edge to donovan b/c he missed 6 games
and still has better numbers than ferreira
or are there significant differences in their passing and tackling numbers to give the edge to ferreira?
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Oct 19, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions
I'd give my vote to Le Toux
I never bought the had to be on a winner argument. Without Le Toux, Philly would be unwatchable and something akin to DC. The only argument against him was that Philly wasn’t very good so if you subscribe to the has to be on a winner criteria, but I don’t see another argument against him.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 19, 2010 3:09 PM EDT reply actions
The argument against him:
He’s not the best player in the league. He has been impressive, especially considering his being unable to crack Dallas’ roster a couple years back, and his standing with Seattle a year ago that led to his being left unprotected.
Ask any unbiased soccer fan who they’d want on their team’s roster between Le Toux, Ferreira, Donovan, Morales or Montero. Sebastian would be fourth or fifth pick every time.
Personally I’d pick Ferriera. Beyond the stats, that guy drives his team in a way the numbers don’t fully reflect.
If that's the criteria
give my Landon every single year, but he fading out of games too many times this season. I would vote Ferreira second and love what he did this season, but I think you would struggle to find a player responsible for a greater percentage of his team’s points than Le Toux was responsible this season. He was at the heart of most of Philadelphia’s attacking moves and on a team that had two cleansheets all season, both in the last month, they needed all the attack he gave them.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 20, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Montero is my pick
10 goals and 10 assists is solid.
-Ben R.
RE: Last games should start simultaneously
Steve,
With regard to your point about starting last games simultaneously (in your SI article)… It would nice (and yeah, I know I am asking WAY too much), if they could also work out flexible TV broadcast schedules such that the nationally televised games in the last two weeks of the season feature games that actually matter.
For example, last Saturday FSC brought is Toronto/Chivas, and this week they are bringing us Chivas/Chicago… Awesome. I know it is not FSC fault, but that just sucks.
So yeah, I’m dreaming big here, but the good news is that if they get the final games on the simultaneous schedule, televising the most pertinent games nationally would be a heck of a lot easier (at least for the last week of the season).
Think you can get it done for us?
you aren't the first ...
… to suggest that. so, we’ll see where it all falls. but do know that others are thinking along the same lines.
Hi,
I see a French Player:
Sebastien Le Toux
How does it play with Philadelphia?? Because i’m French…
Louise Bourgoin: The hottest French actress I've ever seen <3
