My choices for MLS awards – Ferreira, Ream and Hyndman

Full disclosure: I’m an idiot

I’m telling you, it’s a teeny weeny miracle every morning when I manage to find my way home after walking the dogs. (Actually, the border collie helps a lot. Them border collies is smart.)

Another example: I somehow missed out on voting for MLS awards. I’m making light of it here, but it was a silly (and somewhat unprofessional) thing to do.  I’d prefer to sweep the matter under the rug, but since I call people out on this blog all the time, I’m taking out the big stick and whuppin’ my own ass with it today. It had a little bit to do with email addresses and mail going one place rather than another … but that’s lame and I know it and, well, I blew it.

I wanted to post something on my choices for MLS Awards – but it seemed disingenuous not to admit that I didn’t actually vote.  Boo, me.  (I suppose it really double-super important to get my votes in for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year in to the North American Soccer Reporters, who name their own recipients.)

So, just for funnin’ around, here are my picks:

Most Valuable Player: This is the toughest choice I remember in years. It’s so close overall that my choice for No. 3 isn’t among the trio of finalists. Dallas’ David Ferreira has been my choice since mid-season – and it will stay that way. It’s not just the rock-solid stats (8 goals, 13 assists), it’s also the durability; the most-fouled player in MLS didn’t miss a start this year. And it’s also this: take Ferreira off the field and Dallas is stuck in the mud. They’d be lucky to grind out a few 1-0 wins or scoreless ties.

So, my vote would go to Ferreira … but it’s not going there with 100 percent confidence. That’s because Chris Wondolowski has made such a remarkable case over the back half of the season. His 18-goal Golden Boot campaign is amazing stuff. And the fact that nine of his goals were game-winners just compounds the evidence. Truth be told, I think the ridiculously implausible Wondo Story will swing enough votes in his direction, and I think the San Jose Earthquakes’ man will claim the honor. And if he does so by one vote, well, then I guess I owe Ferreira a six-pack of Dr Pepper or something.

Rookie of the Year: I’ve said for a while that D.C. United’s Andy Najar is the most talented rookie. He certainly has the most promise; whereas some others have the opportunity to become very good players, I believe this guy has the ability to be a superstar. I could see teams in Europe one day looking to sign Red Bulls Center back Tim Reamor Philadelphia striker Danny Mwanga – teams like Everton, Newcastle, Atletico Madrid, Schalke, etc.  When I think about which teams might start sniffing around RFK to take a closer look at Najar, I think they’ll be sides closer to the European elites, clubs like Ajax, Arsenal, AC Milan, etc.

That said, if you look at contributions to an MLS side that has achieved good things this year, I think the award should go do Ream.  I mean, “Rookie Wall?” What Rookie Wall? This guy played every minute for Hans Backe’s Red Bulls, starting at center back from Day 1. Yes, he had a clunky game here or there, but he was solid overall and very good way more often than he was bad.

Coach of the Year: Hans Backe found the winning formula in a place where no one else did with the Red Bulls. And Jason Kreis guided Real Salt Lake seamlessly through a jam-packed schedule. RSL has been my choice since Day 1 to win it all, and the league’s youngest manager gets a lot of credit. But this award is about the job done specifically in 2010; I think Kreis put so much of the winning elements in place, in terms of personnel and organizational practices, over the two previous seasons.

So, my choice would go to Dallas’ Schellas Hyndman. Almost every personnel choice proved to be spot-on. Dallas’ drafting was tip-top back in January as well; Zach Loyd and Eric Alexander have been terrific additions. Mostly, Hyndman’s ability to shape a wandering organization into a team that believes in itself, enjoys great locker room accord and plays a pretty style makes him a little more deserving than the other two. Just a little. Like the others, this award will be won and lost on a razor’s edge.