MLS Awards finalists announced
Major League Soccer announced the finalist for its regular season awards on Monday and while most of the nominees were easy enough to call, some were pretty surprising.
Here is the list of finalists for some of the awards:
MVP- Juan Pablo Angel, Luciano Emilo, Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Newcomer of the Year- Juan Pablo Angel, Luciano Emilo, Cuauhtemoc Blanco
Defender of the Year- Michael Parkhurst, Claudio Suarez, Eddie Robinson
Rookie of the Year- Dane Richards, Maurice Edu and Adam Cristman
Goalkeeper of the Year- Brad Guzan, Pat Onstad, Matt Reis
So which were the surprises? Here are some:
Blanco was the most shocking choice for me. Yes, he has been a revelation for the Fire and a key reason for their turnaround, but he is not the SOLE reason for their turnaround. I have a feeling some voters gave Blanco all the credit and forgot other key factors such as the arrival of new coach Juan Carlos Osorio, defender Wilman Conde, forward Paulo Wanchope as well as the return of Chris Rolfe.
Then there is the small fact that Blanco played just 14 games for the Fire. His half-season was great, but not more valuable than what a full season of Ante Razov meant for Chivas USA or Shalrie Joseph for New England. Blanco is one of the league's best players, but not the league MVP.
Then you have the rookie of the year finalists. How Cristman was chosen as a finalist ahead of Robbie Findley is beyond me. Findley finished the season with eight goals in 25 games for LA and RSL, earning a U.S. national team call-up in the process. Cristman finished with four goals and four assists in 28 games for New England.
Goalkeeper of the year was a bit surprising to me as well. Reis is one of the league's best goalkeepers. There is no doubting that, but to say he had one of the three best seasons among goalkeepers is a stretch. Joe Cannon and Troy Perkins had better seasons. Cannon's top-notch form is what kept the Galaxy's playoff hopes alive until the end of the season while Perkins bailed out a D.C. defense that was shaky at several points in the season.
There were other award finalists names, including referee of the year (yes, Brian Hall and Jair Marrufo are finalists). You can find them here.
What did you think of the finalists chosen? Share your thoughts below.
If A-Rod or any baseball player played 80 games they WOULD NOT win MVP, regardless of what they did.
And who is Wolfe? Do you mean Rolfe?
Blanco was great for the Fire, no question, but he didn't do enough in 2007 to win the league MVP and in my opinion there is no way he should be considered ahead of Angel, Emilio, Joseph or Razov.
Posted by: Ives | October 30, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Ives, why mention of Razov and no Galindo? I think Galindo was more valuable. Angel has Altidore and Reyna playing around him. Razov has Galindo , Marsh, Saja(misspelled), and Mendoza. Emilio has, Gomez, Fred, Moreno, and Olsen. Blanco only has Rolfe and he might not even start for the other three teams.
Posted by: Frank | October 30, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Rolfe would definitely start for the other three teams.
Posted by: Moneyball | October 30, 2007 at 06:37 PM
I am not saying he should win but MLS got it right that he should be a candidate. I do not think Emilio should win it because you could say Olson was more valuable. Personally I think it should be Angel first, then Blanco, then Galindo.
Posted by: Frank | October 30, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Moneyball, so Rolfe would start over Galindo and Razov? How about over Angel and Altidore? How about over Emilio and Moreno?
Posted by: Frank | October 30, 2007 at 06:46 PM
Ives--I agree with all of your analysis--spot on!
For those who argue that Blanco is deserving (b/c Wanchope contributed little and Rolfe was there earlier)....what about Conde? Talk to Fire fans and some of them insist he's the best defender in the league. Okay, over enthusastic appraisal but he's a significant contributor. And Osorio had made a huge difference. That team plays very different tactically from how they did under Sarachan.
Joseph was far more deserving as an MVP candidate--even EJ.
Posted by: John | October 30, 2007 at 07:52 PM
Please answer this: What player's team would not make the playoffs if that player did not play for them at all this year?
Blanco seems like the only choice.
Posted by: Frank | October 30, 2007 at 07:56 PM
Frank, that doesn't mean that Rolfe has to start at forward. He can play outside mid, or offensive mid, a position that NY needs filled badly. Or you can drop Jozy back to left mid and start Rolfe up top with JPA. Or better yet, have a three-man formation. Same goes for CDC
Posted by: Jon G | October 30, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Frank, are you kidding?
Here's a list:
Juan Pablo Angel
Eddie Johnson
Michael Parkhurst
Some might disagree with Parkhurst but the Red Bulls and Wizards don't make the playoffs without Angel and Johnson. PERIOD.
And a player coming in and helping a team grab The seventh of eight playoff spots out of 13 isn't some miracle. It was great, but doesn't earn him MVP.
It's a regular season award folks and if you only play half that regular season you DON'T win MVP.
Posted by: Morpheus | October 30, 2007 at 08:56 PM
What about Nick Rimando? If you are going to award the best goalie, Rimando has to be included. RSL's defense was horrible and he was the only reason their record this season wasn't worse. Rimando had 25% more saves than any other goalie in the league. The other goalies have better GAA due to better team defenses playing in front of them. Rimando had a highlight reel this year that would put any other goalie in the league to shame.
Posted by: Red | October 30, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Rolfe has more to do with Chicago's comeback than Blanco. As an outsiders point of view, he was the real hero to that team. Wanchope blows.
This disrespect makes me BACK FINDLEY even more, and makes me laugh at Christman even louder just to show my displeasure with this BS (he's probably a nice guy though). This disgust me how Brandenton/us youth kids get all the rave, and the kids who come out of no where have to go a much farther distance to get any respect.
If I could choose any player out of this class, I would take Findley. He finishes like a killer.
BTW, I would take Rolfe over Galindo, Razov, and Moreno.
Posted by: Lawrence | October 30, 2007 at 10:52 PM
Frank,
Coaches are allowed to, and do on occasion, change formations and alignments based on the talent they have available.
Soccer is not baseball, where only one person can play shortstop, third base, center field, etc.
Rolfe would clearly start on every team in the league. Maybe not at the same position for each team, but he is too talented for any team to be able to justify not playing him. I actually like him more as an outside midfielder - his speed on the flanks and creativity on the ball allow him to make things happen for himself and his teammates.
Posted by: Moneyball | October 30, 2007 at 11:13 PM
IN other news...Charlie Davies interview and hat trick...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Nzfz-vvcU
Posted by: Dominghosa | October 31, 2007 at 12:43 AM
oh my goodness, Joe Cannon got robbed blind.
for some reason every game i watched, cannon made impossible stop after impossible stop. No other keeper IMO was so in top form as he.
Posted by: madison | October 31, 2007 at 02:46 AM
Why am I alone on the Jamie Moreno MVP chant is beyond me..but I am happy being alone enjoying how he makes DC the best team to watch.
As to goalies: Joe Cannon was amazing - and how did he keep his confidence level so high for so long with that erradic defense is a great example of his character.
Please define 'newcomer of the year'? If Schellotto isn't on the list then clearly I'm not understanding what that means. Crew was a typical Sigi team until they figured out how to work with that artistic player.
Posted by: bill | October 31, 2007 at 09:09 AM
I like Findley, Cannon and Schellotto all to be on the list (among several others, i.e. Onstad).
This year's finalists are a joke. Christman??????? He's good, but he's not great. he's not rookie of the year great, not like Dempsey was, or Bornstein was in their first seasons. What a joke. Give me Findley please ... he is so friggin' exciting to watch play. Watching Christman play is like watching a less-gifted Twellman play: all heart and work, hardly any football genius.
Posted by: MemRook | October 31, 2007 at 10:49 AM
doesn't the fact that Blanco only played half a season make his contribution even more outstanding? I don't understand your logic about him not deserving to win it because he only played half a season and if that's your reasoning behind your negativity then I don't think you've been watching Blanco play in Chicago Ives.
Posted by: Chris | October 31, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Not really Chris. If he had registered full-season numbers in half a season then you could make that argument. He had four goals and seven assists. Great numbers for a half year, not so great for a full year.
And what do you mean by negativity? I never said he wasn't a great player. I said he wasn't worthy of the MVP award. That's not "negativity", that's an opinion.
Posted by: Ives | October 31, 2007 at 03:16 PM