The New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy sent clear messages last weekend that they are, in fact, legitimate championship contenders, and their respective blowout victories were led by four players who headline this week's SBI MLS Best XI.
Landon Donovan returned to his dominating ways to lead this week's group, while Donovan Ricketts made some amazing saves to join him. Thierry Henry continued his recent hot streak, while Red Bulls fullback Jan Gunnar Solli made the cut thanks to one of the best performances by an MLS fullback in recent memory.
Here were SBI's selections for MLS Best XI for Week Six:
HONORABLE MENTION: Kasey Keller, Omar Gonzalez, Alain Rochat, Marvell Wynne, Teemu Tainio, Benny Feilhaber, Dane Richards, Julian DeGuzman, Diego Chaves, Chad Barrett
Some random thoughts on the picks:
Eric Avila was a second-half sub, but you can't argue that he didn't play a key role in FC Dallas winning a game it could have easily lost.
Dilly Duka gets the nod for an impressive start. The young midfielder is really coming into his own.
The two players who came closest to making the first team this week were Benny Feilhaber and Fredy Montero. Either would have been a worthy selection.
Since moving to centerback, Heath Pearce has become one of the best in the league. At this rate it could become a permanent move.
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What did you think of this week's selections? Which player would have made your team that didn't make ours?
Share your thoughts below.
Dilly Duka is also listed under Honorable Mention.
he was that good!
(SBI-He’s also from Jersey, so he gets even more credit.)
can’t really complain about any of them, in my opinion. Hopefully we start seeing Henry up there on a regular basis
I know Convey had an incredible season last season. Haven’t heard much about him this season. How is he doing?
Really getting the sense that you guys are simply avoiding the Canadian clubs. Understandably their records are pretty awful, but nothing for Alain Rochat in Vancouver? He was wonderful on Saturday, added a goal and has been outstanding all season. Both FC Dallas goalscorers… really?
Glad Avila made it he had a great game and will hopefully be able to fill in for Df until he recovers from the brioken ankle.
Tainio is so solid. Never the best, but a surefire pick (at the moment) for Best XI.
and Rafa Marquez but he probably should be on the Best XI. I would take Rafa the way he played against DC over Bobby Boswell and George John anytime.
Funny. Two weeks ago SBI was calling Henry a “injury prone bust”. Now he is week 6 Best XI.
(SBI-Gotta love when people erase context. I said he was LOOKING like an injury-prone bust, not that he was. You really going to argue that he looked bad early on in the season?)
Tainio should be in there every week. One of the top 3 players in the league.
Yea really!
Avila may be a stretch for best XI due to his short time on the pitch BUT he won the game and he consistently comes through in the clutch with big goals so as a Dallas fan im happy hes getting a lil credit
George John has been Dallas top 1-2 players EVERY game for 2+ years. Hes beasting again this season even though (according to Hyndman) hes only 85% fit with offseason surgery forcing him to miss the preseason (and a Nat team callup)
George John and Hartman especially have been let down by their teammates marking in the box which is why they have an awful GA avg and a poor W/L record thus far this season.
Which of these players are U.S. citizens?
Pearce, John, Lando and Duka have played with the USA (either Senior or youth) and Avila is American.. not sure about the others internationals with citizenships maybe…
Forgot about Boswell
Sharlie Joseph has US citizenship too.
Donovan Ricketts is the most overrated player in the league.
John hasnt played for USA yet. He was invited but missed a callup due to injury. If he had played during January camp he’d have been starting the last few friendlys and wouldnt STILL be such an unknown
really?
While i couldnt name an alternate selection I know that title def doesnt belong to ricketts
Side note if the galaxy take the CCL seriously, no way would they lose the CCL even if the corrupt CONCACAF tried to deter them, their squad is actually pretty good when everyone plays and their healthy, if they can’t do it my bet is FC Dallas because they have plenty of good skilled international players on their team. LA Vs NY for MLS Cup or NY vs RSL or LA vs RSL for a rematch of 09′.
George John is up there in the same class as Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez in the “Young American MLS centerbacks.” Good pick.
hahaha canada blows!!!!
Dilly Duka, yeah Rutgers!
Go ask Portland if he is overrated.
Red Bulls in Emirates Cup in London.
I got to dispute Joseph on here, aside from his goal he didn’t do much against KC. There were brighter spots for the Revs from Feilhaber and even McCarthy.
Nope no WAY. I would’ve said Henry was, but not anymore after his last two games.
Thanks for the responses. It’s nice that a majority are Americans, even while MLS has more and more foreign players.
I think NJRB’s can have at least 5 players in the best XI every week the way they’re clicking.
Rafa has to get a corner over the first defender before he can be considered.
I guess you fellas didn’t watch Danny Califf this weekend. That’s too bad.
Strong Chris, very strong.
I didn’t. Did he get another tattoo?
Hey c’mon thats a cheap shot as sucking at corner service never stopped David F. from earning best11 and eventually MVP honors!
Hope his surgery and recovery goes smoothly
same for Zakuani
speaking of tats…why the F does Hasil have prison tatoos?? (elbows) He better watch what clubs he goes to in Vancouver as they have a thriving underworld. With that said he does look the part so he might be aight lol
Hassli