It is a debate that is sure to heat up in the days leading up the announcment of the final MLS end-of-season awards.
Who is the MLS MVP?
There are candidates scattered throughout MLS, with some candidates having stronger cases than others. In the case of some teams, like Los Angeles and Seattle, you have multiple candidates.
SBI will announce its staff-selected choice for MLS MVP next week, but for now, we want to hear from SBI readers on who they think is the right pick to be the 2011 MLS MVP.
We are presenting SBI readers with a 10-player ballot. In the interest of avoiding the splitting up of votes, we only have one player per team, which left out some good candidates, but this is the most fair way to present the ballot.
Now, without any further ado, cast your MLS MVP vote after the jump:
Who did you vote for? Who is missing from the ballot that you felt should have been on? Why did you feel your pick was the MVP?
Share your thoughts below.
Rosales should be on that list. My vote would probably go like this: 1) De Rosario. 2) Henry. 3) Gonzalez. 4) Beckham. 5) Davis. 6) Rosales. 7) Alonso. Shea isn’t deserving of the award. He did well in the first half of the season, but faded badly after that.
(SBI-The call between Rosales and Alonso is a tough one. I hear more people in Seattle say Alonso is the team MVP, that’s why he made this ballot.)
TH14
De Ro just wants the Most Valuable Paycheque.
As good a finishing kick to the season as Oduro had, I would have replaced him on the ballot with Eddie Gaven — the unsung hero of the Crew’s season that surpassed the expectations of many following the purge of vets (Schelotto, Hejduk et al) after the 2010 season.
FYI, I voted for Davis by a nose over Shea.
If we’re considering the entire season, then it’s Davis. 2nd half: it’s DeRo. IMHO.
Have you already put up an LVP poll? Maybe two: one with everyone, and one for LVP besides Rafa.
Ha! Funny.
I was leaning Davis until I saw how the playoffs panned out. Davis goes down, Houston flies. Rosales goes down, Sounders sputter in the worst way.
Rosales = MVP
Henry was the MVP of the first half, for the record.
I know it is not always popular to say anything positive about Beckham, but screw it. Donovan had a sub-par year, Robbie Keane replaced a largely ineffective Robbie Keane, and injuries affected the Galaxy at various points. But Beckham had a consistently good year and was the inspirational leader of the team. More importantly, the individual quality of his game is at the top of the league and he stepped up when it mattered: playoff time.
I don’t see anyone on the list that mixes these same attributes: individual quality, consistency, and raising his game at playoff time. Brad Davis is close, but Beckham nudges past him in my vote.
Houston probably wouldnt have made it to KC without Davis though. And the Sounders looked pretty good in Game 2. So really your basing it off 2 games.
True Ives. Seattle is far worse off without Alonso than without Rosales. Both are money though.
It’s when it counts. Rosales was my #2 behind Davis before playoffs.
Robbie Rogers
Michael Orozco Fiscal
+1 for the Canadian spelling.
For me, it’s Beckham. His presence completely unsettled defenses, and he was even more dangerous than Davis because you never knew where he’d pop up. Without him on the field L.A. would have been another run of the mill team.
Gotta be DeRo. United would not have made the playoffs without him.
De Ro for me, and not just because I’m a United fan. This award is for the 2011 season MVP, and I don’t thinkn not making the playoffs should effect his winning. He was an incredible player, and without him, DC would be nowhere near as good. Davis had a great season, but I still feel Houston would have done well without him. I don’t feel that way about a DC without De Ro.
See, I would say Juninho is actually more important to the Galaxy’s success over the course of the season than Beckham. That dude is doing all the dirty work in the middle.
DE ROSARIO
Shea also played three times more games int he last 2 months, than most on that list (Regular league, CONCACF, National Team)…he’s not a machine.
I don’t think united made playoffs.
David the best passer in the world Beckham. Very cheeky and consistently brilliant player who leaves it all on the field.
Oui…but he’s earned it.
1. DE ROSARIO by a mile
2. Rosales
3. Davis
4. Shea
5. Beckham
Both Rosales and Omar Gonzalez should have been included in the poll over half those other guys…
How is camp going Klinsy?
So? His numbers speak for themselves.
Donovan
Dero was the most outstanding player in the league this year. His goal and assist totals are big and he had moments where he dominated games in a way I’ve not seen from any other player in the league I don’t buy into the, “who was most valuable to their team” notion.
Piss poor logic. If Seattle could freakin defend maybe they would be through not because of Rosales.
Davis created 40% of Houston goals this season and you think they would have done without him? You are crazy. Maybe if De Ro would not have played for three different teams this season he would win and if DC would have made the playoffs. De Ro is sick but Davis is MVP. Better service than Beckham
* Davis created 40% of Houston goals this season and you think they would have done well without him?
Who is missing from the ballot that you felt should have been on?
Robbie Rogers
Davis has (16) assists and (4) goals, i.e., he was directly involved in 20 goals. De Rosario had 12 assists and 16 goals, i.e., he was directly involved in 28 goals. What is remarkable, however, is that he put these numbers playing with 3 different teams. It’s a big disadvantage to adjust to a new set of teammates mid season, not knowing their habits and having to develop chemistry on the field, but De Rosario overcame this and had an amazing season.
It would be Beckham for me. Not only has he been the best player on the best team, but I think he takes what would have been a decent LA team without him and turns them into the best team in MLS by a wide margin.
Aside from Beckham, I have to go with Davis. He lead a team which I expected nothing from to an MLS Cup berth.
“He lead a team which I expected nothing from to an MLS Cup berth.”
The MVP award, like MVP awards in every US team sport, is for the REGULAR SEASON not the playoffs.
DeRo
Kalif Alhassan.
De Ro also stacked his stats in a very few games. As in, half of his goals came from hat tricks in 3 different games. Most of his stats come from stacked wins, not across the season. He was invisible in many other games, or only had a minor influence. So his stats do not tell the entire store. You cannot just look at a number and actually say that person is deserving because you have to see the circumstances that lead to that number.
For me Brad Davis gets it because he did it consistently again many teams, not just a sputtered few. There were 17 goal scorers for the Dynamo. The only way that happens for a team is if someone is directly or indirectly providing. Davis provided to ways, first his service, second teams focused on him instead of the rest of the team.
Davis #5… surely you jest.
His numbers are about as valuable as Zimbabwe dollars as his team(s) didn’t make the playoffs.
I see what you did there.
It’s hard to argue a player is valuable if he doesn’t get his team(s) to the playoffs. It’s hard to argue a player is the MOST valuable for the exact same reason.
@john.q, jcl made me laugh out loud, well done +1
In what world do people live in where someone playing for a team that didn’t even make the playoffs is on the list for MVP? In what way was he valuable if they couldn’t make the playoffs?
I can’t imagine that Beckham won’t be the winner of the league award. Huge name, good stats, great team, and — oh yeah — huge name. What’s more surprising to me is that I think he’s earned it.
This year’s incarnation of the Gals are one of the best teams MLS has ever seen — near-record league point total, Supporters’ Shield, CCL group stage winners, now the MLS cup final — with a forward tandem at the start of the season of Chad Barrett and Mike Magee. From what I’ve seen, the reason for that is David Beckham — he’s been the focal point of their offense and the guy that makes the team go when their other stars are having off nights. LA on the break is a terrifying sight for MLS defenses thanks to Beckham’s passing, and his ability to make plays from a deep-lying role allows the rest of the team to play the defense-first style that they do. Add in his set pieces and a truly remarkable amount of running for a guy his age (he’s what, 50 now?) and I think it’s fair to say that he’s finally having the on-field impact that the league was hoping for when they brought him here.
There are some other great candidates — Davis probably meant as much or more to Houston as Beckham did to LA, and as a Sounders homer I have to throw in Ozzie Alonso — but Beckham gets my vote here and it isn’t particularly close.
lol he doesn’t even go here
WTF??
Davis created 15 goals
Houston does not score much, but when Davis’ set piece expertise/ composure on the ball is on display, Houston always has a chance.
Ferreira should be here…Thanks you Colorado hacks
No…Shea faded big time at the end.
Imagine if Keane had a competent partner…If only they didn’t offer JPA a DP deal.
Mike Magee is Jesus
Maybe they finally get him a player. Oh wait… De Ro, where are you???
This year was a little gassed…cant blame after a brilliant 2010
JPA had a monster 2nd half, along with Wondo
Adan F’n Moffat
Alonso and Zusi didnt show up at the end when it mattered
Le Toux was still a one-man team in Philly. Nowak need to do something to help him out.
How do scrubs like Carroll, Miglioranzi, and Mapp start over Adu, Torres, and Mwanga???
Beckham
Brad Davis is the calming influence Klinsmann needs in midfield. He has been ignored for too long. Hopefully he isn’t out of the Cup.
Juninho is an important player that has come up with huge goals, but the defensive pressure of Becks is highly underrated.
Davis is great, but nobody in the world provides better service than Beckham. He turns guys like Magee and Barrett into goalscorers.
If the Galaxy win the MLS Cup then there is absolutely no way you can disagree with Beckham being the MVP. It’s great to do so well in the regular season but to also lead you team to a Supporter’s Shield and a MLS Cup, AND win your CCL group. COME ON
Davis and DeRo were fantastic but Beckham has been on another level
So basically you’re saying MVP (P for PLAYER) should be given out based on the overall quality of a team? DCU had a terrible defense, look at how many goals they allowed. DeRosario shouldn’t win MVP because the rest of the team sucked? You think if Brad Davis was on DC, they would have made the playoffs?
That’s what drops him from 1-2 to 4. Problem is a lot of the other candidates are on the same team as each other (Beckham/Gonzalez, Rosales/Alonso, etc.), so if the team has multiple Most Valuable Player candidates, none of them can be all that valuable. Shea was the whole Dallas team, when he faded late, his team faded.
“If the Galaxy win the MLS Cup…”
Quoting myself:
The MVP award, like MVP awards in every US team sport, is for the REGULAR SEASON not the playoffs.
Pasting from above…
So basically you’re saying MVP (P for PLAYER) should be given out based on the overall quality of a team? DCU had a terrible defense, look at how many goals they allowed. DeRosario shouldn’t win MVP because the rest of the team sucked? You think if Brad Davis was on DC, they would have made the playoffs?
Le Toux? Which writer was stoned out of their mind when they came up with that one?
With Brad Davis getting hurt in the line of duty, he was still instrumental in their win over Kansas City. His departure helped lift the team to a more intense level thus winning the Eastern Conference Title. Brad Davis is MVP whether on or off the field, amazing! Go Brad Davis for MVP, Go Dynamo!
Generally this might be a decent argument. The problem is DeRo was not with DC long enough to do that. Had he been there all season they likely would have made the playoffs. So, you have to take the circumstances into consideration if you want to look at it from the “did the team make the playoffs” perspective. Meanwhile, he was able to be productive over the course of the season while making major adjustments to 2 different teams from the one he started out with. Obviously, DC was much better with DeRo.
CAPS LOCK! As far as I know, only baseball (the only other sport I follow closely) votes for MVPs before the postseason begins, so playoffs aren’t considered by voters. As for other sports, it would be naive in the extreme to think that playoff performance doesn’t factor into voters’ decisions, whether they’re supposed to or not.
David Beckham was the most important player on the best team. Easy pick for me.
If the award was called “most outstanding player” or ” player of the year” does that change how you evaluate who is deserving? I think the semantic distinction between “best” and “most valuable” is given too much weight in these situations. I think the award should go to the best player.
Ah Soccer debates.. one of the few sports where you can put 4 people in a room and get 5 opinions.
I voted for Brad Davis.
Shows you what a team game soccer is.
I am thinking who on LA should be the guy and I can’t come up with one. Then I give consideration to DeRo who was on almost every non-playoff team this year.
DeRo is perhaps the best player. His goalscoring has already been recognized with the Golden Boot. Davis is the most valuable player to his team…and he is a great face for the league too, adding value there.
In the argument about Houston doing better w/o Davis in the playoffs: Davis had 2 assists in the playoffs. Versus KC, the Dynamo did better possession-wise when Davis was on field. When Davis was injured, the team was lost the rest of the half. In the 2nd half they picked up a goal off a free kick and then had more opportunities because KC started to press for an equalizer. The 2nd half worked for the Dynamo more because of the opportunity created by the timely goal than because “Davis was off the field.”
Okay…even so, Supporter’s Shield winners. Period.
Davis carried a largely useless Houston team (no offense, lethargic defense) through the middle of the season single-handedly.
Not going to argue that DeRo isn’t awesome…after all, he used to play for my team, and I respected him for wanting to play in Toronto, closer to home, when he left.
That said, he stacked his stats in a few games and whether or not DC was on a late season roll, it was too little too late.
I’m not trying to argue the semantics of the issue here, but Most Valuable Player and Best Player really are different things. Soccer is a team sport… it’s not boxing or golf.
I cannot speak for his time with Red Bulls or Toronto, but DeRo was consistently a leader and difference maker for DCU this season. And speaking about padding stats in stacked wins, you are way off – DCU won 4 games by 3 goals or more – and DeRo scored in only one of these blowouts (3 goals and one assist in 4-1 win against RSL). In any event, are you really trying to argue that the player’s accomplishments should be diminished because he had several hat tricks and they account for half of his scoring? Well, Messi leads La Liga in scoring with 14 goals and 9 of these goals (or more than half) came of the hat tricks. Ronaldo has 13 goals in La Liga this season and astounding 12 of his goals came of hat tricks. Davis is underrated and is probably one of the best set piece specialists in this league, but did he really have a markedly better season than let’s say, Beckham, who had roughly similar stats (one less assist) for the LA Galaxy?
While I can see your point, I’m simply of the opposite opinion. It remains to be seen how the actual voters view the issue.
That said, soccer is a team sport, so team success does count for something.
He has single-handedly carried the Union for 2 years
There’s a lot of teams who’s players are “a pack of Lions” but are led by a “Sheep”. The difference with the Houston Dynamo is that they’re “a herd of Sheep” being led by a “Lion”. And with that they’ve won 3 Conference Playoff Championships, 2 back to back MLS Cup Championships, reached the playoffs 5 out of 6 times, reached the Conference Playoffs 4 out of 6 times and all of this within only 6 years of being in Houston. Go Dynamo!
A couple of points on DeRo: DC United only won 5 of 18 games with DeRo in the lineup. They also only got 1 point out of 6 games down the stretch when they really needed it and still had a playoff chance. This this poor stretch of results basically started when Pontius got hurt. DeRo scored in only 3 wins for DC and 8 of his goals came against non-playoff teams. Doesn’t say MVP to me.
Bill, pls don’t be a jacks**, it’s not good for your health. Ferreira was injured by a Jon Leathers of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Facts, oh yeah, those things….