Photo by ISIphotos.com
Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been selected to replace Toronto FC standout Dwayne DeRosario on the MLS All-Star Game First XI, MLS announced on Tuesday. DeRosario was voted to the First XI, but he will be unable to play in the All-Star game because Toronto FC has a CONCACAF Champions League game on July 29th, the same day The MLS All-Stars face Everton at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Blanco was selected based on being the next highest vote-getter among midfielders, edging out Houston's Ricardo Clark on the strength of a disproportionate media vote in favor of Blanco (let's just say MLS wasn't exactly stingy with giving out media votes). Blanco drew more fan votes than Clark (which is to be expected), but Clark had twice the votes Blanco did from players and coaches/general managers. It was the media vote where Blanco crushed Clark, as well as Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso.
While Blanco isn't exactly deserving based on this year's performance (Fire teammate Marco Pappa is more deserving, as are a half-dozen other midfielders in MLS), one thing Blanco can do is put on a show, as he did in winning All-Star Game MVP honors in MLS' win against West Ham United in the 2008 MLS All-Star Game.
The rest of the MLS All-Star Team will be selected by Houston Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear, who will select five players, and MLS commissioner Don Garber, who will select two players to fill out the 18-player roster.
What do you think of Blanco getting the nod? Who are you hoping Kinnear picks? Have any doubt that Don Garber will select David Beckham with one of his two picks?
Share your thoughts below.
