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Who is your 2009 MLS MVP?

Landon Donovan 4 (ISIphotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

The 2009 race for MVP may be one of the better ones in league history, with a handful of legitimate candidates garnering consideration for the honors.

Los Angeles star Landon Donovan, FC Dallas goal-scoring ace Jeff Cunningham, Seattle standout Fredy Montero, Colorado striker Conor Casey, New England midfield maestro Shalrie Joseph and reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto are all in the mix.

Who would your MLS MVP vote go to? Cast your vote here:

(If you voted early on, try voting again because the first 120 votes were wiped out.)

Who did you vote for and why? Which player, if any, do you think should have been included on the ballot?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Donovan may as well win as something of a lifetime achievement award, if anything. Assuming this is (hopefully) his last year here for some time.

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  2. Donovan by a whisker. I think of it by how much worse a team would be if you took the MVP off the pitch. Cunningham and Shalrie are extremely valuable, but take Landycakes away from L.A. and they would be a joke.

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  3. I think about MVP as the most important player for their team. While Donovan, GBS, De Ro and Cunningham have obviously very important to their respective teams, my money is on Shalrie. If he is taken out of the Revs lineup, they would fall apart.

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  4. Landon Donovan – MVP, in a year his stats are down across the board and he’s got a stronger supporting cast? He’s had a good year, but not MVP.

    Conor Casey – is as importnant to his team as any player to another. Near the top of the charts in GS. Has to be a serious contender.

    Fredy Montero – a truly great talent, but hasn’t been the star of a team that is very well rounded with talent. Arguably not even the MVP of Seattle.

    Jeff Cunningham – single-handedly (and undeservedly) carrying a joke Hyndman squad to the brink of the playoffs. If they get in he is the MVP, no questions about, and Hyndman owes him a massive case of beer as he’s helped him save face.

    Guillermo Barros Schelotto – first half MVP hands down, but has faded and been in and out with injury. Not this year Guille.

    Brad Davis – good year, but hasn’t been a game changer. Good creativity but not a league MVP.

    Dwayne DeRosario – another who is a vital component to his team, leading them with a franchise record number of goals (most from midfield) single handedly winning them the NCC (Voyageurs Cup). He is a prime candiate for how importnant he is to his team, especially if they get in for the first time in team history.

    Shalrie Joseph – has again been key for his side, playingmultiple roles, scoring goals, but has also been injured a fair bit, had some disciplnary issues and if NE miss the playoffs, there’s no way he can be a league MVP.

    Dallas make it = Cunningham, TFC do (and Dallas dont) = De Rosario. One of them gets in, and if not, it’s probably Casey.

    I second the call that Thornton should be on there….Chivas could still finish top in the West and it’s on his back.

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  5. Cummings is more valuable to Colorado than Casey. Casey has the goals but only 1 assist, while Cummings has 12 assists and 8 goals to go along with it. Plus we lost Casey to National Team duties and suspensions for far more time than we lost Cummings.

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  6. Why so little love for Conor Casey?

    He is by far THE morst valuable player to his team. Is he the best in the league in any category not in my opinion, but without him NO WAY Colorado gets in the Playoff hunt.

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  7. I voted for Josh Wicks because he is such a nice guy…

    I voted for Cunningham because Donovan wins everything just because he is Donovan.

    Cunningham is single handedly bringing Dallas to the playoffs.

    But Ives, again, can’t these wait until after the season is over? Seems premature!

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  8. Zach Thorton. Despite being pummeled with shots in many games he’s about the break the MLS GAA record. And CUSA wouldn’t be a play-off team without his stellar year.

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  9. Both Joseph and Cunningham are equally valuable to their team’s present success; but Joseph has been contributing all season so that’s the slight edge with which I give him the nod. I don’t think anyone other than those two should even have a chance of winning (unless both NE and Dallas miss the playofffs)

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  10. I think Ive’s next poll should be he the LVP or Least Valuable Player. That should make for some interesting comments and hate posts!!!!

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  11. Casey. He’s been doing what Cunningham’s doing, but doing it all year. He would be the leading scorer, if he didn’t miss time for USA action.

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  12. should be cunningham or joseph but donovan will win as always; bored.

    I voted for cunningham because as it was said before, without him Dallas has already packed up for the season.

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  13. I’d say it’s gotta be Joseph for the simple fact that without him, the Revolution would be a complete shambles. Cunningham turns draws into wins. Joseph can turn losses into wins. If anyone is carrying a team on his back, it’s Shalrie Joseph– a very good player who wouldn’t look out of place in a much higher league. More importantly, the confidence he gives his teammates is almost palpable.

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  14. I’ve been against calling him into the national team, but Cunningham’s production is insane. The number of goals and assists, that just happen to coincide with the team’s unbelievable rise from the bottom of the table is just remarkable.

    Donovan has been one of the best players in MLS all season long, but there are so many important pieces in LA. Schelotto has been injured too much for such serious consideration. Joseph has to be in the top 3. He has been jipped in the past of true MVP candidacy, and he’s actually been better than ever this year.

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  15. It’s not widely known that the terms of Beckham’s deal grant him league MVP in alternate seasons. It was magnanimous of him to leave gaps for lower-tier players to occasionally get some recognition. Since David was denied the MVP last year, isn’t it mandatory this year? 😉

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  16. Totally agree with Aaron – without Cunningham, FCD is floundering at the bottom of the table. The goal scoring tear he’s been on lately is the reason Dallas has a shot at a playoff birth. Let’s go Hoops!

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  17. For better or worse, making the playoffs will decide the MVP race… If NE and Dallas dont make the playoffs then its Donovan. If they both make the playoffs its gonna be one heck of a MVP race. If only one of them makes it… its probably still gonna go to Donovan mainly because the mainstream media knows him better and he has done really well at the international level. Also, if LA gets first in the West then Donovan gets MVP for sure

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  18. has joseph ever won MVP? Lalas said last nite that the Galaxy can win w/o Donovan, but probably not in the playoffs. it’s between those two i think.

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  19. If the Rev’s make the playoffs it should be Shalrie Joseph because they wouldn’t even be close to making the post season without him.

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  20. Donavan really!!!!! Come on people, the person who I feel deserves it and never thought I would say this is Jeff Cunningham. He in the reason that Dallas is even in the playoff consideration. No Cunningham and we are arguing who is worse Ney York or Dallas….

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  21. Looking for Shalrie Joseph and not finding him amongst seven candidates is perplexing.

    (SBI-He was left off original list, but has been added.)

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  22. Not sure if he really deserves it but i do consider Shalrie Joseph as right up there with those names if we’re looking at this in terms of overall contribution to his team. Though, I’m not a NE fan so i didn’t get to see him play all that much.

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