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SBI MLS Best XI: Week 4

  David Ferreira (GettyImages)

 

When selecting this week's SBI MLS Best XI, one spot was easy to fill. David Ferreira was Player of the Week by a good margin, leaving ten other spots up for grabs and a boatload of worthy candidates for those positions.

Ferreira wasn't alone among FC Dallas players to make this week's squad, with Ugo Ihemelu being honored for helping shut down a normally dangerous Colorado Rapids attack.

Seattle is also well-represented this week, with three players chosen for the squad, including veteran goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who reminded us that he can still deliver when called upon.

 Real Salt Lake also has multiple players included, but not the usual suspects. RSL showed off its depth in a comprehensive 2-0 win at New England, and Collen Warner helped lead the way.

Here is this week's SBI MLS Best XI:

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GK-Kasey Keller– Delivered some outright clutch saves to keep the Sounders ahead and help Seattle record its first win of the season.

D- Ugo Ihemelu– Opened the scoring and helped anchor a shutout in FC Dallas' 3-0 win against Colorado.

D- Chris Schuler– Backing up the best centerback tandem in the league doesn't leave many opportunities, but Schuler made the most of his in the win against New England.

D- Carlos Valdes– Yet another strong and steady performance for the Colombian centerback, who's been one of the best defenders in the league through the first month.

M- Daniel Hernandez– The veteran midfielder was key to Dallas neutralizing Colorado's attack. He was at his trademark physical best, out-dueling the normally tough Rapids midfield.

M- Brad Davis– The Houston star set up all three Dynamo goals and was the best player on the field in Houston's 3-1 win against Vancouver.

M- Steve Zakuani– The Sounders' top attacking player was once again at his speedy and dangerous best, terrorizing Chicago's right flank and setting up a goal while scoring his own.

M- David Beckham– Beckham played his best game of the season to date, putting in the sort of work expected of a Designated Player.

M- Collen Warner– The second-year midfielder was the driving force behind RSL's offensive display against New England in a 2-0 win. Warner's passing and speed making him a serious threat and he showed on Saturday that he could probably start for most other teams in MLS.

M- David Ferreira– The Player of the Week was back to his dynamic self, scoring a pair of goals and tearing apart Colorado's defense in the process.

F- O'Brian White– The former TFC striker is starting to hit his stride and he was a handful against Chicago, delivering a powerful header goal and putting the Fire back-line under pressure all match long.

HONORABLE MENTION– Stefan Frei, Chad Marshall, Bobby Boswell, Heath Pearce, Ethan White, Davide Chiumiento, Teemu Tainio, Simon Dawkins, Amobi Okugo, Paulo Araujo Jr., Diego Chaves.

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What do you think of this week's selections? Anybody missing who you think should have been included?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Glad to see Amobi Okugo make the Honorable Mention. I don’t think he deserved to be in the Best XI, but the fact he stepped up within the first 5 minutes of the game as a substitute and played very strong in the d-mid against the powerful NYRB lineup speaks volumes to me. Look forward to seeing him progress this season.

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  2. Damn right!
    Keller probably had the best saves of the week and was he man of the match. White had a fantastic goal which us up for goal of the week. Zakawani is just doing his thing, which seems to be terrorizing defenses each week.

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  3. Warner’s time is coming. I actually think that he’s going to get quite a bit of PT this year between reserve league, USOC, and league games (including some starts). Look for he and most of the reserves to start again against Philadelphia a week from Saturday.

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  4. Collen Warner could start for most other teams? Doesn’t that kind of suck for him that he plays for RSL then?

    (SBI-Not really. Sometimes players have to pay their dues. Didn’t hurt Stuart Holden too much paying his dues as a reserve for Houston.)

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  5. where’s the love for chad marshall? he hasn’t had an error yet. or eddie gaven? he has been tearing defenders to pieces while still doing a great job of recovering on defense.

    (SBI-Marshall made honorable mention and has made Best XI this year. As for Gaven, not sure an attacking player is getting a nod after being shutout by Chivas USA.)

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  6. With a goal, an assist, and solid CB play (the only goal Vancouver got was through Ashe and Hainault) I’m not sure how Bobby Boswell only made honorable mention.

    (SBI-It was close, could have gone either way, Boswell was probably the closest among honorable mentions not to make the team.)

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  7. I’m not sure that I agree with the Beckham pick. LA did control the midfield in the first half but took their foot off the pedal and should have put DC away. DC had a rookie on the back line for crying out loud.

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  8. O’Brian White is featured in a list that includes the word “Best”.

    I’ll be back… gotta stock up on bottled water and canned food goods.

    Reply
  9. I think Tim Ream deserves an Honorable Mention for his pass to Danny Mwanga that set up the sitter knocked down by Roger Torres for the win.

    Whoo! Go RedBulls.

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