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SBI MLS Player of the Week: Khalif Alhassan

KhalifAlhassan

Showing off quickness, nifty dribbling and sharp passing, Portland Timbers midfielder Khalif Alhassan has quickly established himself as one of Portland's most dangerous players, and his performances in the Timbers two victories last week helped earn him SBI MLS Player of the Week honors for Week five.

Alhassan kept pressure on Chicago defenders throughout last Thursday's 4-2 win against Chicago, but really put on a show on Sunday against FC Dallas, setting up a pair of goals and toying with a normally-tough FC Dallas defense.

Alhassan edged out New York striker Luke Rodgers and D.C. United midfielder Chris Pontius for this week's honors.

Who do you think was Player of the Week? Did Alhassan get your vote or did you prefer Rodgers?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think part of that stems from the fact that those two might not be back in full shape as well as the chemistry. The starting rosters in the next few weeks will be very interesting. Especially once Chara shows up.

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  2. +1

    also, OT (and not being a corporate shill for either Groupon or the KraftEmpire) but Groupon Boston is featuring this weekend’s Revs vs KC game today. Hopefully it helps fill up the stands of the worst-attended team in the league–and this as a Revs fan.

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  3. Rodgers deserves it…. That New York display was one of the best performances MLS has ever seen. They looked like Barcelona playing against anybody other than Madrid in La Liga. San Jose is a good team and never saw the ball.

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  4. That too crossed my mind recently.

    Of the starting 11 from this weekend:
    Alhassan
    Marcelin
    Danso
    Purdy
    Gleeson [U-23!]
    Throw in Eddie Johnson as a sub too.

    All played at a lower level last year.

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  5. It is perfectly fine to compare one play by a player as “Messi-esque”. Many good soccer players can do what Messi does…every blue moon.

    Nothing wrong with someone getting excited because one play reminds them of Messi.

    It would only be insanity if you compare a player based on one play and say that they are as good as Messi in general. Many players have great skills. But the Great players bring it all game, every game.

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  6. True, Hall isn’t that productive, and Nagbe is probably a much better player and the long term solution. However, chemistry wise, Hall is fitting in well and providing what the midfield needs at the moment. Hall and Hassan seem to complement the team better at this moment to me.

    I want to see Nagbe and Zizzo continue to sub in and get minutes. I just hope they start gellin with the rest of the team a little better. I don’t like the team shape defensively with them on the field as much.

    Perhaps just subbing out just one winger and letting either Nagbe or Zizzo come on is the best option right now. Too many new faces in the second half is screwing up the midfield.

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  7. Considering he was the U23 keeper last year (undefeated in PDL) I wouldn’t really consider Gleeson a part of last years team.

    Other than that, Marcelin has looked okay. He’s defiantely playing the destroyer role well but the second he has to shoot or pass over 15 yards I’m worried. It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens with Chara. Jewsbury is the rock.

    A lot of us were real high on Alhassan last year, but I’m honestly surprised at just how good he’s been this year. His skill is superb, and he’s got real passing range, but it’s his vision that surprises me for how young he is. I doubt very much MLS will be his lone employer. Kid has all the tools and a boatload of confidence (see his chip last year and attempt vs. Chicago.

    Futty is definitely better than Goldwaithe, which says little. I’d like to see more of he and Horstache before we anoint Brunner’s partner.

    Purdy. Steve Purdy. He’s not very talented, or really that fast, but he plays with a lot of heart and hustle and has been surprisingly good thus far. I would’ve loved to see Gilbert in Timbers green, but I love Purdy on the field. His energy is infectious.

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  8. First, 3 deserving choices–I wouldn’t have a problem with any of the 3.

    Second, I personally would have given it to Pontius. 2 goals, earned a red card on a breakaway (that absent the trip would have seen him in on goal alone against Frei). Plus unlike Alhassan and Rodgers, he did his on the road.

    Still, any of these candidates is deserving.

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  9. One of the unreported stories so far about the Timbers is that after only starting one guy in the first couple of matches from last year’s Div 2 team (Pore) and going with Expansion draft and new signees the lineup that has clicked for the Timbers has clicked for the Timbers comprises 5 guys from last years team.

    As a long time Timbers fan I love that these guys are getting a chance to prove they are good enough because a lot of us thought they were.

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  10. Yes, Pontius should be in the discussion. Not only he scored 2 high quality goals on the road, but also drew a foul on a breakaway that resulted in a red card. He gets my vote.

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  11. Hall provides a physical defensive presence and an ability to energetically go from box to box. These factors became readily apparent when on both Thursday and Sunday 3 goal leads turned into nailbiting situations after he got subbed out.

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  12. I am a Timbers fan and I love this selection, but after watching the Red Bulls match with Rodgers I would not hold anything against anybody awarding him this honor this week. He was amazing too.

    Like I said, Alhassan was indeed incrdible and deserving of this as well, not at all saying he was not, just saying rodgers was astonishingly good as well.

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  13. watch it again, paco. after alhassan megged a defender (with his out-step no less), he still was the closest player to the ball other than wallace. if wallace hadn’t have been there, alhassan would have beat the last defender to the ball and had a clean shot on goal. how can you not be impressed by a guy who maintains his composure and possession while going through five defenders in a tight space?

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  14. insanity indeed.

    the wallace goal was him losing control of the ball and dumb luck that wallace was there. he also gave the ball up a few too many times holding onto it too long.

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  15. Hey man, it’s the internet. But while no one actually believes him to be on the level of Messi, his slipperiness in setting up Wallace’s goal could certainly be described as “Messi-esque.”

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  16. Alhassan is the man! He’s got lotta potentials & the next BIG thing to the MLS. Watch out for him, plays most likely like Ronaldinho.

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  17. He got a little too fancy there a couple times and turned the ball over and could have cost his team. But his footwork on the lead up to his on Wallace’s goal was Messi-esque.

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  18. Agreed about Alhassan but completely disagree about Hall, he hasn’t been that productive. Nagebe had some great runs against Dallas though he can be a defensive liability.

    All in all the Timbers are looking great, with the exception of Brown, Perkins and Jewsberry the team is very very young.

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  19. Alhassan was good in both games but I think Jewsbury should be your pick for player of the week. He was strong defensively and was involved in many goal scoring opportunities in both games.

    (SBI-Jewsbury was actually second on my ballot in the league’s voting for player of the week.)

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  20. While watching the Portland/Dallas game I noticed that once Alhssan was subbed off the game completely changed. As much as I like Zizzo and Nagbe, I think right now Portland play much better with Hall and Alhassan on the wings.

    Against Dallas, Nagbe came on at 65′ and Zizzo around 72′. Portland looked great with Hall and Alhassan on the field, Once they came off, the high pressure defense and attacking threat going forward seemed missing. That is when Ferreira found room to operate and Dallas were inches from scoring three quick goals. Talk about a late collapse.

    Portland is gonna have some good depth at midfield with players like Zizzo, Nagbe and the new Chara coming off the bench. I just hope Spencer puts the best chemistry on the field and not necessarily the biggest names. Make them fight for the spot. On paper I would take Zizzo and Nagbe, but on performance I like Alhassan and Hall so far.

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  21. Excellent pass to set up Perlaza’s first goal Thursday and yesterday’s dance around the Dallas defense was the play of the week imo. But some of his best plays were when the Timbers didn’t score against Fire… his flick that had the keeper beat but went off the crossbar and his header that set up Purdy’s laser beam that somehow Johnson stopped.

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  22. By far the best in the league this week. Will he score the next questionable penalty to knock us out of the world cup?

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  23. Ives, I typically agree with you on these types of decisions, and Alhassan was awesome against Dallas, but I’m liking Chris Pontius this week. He had two calm and collected finishes on the road, in bad weather at Toronto. It was sort of his coming out party after having a quiet start to the year following a bad injury. Then again, I’m a sucker for nice goals, and I’m a DCU fan haha

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  24. Good choice. I haven’t rewatched the tv version of the game, but from the stands, he was silky smooth in possession. He needs to play a little simpler in his own half, though, as he held onto it a little too long a few times. But he’s getting it as he gestured to Spencer afterward that he realized his error.

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  25. His deft touch in the 2nd half against Dallas was breathtaking – a rare sight in MLS. Darlington Nagbe and Sal Zizzo, best of luck getting some of his minutes.

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