Photo by ISIPhotos.com
Four members of the Los Angeles Galaxy and three New York Red Bulls were named to the MLS All-Star First XI, revealed on Sunday.
Here are the eleven players who received the most All-Star votes among fans:
GK- Kasey Keller
D- Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin, Rafa Marquez, Tim Ream,
M-David Beckham, Jack Jewsbury, Brek Shea, Landon Donovan
F- Thierry Henry, Chris Wondolowski
This is not necessarily the lineup that will start in the 2011 MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United on July 27th. New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe will select the starting lineup for the match.
What do you think of this group? Who is the most glaring omission? Who are you surprised to see on this list?
Share your thoughts below.
I find the “fan voting” argument silly since Brek Shea made it on the team… Dallas barely has any fans, so who could be voting him on?
You could argue RSL is a victim of lack of exposure, small market, or the post Champions League hangover… but then that doesn’t explain Wondo or Shea being “voted” on.
Brek Shea? He couldn’t even get onto the national team over Robbie Rogers, a real left footer.
(Sarcasm)
ESPN rigged the fan voting? Whaaaatt? Those players aren’t on the “Starting 11” for the same reason that Yao Ming and Derek Jeter get voted as All-Star starters every year.
Fans are voting for the most popular players.
He only proved that he isn’t currently an international caliber player at the Gold Cup. Doesn’t say anything about MLS All-Star cred. Gonzalez, Franklin, Jewsbury, and Shea didn’t even play in the GC. Are they “garbage”, too?
#1
Wondolowski is complete garbage. He proved that at the Gold Cup.
I have no issues with Donovan and Beckham. I think there were more deserving players than Gonzalez, but I’ll give you him since LA has an undeniably good defense this year. But you’re arguing that 3 of the four defenders should be from LA? That’s just not credible.
hahaha who does? it’s the MLS
Only DC fans think this. Both good players, but not good enough for the AS game.
With all of the worthy players that weren’t named starters, it shows how deep our league is becoming. You could replace just about everyone on this team with someone else and hardly miss a beat. Go MLS!
Charlie Davies and Chris Pontius need to be in the final roster somewhere.
I do not understand why some people are questioning why four la galaxy players made it.
1. Landon Donovan, although he hasnt been at his best. He is still one of the top players in the league.
2. David Beckham, has been pure class all season. If he had not been hurt for those three game he would have even more than 3 assists.
3. Omar Gonzalez, he has been easily one of the best defenders in the league. Right up there with olave and borchers.
4. Sean Franklin is a good right back but I think Duniviant is more deserving.
The fact of the matter is that LA has been at the top all year long which is why they have four players make the team.
Yeah I agree with you 100%….looks like ESPn wanted their two franchise teams LA & NY well lrepresented….
not from the MLS they wont. If they do get a raise, it will come along with a 5-6 year contract that none of them want a part of. See what Stu Holden did at houston for an example.
two of those guys barely make 50 grand a year. Hope they get big raises.
Kasey Keller? I don’t think so. Chris Wondoloski? Again, I don’t think so. Then there is the defense. I’m not an RSL fan, but the idea that there is not a single RSL defender is pretty ridiculous. LA and NY clearly have undue and unfair influence as far as the defenders are concerned. If they were to use this team in the All Star game they would get killed.
You don’t actually watch MLS games, do you?
George John??? Brad Davis??? glad to see Jack Jewsbury. he deserves to be there and i didn’t think he would make it due to the fact he isn’t a household name.
Henry 9 goals 2 assists
Donavon 8 Goals 1 assits
Beckman 8 assists 2 goals
Good all the talented names got voted in (wink, wink)
Although you are on the money with Marquez and Keller.
Dayo? Really? He is not judged on his MNT performances. Plus did you not read the entire article, Gonzales is on the all-star team.
Jewsbury is deserving based on stats, not form imo, benefits from having people who finish his balls on set pieces well.
Ream? Really? Crumble him up and throw him away please. At least until the numerous defenders that are better than him get some love – Marshall, Gonzales, Wynne
You’re an idiot. My ears are bleeding from your stupidity.
Lenhart and Le Toux are good players but they are not on Wondo’s level.
It’s the wording of “First XI” that is PO’ing everyone. Backe will pick the other 11 to round out a team he feels can win the game.
I’d be surprised if many of the “glaring” omissions actually end up starting over several of the “FIRST XI.”
There’s a reason Backe gets to choose the actual starting 11 without fan input.
The first 11 should at least be a guy in each position. Why does the backline have 3 CBs?
Why are people complaining? The players were voted by the fans.
Lets see who are the subs, before we start talking about the all star snubs.
Guess you didn’t see his defending against DC last night.
10 of those goals were scored against the Red Bulls when Ream and Marquez were gone for Gold Cup. Including a 4 and 3 goal game. Keel and Mendes aren’t the ones who are going to the All-Star game.
Ream..really? has not played well enough to be an MLS alstar.
Don’t be stupid. Wondolowski has more goals THIS season then both of the players you named. And yes he is the best striker on his team.
Red Bulls – 28 GP, 24 GA, 2 All-Star defenders
Philadelphia – 28 GP, 16 GA, 0 All-Star defenders
I realize this was the popularity contest portion of the all-star roster selection process, but it would be nice to see one of Williams, Valdes, or Califf and/or Mondragon get voted in. The guys deserve it.
It’s pointless to talk about omissons without the rest of the team being announced
Isn’t it likely that Backe will bring in other players? There’s no guarantee that this will be the starting XI.
lindpere…
Olave, Lindpere, and Tainio.
This. I’m not the biggest Beckham fan, but one cannot argue with his play this year.
Two goals, eight assists for the best team in the league. One in three LA goals were either scored or assisted by him. how is that not a qualificatiOn?
Please, no more Red Bull players. They are dead on their legs as it is. There are other players on other teams.
Wow, no Olave or Borchers. Hard to look at that backline as a credible selection without either of them. It’s not terrible, but I believe that Borchers and Olave are > Ream and Marquez.
Their voted by fans, not selected by the league. How is this a “joke”? It’s a joke if Backe doesn’t bring in players from other teams.
Why is Beckham on the team? Wondolowski hasn’t done anything this year other than miss easy goals for the USMNT.
Lindpere should be there instead of Beckham.
Wondolowski isn’t even the best striker on his team. Lenhart would be more worthy, even. Le Toux is more worthy.
I guess very little exists outside NYC and LA…hmph is right, what a joke…
IMO, the following should be included in the roster as well:
Juninho, Brad Davis, Nat Borchers, Luke Rodgers, Teemu Tainio, and Carlos Valdes.
Good all the big names got voted in! (wink, wink)
Good to see Borchers and RSL represented…. oh…. wait….
Would have included Lindpere on this team; otherwise, hard to argue with the majority of the selections.
Your face is a joke.
Surprised the Tank & Lindpere didn’t make it. Solid lineup otherwise, no complaints. Jewsbury is deserving based upon his recent form. Not sure about wondo, petharps giving him a little love for last year’s golden boot.
What a joke.