D.C. United's stirring comeback win against New England on Saturday helped boost Ben Olsen's club up the Eastern Conference standings, and also helped strengthen Nick DeLeon's already impressive Rookie of the Year candidacy.
It is only six weeks into the season, but DeLeon has been the most impressive rookie in the league and his two-assist effort in United's 2-1 victory against New England magnified that fact. It also helped make DeLeon the clear-cut choice for SBI MLS Rookie of the Week.
DeLeon beat out a good collection of rookies who did well in MLS Week 6, including Philadelphia fullback Ray Gaddis and Columbus midfielder Kirk Urso.
What did you think of DeLeon's performance? Has he been the most impressive rookie you've seen all year? Surprised with how well Gaddis played?
Share your thoughts below.
The swagger of a young De Ro…ROTY
Faith Hillin’
cruz will find the bench soon enough. najar and pontius are the better choices.
DeLeon has been very impressive so far. In fact, he and Cruz have put Pontius and Najar on the bench. Now that Pontius is getting fit, he’ll find a spot. But DeLeon has claimed a starting spot at least until he hits the rookie “wall.”
like robbie findley and eddie johnson….
DeLeon clearly had a rep as a good attacking player. But a couple of things have really impressed me (having now seen in him a couple of matches):
–work rate: one of the 2-3 hardest working players on the team.
–willingness to track back and defend and also fight to win balls.
–some nice combination play work with other players and very unselfish.
Combine that with some serious skills with the ball on the ground and speed and size and you’ve got an attractive player.
Note: my understanding is that he was originally a LEFT BACK in college. I think he has shown more possibility for that position than the Bobby Convey experiment ever did.
2010
What 2011 success?
😐
Good point.
T&T has already been eliminated, so it’ll be some time before they can cap tie him
San Jose seem totally incompetent to me, despite their current and 2011 success.
If he is dumb enough to run off to T&T, good riddance. Otherwise there is no rush, he should get a January camp invite just like CJ Sapong did this past year. Same goes for Kelyn Rowe and Luis Gil.
Wha-wha-wha-what’s the deal-e-o,
Wha-wha-wha-what’s the deal?,
That and I would probably argue that his pace isn’t his strong suit, and we all know that speed is really what propels you to the international level…
I suppose some of that is because no one wants to see him get a call from T&T for the WC qualifiers. At least, Klinsi should take a look at him, to let him know the USA is serious about his potential.
His corner kicks — and there were a lot of them — were all good. Even the one that seemed long would have been great if anyone had been making a run at the far post. I look forward to seeing develop on free kicks, too.
Not ready for the senior side, but he’s making Porter’s choices look bad. As is Kelyn Rowe.
It’s funny some people are already calling for him to be capped for the USMNT. HE hasn’t proven anything yet to even be considered over other players for the May camp. Let him prove himself for a season before calling for a cap for the USMNT. Lets see what he is like at the end of the year first.
why the hell did San Jose pass on this kid in the draft… *faceplam*
Way too soon. Guys work their butts off to get invites to camps. And then work hard there to get caps in friendlies. Antigua and Barbuda is a Qualifier, and the 18 guys that make that selection are going to be among the most proven players in the pool.
The idea that we just hand out caps of this importance based on a few MLS or European reserve appearances is one of the most frustrating parts of USA fan culture. What is wrong with letting DeLeon earn his chances through consistent hard work and January Camp appearances? It is better for him and better for the USMNT
LOUISVILLE!!!!
I thought he was good on Sat – definitely the better rookie vrs Rowe – though I’m not sure it was a performance that needs to be spotlighted? He had one hockey assist and the other came from a nice pass into Pontius, who scored on a beautiful shot as he was poorly defended.
He was credited with a second assist on Santos’ goal.
Technically it should be DeLe, but that sounds awful. DeLeo maybe?
He only had one assist on Saturday, but yes, he is the best rookie in the league right now.
kid is a stud, you can’t teach pace, i’d like to see him in a qualifier, say against Antigua
Definitely not ready for USMNT yet. Perhaps in January he could get a look if he continues to play at a high level. He was actually quite close to playing for T&T in Olympic Qualifying but they have had some issues lately (not paying players or something of that nature) and he decided against it.
Does this kid have what it takes to contribute at a US national team level? I wiki’d him real quick and he’s only 21. His father was a national teamer for Trinidad and Tobago so I wonder who he will choose if he proves he is a USA caliber player. Either way I think we see him in CONCACAF play – If not for USA someday, he’s surely a shoe-in for Trinidad and Tobago
DC got DeLo and DeRo