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SBI MLS Season Preview: Our pre-season picks for the 2013 MLS Awards

By IVES GALARCEP

The MLS season is almost here and it’s time to start thinking about who the best of the best in MLS are heading into the league’s 18th season.

The writing staff at SBI got together and voted on who we see winning the league’s major awards in 2013, and while some of the picks aren’t all that surprising, some offer interesting insight into who we see shining in MLS this year.

From the MVP race, which many believe will feature Robbie Keane and Graham Zusi, to the Newcomer of the Year race, which will likely include new playmakers in Portland and New York, there is plenty to debate and a wide variety of opinions on just who will and won’t impress this season.

Here are the SBI staff selections for the 2013 MLS Awards:

SBI Staff Picks for 2013 MLS Awards

(Ives’ picks in bold)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

1. ROBBIE KEANE

2. Graham Zusi

3. Federico Higuain

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. ANDREW FARRELL

2. Gyasi Zardes

3. Kyle Bekker

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

1. DIEGO VALERI

2. Juninho Pernambucano

3. Claudio Bieler

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

1. BENNY FEILHABER

2. Juan Agudelo

3. Chris Schuler

COACH OF THE YEAR

1. PETER VERMES

2. Dom Kinnear

3. Frank Klopas

(Caleb Porter)

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

1. OMAR GONZALEZ

2. Matt Besler

3. Victor Bernardez

————

MLS BEST XI

FIRST TEAM

JIMMY NIELSEN

MATT BESLER

OMAR GONZALEZ

VICTOR BERNARDEZ

GRAHAM ZUSI

OSVALDO ALONSO

LANDON DONOVAN

DWAYNE DEROSARIO

MAURO ROSALES

ROBBIE KEANE

CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI

———————

SECOND TEAM

MICHAEL GSPURNING

JAY DEMERIT

AURELIEN COLLIN

JAMISON OLAVE

CHRIS PONTIUS

BRAD DAVIS

OSCAR BONIEK GARCIA

DAX MCCARTY

KYLE BECKERMAN

EDDIE JOHNSON

THERRY HENRY

————-

(FEDERICO HIGUAIN)

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What do you think of the staff selections? Which do you agree with the most? Which pick surprised you the most?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • Haha nobody got anything right except picking LA for the cup and Serrano picking Wondo for the boot. Got to love the unpredictability of the league … Imagine how much easier it is in la liga or many other leagues

      Reply
    • Agreed. Don’t rule out DF10. He was a factor when he finally returned at the end of the last season. I see him in the BestXI – Second team at the very least.

      Reply
    • He needs to show that he’s healthy again. You could have used that reasoning to put him in the top 20 last year, and was he in the top 20 at the end of the season? No.

      Reply
      • He did show that he is healthy again… 9 assists in a short season and the highest assists per 90 minutes in the league. I think he’s healthy…

  1. If Martins does indeed come to Seattle lookout for him as newcomer of the year. I know he can’t be listed yet since he isnt officially done but I think he could be a force once he joins

    Reply
  2. Like last year and the previous year and the year before that, etc… I completely disagree that only three defenders get selected for honors in this league when the overwhelming majority of teams play a flat back four…

    Reply
    • I have to say I agree — not necessarily because most teams play four in the back, but more because considering only three inevitably leaves out all fullbacks. Case in point, in the two lineups listed above, all 6 defense selections are centerbacks.

      Reply
      • +1

        I think the only solution is to change best 11 to best 12. Or best 11 plus goalkeeper.

        That way there is room for 1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 2 forwards.

        A 4-5-2 covers all variations of a 4-5-1 and of a 4-4-2. It’s just one more spot, and it makes so much more sense. If you’re bothered by it being more than 11, think of it as a starting lineup plus a sub. That way Defenders could get the recognition they deserve.

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