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Henry and Sporting KC trio lead Fan XI for MLS All-Star Game

HenryCollin (Getty)

By IVES GALARCEP

Sporting Kansas City saw a league-leading three players voted into the MLS All-Star Fan XI, with the league announcing the 10 players chosen to the squad by fan voting.

Graham Zusi, Matt Besler and Aurelien Collin led the selections, which featured a total of five players who were either on the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup qualifying squad in June, or on the current Gold Cup team.

The 11th spot on the team will be a forward announced on July 11th. Voting for that 11th spot is being done via a new initiative called MLS All-Star ‘In the Game’ Challenge. The player with whom fans score the goals in FIFA Soccer 13, with one goal equaling one vote,  from July 3rd to July 10th, will be named to the Fan XI.

Here are the 10 players named to the All-Star Fan XI:

Raul Fernández (FC Dallas); Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Will Johnson (Portland Timbers), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Graham Zusi(Sporting Kansas City); Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes),

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Being chosen to the Fan XI does not ensure a place on the MLS All-Star Game match-day roster, let alone the starting lineup. All-Star head coach Peter Vermes will select the MLS All-Star starting lineup that will face Roma on July 31st at Sporting Park.

What do you think of the squad voted on by fans? Anybody you’re surprised to see on the team? Who would you add to the team if you could add any player? What forward do you think should be added in the final slot?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. It’s amazing how thierry henry is still an MVP candidate at this age. I mean I kno it’s the mls but for him to still be so good is ridiculous.

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  2. Meh, the All Star game holds no real interest for me. I’ll probably watch it though, will be good to see Michael Bradley again.

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  3. The face Keane and Di Vaio are not on this list shows how bs it is. As a Galaxy fan i’d say Gonzo doesn’t even deserve it, Keane is the main man

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  4. Fan voting is always interesting. You can’t get mad at it, but if you ask me who really belongs there than I will tell you. I feel like Brad Davis and Wondo made it on past reputation but are not performing up to par this year. Beckerman and Di Vaio would be my choices for those spots with Keane and McInerney just missing out.

    The guy that just doesn’t belong for me is Collin. He is just a thuggish player. That physicality makes him good, as being tough is a big part of succeeding at CB, but he is far from a great CB in a league that has quite a few very good to great players at that position. For me Goncalves is the most obvious to replace him.

    Again, fan voting is just a popularity contest and I don’t think it is very well advertised across MLS markets. But these picks are fairly good.

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  5. Raul Fernandez has been great for Dallas but nick rimando is still better. I think astute fans know the fan voted players don’t represent all of this years best at each position. So it’s not worth getting too worked up about.

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  6. Feel like there should be an RSL player somewhere in there but not sure who. They are near the top of the West so should have someone on this

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    • The fact that Rimando, Morales, Beltran or Beckerman didn’t make it is a travesty. Especially Rimando and Morales.

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      • It’s a travesty we are used to as RSL fans. We are continually underrated. That’s ok though, if they don’t play they can’t get hurt.

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