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As we hit the quarter pole of the MLS season, it is time to take a first look at some of the races for MLS awards. While there is still plenty of soccer to be played, and candidates can still rise and fall, eight games is enough of a sample size to start getting an early idea about serious contenders and the strength of a field.
Perhaps no field is as tough as this year's MLS rookie of the year field. Rookies are contributing to MLS teams like no other rookie class before it, and trying to pick the best of the bunch is going to be extremely tough come November.
Right now, there are more than a dozen rookies who have earned multiple starts for their clubs, but we have seen a Fab Five of top candidates emerge as the front-runners for the award. Chris Pontius, Steve Zakuani, Stefan Frei, Rodney Wallace and Darrius Barnes have all become key players for their respective teams and all five belong in the rookie of the year conversation.
Here is a closer look at their early candidacies:
CHRIS PONTIUS: Arguably the front-runner at the quarter pole, Pontius has made a seamless transition to the pros and has become a key figure in D.C. United's attack. He has already recorded three goals and two assists while starting in all but one game for United.
STEVE ZAKUANI: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLS Draft, Zakuani has shown all the skill and potential that made Sigi Schmid grab him first in such a deep draft. Zakuani's speed and shiftiness make him one of the most dangerous attackers in a loaded Seattle attack and after a slow start to the season, Zakuani has emerged as a mainstay in the lineup. He has notched two goals and three assists in half the minutes that Pontius has played.
STEFAN FREI: While the rookie attackers get more attention, no rookie has been more impressive than Frei, who beat out veteran Greg Sutton for the starting job and has been solid in goal for Toronto FC. He has posted a 3-1-3 record in the seven full games he's played and Frei has started every game he's been healthy enough to play in.
RODNEY WALLACE: The league leader among rookies in games started with nine, Wallace has fit right in with D.C. United, giving the club an athletic and versatile left-footed player who can score goals and provide service. His rookie of the year candidacy might by hurt by sharing the spotlight with fellow rookie Pontius, but Wallace's two goals and three assists are a sign that he should be right in the hunt until the end.
DARRIUS BARNES: Perhaps the most unsung rookie in this group is Barnes, who has accomplished the modest task of starting every minute of every game as a central defender for a veteran team with playoff aspiration. Now he isn't the only rookie with that distinction (LA defender Omar Gonzalez is the only other rookie to play every minute), but Barnes makes this list because he has been a steady force in the back for Revs head coach Steve Nicol, who has shown enough confidence to play Barnes as the lone centerback in a 3-5-2. Perhaps most importantly, Barnes' arrival has helped ease the impact of the Revs losing Michael Parkhurst.
Now there are plenty of other noteworthy rookies who could emerge with strong pushes in the remaining three-fourths of the season, such as Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Sam Cronin, Jeremy Hall and Kevin Alston, but chances are pretty high that the MLS rookie of the year will go to one of the five players mentioned above.
Who would get your vote if the season ended today? Cast your vote:
So who gets my vote? I'd say Pontius has the slight edge right now over Wallace and Zakuani, but if you're asking me who I think will win it at the end of the year I'd put some money on Frei taking the season-ending award.
What do you think of the rookie of the year race? Think this could be the best rookie class in league history? Laughing at the skeptics who tried to say this year's rookie class wasn't anything special? Which rookie do you see having the best career?
Share your thoughts below.
Pontius seems like an a$$. Or maybe it’s just overconfidence.
Still, it’s helping on the field.
Frei.
At the end of the season I look for a photo finish between, Wallace, Cronin, and Zakuani.
I’m going with Wallace for the first part of the season. I’m with Matt on this. He does seem to help the team more than rookies usually do. Pontius is awesome and will put em away for us. Give both a season in MLS and hopefully some usmnt training and they will both be solid for national caps.
Tim ,he’s from switzerland, not exactly world cup calibre, if I we’re him I’d pick the US.
Posted by: Alex | May 13, 2009 at 05:24 PM
————
He’s already said he’d prefer to play for Switzerland. He’s Swiss, so more power to him. He came up in their national system, too, and was the Swiss national u-16 goalie when he got his college ride.
I like Pontius as a player. He’s the real deal. But how anyone on this list could be seen to have actually impacted their team’s results more than Frei is laughable.
Really, right now to me it’s evident that based on how much they’ve helped their team, this result should read.
1. Frei
2. Wallace
3. Pontius
4. Besler
5. Cronin
6. Gonzalez
7. Zakuani (looks great, but isn’t a starter)
Don’t forget about Frei’s assist last week. Thanks for the 42 fantasy points despite giving up 3 goals, Stefan!
Tim ,he’s from switzerland, not exactly world cup calibre, if I we’re him I’d pick the US.
Does anyone know Frei’s international status?? I would love him to play for the US, but im not to sure he will.
My vote goes to Pontius, but Frei isn’t too far behind or Zakunai.
College soccer is a good stop gap and the league will always draw some players from there. But, the future is the academy system.
Pontius and Frei will be the top vote-getters. I see these players moving on to bigger things, a couple of them will receive MNT call-ups. I’m very excited as a die-hard American soccer fan to see these kids have so much talent at such a young age.
There are some BIG names to remember coming out of Maryland in the next couple of years. Townsend, Cassel, MacMath…Sasho is recruiting some top-notch players and grooming them very well.
My favorite ROOKIE is Sean Monaghan from LA
Just happy to see this crop of rookies doing well. Exceedingly well in some cases.
I have seen Frei the most, and I have been very impressed with him, huge upgrade over Sutton imo.
Where is SAM CRONIN!?!? That kid is amazing!!
I guess for now my vote goes to Stefen Frei
I like Pontius, seems dangerous when he has the ball at his feet. Is an aggressive striker and thats what the U.S needs, at National and Club level
As a guy who follows DC closer than the others (not sure I’m a fan yet), Pontius really looks like he could really be something. That said, after having watched Frei in Charleston in preseason and a few times this season, he’s getting my vote. Pretty much a prototype if you ask me.
i think Rodney Wallace is beast and Pontius is great too, and i hate DC, what’s this about?
Frei has immediately come in and done fantastically. It’s sad that because he doesn’t score goals, he doesn’t get the same kind of attention that other players do. The same goes for Sam Cronin. I’ve been watching Pontius, and I think he’s a stellar player, and Zakuani is definitely a talent aldo, but I honestly believe that Frei should be dominating this poll.
Having watched Pontius and Wallace all year I’d have to say that Wallace seems far more influential throughout the course of a game than Pontius. Up and down the flank and a big factor for opponents’ to deal with for 90 minutes.
MVK,
Besler didn’t actually leave a year early. As this link shows, he played four seasons at Notre Dame; he was a freshmen in 05 and played each season through last year.
http://www.und.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/besler_matt00.html
Doesn’t make him less of a player. In fact, he’s been a very pleasant surprise.
Frei has singlehandedly saved TFC wins in three different games.
I know the goal scorers like Pontius get all the attention, but Frei has stopped players on one-on-ones numerous times, and made a lightning fast save on Lopez to preserve the KC win. I don’t think Greg Sutton would have made those saves.
Guys (and gals), Gonzalez, Besler and Cronin are all in the mix, which is why I mentioned them in the group of others who could emerge as candidates, but as of right now, the five I mention is the group I think makes up the Top Five right now.
I hope that Omar Gonzalez continues to develop, for all the problems the Gals defense was last year he is cleaning up a lot for them this year. He looks like a potential central back for the US team. Berhalter seems to be getting a lot of the credit for this but Omar is more a factor then what he is getting recognized for. Not that I am all that excited about Beckhamania coming back, but the thought of Gonzalez finishing some set pieces sent in by Beck’s does make me hopeful for some more goals.
jc- i know Besler left a year early as well (but still got his degree in pre-med)
JJ – no one said college soccer is a complete waste of time. However, 3 of the 5 on Ives’ list are on GA contracts and left college early. So now they are getting better games and improving their level of play.
@ Issac
Agree with your assessment on Pontius. With improved shot selection and decision-making (he opts for hitting rockets sometimes when ne needs to direct shots and keep them low), he should develop into a great aset for DCU and prospect.
No love for Omar Gonzalez? Rookie center back has helped stabilize LA’s defense, and he’s playing week in and week out, maximum minutes.
I’m sorry, which one of those 5 players didn’t play in College. All this talk about College Soccer is a waist of time. I guess not for this group of players.
Also, Dejan Jakovic adds to United’s youthful embarrassment of riches. Saw him for the first time on the weekend since Olympic qualifiers and he looked MLS-ready (a couple of mistakes notwithstanding).
no love for omar gonzalez? He has vastly improved the abyss which was the galaxys back line last year.
Shocking Sam Cronin isn’t there. He has been stellar as a holding mid.
Eric Brunner has been outstanding in his play with the Crew
Cronin absolutely needs to be in the discussion. If Zakuani isn’t even starting reguarly, which he’s in and out, you need to look at a wider mix. Alston was doing very well and no doubt Matt Besler should also be on the list.
why should MLS stop expansion? a few of the USL clubs are really 3 players away from the MLS calibre. I watched Vancouver last week (will see Montreal tonight)and they were/are capable of playing in the MLS right now. Philly might have a harder time, like TFC did, but overall the talent of the MLS isn’t at such a great level that expansion will kill the player pool.
I agree that Cronin and Gonzalez should be in the mix, as well.
Cronin has shown all sorts of composure and is such a smart player. Nothing flashy but just does all the little things.
It hasn’t been talked about much but after giving up 5 goals in its first 2 games LA has only given up 5 goals the past 6 games and Gonzalez has been a big – pardon the pun – reason why.
MATT BESLER!?!?!?!?! He should be an option to vote on… He hasnt started every game because HE TOOK HARRINGTONS SPOT, its one thing to be given a starting spot and hold it, its another to take it from the 3rd best LB in the league according to your power rankings Ives… Onalfo said he has been contacted about the possiblity of being called in for one of the upcoming nats tourney as well.
Amit–It’s the opposite. Expansion helps get these guys on the field so they can make names for themselves.
Just like Chivas USA’s abysmal first year was the best thing possible for the careers of Guzan, Kljestan and Bornstein.
The only way they’ll “latch on” is by playing.
MLS would be a lot better if they stopped expansion for a couple years and let all this upcoming talent latch on to pre-existing clubs.
Posted by: Amit | May 13, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I tend to agree with your sentiments, but I think expansion does give rookies more of an opportunity to play.
MLS would be a lot better if they stopped expansion for a couple years and let all this upcoming talent latch on to pre-existing clubs.
I like Pontius. Still on the raw side, and I’ve seen room for improvement in some of his decision making, but has that skill and nose for goal that we could use on the right side. Another college player who I wouldn’t mind seeing in the uniform come Gold Cup time.
I’m laughing at all the haters who yearly, it seems, deride American soccer as unable to keep producing talent to replace guys who go overseas. Once more team acadamies get going the talent will come from multiple directions. And the college system still produces players who are ready, based on talent and maturity, to become professionals. I’m still prepared for next winter when a couple people claim the sky is falling and there’s not enough talent working their way up the ladder.
I’d like to throw Sam Cronin of TFC into the mix. He has been solid both as a holding-mid in tandem with Carl Robinson and also playing on the right side. Not spectacular yet, but I suspect he is just going to get better. Like Mo Edu, he is a very level-headed, intelligent guy.
I am partial to Wallace and Pontius as a DC fan, especially since Wallace came out of U of MD, and right now I think Pontius has it. Of course, I also have been really impressed with Omar Gonzales at LA, because he really seems to have a bright future as a center back to me. Like you said, it is so early in the season….
wallace and pontius bode well for dc’s future.