Photo by ISIphotos.com
This past Monday marked the deadline for media ballots for the MLS All-Star Team, meaning I could no longer keep putting off my selections as I tried to choose in some of the toughest all-star selection races in recent memory.
It wasn't easy to pick a starting XI without leaving off some very deserving players, with this year's choices being much tougher than last year's (and not just because there was one more team in the mix).
No, the final SBI All-Star ballot didn't have eight Seattle Sounders, but the expansion club did wind up with a couple of selections after a strong late push and some national team absences. Among the players who didn't make it who were very deserving: Conor Casey, Santino Quaranta, Kasey Keller, Stuart Holden and Dwayne DeRosario just to name a few.
So who did make it? Here is SBI's MLS All-Star ballot:
FORWARDS– Freddy Montero, Landon Donovan.
MIDFIELDERS– Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Amado Guevara, Marco Pappa, Brad Davis, Shalrie Joseph.
DEFENDERS– Geoff Cameron, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Wilman Conde
GOALKEEPER– Zach Thornton
How did I come up with this group? Here's how:
Forwards weren't so easy, with Montero's late pushing giving him the nod. Donovan got the edge for me for how he carried Los Angeles for the first three months of the season. Conor Casey fell just short and teammate Omar Cummings also got consideration.
Midfielders was easier to pick because of Santino Quaranta's listing as a forward. If he were a midfielder on the ballot he would have made the squad. Schelotto and Guevara are locks for me. I know Pappa's selection will raise some eyebrows but I think Pappa has been the Fire's best and most consistent attacking player this season. Joseph may be enjoying his best season to date in carrying a struggling Revs team and Davis has been deadly on the wing for Houston. Those who came close? Paulo Nagamura, Osvaldo Alonso and Colin Clark just missed the cut.
Defenders was also tough but the trio I chose rose to the top. Brian Namoff and Gonzalo Segares were considered, as was Shavar Thomas.
Goalkeeper was probably the toughest decision for me, with Thornton narrowly edging Pat Onstad. I could have gone either way, but Thornton was just so key to Chivas USA's great start to the season. Onstad has been important to Houston too, but Thornton had to do much more. Keller is still probably the best actual goalkeeper in MLS but the other two have had, for my money, better seasons to date.
So those were my picks. What were your picks? Share your final MLS All-Star ballots below, and your thoughts on the SBI ballot, in the comments section below.
Not an LA fan but Donovan Ricketts has been quality for the Galaxy all season long and when you consider the back four that has played in front of him with two rookies either a washed up Berhalter or Sanneh and Eddie Lewis/Duninvant he is the reason they’re tied on points for the last playoff spot. He got my vote(s)!
Makes me laugh that my Red Bulls had Thorton riding the bench last year but traded him, and they had to sign Coundol since neither Conway or Cepero could deliver consistent performances in goal. I can’t say I blamed them at the time, but it’s yet another story of a player who leaves NY to go on to have a stellar season.
Posted by: Mark | July 08, 2009 at 06:40 PM
Cepero is class…reason why RBNY made it to finals last year.
Beckerman overlooked once again
Brad Davis is a joke.
No Blanco…ridiculous
Leonardo- you are correct. Best defenders in the league are Colombian. What I don’t get why European clubs, or for that matter mexican clubs because they pay much better then ML-$, have not picked them up yet.
What was Hamlett thinking sitting Conde the 1st 1/2 of last year?
Posted by: Tom P | July 08, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Word. some exceptions:
Ivan Cordoba has starred in Inter Milan since 1999. http://bit.ly/jdFJi
and the teenage kid is now on loan with Deportivo Coruna in La Liga: http://bit.ly/tXvfd
Thornton had clangers against both us and Seattle. I haven’t seen Keller or Ricketts let in too many (if any) bad ones this season.
And you can disagree on DeRo all you want, but humility would suggest that if 90% of fans who watch a team every week are unanimous on who a team’s best player has been, they’re not going to be far off. DERo and Stefan Frei have been TFC’s two best performers, by a fairly clear distance.
Guevara HAS been brilliant… in some games. He’s disappeared entirely in others, and that’s without even having to deal with double-teams, as are commonly thrown at DeRo. The guy that makes the other team change their system to accomodate him? That’s the performer.
Easy – the Red Bulls’ starting XI.
No TFC player will be playing though, as they play Puerto Rico the same day for champions league qualifying…
No Jloome, you THINK DeRosario is having a better season than Guevara. I respectfully disagree. Is DeRo in the conversation? Yes, but if you have to pick one, based on MLS matches, it’s Guevara.
As for goalkeepers, Ricketts has had a great first half season, and deserves credit for that. I just happen to think he’s fourth after the trio of Thornton-Onstad-Keller. Any of them could merit votes, Thornton got mine (though Ricketts and Onstad have come on very strong). In no way does that mean I think Thornton is a better goalkeeper than the others (to answer your question KCB), but I’ll go with the first half of the season he’s had. Not that it matters. Keller will be the starter.
“If any Sounders do make the starting eleven, they are going to need to STEP IT UP!”
OK,.. you’re the guy who smoked my whole stash. Maintain.
Makes me laugh that my Red Bulls had Thorton riding the bench last year but traded him, and they had to sign Coundol since neither Conway or Cepero could deliver consistent performances in goal. I can’t say I blamed them at the time, but it’s yet another story of a player who leaves NY to go on to have a stellar season.
And Zack Thornton over Kasey Keller or Donovan Ricketts?!?! Ives, my man, I sometimes really wonder….
Given that most people think of him as a mid, but he’s playing forward, I’m not sure how you’d rank DeRosario, but I know he’s having as good or better a season than Guevara.
Ljungberg and Alonso beat out Davis and Pappa on one leg with migraines.
If any Sounders do make the starting eleven, they are going to need to STEP IT UP!
Thornton over Keller? Laughable.
I would take Keller, Ricketts and Onstad over Thornton.
Thornton’s goals against are only low because he plays on a meat-grinder of a team that works hard to slow down play and win games 1-0.
It’s a good system for the talent level there, but Thornton is not the main reason it is working.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto – best player in MLS history? (not based on longivity)
My vote is a big yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leonardo- you are correct. Best defenders in the league are Colombian. What I don’t get why European clubs, or for that matter mexican clubs because they pay much better then ML-$, have not picked them up yet.
What was Hamlett thinking sitting Conde the 1st 1/2 of last year?
FORWARDS- Freddy Montero, Landon Donovan.
MIDFIELDERS- Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Amado Guevara, Marco Pappa, Brad Davis, Shalrie Joseph.
DEFENDERS- Geoff Cameron, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Wilman Conde
GK – JOSH WICKS – because I gave him so much grief based on how horribly,horribly bad he was with Galaxy last year and this year he came good.
Josh Wicks- I salute you!!!!!
Oh yeah, put Connor Casey up front instead of Donovan. After all, he proved to be so effective against real competition at the Confederations Cup. And before we watch the All Star match can you Casey lovers make sure to share some of your drugs with the rest of us?
I didn’t bother to vote for anyone on TFC and DC since they will be playing CCL qualifiers on the 28th and 29th and therefore won’t have any players available. It’s a shame, because several of them deserve to be there.
I have to agree with the poster on Donovan Ricketts. He’s single handedly earned the Galaxy about half their points this year.
So happy for Zach Thornton.
4 Americans and 3 Colombianos!!! this Colombiano-Americano is diggin’ it!
FORWARDS- COLOMBIA, USA.
MIDFIELDERS- ARGENTINA, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, USA, GRENADA.
DEFENDERS- USA, COLOMBIA, COLOMBIA
GOALKEEPER- USA
Colombia is awesome on D! just imagine if Conde goes to the Sounders, then i might have to move to Seattle!
How come i couldnt vote for Beckham? (immediately starts dodging projectiles)
haha just joking people
I like your team, would add Keller in goal but i agree for the rest. Can’t deny Landycakes, but he could be slotted in the MF allowing for a different striker. Maybe Conner Casey.
@ jimmi
isaac may be a homer but its hard to argue against the Montero-Jaqua tandem, both of which are in the race for Golden boot, and among the top 3 league assist leaders.
agree or disagree, props to Ives for not only explaining his picks, but actually having rational explanations. you rarely see that in the media, in any sport.
the voting set up is stupid, its not like they are going to play a 3-5-2 or that its a norm in the MLS
Hartman has been playing out of his mind after the first 2 games this season, he should have been the keeper last year but his horrible hair and small market mean that ppl dont like him and dont see how good he is. (yes I am a Wizards fan but I dont think anyone deserves a spot on the all-stars but him)
Ives,
Not questioning your judgment, but, shouldn’t Keller be the starting keeper as he is the Best Keeper in MLS?
I am a self-admited lover of the all-star game. I know its en vouge to bag on it since *gasp* folks in Europe dont do it but for MLS its a gem. I love to envisioning how the team would do in the EPL. I believe they would be upper mid table…an Everton type of club.
as a new york fan, all i can do is just laugh. I’m passed the crying.
good line up, Ives.
Ives, you’re right–tough call this year in a lot of ways.
I personally would go for Alonso (who’s been a monster some games) for Pappa who’s been impressive but inconsistent.
Definition of a homer:
—-Montero Jaqua—-
——Schelotto——
Davis———De Rosario
—Guevara Alonso—-
Cameron Hurtado Conde
——–Keller——-
Posted by: isaac | July 08, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Donovan Ricketts has been much more instrumental to the Galaxy’s success this year than Onstad, Keller, or Thornton. All three of those guys have a much higher quality team, and they can have an “average” game and still win. If Ricketts has an average game, the Galaxy lose.
RICKETTS 4 ALL STARS 09!!!
Onstad is the most underrated keeper in MLS history. Despite changing out defenders year after year, Onstad has managed to consistently maintain the best goals against average and best defense in MLS history. He should be an All Star every year.
what no redbulls??? wtf?
I would put The Red Bull starting eleven.
Oh but wait you said all-stars, nevermind.
Your selections are pretty good but I would have put Keller or Onstad in Goal and Casey up top for Landon.
No love for Chad Marshall?
Every time I watch a DC game I marvel at Chris Pontius only being a rookie.
When do we find out who is going to be on the All-star team?
Santino and Pontius should be there somewhere.
Jeff,
I do agree with you. Papa is good player but he is not yet at the same level with Blanco.
—-Montero Jaqua—-
——Schelotto——
Davis———De Rosario
—Guevara Alonso—-
Cameron Hurtado Conde
——–Keller——-
As a Fire fan having seen all their games I will say Papa is not an All-star. Papa over Blanco is ridiculous.
Guillermo Barros actually made it this time?
Ives – like your team although I had to vote for Tino as a forward – not sure why he wasn’t listed as a midfielder because he has generally played at right wing all season. I hope he makes the final cut in some capacity – he deserves it.
donovan ricketts has been a beast all year ives and he has been a huge reason why my galaxy is in the position they are at right now.
good selections
Is there a rookie team of any kind?
i like your team except keller for thorton
I enjoyed watching Le Toux take the ball from Montero last night and demanded the PK.. scoring..
Montero blew so many opportunities
Forwards:Donovan, Montero
Middies:Schelotto, Joseph, Nagamura, De Ro, and Blanco
Defenders; Freddie, Hurtado, and Conde
Keeper: Keller