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Donovan named Most Valuable Player

 

Donovan (Getty)

The final postseason award was announced today, and to no surprise Landon Donovan was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the 2009 season.

For Donovan, it's the very first time in his MLS career that he's been selected as the top player in the league. This despite the fact he's been around since 2001 with the San Jose Earthquakes. He's been at the top of the his game this season, a key factor in the Galaxy turnaround of 2009. His 12 goals in 25 games led the Galaxy, who stand one game away from the MLS Cup after being one of the league's worst teams in 2008. Donovan eclipsed FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham and Shalrie Joseph of the New England Revolution to grab the award.

What do you think of the award? Should it have gone to either Joseph or Cunningham? Glad to see Donovan win?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Well Landon is a great player – the is no question that Shalrie deserved the MVP. Shalrie even finished 3rd.

    Let me ask you this –

    Put Landon Donovan on the REVS and do they make the playoffs?

    Put Shalrie Joseph on the Galaxy and do they make the playoffs?

    This votes indicates to me that voters (GM, COACHES, PLAYERS) in America lack a fundamental understanding of the value Shalrie brings. Also there is a clear attack (not that Shalrie didn’t have good attacking #’s – also only 1 goal by PK) and a West Coast bias. The # of players that receive Best XI and All Star teams overwhelming come from the West Coast (San Jose – LA – Seattle)

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  2. Donovan is without a doubt the best American outfield player currently playing. He has had a spectacular season and has emerged as a true leader. My only hope is that Donovan can secure a prudent transfer this January. Ideally, he will go to a middle level team in the Premier League, la Liga, or Serie A. A team like PSG would also be a great move. Donovan has everything going for him right now, and as an ardent fan of the USMNT I hope his fine play continues going into the World Cup.

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  3. How many fouls did shalrie commit this year? How many yellows ? how many reds? He certainly has some technical abilities- no doubt. But I dont pay to watch him play. He is way too physical but not as much as he used to be. If deuce could knock him out more time, i think it would set his marbles straight.

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  4. “Yeah, but its called League MVP not team MVP.”

    On that note… A few years ago when Twellman won the MLS MVP award Shalrie won the Revs MVP award.

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  5. Whippy-di-do. YAWN. Yes – he deserves it but we are all reminded of the facts: LandyCakes is a big fish in a small pond (MLS). He has come back to the comfort of the MLS too many times in my view. Where is his desire to push and challenge himself against the world’s best? (He should be playing in Europe if he is THAT good). Maybe Landon is a grown up version of an 8year old who is afraid to go away to summer camp. I’m STILL waiting for Landon to *consistently* show up and perform on a brighter and more pressure-filled stage than MLS. MLS is good for developing domestic talent but we need our top players to shine in the best leagues overseas.

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  6. Yeah, but its called League MVP not team MVP.

    This is for who has done the most for the league through and through. Landon has entertained all year. Shalrie has played great and plus for his team, but his team I can’t say I remember any of their performances this year.

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  7. I don’t think this is how development works. I don’t think the USSF put any “massive investment” into Adu other than allowing him to come to Bradenton. Sure, they had higher hopes for him than most, but it wasn’t as if Adu came along and then everyone said, “This is the one, let’s stop bothering with everyone else now.”

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  8. This has got to be a sign that defensive mids can be as good as Patrick Vieira and not win the MVP award. It’s ludicrous that Shalrie can put up his usual dominant year, plus have stats to back it up, and still lose this award. This was a sad Revs team by any standards. A lot of youth that no one knows (Barnes, Thompson, Nyassi, Mansally, Alston, Videira, Colaluca, Dube, Igwe, Tierney), and yet they made the playoffs and put up one heck of a fight against a loaded Fire squad. Joseph was in control by far and deserved this award. I think the Gals could deal with replacing Landon with Eddie Lewis/Chris Klein and still be decent. This is just an award that goes to a guy with a load of goals and a load of attention. Sad . . .

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  9. I read all these comments and agree with most of them. Nobody really mentioned how he used to get bullied off the ball and then would eventually just let the other guy have it. Didn’t see ANY of that this year. He bulked up, manned up, and picked his team up. Landon Donovan played like a MAN this year, finally. I have been HARD on him in the FOXSoccer site and here with Ives over the years but this year he earned my respect. Beginning with NOT backing down to Beckham over the book’s comments and the manner in which he just DOMINATED games. He is my clearcut MVP.

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  10. LD at 14 years old would have been arguably the best MLS player. His soccer IQ was already effectively developed. Going to europe didnt andwont help LD’s game. Just as going to europe did nothing for Carlos Tevez. For many players, either you have a soccer brain or you dont. Practice and coaching can help many players get 10% better. It is probably mainly DNA, but who really knows. The soccer acadamies have failed in the main.

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  11. I know I’m alone on this one but I completely attribute his new found intensity to working with two individuals:David Beckham and Frank Ribery. Becks showed him what it is to be a professional. Ribery showed him how a right footer can absolutely terrorize the left wing.

    No one else seems to be saying it, but he’s basically just imitating what Frank’s been doing at Bayern for the last couple of years.

    Hey. I’ll take it.

    Still think Joseph is more deserving. LD still disappears in games. He still shanks golden opportunities in front of goal, and is an inconsistent passer of the ball.

    I’d love to see his goal per scoring opportunity ratio. I doubt it’s even 40%.

    Nevertheless, I’ll be the first to admit that he’s been the best US soccer player this year.

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  12. LD is by far the greatest American soccer player ever. Not even close. Enjoy it while it lasts because there is zero on the horizon. Why? The investment into Adu was massively misallocated and the USSF will not recover from that for at least 10 years. Altidore will turn into Adu-Phase 2. Was LD just a freak on happenstance? A human destined for soccer greatness? Or was his development a coordinated effort that could reduplicated?

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  13. Donovan’s a worthy winner, but he wouldn’t have received my vote. His stellar play with the national team has no relevance here.

    I think Shalrie Joseph did more for his team (the definition of MVP) than Donovan did for his. Without Joseph, the Revolution wouldn’t have been within sniffing distance of a playoff spot.

    Donovan’s far and away our best player, but this award definitely smacks of a lifetime achievement award, as Blake notes.

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  14. I personally think he deserved it, even if a lot of people think it’s a bit of a lifetime achievement award. And even if it is, shoot, let him have it. One of the best players in MLS history year in and year out ought to have won it by now.

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  15. it would not be American soccer if Donovan weren’t winning SOMETHING, haha

    Love his play, though. Man, are we screwed when he retires.

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  16. I hope after seeing those two friendlies people now realize how good of a player he is and what he means to our team. Bc frankly, we sucked without him

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  17. He’s been on another planet this year. Confed Cup showed that (even in the losses) and he carried it back over here in MLS.

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  18. surprised he has never won it, it seems like he’s won everything else. He’s had a great year and probably deserves it as much as anyone, if not for his body of work alone.

    I understand why he opted to move back to the MLS but optimistic he’s heading to Europe and becomes the player there he could have been all this time. Seems its pretty certain at this point. that said….

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  19. They got this one right. The Galaxy is no where near the MLS Cup without Donovan. He means more to his club than any other player does for its club.

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  20. totally agree with twitter.com/olds. hoping he’ll make a move overseas where he finds PT against better competition to stay sharp for SA 2010.

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  21. He’s one of those guys I find it easier to root against that root for (even in a US jersey), and I’ve been quick to criticize him when he’s not performing. On the other hand I have to recognize that this year, for both club and country, he’s been in terrific form. No doubt about it. He totally deserves this award.

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