By TRAVIS CLARK
On the eve of the beginning of the 2010 MLS Playoffs, the finalists of the regular season awards were announced.
A strong week for Chris Wondolowski continued, as the San Jose Earthquakes striker was one of three finalists for the MVP. He'll have to best FC Dallas playmaker David Ferreira and Los Angeles striker Edson Buddle for the award.
Andy Najar, Tim Ream and Danny Mwanga were named the three finalists for the Rookie of the Year, while playoff foes Jason Kreis and Schellas Hyndman will contest the Coach of the Year award along with Red Bulls coach Hans Backe.
The awards will be handed out starting November 3, running all the way up to the week before MLS Cup in Toronto.
Here's a complete look at the finalists:
Goalkeeper of the Year:
Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Fair Play:
CJ Brown (Chicago Fire)
Sebastian Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year:
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
Seth Stammler (New York Red Bulls)
Referee of the Year:
Mark Geiger
Kevin Stott
Baldomero Toledo
Comeback Player of the Year:
Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes)
Chris Albright (New York Red Bulls)
Defender of the Year:
Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Rookie of the Year:
Andy Najar (D.C. United)
Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)
Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia Union)
Coach of the Year:
Hans Backe (New York Red Bulls)
Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas)
Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
Newcomer of the Year:
Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)
Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
MVP:
Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
David Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Who do you think was snubbed? Who do you want to see win?
Share your thoughts below.
Goalkeeper: Hartman
Fairplay: LeToux
Comeback: Convey
Defender: Olave
Rookie: Najar
Coach: Backe
Newcomer: Lindpere
MVP: Ferreira
How is the almighty Bruce Arena not nominated?! The fix is in I tell ya!
Stott? Hahahahahahahaha!!!
I meant kevin stott, but given the state of refereeing in NA there probably is a terrible ref named kevin scott
Adrian Cann deserves newcomer of the year more than Thierry Henry.
kevin scott is a terrible ref
If its any consolation, Fredy, you’d be up for some kind of “Best Two-Month Stretch of Play” award.
Mark Geiger is a joke too. What about Alex Prus? I always thought he was decent.
Reminds me of a old Flying Circus skit called “Upperclass Twit of the Year” that had such events as removing the bra off of a mannequin and shooting themselves.
I think the general requirement is that the official only made 5 terrible calls that affected the outcome of the match in the season. With that stiff requirement, these were the only three.
Geiger as ref of the year is a joke. He was one of the worst refs in the league. Toledo??????? If nothing else, he is consitently inconsistent. How is Ricardo Salazaar not on the list? That is just plain ugly.
I heard that FIFA had a referee of the year award and you’ll never guess who won: Coulibaly Koman.
true true
Nope ^
How is Omar G. even in the picture for defender of the year. He was not great without berhalter. I dont think his rookie performance would put him in contention for this years Rookie of the Year. Le Toux should atleast be a finalist for MVP. He was Philly’s offense. I though Freddy Montero was pretty good. Maybe not MVP winner but atleast a finalist. I am also confused by Buddle, when Landon Donovan is on the team. He didnt exactly regain that hot streak.
I guess I’m the only one who thinks Hydmann should be Coach of the Year.
Donovan: 16 assists and 7 goals in 24 games for the 1st place team
Ferreira: 13 assists and 8 goals in 30 games for the 4th place team
Hmmm … Isn’t Donovan more deserving of MVP than Ferreira. I’d give co-MVPs to Donovan and Buddle, who put up amazing numbers for the 1st place team (all while missing games for World Cup duty).
GK: Hartman
Comeback: Convey
Defender: Borchers or Olave
Rookie: Ream
Coach: Hyndman
Newcomer: Saborio
Defense matters, and Le Toux does not play defense even though he is a midfielder. Philly gave up a ton of goals b/c their whole team played poor defense. It wasn’t just their back line that was poor, it was people like Le Toux as well. He did not track back enough, he did not tackle well, and he did not disrupt opposing offensive buildups.
Dear Galaxy fans, neither Buddle nor Ricketts will win their respective awards. They are very very good players, but Rimando is more deserving than Ricketts and both Ferreira and Wondo are more deserving than Buddle.
Agreed. Anyone who has gone to a Union game this year knows how incredible he has been this year. What a travesty. Maybe he didn’t deserve the MVP award, but he clearly deserved to be considered a finalist. What a shame.
Hmm, TIm Ream, a defender up for rookie of the year, who started every game, and improved his team from last to first isn’t also up for Defender of the Year?
Rimando for keeper actually may happen, on second thought. But Backe gets coach of the year, hands down.
Agreed, except I think Hartman has to get goalkeeper, and Ream is great, but Najar may be right on his heels… My money’s on Ream, though.
how is Le Toux not even nominated for MVP? He was involved in some rediculous % of the Union’s goals
Goalkeeper of the Year: Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Fair Play: Sebastian Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year: Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards)
Referee of the Year: Mark Geiger (I can’t wait to see how many people will go “none” in a snarky, ignorant way.)
Comeback Player of the Year: Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes)
Defender of the Year: Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Rookie of the Year: Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)
Coach of the Year: Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
Newcomer of the Year: I’m happy with either Lindpere or Saborio earning the honor.
MVP: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Ferreira will not win MVP. Without him Dallas still has Cunningham, Shea, Rodriguez, and Harris. Ferreira would not have gaudy assist numbers without those guys finishing his passes. That being said, he is still insanely talented.
Without Wondo, SJ has ??? (aside from Convey b/c he’s been playing a ton of left back).
Referee of the year? Isn’t that like being the smartest guy at a village idiots convention?
GUYS!!! LETS BE REAL!!!!
We all know that award will go to FC Dallas!! All six of them.
(Sarcasm by the way)
I think Montero should have been in the top 3 for MVP, I’d probably take out Buddle and put him in there.
Saborio = newcomer
Wondo = MVP
Rimando = Keeper
ream = rookie
Convey = comeback
coach = backe
olave = defender
Borchers for defender of the year. He is RSL’s rock. Olave is a stud but Borchers controls the line. I hope he gets it over Olave. A Real Salt Lake defender deserves to win this. Borchers>Olave>Gonzalez.
Rimando for GK of the year. Ricketts or Hartman are jsut as deserving. I won’t be upset if Rimando doesn’t win it.
Saborio for new comer of the year. Sabo better win it.
Backe for coach of the year. sorry JK.
Ferreira for MVP
Rookie – N/A I haven’t seen enough from these players to make a valid choice.
Comebacl – N/a
I’m a NYRB fan and Henry for newcomer of the year is rediculous. I’d pick Marquez over him, but I don’t think either of them belong there. As for Linpere, I think it will be a tight call between him and Saborio.
I hate that every year MLS has to include a “marketing” pick in at least one category. Thierry Henry nominated for newcomer of the year? Puh-lease. If they have to include a high-profile DP as one of the 3 picks, then I would argue that Marquez had a bigger impact on his club than Titi. I don’t know if NFuko qualifies as high profile, per se, but he had a bigger impact, too.
seriously, how about Marko Perovic? The guy carried the Revs on his back this year
I was just going to type that. I guess he did have surgery during his first season, but I always understood “come back” meaning coming back into great form after a down spell (either after injury or a long dip in form)
rimando and RSL posted a league record on fewest goals allowed. Borchers and Olave not only played rock solid D but Brochers scored some huge goals to keep RSL’s home unbeaten streak alive. The facts point to an RSL sweep on these two awards.
What exactly did Brek Shea come back from?
goal keeper= rickets fair play = Brown comeback = convey defender = gonzalez rookie = najar coach = Backe newcomer = saborio mvp = ferreira
Kevin Stott is terrible. It’s disheartening that MLS doesn’t see that.
how is henry nominated when marquez and milton rodriguez have done more!
Javi isn’t so much for me, I mean, RSL was a true team this season. They even made Findley look not-so-bad from time to time. Which is something Donovan and the USMNT can’t cover up haha.
Chad Marshall for Defender and Javi Morales for MVP are my biggest snubs from the finalists.
Kevin Stott for Referee of the Year? That’s got to be a joke, right? I mean MLS isn’t exactly known for the best refereeing but are they actively trying to encourage incompetence behind the whistle? Crikey!
Saborio = newcomer, wondo = mvp, goalkeeper = rimando, ream = rookie, convey = comeback, coach = backe or kreis, borchers or olave = defender
no idea why henry is up for an award. maybe next year for him.
All are pretty tough picks. Love that there are two players from RSL up for defender of the year.
LOL…knowing the MLS, all the players nominated should have been from NY, LA, SEA. Glad to see all is not lost. WONDO for MVP!
You don’t get an award for that.
And the award for best fans in the MLS goes to Seattle Sounders FC! We already got one piece of hardware and we’re going for the double.
Henry, Newcomer of the Year? I don’t think so. Did he play more than 5 games?
kevin stott newcomer of the year? absolutely laughable. and the homer in me is disappointed in the lack of any seattle candidate, although i can’t really disagree with any of the selections. maybe jeff parke at defender of the year.