With the season winding down and the playoff picture almost completely sorted out, it's becoming more clear as to who is deserving of the Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award.
Landon Donovan has put together another strong season, leading the league in assists to this point (14) as he guns for his second consecutive award. Edson Buddle is the league's leading goal scorer (15) and was the catalyst for the Los Angeles Galaxy's unparalleled start to the season.
Real Salt Lake is in the mix for the Supporters' Shield in large part to the play of Javier Morales in the midfield. Right on RSL's tail is the New York Red Bulls, whose epic turnaround has been boosted by Juan Pablo Angel's 13-goal campaign, and the Columbus Crew, who run everything through 2008 MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
FC Dallas' lengthy unbeaten streak has happened in large part to David Ferreira's playmaking abilities. The Seattle Sounders' fortunes turned when Fredy Montero took his play to the next level. The San Jose Earthquakes are on the cusp of the postseason largely due to Chris Wondolowski's 12 goals, seven of which are game-winners. Omar Cummings' play has the Colorado Rapids on the verge of the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
As for players on the outside of the playoff picture, Sebastien Le Toux and Dwayne De Rosario have each netted 13 goals and created most of the other scoring opportunities while carrying their respective clubs.
Who do you think should win the MLS MVP award? Cast your vote after the jump:
How did you vote? Is there anybody not on the ballot who you think is deserving?
Share your thoughts below.
Le Toux is having a great year, but in a close race between all of them, I’m 100% behind David Ferriera. I don’t see anyone else as instrumental and the heart of the team as David.
le toux, if you watch a union game you can see how much that dude busts his butt. if he was on any other team we would be talking about how the union are the worst expansion team ever. he plays forward AND left attacking mid. he’s gettin goals as a wide/attacking mid. dude i think donovan played good but not as valuable during a WC yr as le toux. lastly, i wish i saw ferrira play more
Lindpere is mvp.
Get an attention span smurfycakes
You’re right, there’s no way the Union have such a great season without him.
In seriousness, I voted for Cummings, since he has put the Rapids offense on his shoulders and have Colorado actually close to the playoffs.
I’m a DC United fan and as such I unfortunately have no horse in the race. That being said this is a great debate. I have to go with Le Toux. He has be involved in 23 goals out of a team total of 32. That is ridiculous.
You can either give it to someone who scores like Buddle or someone who gets others involved like Landon perhaps someone with an insane work rate like Joseph or Just give it to someone with all of those qualities like Le Toux.
The easy name is Donovan but Ferriera is having a great season. Javier Morales is the biggest key to RSL. He allows them to play their Diamond formation.
1) Ferriera
2) Donovan
3) Morales
Are you retarded? Without him TFC would be worse than DC. And I’m not just saying that as a Toronto fan.
Gotta disagree. Le Toux’s goals and passing have been key to thier success this year. Like smurf points out below, they allow a lot of goals (though I don’t know why he wants to blame a forward/attacking player for that) through bad defense and goalkeeping. Le Toux’s goals have kept them in a lot of games as they have scratched out wins and ties. Philly would be at a DC United level without thier French marksman…instead they have put together a solid first season.
what? the guy is an absolute work horse- do you watch Union games? Fred/Torres/the entire backline/Red Cards/Seitz are the reason they have allowed so many goals- in no part does Le Toux fall into that list.
GET A CLUE!
reply to Smurf . . . Le Toux is not a defender!
Since when is that what the MVP is for? It goes to the most valuable player in the league, i.e. the best player based on this past season. For me, Donovan deserves the award.
For me, the MVP award goes to the best player in the league based on this year’s play. Thus, my vote would be for Donovan. I do not buy the idea that it should go to the player most valuable to their team…like a Le Toux.
I appreciated the thoughts.
When you look at Wondolowski’s numbers, you have to realize all but one of his goals (I think) was a first touch shot. Wondo doesn’t get all that much service, but when he get it… it’s the one-touch that has won 7 games this season.
He gets my vote
Philly has allowed a ton of goals scored against them and Le Toux’s poor defense is partly responsible for that.
please don’t post theses on SBI, thanks.
landycakes landycakes landycakes
I’m an RBNY fan but I’d give it to LeToux. Without him, Philly would have maybe two wins.
Hecis to the Union what Steve Carlton was to the Phillies in 1972.
As a Crew fan, I would really like to give my vote to Schelotto. While in my humble opinion he is still a top 5 player in this league on his day, he may not even be the most valuable to his team this year, as Eddie Gaven and Chad Marshall have been more consistent throughout the year than any other Crew player, including Schelotto. GBS’s lack of mobility has really been exposed this season. From there, I really like Seba Le Toux, but I can’t vote for a player not in the playoffs. Ultimately the MVP should go to either Ferreira or Morales, and I lean Morales, because he is the driving force of who, again in my opinion, is the league’s best team. Javier Morales, MLS MVP 2010.
Joel lindpere can’t be overlooked
Ferriera is the clear choice this year given Dallas’ unprecedented run and his role on the side, although GBS is probably the single most important player on any side (again). That said, the MVP of the league might be Rafa Marquez if you look at this question again at the end of the postseason. RBNY is in another class when he is on the field (class, as in quality of play; no judgments on the man, Nats friends).
Shalrie Joseph has been snubbed for years for this reason
Let me state upfront that I don’t have a horse in this race–my team doesn’t have a player on this list. So agree or disagree with my position and logic but I’m not being a homer.
1. Le Toux has had a GREAT season. It’s not clear to me that if you take Le Toux away, Philly will be significantly worse than they are now. To put it another way, is Le Toux the difference between winning 7 games versus going winless all year or only winning 2-3 games? I doubt it. If you eliminate Seattle (which was an aberration), Philly (in terms of overall play, quality of defense, performance on the road) has been far better than TFC, RSL and Chivas were as expansion teams–those clubs were just woeful. I may be wrong here, but knowing what I know about Nowak and watching that club (the Union) play, they don’t look like a historically bad team that is carried by one individual. Le Toux has had a great season and statistically it’s impressive–as is DeRo’s (in fact, I believe DeRosario has an even higher percentage of his team’s scorers).
2. Use the logic of “how would this team do if that player was missing?” I think Philly might have lost 3 additional games–maybe. I don’t see them as a winless or 2-3 win team–they’re too good for that. And yeah, FCD has a bunch of talent as does LAG. But take away Ferreira and FCD is just a totally different team. They don’t have that historic streak and given the quality of the West, I’m not even sure they’re a playoff team. Take away Donovan and even though his stats aren’t as good as Le Toux’, he’s had some big goals that decided games.
Again, I hate to make the case by denigrating Le Toux b/c he deserves accolades for his season (as do all the players on the list). But if you put Ferreira instead of Le Toux, I think they’d have scored more goals. Put Le Toux on FCD and they’d have done worse. That may be an unfair test b/c some players fit a particular scheme better (Le Toux is tailor made for Piotr Nowak).
As for the argument about “best player on a good team” well, if it’s hard to argue that Le Toux is the reason Philly isn’t winless or only won 2 games this year, isn’t that the same as saying “best player on a bad team”?
MVP is such a nebulous award–it means so many things to so many people. To me, it’s about a player who has a huge impact on his team and makes his teammates better. It’s more than an incredible individual season. Maybe he’s the guy who makes the offense work–without him other guys who flourish and score goals wouldn’t. Maybe he plays a key role (like Shalrie Joseph does for NE–asked to do so much). And it’s about boosting the team. I can see an MVP candidate on a losing or nonplayoff team. But you’d have to make the argument that without that player, that team would be truly dreadful. And I can’t make that argument about PHilly. They’re a competitive team that is actually one of the better MLS teams on the road, they outwork almost everyone. Barring some early season GK and red card issues, they’ve played most teams competitively and closely.
Wow this is def b.s. Donovan?!?! seriously people? David Ferriera hands downn and this is coming from a rbny supporter
Le Toux has had an incredible season. But he’s actually had very little “value” to his team.
–De Ro (who I don’t think should be MVP) has scored a higher percentage of his team’s offensive output
–Philly without Le Toux wouldn’t be that much worse. It’s not as if Le Toux is the reason they’re in the playoffs (and without him they’d be sitting outside).
Le Toux or Fredy Montero hands down.
Apparently only attacking players are to be considered for MVP.
No, Morales is a huge part of why his team is doing well, not the other way around.
Ferreira is a good competitor for this award, it’s really hard to say if you switched these players if they would do as well in the different teams/situations.
I just look at FC Dallas, and see Shea, Pearce, Hartman’s form, Cunningham, I see Dallas has the 2nd lowest goals allowed total, and I just feel like Ferreira has an easier time with his supporting cast.
Then again Le Toux had a better team last year with Seattle probably, but nowhere near success this year.
second, philly not my team but it’s obvious and if someone else gets it I’d be more disgusted than some of the other crap this league has pulled to put their favorites on a pedestal.
I love my teams, i love my favorite players but I want all of them to win fairly, I want fairness in this league and you can’t take it away from Le Toux, it would be a shame for him to have the best thing he’s ever done in his playing career life be taken away from him.
Sebastien Le Toux
David Ferreira.
He has taken a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in years, to finalizing a spot with games to go in the regular season. He hasn’t missed games all season. Despite playing numerous games missing 3-4 starters, he’s continued to dominate every game. He’s the most fouled player in the league this season, he scores goals and sets them up.
I’m confident that if any team in this league could employ Ferreira as their attacking engine, they would be seeing the same success that FC Dallas has.
We’ve had so many close games that came down to him being the difference, he IS the difference between post season and not for FC Dallas. This has been very much HIS team, and he has done a great job, one of the best players I’ve ever seen play in this league.
Le Toux has been phenomenal too 🙂
Easy next choice from me.
RSL is in strong contention for the Supporters Shield in large part due to the dynamic midfield play led by Javier Morales. In my eyes, Landon is probably the front runner for his 2nd MVP award, but I think Javi deserves some strong consideration.
I like that there is a lot of the forwards and everything but i would almost say that these are not the most valuable to a lot of the teams. A lot of people leave Le Toux out because he is on a losing team. If he had a better defense then he would be one of the top two or three. Team like FCD and NYRB are better this year mostly because there defenses have not been giving up the games at crucial time. Ferraria in Dallas and Angel in New yourk are the scoring and motors of their teams but if it were not for Ream and Counduol in new York or hernandez and hartman in Dallas do either of these teams have winning seasons? I would love to see a keeper or DM win the award.
I’m a Seattle homer, but I’m still going with Montero. Since the mid season break, he’s been playing like a man-possessed. Granted, much of his increased space is thanks to Nkufo, but I’ll be damned if he hasn’t made use of it.
Here’s the best argument I can make for Montero: without him, there is absolutely no way the Sounders would have gone from a 5% chance of making the playoffs at the break to being currently 1 point away from clinching. I can’t think of any other player on any other team who you can make that argument about.
That said, I can respect how well a lot of the other people on this last have played – Le Toux in particular.
A non-playoff team in a charming city. Can this guy seriously get banned? It’s getting really old and every post just trying to stir s… up
If Le Toux doesn’t win, they should change the name of the award to “best player on a good team”. MVP is supposed to be player most valuable to his team, which Le Toux has been hands down.
slight not sight
Wait… the Red Bulls, first in the Eastern Conference, are a joke of a franchise? I hope that was sarcasm and I just missed it.
Seriously, I don’t know why anyone still calls him that.
Gotta love what LeToux is doing for Philly. Morales is up there because his team is doing well.
Boo. He’s banished that nickname with his broadsword.
Angel is playing for a joke of a franchise. He needs to join up with Philly.
Anyone on that list other than ladycakes.
LeToux, as I predicted, has been sensational.
I wanted to vote for Alan Gordon, but since he’s not on the list, LeToux will hav to get it.
Not a lot of creative midfielders thriving in MLS recently eh. Not meant as a sight really; I think the play has gotten better. Still would like to see more quality creative midfielders in the league though.
When it comes to value to a team, it’s Le Toux, and everyone else is a distant second.
I thought Beckham was, or was that most expensive…
De Ro should be removed from the list. Despite having 13 goals he hasn’t really done anything that makes him the most valuable in the league. His team is still near the bottom, out of the playoffs. He’s boosted his personal stats and is trying to play that into a bigger contract, but where would TFC be without him? Still bad.