The New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy sent clear messages last weekend that they are, in fact, legitimate championship contenders, and their respective blowout victories were led by four players who headline this week's SBI MLS Best XI.
Landon Donovan returned to his dominating ways to lead this week's group, while Donovan Ricketts made some amazing saves to join him. Thierry Henry continued his recent hot streak, while Red Bulls fullback Jan Gunnar Solli made the cut thanks to one of the best performances by an MLS fullback in recent memory.
Here were SBI's selections for MLS Best XI for Week Six:
HONORABLE MENTION: Kasey Keller, Omar Gonzalez, Alain Rochat, Marvell Wynne, Teemu Tainio, Benny Feilhaber, Dane Richards, Julian DeGuzman, Diego Chaves, Chad Barrett
Some random thoughts on the picks:
Eric Avila was a second-half sub, but you can't argue that he didn't play a key role in FC Dallas winning a game it could have easily lost.
Dilly Duka gets the nod for an impressive start. The young midfielder is really coming into his own.
The two players who came closest to making the first team this week were Benny Feilhaber and Fredy Montero. Either would have been a worthy selection.
Since moving to centerback, Heath Pearce has become one of the best in the league. At this rate it could become a permanent move.
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What did you think of this week's selections? Which player would have made your team that didn't make ours?
Share your thoughts below.