Major League Soccer will be announcing it's All-Star First XI at halftime of Sunday's Portland-Seattle match, so it's a perfect time to roll out SBI's picks of the league's top performers for the first half of the season.
We've picked three teams, using a 3-5-2 formation that is typical of an MLS All-Star Game ballot. The teams don't necessarily represent a workable formation with players at their natural postitions, but they do indicate who we feel have been the top players in the league at their respective positions through the first half of the season.
Here is SBI's MLS First-Half Best XI (as voted on by SBI staff):
SBI's MLS FIRST-HALF BEST XI
FIRST TEAM
GK: Faryd Mondragon
DEF: George John, Omar Gonzalez, Nat Borchers
MF: Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Brek Shea, Brad Davis, Joel Lindpere
F: Thierry Henry, Chris Wondolowski
SECOND TEAM
GK: Kevin Hartman
DEF: Chad Marshall, Jan Gunnar Solli, Jamison Olave
MF: Jack Jewsbury, Marco Pappa, Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales, Juninho
F: Charlie Davies, Luke Rodgers
THIRD TEAM
GK: Nick Rimando
DEF: Heath Pearce, Ugo Ihemelu, Carlos Valdes
MF: Nick LaBrocca, Graham Zusi, Sharlie Joseph, Kyle Beckerman, Davide Chiumiento
F: Eric Hassli, Andres Mendoza
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What do you think of SBI's MLS Best XI for the first half of the season? Think any players are not deserving of their spots? What changes would you make?
Share your thoughts below.