Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced the league's Best XI on Thursday, and a number of familiar names appear on the list of honorees.
Landon Donovan, Jamison Olave, Omar Gonzalez, Chris Wondolowski and Dwayne De Rosario are all repeat Best XI performers from 2010; however, a number of players garnered Best XI honors for the first time, including retired Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Designated Players Thierry Henry and David Beckham.
Here is the league's best XI for 2011, as voted on by coaches, players, general managers and media:
Kasey Keller, Jamison Olave, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant; Landon Donovan, Brek Shea, Brad Davis, David Beckham; Chris Wondolowski, Dwayne De Rosario, Thierry Henry.
What do you think of the selections?
Share your thoughts below.
Later in a game, playing on the right with 3 backs only, and injured with a quad strain.
And doing it on one of the weaker teams in the league, too.
Vancouver was one of my favorite teams all year… I really think the travel, injuries and coaching uncertainty did them in.
They were so fun to watch here in Houston, even though they lost 3-1. Camilo, Hassli and Chiumiento are beasts.
Probably right after it weeds out the fans who don’t know how to capitalize or spell.
In fact, I do like Henry and RBNY. I just don’t like MLS.com’s penchant for reorganizing the Best XI to cram in all of the big names. I’m surprised they didn’t shave off another defender’s spot to fit in Omar Bravo at forward.
As for my knowledge, I’d pit it against yours any day.
Omar Bravo gets no love for helping turn around SKC. Vermes should have put him and jeferson in against Houston. Big Mistake.
+1
I like Olave, but he was just schooled by Robbie Keane.
Plata and Hassli of Vancouver are also underrated…The Canadians will be strong next year
One man team in Philly
Brek Shea doesn’t deserve this…terrible finish. Lindpere deserves it more.
d’oh!
honey Badger
what possible sane reason do you have that explains why Wondo doesnt deserve a Best XI spot? Tying for the golden boot would do that, you know?
Yeah Wondo can only score goals. What a loser. Good thing we don’t have him on the national team, amiright?
Hogwash. Every one of Henry’s 15 goals was during the run of play — no penalty kicks — and they were all pretty spectacular. The team itself had its problem but it wasn’t Henry’s fault.
I have never facepalmed this much before reading the comments about Henry… He almost had the golden boot. He was the hands down most SKILLED striker with the style, finess and goals to prove… Name me ONE person not on that list that is a better striker…. Face it, and own up to it… You guys hate on him because he is a high profile player on the team that everyone seems to have chip on thier shoulder for… to those fans, allow me to regurgitate some euro trash phrase… Stick to baseball, you are clearly do not get this sport or are not ready for it.
are you serious? he almost got the golden boot… you just dont like him because he is a high profile name… if he plays like a profile name then he deserves… gosh when is this league gunna weed out these paranoid, jealous fans with no knowledge of the game?
Yep. And having a keeper with some of the top stats in the league this year would be silly too.
Donovan’s inclusion on the best XI is ridiculous – while certainly not a bad year, not nearly a best XI year – either Alonso or Beckerman were much more deserving, that much is clear to anyone not on the marketing team.
I don’t agree with Chris Wondolowski, and Keller. I hate when people do the 3-4-3. Just do the normal 4-4-2
+1
How many of his 12 were PKs and Im not sure if he treks back or just isn’t running to get forward?
Everytime I saw him he seemed to be on cruise control.
Good names to have on a good roster but not a Starting XI.
As others have noted it would be an unrealistic lineup to see all these guys out there at one time. 2 center backs, 1 fullback (Dunivant), 5 mostly attacking mids (although Beckham lines up pretty deep) and 3 forwards.
Since Keller is retiring they should let him play center forward for the game!
Landon is the most defensive midfielder on that list. He’s trekked back more than ever this year
Looks good to me. Pretty accurate.
Where is Rafa Marquez? Doesn’t MLS know that his teammates and the entire league are not on his,….errrr,…level?
On a serious note,…I think this is a good reflection of the best eleven.
I’m a sounders fan and I’d have to agree with you. Not that I wouldn’t have voted for him 🙂
I’d say that with notable exceptions most of the press is equally clueless.
MLS best X plus 1 sentimental pick for goal keeper.
Borchers over Olave this season. That is all…
I think the best team in MLS history is not the current Galaxy squad. I’d argue it was the ’06 and ’07 Dynamo teams. Brian Ching, Dwayne DeRosario, Stuart Holden, Ricardo Clark, Pat Onstad, and Brad Davis.
I think Le Toux got le snubbed!
Maybe even 2012!
12 goals and the undisputed leader of the best team in MLS, arguably in MLS history is pretty impressive. I think Landon got what he deserved.
yea, his team struggled, but not because of him. NY had among the most goals scored throughout the season, the only problem is they were also at the top of the goals conceded list, which was a reason for their poor record.
the performance of the defense is not Henry’s fault, he did very well all year and saved points for them on many occassions
this is what happens when you give the marketing department a say…
…Yet his team struggled for the second half of the season. I guess I can agree that he would be my #3 striker for the season. That said, I guess I’m thinking along the lines of a 3-5-2 Best XI format, which is relatively common despite the 3-4-3 MLS posted.
If he keeps that up surely he will make 2013 best XI.
agreed with you up until the Henry part. Henry played well and hard all year.
Totally agree. I’d take off Henry or Donovan and add Beckerman (or Alonso, although my vote goes for Beckerman).
That bodes very well for Champions League though.
Wow, it’s like nobody could decide between Alonso and Beckerman so they all said “Screw it, we’re going all offense in the midfield.”
Agreed. Landon and Henry don’t deserve first team honors.
He only put in half a season, though.
Danny Koevermans had 0.95 goals per 90 minutes. The next best (with a minimum of 700 minutes) was at 0.58
I liked SBI’s Best XI more….I think Ives team was more accurate and didn’t bend to the pressure of asigning the award to the high profile names of the game.