Photo by ISIphotos.com
As the calendar gets set to turn to 2012, it's an obvious time to reflect and look back at the year that was for U.S. Soccer.
While the year provided the ushering in of a new coaching era, a 6-8-3 international record and a breakout stage for a number of players, it also saw some of the more familiar names rise to the occasion on both the club and international levels.
Clint Dempsey exemplifies that, as he continues to get even better while playing for Fulham, and he was a standout performer for the United States during its Gold Cup run and in the subsequent friendlies as well.
Playing in a roving supporting forward/attacking midfield role, Dempsey broke the record for all-time goals in the Premier League by an American and has nine goals in all competitions for the Cottagers this season. He also found the net a U.S.-best five times in international play this year, including a decisive finish in the Gold Cup semifinal against Panama.
Then there's goalkeeper Tim Howard, who continues to be a steady anchor in the back for both Everton and the national team. His shot-stopping ability preserved results for the United States on a number of occasions in both friendlies and the Gold Cup, and it also prevented other games from getting out of hand. With a revolving crew of defenders in front of him, the 32-year-old Howard continues to be the constant presence in the back.
It wasn't a traditional dominant year for Landon Donovan, certainly not for the national team, where his absences were more notable than most of his performances save for his goal against Mexico in the Gold Cup final.
Even so, the MLS Cup MVP played through various injuries to score 12 goals this season and lead the Galaxy to the promised land, and he is headed back to the Premier League for two months to try and reprise his role as Everton savior. Five months into Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as head coach, we still have yet to see how Donovan and Dempsey work together under the new system, and all eyes will be on that dynamic going forward.
For Jozy Altidore, 2011 presented a year of opportunity. Finally receiving consistent time as a starter for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, Altidore's game has improved, and he has become a valuable scoring threat on the club level, where he has managed nine goals in all competitions this season.
He's still not scoring at a prolific rate for the national team, though he tallied three times in 2011 including a cracker of a finish against Guadeloupe in the Gold Cup. His improved touch and finishing accuracy has left the door open for a big 2012.
As for Michael Bradley, his place in the national team's starting lineup is no longer a given, but there's no questioning his continued productivity and growth. Playing in his fourth major European league at age 24, Bradley has become a fixture on the right for Chievo Verona in Serie A, helping the team to a mid-table standing.
He also managed to score his third-career goal against Mexico, giving the United States an early lead in the Gold Cup final. All of that combined with his play in recent U.S. friendlies lends reason to believe he'll be back in the starting XI when the U.S. games start to matter again in the coming months.
With all that being said, who gets your vote for American Player of the Year? Cast your vote here:
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How did you vote? Who is your American Player of the Year? Anybody not listed in the poll that you think is a deserving winner?
Share your thoughts below.
no it’s not, Rossi’s been hurt for so much of it all this year AND his team sucks. fischy’s trolling
and of course you support him, no surprise there
He’s not a back stabber. That is BS.
He got his soccer development training primarily from his dad, the Italians and the English. His goal from day one has been to play for Italy. He does not “owe” US soccer anything and has been very up front with them from the beginning.
He is a Jersey guy. There are a lot of weird ideas about people from New Jersey mostly based on TV portrayals but they are still Americans.
Rossi was born in Teaneck. I’m not a big fan of Teaneck and I’m sure “real Americans” like you (assuming you are one) are born in much nicer places but being born there still gets you a genuine US passport.
Maybe, but he is also one of the best keepers in the world.
And that is the real problem. Goalkeepers are such a different animal that they really need to have their own separate category from outfield players when it comes to awards and the like.
US keepers long ago have proven their excellence in the world game. This is not true for US outfield players.
The battle to achieve the same level of respect for them that our keepers get is still ongoing.
“With all that being said, who gets your vote for American Player of the Year? Cast your vote here:”
I see nothing in this statement that excludes the women even though you neglected them in the article and you should not have. If you wanted to confine it to men my guess is you would have written, “Male American Player of the Year”.
My vote: Abby Wambach.
Despite choking in the World Cup final she came through at a higher level with more pressure on her than any other American player and in the process did more for the game in the US than anyone else. The game still needs all the positive attention it can get in this country.
I don’t know the answer to this question but which team got US soccer more positive high profile attention with the general public?
The Men’s team with their abysmal performance at the Gold Cup and their subsequent hugely tepid performances under JK?
The Women’s team with their less abysmal choke in the World Cup final loss to the heroic Japanese team?
In a disappointing year, I’m betting on the women.
Seriously? You rate an MLS title awfully high.
I vote Tim “The Human Traffic Cone” Ream
Until Dempsey wins a title, there is no debate
friedel is a eurodouche
x2!
Brad Friedel is missing…signing with a top tier team and having a great season. Yup he would had gotten my vote!!
wrong. it’s earnie stewart.
chuckling…
How do you reckon ‘Dolo has lost his edge? I hadn’t heard about that. What have I missed?
No props for defenders? ‘Dolo quietly had a fine ’11, as well.
Agreed. LD had a solid, albeit inconsistent year as he battled nagging injuries. CD23 was the better player of the two in ’11.
I know you really meant to write, “Villareal has not been the same team since Jozy Altidore left.”
🙂
I’ve been reading these comments waiting for someone to bring Friedel into the conversation.
Than you Kyle.
Tim Ream or Lazy Out the Door?
ranking leagues again…good players are good anywhere
Freddie Adu
Well, I’d rather be an idiot than an offensive, insulting jerk.
So is Eduardo a Brazilian-Croat? And Ozil a Turkish-German? Seems a little silly. They are Croatia and German internationals. Considering them, therefore, Croatian and German respectively is reasonable. The same logic, to me, applies to ______.
wambach? broad street hooligans? Captain irrelevancy
Your mother said the same thing.
Go suck it fischy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who cares about Rossi?, back stabber mofo, please vote for an American.
Clint’s not a forward and posted those numbers, isn’t Rossi a forward?
Clint Mathis
next
Exactly. Shocking that he didn’t make the list.
Never meant to imply that the travel had anything to do with age, I was shooting for less wear and tear helped his longevity. So, yup, some of what you said.
Clint Dempsey
next question
And fishy is trollican-American…
Yes because during transatlantic travel one ages several years… I think you more meant the extra wear and tear of national team duty camps matches and travel, yeah?
I applaud fischy’s contrarian and trollish suggestion that Rossi gets the vote and while everyone knows what the question was intended to mean technically scales is right in suggesting Rossi. On that note one should also include Brad Friedel in the short list.
But I voted Deuce and would have to give Altidore a most improved honorary mention and Chandler as “rookie” of the year nod.
Not even close. Clint all the way. Tommy is solid, but can’t compare to Clint’s year.
Yes, there’s an overlap between the two seasons in one calendar year. On a calendar year basis, I agree, it is pretty close.
Actually, I was going to nominate Friedel. Clint is doing well at a mid-table club (well, almost mid-table) but Brad is helping Spurs reach the Champions’ League. If you want to measure the quality of the year by success, I think Brad comes out on top. Of course, if you’re one of those “fans” who hates those “traitors” who don’t play for the USMT, then you have to want him to die, or something. But I prefer to love my country without hating everyone else.
+2
A. How is this at all relevant to the comment you’re replying to?
2. Jozy Altidore does not suck.
D. Please say something intelligent or don’t say anything at all.
Not to knock on Friedel, because what he’s doing right now is freakishly awesome but one can also argue that his longevity has a lot to do with only playing in one lot – you see he stopped flying over the Atlantic a long time ago.
This was a smart move for him because it helped his career immensely, but we also get to factor that into the equation when measuring output. So we can say “yeah, he’s awesome in the BPL but…” Still mad respct though.
I dunno about that one because, let’s see…he’s definitely American (there’s no disputing that) and he’s also a definitely very, very good at the soccer thing too (can’t argue that one either). So not sure how the fact that he chose to play for Italy has anything to do with the preiously stated facts.
It sucks that he spurned us for Italy, but then we also have other Americans who chose to play for us too. So, meh. The Rossi thing used to rub me wrong (and it still does at some level) but this is soccer we are talking here people. It’s not like he wore the enemies uniform and picked up a rifle against us.
fischy is spot on and also has every right to present his argument…but even so it’s still Dempsey for me.
As others have mentioned, Friedel certainly merits inclusion in this poll. Still think Deuce was the best yank by a mile this year though.
What’s so great about being American if some idiot on an Internet message board gets to decide whether you have a right to consider yourself one?
Lamar Neagle
Jose Torres is a Mexican-American. Like Stuart Holden is a Scottish-American or Donovan a Canadian-American.
He has an argument, but it is one that I reject. In my view, once you align yourself with a national team, that is, in essence, the nationality that you have chosen. I never hear of Podolski or Klose referred to as Polish, or Ozil as Turkish. Or Eduardo as Brazilian. Or Camoranesi as Argentine. Etc, etc. Is JFT referred to as Mexican? As far as I can tell, his nickname in the country he plays in is “El Gringo Torres” referring to the fact that he represents the USA.
I think Mr. Fischy’s intentions were to stir the pot of discontent over _____’s decision to have nothing to do with the national team of the country of his birth. _____ had a fine year but in my opinion, should not be considered for “American Player of the year”
I would guess because Friedel contributes nothing to the USMNT, which is an important part in considering players for American player of the year.
Michael Bradley’s inclusion is just fine by me.
Dolo in my opinion was the most valuable- look what happened when he left the Gold Cup Final.
Not sure if I agree with Donovan being the better player…they’re different. good at different things.
rossi renounced his right to be considered an American soccer player when he chose Italy.