Photo by USA TODAY Sports
By IVES GALARCEP
Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey and Mix Diskerud began 2015 as teammates in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s January training camp and subsequent friendlies. This past weekend, all three played well enough to be teammates once again. This time on the SBI MLS Best XI.
Altidore and Diskerud enjoyed stellar MLS debuts, while Dempsey kicked off what could be a season when he challenges for a league MVP, as all three U.S. stars enjoyed stellar openers in MLS Week One.
International stars also got in on the fun, as Kaka and Sebastian Giovinco also showed their considerable quality on the opening weekend.
For all the big stars in this week’s Best XI, none was as vital to his team’s victory as Tyler Deric was. The Houston goalkeeper put on a masterful effort in posting a shutout against the Columbus Crew to earn his place on this week’s list of top MLS players.
Here is how this week’s SBI MLS Best XI shook out:
SBI MLS Best XI (Week 1)
HONORABLE MENTION
Clint Irwin, Omar Gonzalez, Chad Marshall, Moises Hernandez, Brek Shea, Warren Creavalle, Hernan Grana, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Juninho, Obafemi Martins, Blas Perez, Robbie Keane, Giles Barnes.
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What do you think of this group? Who are you happy to see included? Who do you feel was the biggest snub?
Share your thoughts below.
A few observations from Red Bull land,….
1. Olave in Week 1 Best 11!
2. Mix Diskerud,…not Sasha Klestjian in Week 1 best 11. Hmmmmm,….maybe they should have kept Eric Alexander and made a play for Mix?
Well,…it’s only week one,..and there are 379 pages left to turn in the “very sophisticated plan.”
I wish some of those pages called for a DP defender and a backup striker!
No DC United players after a win–not even an honorable mention? I think either Arrieta or Hamid are deserving of some recognition…
Or Birnbaum…
I agree this was a snub. DCU won the same way it won many games last season. Play gritty defense, manufacture a goal, hang on by virtue of a late Hamid clutch save. DCU team deserves at least an honorable mention or two.
warren creavalle had a shocking first half. He was out of position over and over in the first half. Lead to the goal and multiple other legit chances.
Martins > Dempsey in Week 1.
Dempsey scored two goals: one from a penalty and one from a tap-in from Martins (in which both players contributed equally to the masterclass buildup).
Martins scored one goal and one assist: the assist was noted above (in which Dempsey and Martins essentially shared a goal), while the goal was a gravity-defying leap over the centerback during the run of play to drill home a header.
Martins > Dempsey in Week 1.
since you’re counting the goal the same for each, remove it from the equation; you then have Martins with one goal from a header and Dempsey with PK won and converted. slight advantage to Dempsey for a creating the goal and scoring it. add back in the shared goal and Dempsey still is ahead (a goal is always better than an assist). imho it could have gone either way; seeing an american win the push (on an american blog) doesn’t shock me. I’m sure martins will have his fair share of Best X1’s this season. lol
“slight advantage to Dempsey for a creating the goal and scoring it”
I suppose you meant “creating the PK.”
Anyway, how did Martins not create his goal and score it?
I thought Bradley was the best player on the field in the Toronto game
Three teams looked strong to me this weekend. TFC, Seattle and LA. Of the three, LA was the only team without a best 11 player (though 2 received honorable mention). Hard to argue with the selections but I thought this was interesting.
I also thought Stephan Ishizaki deserved a shout. He was at least as good as Justin Morrow, Lloyd Sam or Tyrone Mears).
If you watched the game then you would know he already received a shout. Keane railed on him the entire second half.
So what did brek due to be considered/included in the best 11?
Benoit Cheyrou looked as good as Bradley.
Thank you Ives for actually choosing a 4 man back line!!
Surprised Kofi Sarkodie isn’t an Honorable mention,
Blood, sweat, and tears