By RYAN TOLMICH
As the MLSÂ playoff race continues to tighten and tighten, the cream of the league’s crop has begun to rise to the top.
With his performances in recent weeks, reigning MLS Most Valuable Player Robbie Keane has reinserted himself into the MVP conversation yet again, joining a field loaded with MLS stars vying for the newly-christened Landon Donovan MLS MVP award.
Will this year’s award go to a prolific goalscorer like Keane or a do-it-all superstar like Sebastian Giovinco? Could David Villa force himself into the race with a strong finish to the season?
Here is a closer look at this season’s leading MVP candidates an:
ROBBIE KEANE
Following this past weekend’s performance, the reigning MLS MVP may be on pace to claim the award yet again.
Now totaling 15 goals in 15 starts, Robbie Keane continues to decimate MLS with the Irishman’s current run perhaps being his best yet. In Keane’s past seven games, the LA Galaxy forward has scored 12 times, a ridiculous haul even by Keane’s standards. Having scored 19 goals in last season’s MVP-winning campaign, Keane has shown no signs of slowing town.
The one thing that may hold Keane back is his history in the league, as Keane’s play has proven to be just more of the same. On paper, Keane checks all of the boxes: he’s a top goalscorer on what looks like the league’s best team. However, as a proven commodity on a team littered with star power, Keane’s campaign may be hurt by just how great he and his team have been and could be.
SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO
Many thought Sebastian Giovinco would be a heck of a signing for Toronto FC. Few predicted he would be this good.
Through 24 MLS games, the diminutive Italian has notched 17 goals and 12 assists, good for second and fourth in the league, respectively. Giovinco does it in a variety of ways, whether it be via curling free kicks or darting runs that upend even the best of MLS defenses. In total, Giovinco has been involved in 29 of TFC’s 42 goals, a staggering number for a team with so much talent.
Giovinco’s candidacy essentially depends on how his team performs the rest of the way. Even if he stopped playing today, Giovinco’s numbers would be enough to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league, but if Toronto FC finds a way to miss the playoffs yet again, Giovinco’s MVP candidacy would take a major hit.
DAVID VILLA
David Villa will need to prove to be a miracle worker if he is to insert his name into the MLS MVP race.
On paper, Villa’s stats match up with anyone in the race. With 15 goals, Villa has proven to be one of MLS’ most fearsome strikers, while his seven assists from the striker position are an impressive tally considering the fact that he is generally played as a lone forward. As a leader and captain, Villa has done his part.
However, as things stand, NYCFC is facing an uphill climb to make the playoffs, and Villa won’t make many MVP ballots without leading his team to the postseason. If Villa can lead NYCFC on a miracle run to a playoff berth, he can and will be up for this award when it comes to season’s end.
BENNY FEILHABER
Benny Feilhaber’s 2015 campaign has seen many call for the midfielder’s reintroduction to the U.S. Men’s National Team and, if things continue, maybe an MVP nod.
Second in MLS with 13 assists, Feilhaber has proven dynamic at the heart of the Sporting KC midfield while also embracing the defensive responsibilities that made him a liability earlier in his career. To this point, Feilhaber may be MLS’ most creative player, while his eight goals from a midfield position certainly don’t hurt his case.
While he passes the numbers test and eye test, Feilhaber’s biggest negative may just be his position. The MLS MVP award has tended to be very forward-heavy, with the last midfield winner being Dwayne De Rosario in 2011. Like Lee Nguyen last year, Feilhaber may just be undone by a more flashy forward pick.
KEI KAMARA
MVP awards are about goals, and Kei Kamara has scored plenty of them.
Leading the league with 18 goals, Kamara’s status in the MVP race is all but cemented if he can maintain his spot atop the leaderboard. At the end of the day, you can’t leave the league’s best goalscorer out of the running, especially one that has been as vital as Kamara to the Columbus Crew’s run. Along with Ethan Finlay and Federico Higuain, the Crew attack has proven deadly, especially due to Kamara’s finishing.
Now, Kamara’s biggest drawback is that he is just one piece of that attacking trio, and while he is the Crew’s leading scorer, Finlay is generating plenty of raves and could conceivable siphon away some MVP votes. Kamara will need to rachet up his goal totals to record levels to overcome that, and draw serious MVP consideration.
Matias Laba. That is all.
I would argue that Bill Hamid deserves some consideration for MVP
Hey nochains…..what planet are u from? Giovinco isn’t a complete player because he doesn’t block shots in the box? U want him to play GK too? Dude, how often u see Keane, Villa, Dempsey, Martins, etc play full on defense. Silly thing to say about an absolutely brilliant player
By the way Ryan. Nicely written article.
Agreed,…Ryan, that was a good read.
My money is on Keane. I don’t see him cooling off,…not with the team around him. Let’s not forget that he is the undisputed leader of that team and if he is driving talents like GDS, SG, SL, OG, ect….he is very valuable.
That said, Kamara and Giovinco,…wow! Good for MLS!
Giovinco is pathetic on defense, not a complete player.
that doesn’t mean he can’t be MVP….
the ‘best GK of the year’ doesn’t reflect how many goals they scored that season…
Chris Rolfe.
agreed..rolfie
The biggest knock against Keane in this year’s MVP race is that he’s played in less than 1/3 of his team’s games. That’s a huge deal.
And you need to consider he is only TWO goals behind Giovinco at this juncture. Even with the 3 games in hand, it will be a shootout between Giovinco, Keane, and Kamara with the assist record helping to decide the winner
According to Klinsmann, several player are ahead of Feilhaber. Poor guy is becoming the next Donovan situation, where JK is making it personal without saying its personal.
*players
Totally different…Feilhaber allegedly came into the last camp he was invited to badly out of shape.
That’s a pretty legitimate reason not to invite him again if you’re a coach that values fitness to much.
Except he invited Altidore, that in itself invalidates your claim in defense of Klinsmann.
He clearly has favorites,and if you are not one, you will not see the USMNT roster no matter how good you do.
What are you talking about? Feilhaber is 5 years older than altidore, hasn’t been a regular USMNT player in 5 years, and has half as many USMNT caps. One great year at age 30 in MLS doesn’t mean he should be called back in ASAP.
Altidore is far more essential to USMNT setup. You could argue Altidore is the most essential and irreplacable player to their team of anyone after seeing foward depth after his injury last WC.
There’s a difference between not being fit because of an injury, and simply not being fit.
Klinsmann knew that Altidore was not fit after his injury, but selected him anyway. He compounded the problem by giving him significant minutes where he floundered…badly. I do not blame Altidore for any of this. Klinsmann’s duty as USMNT Technical Director and Coach is to ascertain player fitness levels, their form, before deciding to place them with the team.
I’m sure that if Altidore was to refuse a call-up, he would not be denied future call-ups, we know this because Tim Chandler refused numerous call-ups, and was always called back. But I am sure that there are players, who are not JK favorites who would fear that they would be donovanized should they tell Klinsmann they will not attend camps or call-up until they were fully healed and ready to play, physically and emotionally.
I can see your point, but JK keeps talking about current form and then ignores the players in great form. Feilhaber deserves another camp call-up as he is in incredible form, his fitness is at that needed level in SKC’s high tempo game, and his defense is much improved. JK wants expressive players on the pitch but then doesn’t call in those he says need to be in form. I’m not one of those first Klinsmann crazies but definitely think he’s too inconsistent in giving the right chances. If he does, it’s putting players out of position or just a small cameo which doesn’t show much at all. Like why hasn’t Nguyen been called back ever since he was one of the few impressive players on the pitch against Colombia?
It’s between Giovinco and Keane.
Cross off Villa because NYCFC isn’t making the playoffs, barring a minor miracle.
Cross off Kamara because it’s the same situation as BWP-Henry. Finlay’s success will diminish his chances.
Cross off Feilhaber because he’s a midfielder and only assists doesn’t cut it.
Giovinco is more deserving, but expect Keane to pad his stats with LA blowing away everyone over the rest of the season and with that supporting cast of LA setting him up. I’d say Keane wins again.
Agreed. I’d give it to Giovinco…he’s been great with less support than Keane has…but the award almost always goes to the best player on the best team.
To me Giovinco with TFC, is the only situation where you take out that player and they might not make the playoffs.