The opening day of MLS action provided plenty of goals as players throughout the league stepped up to provide one of the more exciting starts to league play in recent memory.
With 36 goals scored in just 10 games, players like Mike Magee and Ignacio Piatti asserted themselves as dominant while leading their teams to victory with vital finishes. Behind them, stars like Mauro Diaz pulled the strings, while a pair of centerbacks even got in on the action with some finishes of their own.
That’s not to say that defense was nowhere to be seen. Teams like Toronto FC and the San Jose Earthquakes put in resolute defensive performances, while one of the league’s star offseason additions, Ashley Cole, put in an impressive shift in an LA Galaxy win.
Here are this week’s selections for the SBI MLS Best XI:
HONORABLE MENTION: Brian Rowe, Matt Besler, Drew Moor, Maynor Figueroa, Diego Chara, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Lletget, Dominic Oduro, Cyle Larin, Will Bruin, Sebastian Giovinco, Joao Plata, Chris Wondolowski
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What do you think of this week’s selections? Who would you have included that didn’t make the cut? Who are you happy to see on the team?
Share your thoughts below.
I would take out McNamara (although he was really good) and put in Burrito Rodriguez (who didn;t even get honorable mention?!). I would also get Maynor Figueroa in the lineup, probably over Ashley Cole.
I also thought Tim Melia had the most impressive goalkeeping performance of opening weekend…
Watched a good chunk of the Toronto game and wouldn’t have even known Michael Bradley was playing if not for the bald head. At some point these “teams” should represent actual achievement and not simply name recogonition
I’d give honorable mention to Maidana.
2 players on the honorable mention played for the Rapids last year. Zero players on this list play for the Rapids this year
Nigel de Jong was strong, glimpses of what could be a dominant year.
ANDRE BLAKE
True. That match could have easily been 4/5-nil at halftime if Blake wasn’t so on point.
Joao Plata as usual only getting afterthoughts Ridonkulous. If he were American and played in a big market y’all would be all it.
Don’t agree on either front. Personally,…I think SBI is very fair in their coverage. There are players within the TOTW from KC, Montreal, San Jose, New England and Dallas. Not exactly the biggest markets. Also,…non-American players get their fare share of coverage and plaudits. How many non-Americans are in this TOTW? At least five….
SBI is fair as long as a) they have a writer based in your market, and b) we’re not discussing the Cosmos.
I didn’t get the full view because I was sitting in a supporter’s section behind one of the goals, but Walker Zimmerman seemed to win everything he tried for in the air. I thought he and Matt Hedges were fantastic.
Burrito Martinez was the phenomenal and the best player on the field for the RSL/OCSC match and deserves mention. Not surprised, though, because no one is going to be talking RSL this year with that shambolic back line.
Aside from the beautiful goal, I don’t think Tommy McNamara should be included. While he may have been the bright spot in the NYCFC midfield, the front four of Chicago were running circles around McNamara, Mix, and Pirlo. Time and time again, Chicago would steal the ball and have a fast break toward NYCFC’s back four. I counted 7 missed chances in the fire in the first half alone. If half of those went in, we would be saying something quite different about McNamara’s performance.
Alas, yesterdays game, proved they are the same old Fire. Unorganized in defending, and exciting offensive potential that lacks the ability to finish.
Bill,…I didn’t see the game, so bear with me. NYCFC scored four goals,…sounds like they were “running circles” around Chicago. the point you are making is a stretch,….sounds like “if Chicago didn’t give up those four goals,…they would have won the game.” That’s like saying,…if Grandma had balls,…she would be Grandpa.
No, it is pretty clear that Bill is saying that because McNamara and his teammates played poorly defensively (because he said the opposing midfielders ran circles around them), that he is undeserving of a best XI selection. Your statement, that the four goals indicate that the NYCFC midfield ran circles around Chicago, does not negate his point. Also, why comment if you didn’t actually see the game?
Not sure about that,….but I didn’t see the game. If I were a NYCFC supporter,…I’d be pretty stoked with two of my middies both scoring a goal and providing an assist. Furthermore,….at some point your defense has to take some accountability for giving up three goals.