LET'S HAND OUT SOME 14-WEEK MARK AWARDS
This international break is hauntingly long. Just a spirograph spinning into the infinity of a break. My MLS levels are dangerously low. And I don't know when it's going to get better.
To save myself, let's talk awards. I know it's only 14 weeks in, but there's never a bad time to check in on these things. That's practically midway! Plus, like I said, dangerously low. I need this.
Recently, I picked and ranked five players for each award. So did a whole lot of other folks associated with MLSsoccer.com. You'll see how those votes turned out on The Mothership later. But I figured I'd go ahead and let you know who I picked as the winner for each.
My Landon Donovan MVP: Jesus Ferreira - FC Dallas
Ferreira's your Golden Boot presented by Audi leader at this point with 9g/4a on the season. He also leads the league in goal contributions with 13. He's simply been the most productive player in the league. Don't be surprised if he's in this spot at the end of the year too. He's third in the league in non-penalty xG+xA. He's been excellent. And if Dallas find themselves in a home playoff spot at the end of the year, then you can bet that Ferreira will be getting plenty of votes for the actual award.
There might be arguments for other players based on how "valuable" they are to their team. I think some are probably fair considering that Ferreira has Paul Arriola and Paxton Pomykal helping him out. But for now, he's been too productive to consider picking anyone else.
My Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year: Dayne St. Clair - Minnesota United FC
This is tied for the easiest choice on the list. We've mentioned it before, but it keeps being incredible: DSC is on track for one of the best years in MLS history. American Soccer Analysis' expected goals data goes back to 2013. In that time, no one has been a better shot-stopper than St. Clair has been this season. He's outperforming 2019 and 2020 Matt Turner. It's genuinely remarkable. He may end up getting genuine MVP votes besides running away with Goalkeeper of the Year. The only thing that might keep him from getting the votes he deserves is the fact that his team has ups and downs. But can you imagine where the Loons would be without him?
My Defender of the Year: Alexander Callens - New York City FC
Callens has been consistently excellent for years now. But the Peruvian international's a hot choice right now for Defender of the Year honors thanks to his three goals scored and his leadership of the best defense in the league by a significant margin so far. NYCFC have allowed just 10 goals this year while allowing just 12.49 expected goals. Both marks are the best in the league. When you anchor a defense like that and help your team find the net a few times, you're doing a lot right.
My Newcomer of the Year: Leo Campana - Inter Miami CF
This one was tougher than I expected, and it may change pretty drastically by the end of the season. We still have new players to welcome in this summer who could end up making a huge impact. But for now, Campana won out over Taxi Fountas of D.C. United and Jesus Jimenez of Toronto FC.
Campana has seven goals on the season, which puts him even with Jimenez and two ahead of Fountas. But most importantly, Campana has almost single-handedly rescued Inter Miami from a worrisome opening stretch that indicated the Herons were due for a tough year. He's totally revitalized that team from an on-field perspective with his movement and finishing, while providing a much-needed boost of confidence and optimism. He's been more crucial than any other new player this season.
My Young Player of the Year: Jesus Ferreira - FC Dallas
Yeah, he's eligible. And if the MVP is eligible for the award, it's kind of hard not to give it to him. We really don't talk enough about the fact that Ferreira is still just 21.
My Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Long - New York Red Bulls
It's not a coincidence that Long fully returned from a torn Achilles at the same time the Red Bulls turned into their classicly suffocating selves again. They're seventh in the league in expected goals allowed and first in the league in shots allowed. Having Long back there to lead RBNY's backline and clean up the pieces of anything that happens to get through the Red Bulls' hellacious press is invaluable. The fact that he's doing it a year after a significant injury is remarkable.
My Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year: Wilfried Nancy - CF Montréal
I wanted to give it to him last year. But then Montréal barely missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and Colorado won the Western Conference regular-season title on the smallest budget in the league. My hands were tied.
This year though, CFM have turned into a genuine contender for a home playoff spot and maybe more. They're thriving and continuing to build on the tactical tenets Nancy installed last year when he got handed the job out of nowhere. The only person who can really challenge him for the top spot right now is Pablo Mastroeni, who's working literal magic at Real Salt Lake. That being said, magic runs out eventually. Nancy has built a team primed to continue the rest of the season by grabbing points with ease.
|
