Lando, DMB, and KK Nominated for POY

[m vann]

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=317876&CPID=219&clid=&lid=19&title=Trio+named+for+US+award

My pick is easily Keller. He really bailed us out of some games and never looked back after finally claiming the #1 spot after years of trying. He might be in the midst of his best stretch in his career both for club and country. If the award was based on club performance, hands down Beasley would win it given his accomlishments in his first season at PSV, however, I think this award is based on international play.

[Nutmeg]

Kasey is probably my favorite current US player, and he'd be a deserving recipient. But if this is about play with the US team, Donovan probably deserves the award this year. His streak of points with the US team during the games that mattered was phenomenal. I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion considering how unpopular Landon's become around here, but I think it'd be hard to argue that any one player's had a better year than Landon with the US team in 2005.

[appoo]

it's either Keller or Donovan IMHO. I think Beas has been a bit subpar

[gunner_21]

Has to be Keller. He has been nothing short of spectacular for the US and saved Monchengladbach from relegation in the Bundesliga. Hands down, Kasey's the man.

[Wahoo]

it's either Keller or Donovan IMHO. I think Beas has been a bit subpar

I think Beasley has had a better year than Donovan... but neither has been spectacular in my opinion.

I'm getting tired of this... Donovan in my opinion has won this 2 times when he shouldn't have. He's good but not that good - while he has had some good games -- he's also been very mediocre or non-existant in others. Personally this year I think his numbers look better than his actaul performances.

My personal opinion is this should go to Keller of the 3 named.
Brian McBride should also have gotten a nod in my opinion.

[appoo]

I think Beasley has had a better year than Donovan.
I'm getting tired of this... Donovan in my opinion has won this 2 times when he shouldn't have. He's good but not that good.

My personal opinion is this should go to Keller of the 3 named.
Brian McBride should also have gotten a nod in my opinion.


take a look at Nutmeg's post.

this away is about the USMNT, not anything else. Donovan led the US in goals and assists and minutes

[Wahoo]

take a look at Nutmeg's post.

this away is about the USMNT, not anything else. Donovan led the US in goals and assists and minutes

I know his numbers are good this year.

But I honestly don't think he played that well on a regular basis.
I've seen him play very well, and then I've seen him completely disappear.

I know it's about play for the national team, but there are other factors that determine how good or important a player is other than goals/assists.
Donovan does really well by the numbers, but I don't think it tells the whole story for this year.

And I'll admit, part of the reason I don't want him to win this year is because I think he won 2 times when he shouldn't have (when he won over Boca and Beasley).

[appoo]

I know his numbers are good this year.

But I honestly don't think he played that well on a regular basis.
I've seen him play very well, and then I've seen him completely disappear.

I know it's about play for the national team, but there are other factors that determine how good or important a player is other than goals/assists.
Donovan does really well by the numbers, but I don't think it tells the whole story for this year.

And I'll admit, part of the reason I don't want him to win this year is because I think he won 2 times when he shouldn't have (when he won over Boca and Beasley).

I'm with you that Boca and Beas shoudl have won the last 2 years (and I think KK should win this year - he's been unbelievable), but if you took the name off his back and didn't have a clue as to who he was and you watched him play the past 12 months, you would think he's a deserving player.

What he isn't doing, is liviing up to the standards we're used to seeing out of Donovan. He's had a down year I think, but only based upon what he SHOULD be doing. But not neccasarily a down year based upon what he's accomplished on the field of play.

[mellowjohnny]

Hey this thread titile is deceiving, DMB is up for the award not BMB

Anyway Keller deserves to win

[FirstStar]

this away is about the USMNT, not anything else. Donovan led the US in goals and assists and minutes

KK led the US in saves and shutouts.

What has been more important to the team this year-- offense or defense? Hard to say, but the defense has been very consistent w/ KK behind lots of new faces. Take him out of the goal, we don't play nearly as well.

The same can be said on offense-- take LD off the field, and we don't score goals. I'm just glad that we have them both.

It's a tough call, but I think KK has been more consistent for the US playing behind an ever-changing backline. Also, he just gets more fired-up about wearing the US shirt than anyone else. I give him the nod, but I don't think it would be a bad choice if Landon wins it.

[onefineesq]

Kasey is probably my favorite current US player, and he'd be a deserving recipient. But if this is about play with the US team, Donovan probably deserves the award this year. His streak of points with the US team during the games that mattered was phenomenal. I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion considering how unpopular Landon's become around here, but I think it'd be hard to argue that any one player's had a better year than Landon with the US team in 2005. And the same thing should have been said for DMB last year when he was robbed, and Bocanegra the prior year, when he was robbed, and the award given to LD instead. I understand your point, but LD has gotten a huge benefit of the doubt the last 2 years when I didn't think he had deserved it either, so it would only be fitting for someone else to win it this year.

[m vann]

Hey this thread titile is deceiving, DMB is up for the award not BMB

Anyway Keller deserves to win


Fixed. I didn't even notice. Maybe it was my conscience telling me I wanted BMB nominated!!!! :)

[Maldini#3]

take a look at Nutmeg's post.

this away is about the USMNT, not anything else. Donovan led the US in goals and assists and minutes

In the diluted pool that is CONCACAF, Donovan had goals against Canada, Cuba (2), Panama, and Costa Rica (2). Do you know how many goals of those were away? NONE. He also couldn't put away a number of gifts late in the campaign ... most notably the near-open goal against Mexico at home. SURE, he led the US in stats ... but it ain't actually quality (I'll give him props for scoring 2 against Costa Rica) ...

Kasey Keller by far is more deserving. He had the insane shutout streak going (thanks Timmy for ending the streak) and more often than Donovan ... keeps the US from dropping points when we're away ...

[Wahoo]

I'm with you that Boca and Beas shoudl have won the last 2 years (and I think KK should win this year - he's been unbelievable), but if you took the name off his back and didn't have a clue as to who he was and you watched him play the past 12 months, you would think he's a deserving player.

What he isn't doing, is liviing up to the standards we're used to seeing out of Donovan. He's had a down year I think, but only based upon what he SHOULD be doing. But not neccasarily a down year based upon what he's accomplished on the field of play.

I agree with all of this

[Wahoo]

The same can be said on offense-- take LD off the field, and we don't score goals. I'm just glad that we have them both.


I agreed with most of your post - but not with this.
Look at Maldini#3's post about when and where Donovan scored.
If we didn't have him on the field in those games I think we'd still have found the goal. If we had Reyna in those games instead of Donovan, I'm almost certain we'd have done just as well (though this doesn't mean Reyna would have scored himself)

[Chowderhead]

Keller.

The only thing Donovan has done has been to introduce the idiotic ritual of kneeling and making the sign of the cross before he takes his PKs. Why don't you light some candles, incense the area and sprinkle some holy water on the spot while you're at, St. Landon the Pious? He's starting to make me sick. And that his popularity among sponsors insures his inclusion among finalists makes me want to hurl my arroz con pollo.

DMB deserves some votes for production, guts and humility.

[hoodink]

To blame Tim Howard for the goaless streak coming to an end is crap. I don't care who was in goal for the CR game, at least 2 of those wouldn't have been stopped. Keller still has his scoreless streak in a US shirt, and to blame Howard for a crap lineup put out there by Arena is not an honest appraisal. Keller has been the most consistant player for the US for the year, playing out of his gourd for a greater portion of the nats and club season.

[sidefootsitter]

Donovan did score on that glancing header at Panama (2nd goal).

As to the best 2,005 player - it's Kasey in a walkover, with Gooch as #2.

[Tony in Quakeland]

Count me in the Keller crowd. An easy choice this year. I agree that Gooch should have gotten serious considerations.

As for LD and DMB, they have both been similar this year--either great or all but invisible. If they were just average between their great games, they would win it.

[StillKickin]

Has to be Keller. He has been nothing short of spectacular for the US and saved Monchengladbach from relegation in the Bundesliga. Hands down, Kasey's the man.
It's based only on National Team play - club play has nothing to do with this award.