Keller, McBride, and Dempsey finalists for player of the year.

[Eleven Bravo]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=376161&cc=5901

congrats, Clint Dempsey there has been no one that has even come close to your performance this year.

[keller4president]

With all due respect to McBride and Keller, I think the award has got to go to Dempsey. He had a great year for the Nats, really shined through, and scored our only goal of the World Cup. (Not counting the own-goal by Italy.) I would have liked to see Onyewu or Convey as finalists as well. I guess they'll get there chance next year.

[ChelseaMatt]

Man, it's got to be a blow to Landon's ego that he didn't even make the short list. I would love it to go to my man Clint (he went to my alma mater and I've been following his career since he first went to the Revs), but I really think Keller will get it for the second year running. He got the player of the game award in the draw with Italy, the eventual champions, in so doing pulling off the necessary draw that might have gotten us out of the group had things gone better for us in Nuremberg. I think those points will sway the voters in the press.

[eplkewell]

McBride. Discounting the WC, where nobody played well (except Deuce, which is why he's on the list, and J Conrad), he's been a solid performer day after day. He's a class player and had some great performances for the USA.

[MarioKempes]

McBride gets my vote. He had a great year with his club, voted MVP by Fulham fans, had an OK WC, and an OK year with the Nats. He's never won it, and this is his last chance.

Dempsey had a better year with the National Team, but he can't match BMBs success with his club.

Either one would be fine with me.

[NBlue]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=376161&cc=5901

congrats, Clint Dempsey there has been no one that has even come close to your performance this year.

Dempsey played well in the world cup in a supporting role, but McBride had a tremendous season with Fulham and was awarded the honor of player of the year by the squad. Conversely, Dempsey has been suspended twice for poor conduct. I like Dempsey and I hope he continues his development to be a superior soccer player, but there is no question who the winner should be in my mind -- Brian McBride.

[voros]

McBride gets my vote. He had a great year with his club
Which I believe, according to the rules, is supposed to account for 0% of the considerations.

It's national team performance _only_. Picking McBride over Taylor Twellman for the award this year would be incorrect. Picking him over Dempsey obviously even more so.

Of course considering the robbery that happened to Bocanegra for the 2003 award, I wouldn't be surprised at any choice they make.

[Justin O]

I would have picked Cherundolo over McBride. Of the 3 choices, and with the given criteria, I think you kind of have to give it to Dempsey.

[Fulham Fan]

I think it has to be McBride. Fulham Player of the Year, a selfless competitor. A USA national team legend. He took that elbow in the World Cup which produced the red card that helped destabilize Italy. (Italy had such little stamina as a team. They showed it again in the final. Playing with ten men - had we not played with nine - could have gone very badly for them.) He stayed on and played out the match to aid our defense (a decision I disagree with, but it proves his value). We are the only team to get a point off Italy in the World Cup. That makes us more visible in the highlight film of the team that took the trophy.

McBride was played as lone forward in the tournament and any Fulham supporter knew exactly how that would work out. It shouldn't be held against him, then. I say reward him.

[Eleven Bravo]

Kasey Keller should NOT get the award. he made a few average saves (not mentioning the goal he allowed should have been saved by a keeper that was "world class.") in the Italy game which, yeah, kept us in the game, but it doesn't make for the fact that his game has definately gone down hill. he was not player of the year material against the Czech Republic and Ghana game which was 2/3rds of his World Cup...not mentioning the miscommunication in the Morocco game which doesn't weigh as much as the WC, but for player of the year for the national team it should. I'm not saying he sucks and should be pulled out into the street and shot five times, but please, don't let his legacy and reputation decide for you because he has not been the player of the year.

Brian McBride, as much as i'm going to miss him...had a horrible world cup; therefore, should not get the award. is it all his fault? no. he never should have been playing the lone striker anyways. Still, I can't remember one good play he made during the whole world cup. all i remember is that mr. target striker was getting beat in the air against Ghana 9/10ths of the time. Now is this worthy of "player of the year"? no, it's not. but he is the fan favorite (which he's still one of my all-time favorite players) that played hard in the World Cup and just retired so you never know.

Now look at Dempsey...the man who came to play. the guy who showed he didn't care about how big of names Italy or Ghana were, he was going to stick it to them. He was the one glitter of hope that i still have for this national team once we saw what a big p_ssy Donovan is. If anything, just noticing this guy's potential is enough for player of the year...not including the fact: he scored the only goal in the WC, played the best, showed he cared about winning, didn't fear anyone, and went from the outside looking in of making the WC roster to being the best player. this is player of the year material.

--------------------------
other players that i think might should be included are Bobby Convey, Oguchi Onyewu, Jimmy Conrad, and Steve Cherundolo.

Convey had a good run up to the cup, and not a bad performance at the cup....on top of a good club season (if that counts...i don't think it should) however, still his performance didn't match up to Dempsey's

Onyewu might could get some looks because how he shut down Toni in the Italy match, but his performanes against the CR and Ghana are enough to knock him off the list. (not saying he was the worst guy out there, but he did result in some goals against)

Jimmy Conrad might get it considering that our national team has turned into the mickey mouse club, and he was one of the few that actually elevated his game for the cup.

Steve Cherundolo kind of fits in the "bobby convey" category. good season with club, nothing special...nothing bad (except for the goal he handed Morocco to), and average at best World Cup performance...which was better than 90% of our team.

[Wahoo]

Man, it's got to be a blow to Landon's ego that he didn't even make the short list. I would love it to go to my man Clint (he went to my alma mater and I've been following his career since he first went to the Revs), but I really think Keller will get it for the second year running. He got the player of the game award in the draw with Italy, the eventual champions, in so doing pulling off the necessary draw that might have gotten us out of the group had things gone better for us in Nuremberg. I think those points will sway the voters in the press.

I think Landon's ego will be fine.... he even won it twice when he probably shouldnt' have and he was poor this year. Had he been even on the list of final 3 it would have been a farce.

I'm hoping it goes to McBride. No reason it should go to Keller... I really think the other 2 did better this year but McBride is now retired from the national team and he won't win it in the future.

[Fulham Fan]

I really think the other 2 did better this year but McBride is now retired from the national team and he won't win it in the future.
Agreed. Keller has won it and Dempsey will win it. Dempsey captured people's imaginations. I could never fault a vote for him. I just think McBride - in spite of playing in the wrong formation and also in spite of more or less running on fumes after a long club season with little rest - still exemplified something at the World Cup and still materially contributed to our one point. I just wish we had tried playing for three points at the end.

[branko97]

My ballot:
1. Cherundolo
2. Convey
3. Dempsey

[onefineesq]

Legend status shouldn't win the award. Performance should. In the 12 months going from the end of this WC and working backwards, Dempsey has scored twice as many goals from the midfield position as McBride has from the forward position for the US (4-2). Point blank, Dempsey has been better than McBride. McBride shouldn't even be on this list.

Edit: And yes, I don't think that scoring is everything, but for a forward it is a lot of the equation, and when midfields are better at your job than you are ............ that says something.

[MarioKempes]

Which I believe, according to the rules, is supposed to account for 0% of the considerations.


You know before posting I tried to find the rules for the Honda Award and I couldn't find them spelled out anywhere. Of course I couldn't do a completely exhaustive search as my time is limited.

http://www.soccerhall.org/history/HondaPlayeroftheYearAward.htm
and
http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/491332.html

have little blurbs on there. My understanding is that you have to have played in 3 USMNT games to be eligible. However, I don't see anywhere where the criteria is limited to only your play for the national team.

If you're right, then I think Dempsey wins it. If you're wrong, then I'd give it to McBride.

[Wahoo]

Legend status shouldn't win the award. Performance should. In the 12 months going from the end of this WC and working backwards, Dempsey has scored twice as many goals from the midfield position as McBride has from the forward position for the US (4-2). Point blank, Dempsey has been better than McBride. McBride shouldn't even be on this list.

Edit: And yes, I don't think that scoring is everything, but for a forward it is a lot of the equation, and when midfields are better at your job than you are ............ that says something.

If Legend status shouldn't factor in.... how many times should Landon have won the award?

Basically I agree it shouldn't factor in, but history has shown that it does.... heavily.

[Tony in Quakeland]

No suspense here--it's going to McBride as a life time achievement award.

All other discussion and argument is for entertainment purposes only.

[NBlue]

Which I believe, according to the rules, is supposed to account for 0% of the considerations.



I was not aware these were the rules. Could you provide a link or cite your source? Thanks.

[Tony in Quakeland]

I was not aware these were the rules. Could you provide a link or cite your source? Thanks.Putting aside the less than friendly way he told you, the Honda Award is strictly for National Team performance.

I don't have a link for you, however

[NBlue]

Putting aside the less than friendly way he told you, the Honda Award is strictly for National Team performance.

I don't have a link for you, however

Well, assuming that is the case, I must also concede that the award should then go to Dempsey. That said, I also agree with you that it is a forgone conclusion that the award will go to McBride, regardless of the criteria.