It's a busy week of fixtures with lots of good match-ups. Newcomers continue to impres, week in, week out. Things are so busy in MLS, you have games going on as we speak. Another tomorrow, Friday, and all weekend.


1. Stefan Frei (Toronto FC)

Call me crazy but I thought Frei's performance this past weekend was top notch. In fact, he has been nothing but top notch since landing in between the sticks. There's a reason he's still in goal and not Canadian international Greg Sutton. Hell, Chris Cummins said he would field his strongest in tonight's Nutrilite Canadian Championship game vs. Vancouver and guess who's in goal? Frei. I hate to bring this up again, but Frei is definitely showing teams that skipped over him in the draft exactly what they're missing.

2. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle)

Fredy Montero gets sent off and Tyrone Marshall saves the day with a late equalizer. If it weren't for Hurtado on the backline, the Blanco/McBride show would have taken over. Hurtado's presence is invaluable on defense, he has already dealt with some of the best strikers in the league on a consistent basis. Could an All-Star bid be on the way? I don't think anyone would be surprised.

3. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles)

Between Ricketts and Berhalter, you've got a solid veteran foundation on defense. Who would have thought Ricketts could still deliver performances like this? Once again, Ricketts came up with big saves allowing Galaxy supporters to forget the past of Steve Cronin.

4. Andrew Hainault (Houston)



The Dynamo's recent signing is a Canadian international and recently came over from FK Siad Most of the Czech First Division. Called into action early on after a Wade Barrett injury, Hainault helped the Dynamo secure a third straight shutout. For a youngster's MLS debut, you couldn't ask for much more.

5. Gregg Berhalter (Los Angeles)

Berhalter has quickly become the adhesive force in a formerly broken back four. Yes, he has lost some speed but what he lacks in speed at his age he makes up in positioning and anticipation. It can't be a bad thing for rookie Omar Gonzalez to be learning from a seasoned defender in Berhalter.

6. Dejan Jakovic (DC United)


Jakovic is slowly working to bring United's back four together. He has played every minute of every game along with Brian Namoff and at the tender age of 23 he already has UEFA Cup and high level experience under his belt having played for Red Star Belgrade last season. He has now firmly planted himself in DC's central defense and each game out the Canadian international seems to get better and better.

7. Stephane Assengue (New England)

He didn't score but he looked lively in his MLS debut. Regardless, the Revolution dropped their second straight in disconcerting fashion and they have been outscored 9-0 in their last three matches. The 19-year old Cameroonian only started training with the Revs a month ago but Nicol - just like Nyassi and Mansally early on - is ready to give the youngster a chance in the limelight.

8. Sam Cronin (Toronto FC)

Cronin grabbed his second assist of the season, an important one on Chad Barrett's equalizer of a 1-1 with defending champs Columbus. Cronin has fit in perfectly with Carl Robinson so far this season and I'd be surprised if he isn't one of the ones left standing in Rookie of the Year contention come season-end.

9. Milos Kocic (DC United)


United was definitely one of the squads that bypassed Stefan Frei, but instead they got Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius and another huge goalkeeping prospect in Milos Kocic. The Serbian lit things up his junior year for Loyola before sort of cooling off as a senior. The 6'4" shotstopper is still raw according to Mark Simpson, DC's goalkeeping coach, but his performance vs. FC Dallas definitely warrants another look. Too bad Crayton is net vs. Kansas City as we speak.

10. Kyle Reynish (Real Salt Lake)

Unless Chris Seitz gets injured tonight against Los Angeles, there's a good chance we will never see Kyle Reynish back on this newcomers list. Any time, however, you are called upon and expected to perform (like Brad Knighton) in your MLS debut after countless games on the bench and you don't throw the ball in your own goal, you at least deserve a spot on some arbitrary blog Top 10 list.

FINALLY!: Ade Akinbiyi (HOU), Andrew Hainault (HOU), Stephane Assengue (NER)

BAD WEEK: Fredy Montero (SEA)

Scoring goes 10 pts. for first spot, 9 pts. for second spot, 8 pts. for third spot, etc.

OVERALL [pts/wk]

1. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Seattle - 30 pts.) [9-0-0-7-0-5-9]
2. Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles - 27 pts.) [0-0-0-10-9-0-8]
3. Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle - 23 pts.) [4-0-10-5-4-0-0]
Steve Zakuani (Seattle - 23 pts.) [0-5-8-0-0-10]
4. Chris Pontius (DC United - 22 pts.) [6-6-0-2-0-8-0]
Stefan Frei (Toronto FC - 22 pts.)
5. Freddy Montero (Seattle - 19 pts.) [10-9-0-0-0-0-0]
6. Kasey Keller (Seattle - 17 pts.) [0-10-4-0-0-3-0]
7. Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle - 16 pts.) [0-7-9-0-0-0-0]
8. Sam Cronin (Toronto FC - 12 pts.)
9. Brad Knighton (New England - 11 pts.)
10. Pablo Vitti (Toronto FC - 10 pts.)
11. Eduardo Lillingston (Chivas USA - 9 pts.)
Kevin Alston (New England - 9 pts.)
Bobby Convey (San Jose - 9 pts.)
Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA - 9 pts.)
12. Cam Weaver (San Jose - 8 pts.)
Sebastian Le Toux (Seattle - 8 pts.)
Mariano Trujillo (Chivas USA - 8 pts.)
David Ferreira (FC Dallas - 8 pts.)
13. Santiago Hirsig (Kansas City - 7 pts.)
Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles - 7 pts.)
Alfredo Pacheco (Red Bull New York - 7 pts.)
Matt Besler (Kansas City - 7 pts.)
Rodney Wallace (DC United - 7 pts.)
Andrew Hainault (Houston - 7 pts.)
Gregg Berhalter (Los Angeles - 6 pts.)
14. Pablo Campos (San Jose - 5 pts.)
Darrius Barnes (New England - 5 pts.)
Dejan Jakovic (DC United - 5 pts.)
15. Bojan Stepanovic (Chivas USA - 4 pts.)
Stephane Assengue (New England - 4 pts.)
16. Luis Miguel Escalada (Real Salt Lake - 2 pts.)
Milos Kocic (DC United - 2 pts.)
17. Alec Dufty (New York - 1 pt.)
Kyle Reynish (Real Salt Lake - 1 pt.)

Miss anybody?? Does Stefan Frei deserve the number one spot? What is going on with Fredy Montero?