Who gets Defender of the Year? And why? In San Jose, there was a groundswell of support for Wade Barrett, but then the San Jose season collapsed and many blame the defense (though not Wade). Who else is deserving?
Almost every team has someone: Chicago: Bocanegra, Brown, Curtin Dallas: Suarez, Morrow, Bonseu (wow!) Rapids: Mastroeni, Fraser LA: Califf, EZ, Lalas SJ: Barrett, Mulrooney KC: Garcia, McKeon C-bus: Denton, Clark (?) Revs (latter part of the season): Kante, Franchino NY: absolutely nobody Strangely enough, I'd give it to DC's Milton Reyes. I just don't think anyone comes close to this guy as a pure defender and all-round athlete. Also, keep in mind that when DC when on its big slide, it was not because they were giving up tons of goals, it was because they couldn't score. Flame on...
Yeah, that Eddie Pope guy sucks... I can't understand why Arena kept playing him throughout the World Cup... Actually, Nelsen has been DC's most solid defender all year. He really stepped up his game when Pope was in Korea. And he was our leading scorer for most of the summer!
I understand that kante only played the last part of the season for threvs but if it wasn't for him we never would have made the playoffs in the first place.
If you are looking for a candidate from Columbus, Dunseth is probably your guy, closely followed by Clark. Dunseth for his consistency, Clark for his ability to stop The Fish. Denton lost his spot for a chunk of the year. I don't think you can include him... this year. Of course, if you count goalkeepers as defenders, than the Crew's winner is Busch, hands-down.
My bad, don't know how I could have forgotten Eddie "The Chosen One" Pope. And Nelson too. Encouraged (though shocked!) to hear this - he being an ex-Rev and all...
Big Red!! Yeah, the guy was in the broadcast booth and now in his second season back from retirement, but I doubt you'll find a G fan that won't say he's had an awsome season.
Tim Howard Tim Howard was the MetroStars best defender. Awkari could be it, but didn't play much since OZ is in charge and he thinks Chronopoulos is better.
Definitely Reyes, If you were playing schoolground ball and had to pick by position, he would be the first guy I'd take at defender.
I'm sure he won't get it, but my vote goes to Kante. IMO the single most important player for the Revs over the last 6 weeks of the season on the run to the Eastern Div title.
Don't include Ezra if this discussion only relates to 2002. He's had an off year because teams game-planned his one-trick pony game right off the field. EZ's first otuch is horrific, but he's a slightly better man marker than given credit for. He just had a below-average season. Lalas on the other hand...
To me, there are a few candidates, but not many. Dallas Burn: Morrow, Bonseu Chicago Fire: Bocanegra LA Galaxy: Lalas DC United: Reyes, Nelsen It's a tough call. No defender had a standout year. Despite the Dallas Burn allowing a fair number of goals, that should be tempered by their overaggressive wingbacks Broome and Suarez who often leave Morrow and Bonseu alone as a 2 man back line with only a single Dmid in front of them. Bonseu has done a great job of covering for those two and deserves mention. Morrow organized the back line well (considering Jefferies edict to have both wingbacks attack almost all of the time), and scored some crucial goals and dominated the air defensively. Bocanegra played centrally and on the left wing, but was the only real constant on D for the Fire. Chicago had a great defense despite losing Armas, Beasley and a host of other defenders. Lalas and califf in central defense ... that's a slow combo! With attacking Ezra Hendrickson on one side and Tyrone Marshall on the other, it's amazing that this was such a good defense! The real answer lies in having Vagenas/Ochoa and Elliott as twin Dmids, all doing a good job. But Lalas organized it very well, and he scored as well. Reyes was asked to attack too much this season, and he had a difficult time adjusting to the ticky-tack calls of MLS, so he gave up some very unwanted penalties, particularly early on. But, he was the best man marking defender in MLS this year, he played a great positional game, and attacked wonderfully when asked. Nelsen made some mistakes, didn't play early and was injured late, but when he did play with the full complement of starters (Pope, Reyes, Prideaux) he was fantastic. He had 4 goals on a horrendous offensive team. He organized our talented defense flawlessly. When he organized a 3 man back line of starters (Nelsen + any 2 of Reyes, Pope or Prideaux) and they were not asked to become target-forwards to compensate for the lack of any offense, DC United probably had the best defense in MLS this season. My vote goes to Lalas. Nelsen didn't play enough games, Reyes had too many penalties, Dallas allowed too many goals, and Bocanegra didn't have as good of a year as many of us expected. If I were building a team I wouldn't pick Lalas, but I do think he deserves it this season. -Tron
I think that it's difficult to identify the top defender this year. Of the top three defenses (LA, Quakes, and DC United), no one player stood out. However, since LA had the least amount of goals against this season, I would have to vote for Lalas. He seemed to make a difference to LA similar to Agoos did for the Quakes in 2001. Plus, he helped out on the offensive end. Could be Defender and Come Back Player of the Year? I agree with everyone who has said that Reyes should be in consideration. Although Wade Barret had a great year for a defense missing two key players (Agoos and Dayak) for most of the season, the poor form of the defense towards the end of the season (including him!) makes it diifficult to cast a vote for hiim...
nobody shut down more scoring opportunities But soccer365 has a poll for the best defenders in MLS and the choices are... Lalas EZ Ramiro Corrales Jay Heaps are they serious? I want to know who's winning, but can't bring myself to vote for one of them to find out.
No kidding. Of those four, only Lalas should be seriously considered for DOTY. (And I never thought that I'd say that.)
past awards Another consideration for Lalas: the award is often given to the player who organizes the league's best defense (and contributes something to the offense), and not to the best manmarker/stopper. Agoos, Vermes, Kubik--Lalas is this year's most similar player, with Morrow second. Barrett, Boca and Reyes are different types of players. Though this may be the year an outside back has a shot.
I love Reyes from DC too. I also like Garcia from KC (reads the game well and he's a good athlete) and Bocanegra from Chi-town (another good, solid athlete who can mark folks out of a game).