The "More Fun than a Monsoon on a Cricket Pitch" edition, as our ill-fated U-23 team has a big week in MLS and in Grenada. If they had played this way in Mexico City, we'd be going to Athens - but then again, that would mess up another few weeks of MLS, so scratch that idea. The Metros fielded a team that was nearly Olympics-eligible, with no one on the team who had been a MLS starter for more than a year, and still knocked off the top team in the league - who ironically started SIX players with Nats caps. Alecko Eskandarian played like a #1 draft pick, which never happens in this league. A depleted Wizards side extended the misery of the walking wounded masquerading as New England's soccer team, as we approach the time of year that the Revs always start looking unbeatable and Nicol looks like a genius. Brian Mullan, for the second week in a row, made decent defenders consider that job offer as a college assistant coach by beating them so badly. Finally, Jason Kreis tied Roy Lassiter for the all-time league lead in goals, further proving that MLS stats are poor predictors of national team success. This week the AAXI is putting a 4-3-3 on the field with a very young defense, a very fast midfield, and a motley (yet scary) front line. Jeff Cassar (2): Has now found himself the AAXI goalkeeper for the second straight week. In his two starts while Garlick has been injured he’s performed exceptionally well, bordering on amazing. Cassar’s save on de la Torre alone could have earned him the spot this week. After parrying a driven ball by Martinez, Cassar jumped to his feet and fully extended to deflect de la Torre’s rocket of a shot from 15 yards out. In addition to the spectacular, Cassar handled the mundane coolly. Ricky Lewis (1): Despite the loss, the Galaxy defenders put in a pretty good effort. Lewis joins teammate and fellow back line resident Chris Albright on this weeks AAXI. Reports have Lewis putting in a very strong effort against the Metrostars. His play was impressive enough to earn him the nod. This is a youngster who, with some work and more playing time, could be around the league for years to come. Chris Albright (7): Many people are starting to question when the Bruce is going to give Albright another look. While he never seems to perform well enough to keep a spot on the National team, his continued strong play could seemingly earn him trip to join his fellow Americans at a qualifier in the not-to-distant future. Ricardo Clark (2): Clark did a phenomenal job winning the ball in the defensive midfield, and also transitioning to attack. Lately has been looking more and more like the Clark we saw in 2003 and that's great news for the Metros and for the future of the National Team. Clark anchored a depleted Metros’ midfield by running his ass off in order to provide cover for a back three and service to the less defensive-minded midfielders in front of him. On one of the youngest teams ever to be fielded in MLS, Clark looked the part of the experienced leader. Jeff Parke (3): Unless he had an arm growing out of his chest, it was obvious that there was no hand-ball. He was continuously dangerous on set pieces and did extremely well getting forward and organizing a ridiculously inexperienced back line and did so flawlessly. One of the very best games any defender has played all year. His timing, anticipation, and ability to defend 1v1 squelched the offensive juggernauts of LA. Right now Parke is contending for ROTY with the likes of Clint Dempsey and Chad Marshall. Ben Olsen (5): Continues to put up strong performances and earn the respect of the AAXI voting panel. His hustle and general ability just to be a pain on the field has helped earn him his fifth nomination of this season. If his quality play continues you might see him getting a call up from the Bruce soon. Whether or not he can perform as well for the Nats as he has for DC lately will be another challenge for this perennial fan favorite. Josh Gros (3): Proved that he is more than capable of playing on either flank by following up last week’s performance on the left with a strong showing on the right side in Ernie Stewart’s absence. He played solidly end line to end line. On one sequence he cleared a ball from his six to start a fast counter-attack that ended up with him open for a pass inside Columbus’ 18; nothing short of impressive work. One nomination this week declared, “that kid is really, really good.” His speed is close to that of Justin Mapp’s, and he is a tireless worker the likes of the next nominated midfielder. Brian Mullan (3): This man should be traded to the Crew, because he is, without a doubt, the hardest working player in MLS. By the 58th minute Mullan successfully drove Orlando Perez off the field to the sighs of relief from the Fire faithful in attendance by turning Perez on his ass a half dozen times. Perez may have had an off game, but even if he hadn’t, Mullan still probably would have made him look bad. He's almost more impressive live than on TV. This guy just continues to impress. Mike Magee (1): A very solid performance and a literal last minute game winner, Magee made himself available as an outlet throughout the game and served as a conduit of sorts as apparently his holiness didn’t want the Galaxy to walk away with any points after this one. His service to set up the first goal was almost textbook, which is to say nothing of the instructional video-esque header he hit to win the game for the Metrostars. Nate Jaqua (3): While he was really dangerous only twice near the goal it was sometimes tough to tell that he was playing forward. He spent (too) much time helping back in the midfield, playing solid defense and feeding the ball to the speedster Mapp. His play of late is making many people take notice of a man once given the moniker “the great white ninja.” He continues to step up his game and prove that he is deserving of a starting spot on the Fire. Eskandarian (3): Reports are that the crowd gave him an extended standing ovation, the likes of which MLS has rarely seen. If there were any questions as to who should be starting up top for DC, there shouldn't be anymore. More than a few people called this nomination “a no-brainer.” After two golazos, the question is not whether he would be on the AAXI, but how quickly he’ll be named POTW (I can’t imagine any other player more deserving this week). In addition to two wonderful left-footed strikes, he held the ball well, gave the Crew defense problems all night, and just had a great game. Think seeing a kid who (probably) doesn’t shave get the start ahead of him might have motivated him a bit? *Header written by Casper
Jeff Parke is becoming a great defender and it is really exciting to watch him do so. However, Sometimes he is a little to cavalier when making passes out of the back. One such pass almost got the metros into trouble last week but Parke was bailed out by poor passing from LA. I was also impressed with Ricardo Clark this week. He looked really confident out there. It's like he knew that he was in charge of the midfield and elevated his game accordingly.
I surprised Curtin hasn't gotten more mentions this year. And what happened to Eddie Robinson. He was on the verge of breaking into the USMNT two years ago and now has fallen off the map. Sachin
I think that you have to put Gros above Marshall on the ROTY balloting. He's been one of DC's better players and probably the most consistent which is amazing considering this is his first year. He might not have the potential that Marshall does but he is playing better than him this year. BTW, Dempsey is a beast of a player. He looks like he is going to be a star.
Curtin has repeatedly been a candidate. He may be a victim of his own competence - when he plays well, no one looks at the TV funny and is impressed anymore. Also, playing behind Armas, he may get fewer chances to make plays than other central defenders. He probably deserves as much credit for all of Ring's shutouts as anyone, though. Maybe a Fire fan can chime in on that thought. Dempsey just has another gear. Every once in a while you watch a player who seems to be able to change a game through sheer will. Dempsey seems to have that. If the rest of the team can ever get healthy, we might really start to see something special.
No one wants to see Curtin make this list week after week more than me, but Casper hit the nail on the head. When he's good he's barely noticeable. He has games where he's great and you can't help but marvel at his skill. Unless he plays spectacular or horribly, you don't necessarily see him...not to mention he sits behind one of the best defensive midfielders in the game. As I was writing this it occured to me that Gros was another one of the frontrunners for rookie of the year (it slipped my mind to add him to the aforementioned sentence). Right now Dempsey gets my vote and I doubt many people can truly argue that he is deserving. However, at this point many people thought Ralph was a lock and Noonan made a pretty convincing case as the season reached its end.
As a Galaxy supporter, I disagree with Albright's nomination this week. He's been playing well this season, but I felt Saturday's game was his worst in a long time. Consider instead Chad Marshall, who despite his team giving up three goals was quite impressive vs. DC United, making himself dangerous on a lot of set pieces.
Let me just chime in with the Clint for ROTY. He really is incredible so far. I find myself watching him all game long. Some players "disappear" during a match, he seems to be highlighted all game long.
Albright didnt have a great game in my estimation either. Didnt see Olsen play, so I wont comment on his nomination. I will say that in terms of a callup hes been a bit thuggish for DCU this year for my liking, with a lot of ugly and tactical fouls that generally arent too frowned upon in MLS. So I dont think hes international calibre at this point though, as those kind of plays would mean serious trouble in hostile evironments.
Albright didnt have a great game in my estimation either. Didnt see Olsen play, so I wont comment on his nomination. I will say that in terms of a callup hes been a bit thuggish for DCU this year for my liking, with a lot of ugly and tactical fouls that generally arent too frowned upon in MLS. So I dont think hes international calibre at this point though, as those kind of plays would mean serious trouble in hostile evironments.
He's such a central player now, so he's just not very high on the depth chart as a central offensive midfielder, like he used to be as a wide right player.
I've got to disagree with you on Olsen. What I like about his game is that he does the so-called dirty work relatively cleanly and with a class that not many people bring to the position. His ability to make incisive passes and hit shots from distance set him apart from other holding midfielders.