http://sports.yahoo.com/m/sow/news/ap/20020919/ap-hondaawardfinalists.html Think no American media know US soccer? Somehow a group of 277 media members are drummed up each year to vote for the Honda Award, given to the best US male of the previous year. The nominees: Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel, and Claudio Reyna. Sure to generate strong opinions . . .
Reyna, all-world cup team and the best player on a team in the premier league. Maybe he didn't deserve all-world cup team, but I don't know if I've ever seen a better performance by an American player than Reyna vs. Germany.
Reyna vs. Mexico? both were stellar I'd put my money on a media darling everytime Bigfoot, where's McBride?
The award takes into account this year's World Cup and the spring club season. O'Brien didn't light things up for Ajax last spring but both Reyna and Friedel had big seasons in England. It should be: 1. Friedel 2. Reyna 3. Donovan I like Reyna more but he has won the award before and Friedel played in all five games, including Portugal. Reyna missed Portugal and didn't play that well against South Korea. O'Brien had a great first two games but where was he after South Korea?
All JOB did was start about every game last spring for the team that won the Eridivisie. He did not "light things up" because he was and is still employed as the starting left back for Ajax. Since the Dutch do not record assists, and stats have never really favored defenders in soccer, it would be hard for ANY defender to "light things up." Having said that, it took about 1 game for teams to realize that attacking through his side of the field wasn't a great idea. I watched about every game that was shown on FSW involving Ajax and JOB, and his work offensively AND defensively from the left back position were superb. After Korea, JOB continued to play wonderful soccer for the US in the World Cup, and his steady, consistent performances were some of the main reasons the US advanced to the QFs. Again, that might not show up on the stat sheet, but most who watched the US agreed that JOB was one of the stars, if not THE star, for the US in June. The absence of JOB as a finalist in this year's Honda POY award is based on 3 players having truly outstanding years for their clubs and country. Were they better than JOB? That is a tough call. But instead of tearing down one of our great performers, I'll congratulate him on a terrific year and expect to see him win this award in years to come.
Setting up Lewis's assist to Donovan against Mexico. I think Reyna should win. He played big when we needed it. Friedel, say what you will, could have just stuck his hand out and blocked that ball temporarily instead of falling on it against Germany and his PK save against Poland, while impressive, wasn't needed to advance. Reyna's play against Mexico was very much needed.
Its going to be Donovan. I think I would vote for Friedel (solid WC, earned a Euro spot in England) over Reyna (He played 2 strong games at the WC and plays in the EPL 8/) or Donovan (Hit and Miss World Cup, MLS Cup too?).
It should goto Reyna but I think Honda will give it to Landon because..well he is Landon donovan and a "star" (see ESPY)
My first, and biased choice, is Frankie Hejduk. But I think Brad Friedel gets the nod on this one. Landon will have other opportunities and Reyna had a good tournament, but Brad outshined them all. Besides, if he wins we get to hear that English accent once again.
It absolutely should be Friedel. He single handedly kept Blackburn from the relegation zone, and of course he performed superbly at the WC. What more does he have to do? (Btw, I was a Keller supporter before the WC)
McBride is in Columbus, I guess, being overlooked as usual. He was one of the best players in both important competitions this year and I thought he had a shot at the award. I think some posters are misreading what this award is about. It's for performance with the USMNT, so all talk about play in the European leagues or even MLS is irrelevant. That's why you don't see any mention of their club performances in the lists of their accomplishments for the year.
I actually agree with you, McBride should be there. I guess they had to choose 3 of 4 and he was the odd one out. If Bruce had ever rested him, there might not be ANY question, but instead he was useless in the second half of his last two world cup games.
If Donovan wins I agree that part of it might be attributed to his image/potential image. But he did have two goals at the WC and his club side is looking good to win the Western Division, etc... Friedel was MVP for his club side and we all know about the World cup. Reyna MADE the all World Cup team and was a record signing for his new club...but his club is atrocious. JOB won a double w/ Ajax and I believe was rated as the top midfielder by an Italian publication after the first round of play at the WC. He also "spotted the mohawk" for the goal against S. Korea.
I'm not sure and don't feel like looking up if this award is based only on play for country, or if club is included too. So I'm voting twice. If based on play for USA only: 1. Tony Sanneh - how the hell was he overlooked? 2. O'Brien 3. Friedel If based on club and country: 1. Friedel 2. O'Brien 3. Reyna
Sanneh is definitely up there. Defenders usually don't get much notice in all sports, but this guy was one of the main pillars of US World Cup success.
There are three finalists: so hypotheticals about others are strictly that, although I could argue, as many here have, for JOB's and Sanneh's contributions. Anyway, it does depend if it is solely for U.S. natinal team play or for club and country. If it is solely country, I think that Donovan wins because he played during the final qualifiers, the Gold Cup, and played well during the World Cup. That contrats with the contributions of Friedel and Reyna during this same period. However, if it is club and country if gets more complicated. I would probably give the nod to Friedel then. He kept a newly promoted team up. He won a nationwide trophy and won the MVP in that match. He played throughout the U.S's run with many solid and spectacular moments. Reyna made the All-World team, he played very well for Rangers (rated best midfielder in the Scottish league by OPTA when he moved to Sunderland), but he was also injured a good part of the time he was at Sunderland. Donovan was good at the Cup and helped lead San Jose to a chmapionship and to 1st place in the beginning of this season. Now, that I look back it is even closer than I thought, but I would still go back to my selections.
Sanneh or O'Brian should be ahead of Donovan. He is there because he is the supposed savior of US Soccer. How many chances did he blow against Germany?
Based on US Play: 1) Donovan 2) Reyna 3) Friedel Based on Club Play: 1) Friedel T-2) Donovan T-2) Reyna Donovan 5 points Friedel 4 points Reyna 4 points Donovan wins it in my book. Claudio is hurt by his injuries (no pun intended). Friedel had a good World Cup, great at times, but was not consistently stellar. He was hurt by Poland game but will always be remembered for the South Korea game. Sanneh had a great World Cup, but was not so good with his club until very late in the season.
not technically a defender, but . . . This is true, but IIRC, Chris Armas won this award a couple of years ago - perhaps in 1999. He is not technically a defender, but his contribution to the USMNT has always been primarily defense. Has Eddie Pope ever won this award? Who are some of the other past winners other than Stewart in 2001, Reyna in 2000 (and Armas in 1999?)?