Things to keep in mind: Vancouver has a match 3 days prior AND 2 days after the All-Star game. Some players (like RSL's Beltran and Wingert) are not on ballot. Last season there were 22 players on the Game-Day roster. That included 2 Commissioner's Picks (**) which didn't need to be on ballot. BOLD is my online ballot. My criteria are: Performance/Stats, Injury, Popularity, Team and Positional Diversity, Game Location, Tenure That said, here are my picks: FORWARDS - Chris Wondolowski (SJ): Tied for Golden Boot lead. - Kenny Cooper (NY): Tied for Golden Boot lead. - Thierry Henry (NY): League's highest paid player, 9 goals and 5 assists. - Maicon Santos (DC): 7 goals and a great story for a guy who has bounced around the league. - Saer Sene (NE): 2nd overall in Castrol Index, 7 goals, brings something diff. than above players. MIDFIELDERS - Dwayne De Rosario (DC): Always scores in All-Star game, leads in assists. - Kei Kamara (KC): Adds a speed/FWD/wing option not found above. Good stats. - Graham Zusi (KC): USMNT player, 2nd in assists, one of league's best teams. - David Beckham (LA): World's most iconic player, solid enough numbers with 4 assists. - Gabriel Gomez (PHI): Defensive midfielder, a rare bright spot for hosts Philadelphia - Jaime Castrillon (COL): Another defensive stalwart, who's also scored on 4 occasions - Osvaldo Alonso (SEA): A proven commodity, who leads a defense that is 1st in goals allowed. - **Freddy Adu (PHI): A young, talented, mid with flair, from the hometown team. DEFENDERS - Aurelien Collin (KC): Frenchman has been MVP-caliber defensively/on set pieces - Steven Beitashour (SJ): T-3rd in assists. - Jeff Parke (SEA): CB with most minutes for best defense. Hurtado had his chance. - Nat Borchers (RSL): Adds talented RSL rep to stabilize back. Olave had his chance. - Sebastian Miranda (CLB): Crew have put up good numbers, an auto-selection every week. - Andre Hainault (HOU): Top 10 Castrol Index. Can play anywhere on back line. -**Ramiro Corrales (SJ): Only player remaining from MLS' inaugural season. GOALKEEPERS - Andy Gruenebaum (CLB): Leads the league in saves, some of them spectacular - Jimmy Nielsen (KC): Started more than 10 league games, leads in GAA at 0.83 HONORABLE MENTIONS FWD: Dominic Oduro (CHI), Blas Perez (DAL), Alvaro Saborio (RSL), Will Bruin (HOU), Steven Lenhart (SJ), Fredy Montero (SEA) MID: Jeff Larentowicz (COL), Martin Rivero (COL), Nick DeLeon (DCU), Chris Pontius (DCU), Lee Nguyen (NE), Marvin Chavez (SJ), Sebastian Grazzini (CHI) DEF: James Riley (CHV), Chad Marshall (CLB), Geoff Cameron (HOU), YP Lee (VAN), Jamison Olave (RSL), GK: Bill Hamid (DC), Nick Rimando (RSL), Michael Gspurning (SEA) NOT ON BALLOTS Chris Wingert (RSL), Tony Beltran (RSL), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (SEA)
You're right. I was only listing him where I would fit him in my plans. Plus, unlike previous years, it appears that you can vote for 11 players overall, regardless of position.
Anyone but KC players will be on my ballot. We have enough games during that stretch without having a few guys going to Philadelphia for this. I want KC players to get their "All Star Bonus" for being on the "reserves"
Le Toux, who said he'd never play for Nowak again, and Califf (I'll text his name in) ... just to spite the MLS ASG coach.
Well I'm glad Nowak isn't the coach. Hmm, I would want Kreis or Vermes. I'm leaning towards Vermes. I would rather a youngish lineup that will be hungry an full of energy. No Henry this time. Really there is no reason that MLS should be looking as bad as they do against teams in preseason with the selection of players we have. I think most of the time the coaches half ass it and it filters down to the players. Coaches like Vermes and Kreis would not treat this like a day off. ---------Rimando---------- Williams---Collin---Olave----Segares ----------Alonso---Espinoza Donovan----Montero------Kamara ---------------Sene----------------- I think Sene is the only stretch in this lineup. I rate Sene; he does everything. He would do well with this group and would have something to prove. I don't think we get blown out with this lineup.