My vote goes to Alan Gordon. Is he even the same Alan "hoofer" Gordon who has been around MLS for a number of years?
Kenny Cooper, Roger Espinoza, Will Bruin, Andy Gruenebaum all deserve consideration. EJ too, except he wasn't here last year, so it's not a fair comparison.
Ferreira. Pontius contends for it, too. I have a hard time voting for EJ for a comeback award when, again, he wasn't here last year, and he wasn't coming back from anything but poor form. There's probably not an official award that EJ could contend for, since he's technically not a Newcomer either. Good season, though - definitely going beyond what I ever would have expected from him.
Will Bruin showed pretty well last year. Same with Gruenebaum I thought? And Espinoza was starting for SKC and doing well I thought last year? correct me if I am wrong, my memory is shady on how well those last two actually did last year. But I definitely don't remember them being bad or even mediocre players. EJ could get a "Come back player of the year" but I wouldn't say he is most improved.
Bruin's already more than doubled his goal totals from last year, chipped in more assists, and is the focal point of Houston's attack. All in his second year as a pro. Gruenebaum barely played, until Hesmer got injured. Espinoza is in the eye of the beholder. I thought he was just a hack artist last year; this year he's shown considerable skill to go with the rough-and-tumble. And again, EJ came back from nothing but playing awful. Ferreira and Pontius had broken legs. I don't think EJ is in that discussion for anyone without rave green glasses on. Most improved is more reasonable, and even then, it's hard to make a comparison since he was playing in a different league.
excellent point on Ferreira, but EJ wouldn't be the first to win the award when the only thing they came back fom was a period of suck.
Points well taken on Ferreira and Pontius. But anyone who watched EJ play with Aris knew he wasn't playing awful. He was in a messed up situation though with his loan deals etc.
Actually Gordon could contend for Comeback player. He got hurt last year right after the Quakes traded for him, and ended up having surgery in the offseason. I think it may have actually even been two different issues - his hip and a sports hernia. The serious injury was his hip, he was still rehabbing in the spring and couldn't really start regular training until late March/early April. One article I saw quoted him as saying he thought he was not going to be able to play again. On the topic of most improved, Justin Morrow of the Quakes also has to be in contention. He went from being loaned out last year to a USL squad to being an All Star quality defender, capable of playing central defender or left back.
I'd nominate Josh Williams from Columbus. He's been with us for a couple years but mostly in the reserve team and CCL/USOC duty until this year. When Marshall, James, and Mendes were all out, he stepped up and played great at CB. Then Vukovic & Anor got hurt after we waived Francis to clear an international spot for Higuain, and he's been the starter at LB ever since, including going 90 minutes 4 times in the last 11 days. He hasn't been perfect at LB, far from it. But the guy has been all over for us when we needed him this year, and has been a constant threat on set pieces and corners. He's played CB, RB, and LB. Can't ask for much more.
Actually, Gordon arrived in San Jose injured. I spoke with him at Soccer Silicon Valleys' annual charity dinner at the end of last season and he told me that the doctors in Toronto had misdiagnosed his injury. He sounded pretty bitter over the matter, since the doctors in San Jose figured it out fairly quick.
Jeb Brovsky. He's been solid throughout the season- not a flashy player but he's saved Montreal with his versatility- he's played RB, LB and CB (vs. San Jose). This is despite him being a natural midfielder. When Marsch snapped him up in the expansion draft everyone said it was a wasted pick- heck the Vancouver fans could not contain their excitement at seeing the back of Brovsky. At 33K/year he has to be the best value buy in the entire league.