Amen. Ricardo Clark. THis guy is awesome. Ray Hudson is an idiot. He gets all this young talent but never plays them: Mapp from last year and now Eksandrian. I am so glad the Metros and Bradley got Rico, because this guy can be a star for the US later.
I've yet to see Clark play, so I can't make a judgement on him, but Todd Dunivant certainly needs to be on the ballot. He's started all three games so far at left back and done all he could possibly do, including score a goal, shut down Klein last week and Cobi this week. For a rookie, he's incredibly polished and smooth. Makes a Quake fan want to say "Wade who?"
Is Zi Zi Roberts a rookie? If so, he looks like he could score some serious goals this year. Big, fast and strong. I have to agree with Ricardo Clark and Todd Dunivant. Dunivant in particular has impressed me tremendously. Extremely settled on the ball (though when he gets forward and the announcer pronounces LD's last name with a 'u' sound instead of a short 'o', I get terribly confused). I was disappointed to see Schmidt from Colorado on the bench. I'd like to see if he could build on that preseason.
I agree re Clark but no need to call Hudson an idiot. ESDANDARIAN IS INJURED (suffering an injury when Hudson played him). It would be tough for Hudson to play him while he's still injured, don't you think? He also never plays Quaranta, Convey, the young Salvadoran, etc. No, he never plays young folks.
Ricardo Clark, I think, has the upper hand. Dunivant seems good but I have yet to see him play. No way is Ricardo Clark a rookie. Im not going to say he's polished. But if this is his rookie year so far.....Im frettin the Metros in years to come. Ricardo Clark, if he keeps developing, should be out of MLS in 4 years and onto Europe. Magee is OK when he's not getting pushed around. the goal definately helped his confidence.
Clark and Dunivant really stand out. The way Clark can see the field and distribute from the D-mid spot is great. He's also pretty good witht he ball at his feet and shielding the ball from opposing players. Dunivant is steady in the back, makes great runs down the flank to get into the attack and seems to float in some really dangerous corners. That says alot about a rookie when the coach lets him take most of the corner kicks.
It will probably be between these two guys unless Magee, Eskandarian or Schmidt go on a huge scoring spree. Both have been silky and have made the transition to the pro game seamlessly.