Sean Wheelock announced his second annual best XI..I myself am not sure if I agree with all the selctions here...whats your take and who would you have selected? http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3154278 Cannon Conrad Frasier Nelson Donovan Herzog Gutierrez Guevara Ronnie O'Brien Ching Moreno
Wouldn't have picked Herzog. Even if his coach isn't the best, if he's not a sure Bext XI on the Galaxy, can't be on the list. Guiterrez is a question mark. Haven't seen as many KC games as most teams (thanks ESPN2) but not until the playoffs would I have though him a possibility. KC earns an extra spot with on-the-field success. Would take Zavagnin instead from KC. Satisfied with rest of list though I'm not 100% convinced Ching and Moreno are the best strikers. If Moreno is top 3 for MVP, he belongs. Ruiz, Razov, Kirovski had off years. Would consider EJ. Stats would indicate Noonan, but I'm not any more convcinced that he belongs. Wolff, Arnaud, and Buddle all have cases to be made, but likely 2nd or 3rd teamers here. Natural ability vs. performance is tough to delineate. Striker is defintely my toughest call. Even Esky and Ralph are to be considered. Cannon Conrad Fraser (hasn't personally impressed me but he seems to be most everyone's choice for DOTY) Nelsen Donovan Guevara Ronnie O'Brien and 4 of the rest, 1 or 2 mids, 3 or 3 strikers. don't really care Dempsey and Marshall I'd give consideration. Maybe not Best XI this year, but who wouldn't want them on their team next year if told to pick 11 players?
...for about half the season. The Galaxy's decline in the second half of the season coincided with his decline.
MFLS week-by-week best 11 (see my link in the sig) GK - Ring D - Leitch, Heaps, DeLaTorre M - Guevara, Arnaud, Ralston, Gaven F - JMoreno, Buddle, Ruiz I am a bit surprised by that actually. MFLS total points best 11 (which would include nonappearance points) (http://www.mfls.com) GK - Busch D - Conrad, Marshall, Oughton M - Arnaud, Guevara, Gaven, Klein F - JMoreno, Ching, Wolff
Herzog doesn't bother me on the list. His decline came with Steve Sampson who didn't know how to use him and benched him for the reason of Steve Sampson being Steve Sampson. And boy did that work out well for the Galaxy. He had one the best visions and best passing the league has seen in a while.
let's piece this together http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/252348p-216075c.html Gaven & Guevera in heard Zavagnin is in Cannon and Moreno you'd think (MVP finalists) Fraser in as DOTY Should know today. I think Conrad and Donovan should be sure bets. Though not 100% sure about Donovan. That's 8/11. Johnson and Ching in battle for other forward. Pope likely misses out per above article. Maybe Marshall will sneak in (deservedly). My final guess Cannon Fraser Conrad Marshall Zavagnin Donovan Guevera Gaven Moreno Ching edit: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/10169905.htm here's confirmation about Conrad and Zavagnin question marks: Marshall, Donovan, Ching, Moreno biggest question marks: Marshall, Ching
replace Marshall and Donovan with Nelsen and Pope then! article misleading in not confirming Pople. I'd forgotten about Nelsen and O'Brien cause they'd have made my personal list though I'm not sure I would have "predicted" them. Counted only 10 on my final prediction by mistake. Thought they'd put Marshall in as compensation for not winning ROTY. Biggest shock, no Donovan. Had an off year stats-wise, but how often did he create the Ching goal? Still think he was clearly one of the 10 best field players in MLS though a little under-challenged (Beasley/Convey syndrome). note that Nelsen and O'Brien were on my list of personal 7 top choices earlier in this thread https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3565655&postcount=2 If remembered I'd have put them on the final prediction list and probably left Marshall off (though Nelsen to Europe made question if MLS would list him). Biggest surprise then is Pope instead of Donovan in a 3-5-2. Don't think many think Pope deserved this or the DOTY nomination. If he'd have stepped up this year, Metrostars wouldv'e won the Supporters' Shield. How come Metrostars get 3 on the list, KC 2, DC 2, and LA 0. Don't most sports bias it towards the top teams? CLB with 1. Though I'm glad MLS tried straight up to pick the best. Generally happy with the list except Pope/Donovan.
GK: Joe Cannon Defenders: Chad Marshall, Jimmy Conrad, Tyrone Marshall, Jeff Agoos Midfielders: Clint Dempsey, Marcelo Saragosa, Amado Guevarra, Simon Elliot Forwards: Brian Ching, Jaime Moreno