Before we begin, some names who were considered, but ultimately missed out on selection: Milton Rodriguez, Davy Arnaud, Kasey Keller, Jeff Larentowicz, Hunter Freeman, Ryan Smith, Pablo Mastroeni, Alain Rochat, Jair Benitez, Drew Moor, Brek Shea, Andy Najar, Danny Mwanga, Tim Ream, Bobby Boswell, Marvell Wynne, Jimmy Conrad, Patrick Nyarko etc.
So without further ado, I present to you 'The Top 50 MLS Players: 50-41'
50: Kei Kamara FW (Sporting KC) - Kamara really came into his own as a solid MLS striker in 2010, leading the KC Wizards' (now Sporting KC) frontline, with 10 goals in 27 games. With the arrival of Omar Bravo for 2011, his opportunities will be somewhat more limited, but expect him to continue his steady improvement and firmly cement himself as one of the league's more established finishers this coming season. And of course, we can't go mentioning Kamara without a reference to what's been dubbed 'The Miss of the Century'...
49: Juninho MF (LA Galaxy) - No, not that Juninho, this one's only 22 years of age, and he doesn't have a World Cup winners medal. Currently on loan from Sao Paulo, Juninho, or 'Vitor Gomes Perreira
Junior' as he's also know, is beginning his 2nd season in LA, after a debut year which proved a pleasant suprise. A complete unknown at the time of his arrival, the diminutive playmaker proceeded to establish himself as a regular in the heart of the Galaxy midfield, producing a series of assured performances, that have left fans with high hopes for him going into 2011. A full season playing alongside Beckham will be a huge benefit, and expect the young Brazilian to go from strength to strength this MLS campagin.
48: Bobby Convey MF (San Jose Earthquakes) - British football fans will be familiar with Convey, after the former US international's 5-year spell with Reading, during which time he experienced a series of highs and lows with the Berkshire-based club. At one time the youngest ever player to appear in MLS, Convey returned to the league in 2009, with San Jose, but his 1st season back in the States was nothing short of a disaster, marred by injuries and poor performances, that led many to question his future with the club. A Lazarus-like comeback in 2010 however saw Convey recapture the form which led to him becoming a regular fixture in the national team, proving a real danger for oppostion defences with his play from the left wing. Still only 27, if he can stay healthy, there's no doubt that Convey should become one the league's top performers over the coming season.
47: Dane Richards MF (New York Red Bulls) - Madly inconsistent, the Jamaican speedster has been known to suffer from a touch of the Bendtner-itis (i.e. "If he was half as good as he thinks he is, he'd be twice as good as he really is."). Nevertheless, he is undoubtedly gifted, making huge strides last season under new manager Hans Backe, proving more confident at taking on fullbacks and delivering crosses into the box with new-found accuracy. If Richards can just add more consistency to his game in 2011, he could make a real impact for the Red Bulls and provide top service for Henry and co., enough to see the New York side make real push for that elusive MLS Cup.
46: Heath Pearce DF (Chivas USA) - Having returned to the States midway through the 2009 campaign, after spells playing in Denmark and Germany, respectively, Pearce has quickly become one of the premier fullbacks in the league, proving an ever reliable force in FC Dallas' back-four. After playing a vital role in the club's run to the 2010 MLS Cup final however, the US international was controversially left out of the team's starting XI, when it was decided he had not fully recovered from a lingering hamstring injury, despite passing a pre-match medical. Understandably, Pearce was rather upset, taking out his rage on twitter, a respone which most likely contributed towards his recent trade to Chivas USA. Their gain should be Dallas' loss however, as Pearce looks to ease the club's pain of losing Jonathan Bornstein to Tigres, and improve upon an awful 2010 season, with saw the Los Angeles-based club finish bottom of the Western Conference.
45: Eddie Gaven MF (Columbus Crew) - Gaven may have failed to live up to the lofty expectations placed on him when he burst onto the league as a 16 year old in 2003, but his play over the past few seasons has been one of the key factors in the Crew's continued regular season success. With the team in transition for 2011, after the loss of key veterans, such as Frankie Hejduk and Guilleme Barros Schelotto, the attacking midfielder has now become one of the teams's most important pieces, and it will be up to the likes of him to carry this re-building side through what should prove a challenging season.
44: Marko Perovic MF (New England Revolution) - One of the club's few positives to take out of the 2010 season was the encouraging displays of new signing Perovic, a former Serbian under-21 international, who had enjoyed a productive two year spell with FC Basel, prior to joining the Revs. At 27, Perovic joins MLS in his prime, and the left-footed winger has so far proved to be a dynamic and energetic force in New England's midfield, providing a much needed injection of skill that was previously lacking in the side. The Revs may no longer be the dominant force they were once were in the early/mid 2000s, but the addition of players like Perovic should help them bounce back from what have been a fairly lacklustre couple of seasons. Furthermore, with Shalrie Joseph's ongoing 'problems' and Taylor Twellman's long expected retirement, Perovic's play in 2011 will be even more vital to New England's success.
43: Kevin Hartman GK (FC Dallas) - What a year 2010 was for the peroxide blonde shot stopper. The holder of virtually every MLS all-time goalkeeping record, most thought him past his best going into last season, as Hartman began the year as Dario Sala's backup in Dallas, having been deemed surplus to requirements at Kansas City. With Sala underperforming however, Hartman seized the opportunity to take over between the sticks, finishing the regular season with the best 'goals against average' amongst MLS goalkeepers, while his side enjoyed a fantastic run to the MLS Cup final. Their campaign may have ended in defeat that time around, but with 36-year-old Hartman providing a veteran presence at the back, Dallas' defence looks set to help them make another visit to the playoffs this coming season. Look forward to a reunion with Thierry Henry too, after this bizarre incident between the French striker and Hartman during last year's playoffs:
42: Brian Ching FW (Houston Dynamo) - The fomer US international may now be well past his best, but he provides Houston with a physical and reliable presence upfront, as well as valuable experience on an increasingly youthful roster. Never really known for his goalscoring prowess, MLS fans have come to appreciate Ching's hardworking and effective displays as one of the league's best target men, and the Houston captain will be hoping to lead his side back to the playoffs, after last season's blip.
41: Branko Boskovic MF (DC United) - Signed midway through last year, in order to try and help rejuvenate DC's horror season, it is safe to say that Boskovic failed to impresses during the 10 games fans saw him in action. The fomer PSG midfielder is no doubt a talented player, as he proved during Montenegro's suprise 0-0 draw with England last October, but he'll need to prove that he can perform on a regular basis if he's to justify the DP money DC United are paying him. With the addition of Dax McCarty and Charlie Davies, Boskovic will be surrounded by more talent, and his play should improve after a full preseason with his teammates and the club in a more stable condition, under new manager, Ben Olsen.
Stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll continue our rundown of the top 50 MLS players!
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