The Top 50 MLS Players: 10-1

(Edit): First and foremost, massive apoloiges. In the confusion of university work and other matters, it would appear this piece was never posted, or was inadvertently deleted from the blog. With the season in full-swing now, it may be a bit dated, but I am re-posting it regardless, so as to finish off the series.


Rejoice! the 2011 MLS season has finally kicked off, with the week 1 round of games now done and dusted, providing what was arguably the most entertaining opening weekends in the league's relatively sort history. With that in mind, now seems like the perfect time to finish off our countdown of the top 50 MLS players and reveal who made that top 10 list:


10: Juan Pablo Angel FW (La Galaxy) - Now plying his trade on the West Coast, having been frozen out of Hans Backe's plans in New York, Angel may be getting on in years but there's no question that he remains one of the most accomplished finishers in the league. LA certainly have a lot striking options available to them but, with the debature of Edson Buddle to Germany, Angel will be called upon to be their go-to guy for the 2011 campaign. With all the pieces around him on the team, providing great service, it shouldn't be beyond the former Aston Villa striker's cabilities to bag himself a 15+ goal season.



9: Javier Morales MF (Real Salt Lake) - The attacking midfielder in Jason Kreis' diamond midfield, Morales is Salt Lake's playmaker and a key component to their recent success. The charismatic Argentine appears to be thriving in the team's current system and is undoubtedly one of the most creative players in league, with Salt Lake funneling the majority of their play through him, in the centre of midfield. Everything seems in place for another impressive season, and Morales and Salt Lake look eager to taste more success, not only in MLS, but also in the Concacaf Champions League, where an appearance in the final now looks like a real possibility.



8: David Ferreira MF (FC Dallas) - Last season's MVP, Ferreira is another example of one of these South American playmakers, that have flooded into the league in recent seasons. The 31-year-old former Colombian interntional was pivotal to Dallas' run to the MLS Cup Final in 2010 and, with the recent departure of Dax McCarty, will arguably be even more heavily relied upon this season, to provide the majority of both the team's goals and assists. Whether Dallas have the squad to repeat last year's sucess is questionable, but if Ferriera performes to the level expected of him, then they should at least come close.



7: Dwayne De Rosario MF (Toronto FC) - Toronto look like they are rebuiling again this year, after yet another coaching change, and the quality of the roster certainly does not fill one with much confidence. De Rosario's abilities are well known by now to all MLS fans, and the club captain's presence on the field gives the team perhaps their only chance at enjoying at least a somewhat respectable 2011 season. Now playing for his hometown club, 'Canada's finest' has deservedly earned a reputation as a renouned clutch performer over the past few years, but has also been critcized for his reportedly selfish attitude, supposedly putting his own best interests before that of the team. First, there was the notorious cheque-signing goal celebration, followed later by the unscheduled training stint with Celtic during the offseason, incidents which have somewhat soured the relationship between De-Ro and the TFC fans. Going into the season, new coach Aaron Winter and his star player need to put past events behind them and focus on the task at hand, as the club gear up for what will most likely be another tough and unrewarding campain.



6: David Beckham MF (LA Galaxy) - Not much to say here. Everyone knows the man and, though he undoubtedly poliarizes opinions across the pond, there's no question that Beckham is still an extremely talented player, despite his increasing years. Beckham may have not played to the level everyone had expected during his three years in the league, mainly due to injuries and international commitments, but this season could very well be different. Now entering the final year of his contract with the Galaxy, Beckham has completed his first preseason with the club since entering the league and that time spent gelling with his teammates could prove vital for the upcoming campaign. Thus far, you'd be hard pressed to argue that his play warrants the 6th place spot on this list, but there's no doubt that he is fully capable of producing an MVP-like season. Much will depend on his teammates however...



5. Fredy Montero FW (Seattle Sounders) - Probably the most exciting player in the league and certainly the one who has attracted the most attention from clubs overseas. Colombian striker Montero has bags of ability and is really starting to realize his potenital, not just as a goalscorer but also as a creative playmaker, who can feed his teammates with chances. Many are touting Montero to lead the MLS scoring charts this coming season and, though he faces some fierce competition from the likes of Henry and Angel, should he continue to improve his play the way he has since he joined the league, in 2009, then those predictions could well prove to be inspired.


4. Rafa Marquez DF (New York Red Bulls) - Again, not much too say here. Marquez is one of the more high-profile players in the league and his reputation, as a former Barca player, precedes him. Equally comfortable in the centre of the defence or playing as a holding midfielder, as he often does for Mexico, Marquez showed towards the end of the 2010 season that he's not simply joined MLS for a nice pay day. No question, he has already established himself as one of the best defensive players in the league and, along with Team Ream, will form one of the strongest centre-back pairing in MLS, that will hopefully help anchor the Red Bull's push for the 2011 MLS Cup.



3. Omar Bravo FW (Sporting KC) - Another Mexican, Bravo's move to MLS came as somewhat of a suprise, mainly due to the fact it was announced he was joining one the 'less-fashionable' sides in the league, in KC, but also because he seemingly has a fair few years of top level football left in him. A proven goalscorer in Mexico and, to an extent, in Europe, the main question surrounding Bravo will be whether he appears 'interested' in giving his all on the pitch week in, week out, unlike past Mexican stars who have entered the league, such as Luis Hernandez and, more recently, Nery Castillo. Certainly, a fully motivated Omar Bravo will prove a dynamic goalscoring threat and, teamed with Teal Bunbury, could give KC one of the most feared attacking duos in the league.



2. Thierry Henry FW (New York Red Bulls) - It's Henry, of course he was going to be in the top 2! His best years may be behind him and he may have looked somewhat rusty after joing the Red Bulls late in July last year, but there's no doubt that Henry is a class above what the rest of MLS has to offer. Again, there will be questions whether he is fully motivated to give his all for the club, but it's hard to believe that Henry would come to the US, with offers from Europe still on the table, simply to treat his stay here as a premature retirement, such is his competitive nature that he's displayed throughout his career. Enough will be written about the former Arsenal star over the coming season and people will undoubtedly question his commitment to the cause, but I have full confidence that he will show off glimpses of the old Henry, given the chance.



1. Landon Donovan FW (LA Galaxy) - Have to hand it Landon, he's been an abolute beast in MLS ever since he entered the league. While many will criticize him for not making the move abroad, with his talents long since outgrown MLS standards, Donovan seems comfortable plying his trade in his home-state of California and his commitment to the Galaxy really can't be questioned. Donovan's sheer presence and marketing appeal, as a standout US athlete, is a huge bonus to the league and Garber and co. have made a clear effort to try and keep him tied down to MLS, as they attempt to branch out the game's appeal across the country. A big money move is rapidly passing him by and, though many would like to see a US soccer player enjoy success abroad, MLS fans should be more than happy to enjoy having a player of Donovan's quality in the league.

Well, that's it. The top 50 MLS players for 2011. All that's left to be said now is enjoy the season and hopefully your team enjoys some success this campaign. We'll see by November how far off my rankings were and whether there are any new stars who'll deserve inclusion next time around.

Until next time!

The Top 50 MLS Players: 20-11

The countdown continues, as we inch ever closer to finish line of the top 50 MLS players. We're now getting into the 'cream of the crop' of the league, and there's really not a lot to choose between some of the names coming up. So, without further ado, let's crack on with 'The Top 50 MLS Players: 20-11'



20: Alvaro Saborio FW (Real Salt Lake) - The Costa Rican international established himself as Salt Lake's main goalscoring threat in 2010, having joined the club in March last year, and with the departure of Robbie Findley, he'll be even heavily relied upon to lead the line for the pre-season MLS Cup favourites, going into this season. Formally of Bristol City, with whom he endured a fairly torrid time, Saborio was signed on a permanent deal by Salt Lake in December, becoming the club's first ever Designated Player, on the back of the 12 goals he grabbed over the course of last season, an achievement which earned him the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. Understandably, there are high expecations now for Saborio, with a lot of pressure on him to justify his new hefty salary figure, but there's no doubt that he has the natural goal scoring instincts, as well as the talent around him in the Salt Lake starting XI, to challenge for the Golden Boot in 2011 and to hopefully guide his team to MLS Cup success.



19: Chad Marshall DF (Columbus Crew) - A mainstay in the Crew's backline since 2004, Marshall has been one of the most consistent and lauded defenders in MLS for a few years now, and was a key reason for the club's 2008 MLS Cup victory. Consitently on the fringes of the national team, the hulking centre back has faced stiff competition for a place in Bob Bradley's starting XI, but more recently looks to be forcing his way into contention. Injuries have undoubtedly been an issue throughout his career, as has less than ideal pace, but Marshall makes up for any deficiencies in his game with his natural ability to read the game, as well as his hard-nosed attitude and exemplary leadership qualities. At 26, he still has his best footballing years ahead of him, and the opportunity for a move to Europe could well be in his future if he manages to stay healthy and continue to play to the level he's maintained over the past few seasons. For now though, one gets the impression that Marshall is more than happy to fill the role of Columbus' on-field leader, in front of an American audience which could seen be crying out for his inclusion in the US national team's backline.



18: Conor Casey FW (Colorado Rapids) - A tall, powerful goal poacher, Casey's professional career began with Borussia Dortmund, after impressive performances on the youth level for the US national team, though the now 29-year-old striker never managed to make the impact overseas that he had hoped to. After numerous loan spells, as well as an unhappy two seasons spent with FSV Mainz, during which time his career was further derailed by a torn ACL, Casey decided it was time to return to the States, signing first with Toronto FC for their inaugural 2007 season, before being traded to Colorado after just 2 games with the Canadian club. Since then, Casey has proven himself as a solid, if unspectacular, goalscorer in MLS, one who can be relied on to provide at least 10 goals a season, causing constant problems for opposition defenders, with his tough, physical style of play.
On the international level, despite a few solid performances during the US' qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup, including a brace in the 3-2 win against Hounduras, a result which sealed their place in South Africa, Casey was somewhat controversially left off of the final list of 23 names for the tournament, and was very vocal in his displeasure with Bob Bradley over the decision, a move which could well have signalled the end of his career with the national team. He made up for the disappointment however later on in the year, as his Colorado side enjoyed a fairytale run through the MLS playoffs, culminating in the shock win of their first ever MLS Cup, as Casey was named MVP of the final. The Rapids are unlikely to repeat that success this season, but should they make a reappearance in the playoffs in 2011, you can guarantee it will be largely due to the goals of Casey.



17: Blaise Nkufo FW (Seattle Sounders) - Nkufo arrived in Seattle after the World Cup last season, and looked impressive in his limited appearances, scoring a comendable 5 goals in 11 games, including a hat-trick against Columbus Crew in September. The Congoloese-born Swiss international striker has an impressive goal scoring pedigree from his time in Europe, where he became a cult figure at FC Twente, finishing with more than 10 goals in each of the 7 seasons he played with the Dutch club. At 35, he's certainly no spring chicken, and with the Sounder having an array of attacking talent to choose from he may not even have a regular starting role, but he'll no doubt produce the goods when called upon.



16: Geoff Cameron MF (Houston Dynamo) - Poised for a stellar 2010 campaign, after being named in the 2009 MLS Best XI, Cameron's season was cruelly interupted by a serious knee injury, which ruled him out for most of the season and ended any his chances of making Bob Bradley's World Cup squad. One of the most versatile players in MLS, having played virtually every position on the pitch at some stage during his pro career, Cameron's absence was a major blow for Houston, especially after the loss of Stuart Holden to Bolton, and was no doubt a huge factor in their largely underwhelming season. Now back to full fitness, Cameron is all set to make up for lost time, and should force his way back into the national team picture before too long, the July Gold Cup squad most being likely his first goal, and his return will be a huge boost for the depleted Dynamo. Due to his age and style of play, Cameron is also one of the leading candidates in MLS to make a move abroad in the near future, and 2011 will therefore be a crucial year in the 25-year-old midfielder's career, as he looks to prove his abilities once and for all.



15: Jay DeMerit DF (Vancouver Whitecaps) - After a very impressive showing at the World Cup, it's somewhat of a surprise to see DeMerit make the move to MLS at this stage of career, especially when it was rumoured that the likes of Everton and Wolfsburg were keen on his signature. Nevertheless, as the Whitecaps captain for their first ever season in the league, DeMerit will be playing a crucial role for the Canadian side, as he looks to bring a veteran presence to a relatively young-looking defence, and become a figurehead for the franchise for years to come. The 1st season for an expansion side is generally always a rather humbling experience (unless you're the Sounders of course), and it'll be up to influencial players like DeMerit to ease the club through that difficult transition to the 'big leagues'.



14: Donovan Ricketts GK (Los Angeles Galaxy) - Having been widely criticized during his time with Bradford in the lower league of English football, Ricketts' career has been rejuvinated since his move to LA, firmly establishing himself as one of the league's best goalkeepers over the last two seasons. The Jamaican has seemingly cut out the many errors that used to plague his game and ended 2010 by being name Goalkeeper of the Year, as the Galaxy's defence conceeded just 26 goals. Currently suffering from a preseason inury, LA will be hoping Ricketts can get back to full fitness quickly, in time for the start of the season, having become such an integral part of Bruce Arena's team.



13: Kenny Cooper FW (Portland Timbers) - The Timbers undoubtedly pulled off a great piece of business, when they sealed the signature of the recently returned Cooper for their first season in MLS. Once hailed as the possible successor to Brian McBride for the national team, Cooper has so far failed to make that transition into a fully-fledged star, though there's no question that he's proved himself as a more than capable MLS striker, during his previous 4 seasons in the league. The failed transition to European football in 2009, with 1860 Munich, was certainly a significant setback for Cooper's career, but a comeback to MLS at this point should be just what is needed to set the big target man back on track, as the Timbers look to be assembling a squad to be competitive right off the bat. A former Man Utd trainee, Portland will be relying heavily on Cooper to provide the majority of their goals this season, and he is certainly capable of firing them towards playoff contention, if provided with regular service from his teammates.



12: Omar Gonzalez DF (Los Angeles Galaxy) - Only 2 years into his professional career, Gonzalez has already been singled out by many as one of the leading defenders in MLS, and a future US national team star. One of the tallest players in the league, at 6ft 5in, Gonzalez won Rookie of the Year honours in his debut season, and followed that up by being named to the All-Star team in 2010, as the Galaxy claimed the Supporter's Shield, with the best regular season record. MLS Cup victory may have alluded them last season, but LA look all set make another push for the championship this year, with Gonzalez now arguably one of the key ingredients to future success, on a team made up of established veterans and promising young talent. The 22-year-old centre back recently made his debut for the national team, against Brazil back in August last year, and despite the 2-0 defeat, looked extremely composed and comfortable at that level. Gonzalez certainly has a very promising future ahead of him and, though there will always be questions surrounding his pace, his continued growth as a player will almost certainly see him become one of the best American players around before too long.


11: Omar Cummings FW (Colorado Rapids) - Over the past 3 seasons, Cummings has quietly gone about establishing himself as one of best allround forwards in all of MLS, scoring goals at crucial moments and providing a flurry of assists for teammates, a testament to his unselfing play. Together with Conor Casey, he makes up one of the best strike-partnerships in the league, a combination which proved vital in Colorado's late season success last year. After a January move to Aston Villa broke down due to work permit issues, the Rapids will be delighted that their Jamiacan striker will be returning to the club for the 2011 season, as they look to try and remain competitive in an extremely strong Western Conference.



Stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll continue our rundown of the top 50 MLS players!

The Top 50 MLS Players: 30-21

We're getting ever closer to the kickoff of the 2011 MLS season and the rundown of the top 50 MLS players continues, as we look at those ranked 30-21 in this edition. Creeping over halfway, the names on the list are getting more familiar, but there are still one or two suprises in store.



30: Steve Zakuani FW/MF (Seattle Sounders) - After a relatively quiet rookie campaign, the no. 1 pick in the 2009 Superdraft really come into his own during the 2010 season, finishing the year with 10 goals and 6 assists, as he established himself as one of Seattle's most important players. A product of Arsenal's youth academy, Zakuani's pace and skill is typical of the 'Arsene Wenger School of Football', and he continues to add more strength and versatility to his game, two attributes which he was noticeably lacking when he first entered the league. Born in the DR Congo, but brought up in London, Zakuani looks all set to enjoy a stellar 2011 season.



29: Robbie Rogers MF (Columbus Crew) - With a similar style of play to Zakuani, Rogers' pace and trickery on the ball have become the bane of many a MLS fullback over the past few seasons. Spending his first couple of pro seasons in Holland, with Heerenveen, Rogers failed to make a first team appearance with the Dutch club, and subsequently returned home to the US, to sign for Columbus Crew, where he became an pivotal part of their 2008 MLS Cup winning side. Though somewhat hampered by injuries during 2010, Rogers has shown during his time in MLS and with the US national team that he is indeed an incredibly productive player, who has the ability to change a game in an instant. Still somewhat raw in many aspects of his game however, the winger still has a long way to go before he's anywhere near the finished article.



28: Nat Borchers DF (Real Salt Lake) - The beating heart of Salt Lake's solid defense, Borchers has been, until only recently, one of MLS' most underrated defenders. A principal reason the Utah-based club are considered prime MLS Cup candidates for this season is their study defense, which conceeded a league record of just 20 goals in 2010, and with largely the same record-setting cast returning for 2011, they look set to continue this trend. Recently rewarded with a lucrative contract extension to 2014, Borchers and co. will be looking to make up for last season's disappointing playoff defeat, which saw them dumped out in a suprise 3-2 aggregate defeat to FC Dallas, and they have all the pieces in place to do so.



27: Shalrie Joseph MF (New England Revolution) - An MVP candidate two years ago, Joseph did not enjoy a happy 2010 campagin, and looks to be starting this season out in even more controversial circumstances. Widely hailed as one of MLS' star performers over the last few years, as well as being highly coveted by a number of European clubs, Joseph started the 2010 season by being named the Revs' new captain, after the departure of Steve Ralston, but then mysteriously disappeared from the team, taking a "leave of absense". It soon emerged that the Grenadian-born midfielder had entered into the league's 'Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Programme', only returning to the Revs in late May, by which time Steve Nicol's side had already lost 5 games, setting the tone for a disappointing rest of the season. Looking to bounce back from last year's misfortune, things have not been going to plan this preseason however, after Joseph and teammate, Kevin Alston, were involved in a late night incident (of which the exact details still remain sketchy - http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2011-03-03-shalrie-joseph-faces-trespass-charge_N.htm) at the team's hotel, in Olrando, that resulted in Joseph's arrest and the two players being promptly sent back to Boston by the team. With Joseph now facing a possible suspension from the league, this was really the last thing the Revs needed, as their performances last year noticeably declined with their captain out of the line-up. A player capable of running things from the centre of midfield, Joseph is the perfect two-way midfielder, and New England will be praying he avoids punishment if they are to compete for a playoff spot this season.



26: Charlie Davies FW (DC United) - Everyone knows the story of Davies' life threatning car accident by now. Many at the time thought his playing days to be completely over, such was the horrific nature of his injuries, so for him to even be back training at this stage is still a quite remarkable feat in itself. Having failed to re-claim a place in the Sochaux side after rehabing from his injuries, Davies has now returned to the States, joining DC United on loan for the 2011 campaign, where it's hoped he can return to his impressive pre-injury form. Questions evidently remain though wether Davies can recapture that form which saw him earn a move to a major European league, having been out of first team action for almost 18 months now, and the striker certainly has a lot to prove going into this season. There are also those who question his attitude and professionalism, having been in breach of team curfew during the accident, suffered while on national team duty, and after being caught up with a teammate in a bizarre speeding incident back in October (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/10/charlie-davies-speeding-a_n_757306.html). Then there was the fact that Davies called out US coach Bob Bradley, after being left out of the 2010 World Cup squad, despite being far from ready for a return to football, and constantly criticized the Sochaux team management, over his last few months at the club, for not involving him in the first team. Davies is undoubtedly talented, and at 100% would be a regular fixture with the US national team and an established European club, but it still remains to be seen whether he has both physically and mentally recovered from the accident, as well as matured as a human being during his recovery. One thing is for certain, the next 8 months will be a huge test for Davies and will probably define the rest of his career. At full fitness, there's no question he would be a huge help for a DC United side that really struggled in front of goal last season, but one still has to question whether he's truly ready.



25: Joel Lindpere MF (New York Red Bulls) - The team's MVP last season, the Estonian midfielder was part of a resurgent New York side that, under new coach Hans Backe, managed to make the playoffs, bouncing back from a 2009 season that saw them put up one of the worst team records in MLS history. Lindpere isn't a particually flashy player, but he is an effective force in attack, thanks to an excellent football brain, and should be a full-time starter in a Red Bulls' side which is by far and away the favourites for the Eastern Conference.



24: Chris Wondolowski FW (San Jose Earthquakes) - 'Wow', 'Amazing', 'Unbelievable' - Those are just some of the words you could use to describe the 2010 season that Wondolowski enjoyed. Merely a bit-part player in the league up until last year, Wondo absolutely exploded onto the scene, finishing the season with a MLS-leading 18 goals, carrying the Earthquakes to the playoffs, finishing 2nd in the league's MVP voting, and earning his first international cap against Chile in January. Now the real test begins; is Wondolowski simply a one-hit wonder, or can he carry his scintillating form into 2011? While he may be one of the hardest working and fittest players in the league, San Jose's now star striker would probably openly admit that he is far from the most gifted footballer technically, though neither were the likes of Brian McBride or Taylor Twellman. Wondolowski will most likely never reach the lofty heights of some of those star strikers that have lead the line for the national team in the past, but there should be no reason why he can't be a 10+ goals-a-season striker in MLS.



23: Nick Rimando GK (Real Salt Lake) - For my money, easily the best domestic-based US goalkeeper. The 2009 MLS Cup MVP may be small in stature for a keeper (standing at only 5ft 9in tall), but he makes up for his relative lack of height with unbelieveable awareness and athleticism. In the 27 regular season games he played last year, Rimando conceeded just 18 goals and had 14 clean sheets, easily the best season of his 11-year MLS career, which also saw him earn his first ever All-Star appearance, as well as firmly establish himself as 3rd choice keeper with the national team, behind Tim Howard and Brad Guzan. A model professional on and off the field, Rimando's value to this Salt Lake side really can't be understated.




22: Sebastien Le Toux FW (Philadelphia Union) - Much like Wondolowski, few expected Le Toux to have the amazing break-out campaign he enjoyed in 2010, as he finished the season with 14 goals and 11 assists, earning deseved MVP consideration in the process. Arguably one of the most popular players in the league, the French striker was one of the Union's 10 selections in the 2009 Expansion Draft, after being left unprotected by the Seattle Sounders, where he had been a fan favourite, due to his time spent with the club during their time final few years in USL, as well as his high work rate and affable personality. While it was considered a good selection at the time, no one foresaw the impact Le Toux would have for the expansion side, becoming the leading light on a side that become known for its attacking flair, towards the end of the season. Philadelphia will no doubt fair better in their second season in existence, though with a fairly suspect defence, they'll be heavily relying on the likes of Le Toux to outscore their opponents. Now a green card holder, the Frenchman has spoken openly about how he would not be opposed to the idea of playing for the US in the near future, and with the way he's been performing of late, that scenario could well be realized sooner or later.



21: Jamison Olave DF (Real Salt Lake) - We've touched on Salt Lake's mean defensive record when we covered Nat Borchers and Nick Rimando, and the 3rd, and arguably most important member of the trio, is Colombian centre back, Jamison Olave. The 2010 MLS Defender of the Year, 29-year-old Olave is the perfect all-round presence at the back, rarely making a mistake or finding himself out of position, as he consistently performs, week after week. Though thought to be highly sought after by a number of European clubs, Salt Lake have been quick to tie up Olave to a new contract, worthy of one of the best defenders in MLS, and ensuring he and Borchers form the best centre-back pairing in the league for years to come.


Stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll continue our rundown of the top 50 MLS players!