40: Jeff Cunningham FW (Columbus Crew) - The MLS all-time regular season leading goal scorer, Cunningham turns 35 this year and is well and truly entering the twilight of his career. After a stellar 2009 campaign with FC Dallas, in which he won his 2nd career Golden Boot, Cunningham's play noticeably declined during the 2010 season, as he looked slow at times and was easily wrested off the ball, factors which eventually led to his release from the club last November. Picked up by Columbus Crew in the re-entry draft, don't expect to have seen the last of Cunningham however, as that scoring instinct that has helped him net 132 MLS career goals still remains. The very definition of a goal poacher, even if he is relegated to only a bit-part role with the Crew this year, still expect Cunningham's name to appear regularly on the scoring charts, as few MLS strikers finish off their chances in front of goal as well as him.
39: Julian de Guzman MF (Toronto FC) - De Guzman was supposed to be Toronto's major DP signing that would help them make the playoffs for the 1st time in the club's short history, but he has so far failed to live up to his billing as the saviour of the franchise. The 29-year-old defenisve midfielder proved during his time in Europe that he is an extremely effective player, but many question whether his style his suited to MLS. Recent surgery on a knee injury that had been plaguing him for most of last season could be an explination for the underwhelming performances, while the arrival of Aaron Winter as the team's new head coach should see the Dutchman bring a fresh European-style of football, that will play to the strengths of de Guzman's game. This will be a make or break year both for Toronto and de Guzman, and fans at BMO Field will be hoping the best is yet to come.
38: Jan Gunnar Solli MF (New York Red Bulls) - With the Red Bulls' midfield looking stacked for 2011, it's possible that Solli, recently signed from SK Brann in Norway, could find playing time hard to come by if he doesn't get off to a good start. However, if his form in Europe is anything to go by, then he shouldn't have too many problems adapting to MLS. Players moving from the Scandinavian leagues across to the States generally translate their productivity fairly succesfully, and Solli, a Norwegian international, shouldn't be any different. The Red Bulls allegedly fought off interest from Bundesliga and Premier League clubs for Solli's signature, and the 30-year-old attacking midfielder should add even more depth to a team that looks to be one of the strongest MLS sides for 2011.
37: Osvaldo Alonso MF (Seattle Sounders) - One of the more unheralded players in MLS, the Cuban defensive midfielder is blessed with a fantastic engine and a deft touch, that makes him ideally suited to play the 'Makélelé Role' in the Sounders' line-up. Having recently undergone a week long trial at Everton, Alonso opted to re-sign with Seattle in February this year, extending his contract until the end of 2014, a move which should prove a major coup for the ever-improving club from the Pacific Northwest.
36: Sean Franklin DF (LA Galaxy) - One of the many up-and-coming young defenders in MLS, Franklin is arguably the most athletic player in the league, and has become a stalwart presence in the Galaxy defence over the last few season. Having shone the courage to overcome a major hamstring injury, that forced him to miss most of the 2009 season, Franklin has continued to mature as a player since, and looks set to become a regular fixture in the US national team setup over the coming years.
35: Dax McCarty MF (DC United) - A spiky relationship with head coach Schellas Hyndman meant that McCarty, despite a fantastic season with FC Dallas, was left unprotected in the 2010 Expansion Draft, much to the shock of many MLS fans. Predictably taken by the Portland Timbers with the 1st pick, McCarty was then however immediately traded to struggling DC United, where he should become the driving force in the centre of their midfield. Described by many as a poor man's Paul Scholes (and not just because of his ginger hair), McCarty is quickly establishing himself as one of the best homegrown players in the league, and his effective playmaking ability has seen him work his way onto the fringes of the national team in recent months. Reportedly subject of intense interest from Leicester City last year, if McCarty can continue to put up the kind of performances that helped guide Dallas to the MLS Cup final in 2010, then he could well follow in the footsteps of the likes of Clint Dempsey and Stuart Holden and become the next American midfielder to make a name for himself in European football.
34: Brad Davis MF (Houston Dynamo) - Another of MLS' criminally underrated midfielders, it's a mystery to me how Davis has not seen more action with the US team over the last couple of years. Last season, after the sale of Stuart Holden, and subsequent injury suffered to Geoff Cameron, Davis proved just how valuable he is to this Houston side, moving to a more central position in the midfield, from his traditional role out on the wing, and taking up the mantle as the team's main playmaking threat. Dynamo team MVP in consecutive seasons, Davis is the prototypical player that MLS coaches most desire; a productive, consistent homegrown player, who gives his all out on the pitch and whose wage numbers won't do too much damage to the team's salary cap. Consistently one of the league's leaders in assists year after year, if I were Bob Bradley then Davis would have a lot more than just the 4 international caps to his name.
33: Marco Pappa MF (Chicago Fire) - The Guatemalan winger started the 2010 campagin off with a bang, netting 5 goals in 11 games and earing a place on the mid-season All-Star team, but his play noticeably declined towards the end of the year. One of the more exciting players to watch in the league, much of the Fire's success in 2011 will depend on whether Pappa can consistently produce to the level Chicago fans know he is capable of. With the team's roster looking horrendously thin throughout the preseason, if Pappa fails to deliver, then Fire fans should be prepared for a long and painful season.
32: Kyle Beckerman MF (Real Salt Lake) - Midfield enforcer is the best way to describe Beckerman's role on the pitch. While he may not be everyone's cup of tea, there's no question that the gritty play of RSL's dreadlock wearing captain has been one of the key factors in their recent success. Quite simply, in the words of his head coach, Jason Kreis, Beckerman "does his job", and, more to the point, does it well. While he won't single-handidly win you a game with a piece of skill or trickery, it's rare to see Beckerman misplace a pass or give up in pursuit of an opposing player. The type of player that every MLS team needs in their starting XI.
31: Jhon Kennedy Hurtado DF (Seattle Sounders) - Named after the former US president (though evidently his parents couldn't spell properly), Hurtado spent time training with AC Milan, before signing with Seattle in 2009, for the club's inaugural MLS season. In his 1st year in the US, the Colombian immediately stood out as one of the best centre backs in the league, displaying a perfect combination of speed and strength, that saw him earn a place on the All-Star team of July that year. The Sounders were dealt a major blow for 2010 however, when Hurtado suffered a serious knee injury early on in the campaign, ruling him out for most of season, as the team's defence constantly struggled in his absence. Now fully fit and back up to speed, the presence of Hurtado in Seattle's starting XI is one of the major reasons Sounders fans can be confident of their team's prospects this season.
Stay tuned for the next installment, where we'll continue our rundown of the top 50 MLS players!
