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!

The Top 50 MLS Players: 40-31

We continue our run down of the top 50 MLS players, this time looking at those ranked 40-31. Things are heating up, and there are some big names that make this edition's list.




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!

The Top 50 MLS Players: 50-41

In anticipation of the impending 2011 MLS season, I've decided to put together a list of the top 50 players currently plying their trade in MLS. Now, these things are always fairly subjective and I'm in no way declaring this a comprehensive study, it's simply my personal opinion and all done in the name of good fun.

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!

Darren Bent: money well spent?

Gerard Houllier walks into Randy Lerner’s office.
“I need a new striker.” he announces.
“Get bent!” Lerner responds promptly. The rest, as they say, is history.
When I first heard of Villa’s approach for Darren Bent, I’ll be the very first to admit, I baulked at the price the club were willing to pay to seal his services. It’s largely testament to how overpriced the “home-grown” players of the Premier League have become over recent years, with teams such as Tottenham shelling out as much as 15 million for David Bentley, a player, who at the time, had made just 7 international appearances and has now been forced to seek a move elsewhere in order to see more first team football. It seems somewhat absurd for a club to be shelling out such a vast amount of money when they could quite easily pick up a player of a similar calibre from abroad. For example, a player such as Dortmund’s Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios would surely command a significantly smaller fee, while providing quality of a similar, if not superior, level to Bent’s.
If I have one glaring criticism of Martin O’Neill’s 4 year reign at Aston Villa, it would be his perceived reluctance to scour the rest of the continent for potential signings, rather than wasting millions on the likes of Steve Sidwell, Habib Beye, Wayne Routledge, Nicky Shorey, Marlon Harewood, and Nigel Reo-Coker, players whose impact at the club has been virtually non-existent.

However, one also has to consider the other side of the argument. Firstly, Bent is a proven goal scorer in the Premier League, with a record in recent years that is bettered only by Drogba and Rooney, that being 81 goals since 2005, at the rate of 1 every 178 minutes. Furthermore, Bent shouldn’t have any problems settling into life at Villa that a player coming from abroad might experience, being used to the style and pace of the league and not having the difficulty of being forced to learn a new language or adapt to a different culture. Bent is a player who seemingly fits the mould of the striker Houllier is looking for, a powerful and pacey frontman, whose all-round game makes him a real headache for opposing defenders. Of course, this role is one that could just as easily have been filled by John Carew, but that’s another story for another time…
One clear criticism of Bent’s game from talking to Sunderland supporters may well be his ‘Berbatov-esque’ finishing, the fact that he misses too many easy chances in front of goal. It’s a fair argument against such an extravagant signing, but Bent is the type of player who seemingly always finds himself in the right place at the right time and, as such, is able to conjure up enough opportunities that will see his name on the score sheet by the end of 90 minutes. Certainly, Bent will need those players around him to feed him chances, but with the likes of creative talent such as Ashley Young and Stewart Downing already in Villa’s starting line-up, I am fairly confident he will enjoy success during his time at the club.

In the days surrounding the news of Villa’s bid, the likes of twitter and various message boards were abound with people voicing their shock at the fee involved, quoting figures such as the €15 million paid by Inter for Real Madrid’s Wesley Sneijder, or £8 million Harry Redknapp parted with in order to bring Rafael van der Vaart to White Hart Lane, all in order to highlight the extent to which Villa were overpaying for the Sunderland striker. As fun as it may be for one to dive into the history books and resurface with such examples, these people clearly aren’t considering the many influencing factors which prompt such deals, such as the selling club’s willingness to part with the player in question, or the buying club’s level of need to bring in fresh talent. Proven goal scorers always move on for vastly inflated fees, while those in good form, such as Bent, are always going to command a higher fee than those players who have found themselves frozen out of the first team at their club, as was the case with Sneijder and van der Vaart at Real Madrid. One journalist even brought up the figure of £19 million paid by Manchester United for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s services in 2001, but they’re clearly forgetting how much people questioned that deal at the time it was announced, as well as the inflation of transfer fees in recent years and the fact that the Dutchman had only proven himself in Eredivisie and was coming off two major knee injuries. In no way was it considered a bargain at the time. Additionally, the 24 million that has been quoted by various media sources includes possible future incentive payments, dependent on the likes of international appearances and Premier League goals. By my understanding, as of this moment, Villa have paid Sunderland a fee of £18 million for Bent, only 1.5 million more than Tottenham paid Charlton for him, back in 2007.

Certainly, Villa’s move for Bent does smack of desperation, but let’s not forget that they’re a club in a worrying situation. On the verge of a relegation battle, after consecutive top six finishes in recent years, the team are in dire need of reinforcing a rail thin squad that has been held up by academy players since the beginning of the season. The consequences of relegation don’t bare thinking about for a club of their size and stature, and if Bent’s goals can somehow rescue Villa from this worst case scenario than the deal will almost certainly be labelled as money well spent. Of course, there is the question of what happens to Bent should Villa find themselves in the drop zone by the end of the season, as a potential England striker will unquestionably want to remain playing at the highest level rather than plying their trade in the Championship, but, as we’re only in January, that’s an issue that’s best left for discussion at a later date. For now, it seems somewhat naive to roundly suggest that Villa have overpaid for Bent, without the chance to see how his play could potentially ignite the club’s second half of the season, as Houllier no doubt hopes. The goals could well come in droves and Villa may eventually find themselves climbing up into the top half of the table before too long, in which case the doubters will be well and truly silenced. One’s thing for sure, I’d certainly rather have Darren Bent leading my club’s frontline than Sandra Redknapp.

Messi: a deserved winner of the FIFA Ballon d'Or

In a World Cup year, there has seemingly been an unwritten rule in football that the player who stood out most during the course of the tournament ended the calendar year by being crowned FIFA World Player of the Year, or winning the highly coveted Ballon d’Or. In the past we’ve seen how the likes of Paolo Rossi, Zidane, and Cannavaro have won such awards on the back of outstanding World Cup campaigns, in spite of a largely forgettable club season, and when there were arguably far more deserving candidates up for nomination. That is why, in the first year since the two awards merged to form the new ‘FIFA Ballon d’Or’, it was so refreshing on Monday night to see, not one of the two Barca based Spanish players win the award, as impressive as their achievements might have been, but undoubtedly the best player in the world, Lionel Messi.

By his own lofty standards, Messi’s World Cup was, while not a complete disaster, a largely disappointing affair, one marked by a few key moments of genius but overall seen as a frustrating battle, which resulted in no goals and saw Maradona’s Argentina fall at the quarter-final stage. In previous years, this fact may have ruled Messi out of contention and swung the pendulum in favour of World Cup winners Xavi or Iniesta, but, in somewhat of a testament to the outstanding form he has enjoyed during the rest of 2010, the young Argentine still came out on top in the voting process. The World Cup after all, as historic and important as it may be, is not the be all and end all. As tempting as it may be to side with the Iniesta camp, after his winning goal in extra-time against the Dutch, or supporters of Xavi, after the integral role he has played in the success of the best club side and national team, Messi’s play for Barcelona throughout the entire year has been truly breath-taking, with 59 goals in 52 club games, including 5 hat-tricks, truly outstanding statistics.

Such has been the brilliance of Messi’s performances that there was even serious debate later on in year whether he was genuinely the greatest player ever to play the game and, while it is certainly too early to draw up those kinds of conclusions, it at the very least indicates the immense impact Messi has had on world football in 2010. Furthermore, the importance of Messi to Barcelona can be seen during his absence from the side, the team looking somewhat toothless and lacking in killer instinct whenever he has been out of the starting lineup.

While the likes of Wesley Sneijder may have achieved more in terms of their ‘medal haul’, no player has truly come to close to matching the level of Messi’s performances over 2010, who himself still has a La Liga title to show for his efforts, as well as the mantra of being the most important player in what many have now dubbed as the greatest side, on club or national level, the word has ever seen. Perhaps the one player who has come closest to matching Messi’s brilliance on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo, who himself has put up outstanding goal scoring numbers, has too often underperformed at crucial moments over the course of the year, the gap in class between the two largely evident during Barca’s 5-0 drubbing of Real Madrid, in which, while Messi predictably shone, both Ronaldo and his teammates found themselves totally outclassed. What’s more, Messi isn’t an egotistical maniac in the mould of Pelé, or aggressive head case like his former national coach Maradona. He’s a humble, quiet and extremely likeable individual, one who comes across as entirely normal and whom you can’t help but want to succeed. In my view, it goes without saying that the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or should be the best footballer in the world, not the one who has collated the most medals throughout the year, and on this occasion the voters got it right. Messi is undoubtedly a deserving winner.

Stale Solbakken: The man out to cause an upset in the Champions League

In December last year, FC Kobenhavn made history by becoming the first Danish club ever to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League, overcoming Group D opponents Rubin Kazan and Panathinaikos, to seal a well-earned tie against Chelsea in the round of last 16. While the players themselves deserve to take some credit for FCK’s historic run in Europe’s top club competition, the real lynchpin behind the side’s success has undoubtedly been none other than young Norwegian manager Stale Solbakken, who is rapidly earning a reputation as one of the continent’s top up and coming coaches. Solbakken, a former FCK player, who was capped 58 times by his country and even had a brief spell playing in England with Wimbledon, has been in charge of the Danish champions for just over five years now and during that time has quietly gone about building an impressive résumé.

In a well-documented tale, Solbakken’s playing career came to an early end in 2001, when, during a routine training session with Kobenhavn, he collapsed suddenly in the middle of the pitch, having suffered a serious heart attack, and was rushed to hospital after club doctors were unable to restart his heart. Paramedics were fortunately able to revive Solbakken in the ambulance, though only after he had been pronounced clinically dead for almost fourteen minutes. A previously undetected heart defect that had been present since childhood was determined to be the cause and Solbakken, now fitted with a pacemaker, was forced to bring a premature end to his football career at the age of 33. Not to be deterred by what others would regard as a serious handicap however, Solbakken turned his hand to the world of football management and, after a brief spell assisting Nils Johan Semb with the Norwegian national side, was given his first head coaching job with lower league side HamKam, in 2003, whom he had appeared over 100 times for as a player between 1989 and 1994. Success came immediately for Solbakken, as his side won promotion to the top-tier Tippeligaen in his first season in charge and then finished 5th in their first season back in the top flight since 1995, a feat which earned Solbakken the league’s manager of the year award. This success certainly did not go unnoticed and in December 2005 Solbakken’s former club Kobenhavn chose him as the man to replace outgoing manager Hans Backe, a move which has reaped its rewards ever since. During his five years at the helm, Solbakken has guided his team to four league titles and a Danish Cup win, as well as their first ever Champions League group appearance in 2006, where, in a tough draw that pitted them against the likes of Manchester United, Celtic, and Benfica, his side managed to string together a series of impressive displays, that included a 1-0 win away at Old Trafford. Though FCK finished bottom of their group that year, success in the Champions League was not to be far off for Solbakken’s side and this year, defying all the odds, Kobenhavn pulled off a number of remarkable performances in the group stages, including a 1-1 at home to Guardiola’s Barcelona, to join such illustrious names as Real Madrid and AC Milan in the competition’s knockout stage.

At the end of that impressive 1-1 draw against the Spanish champions back in November, Solbakken and Guardiola were involved in a heated exchange that largely personified the way the match had played out, Kobenhavn battling Barcelona with one of the most physical displays that Messi and co. had faced in recent memory. Indeed, in the wake of the match, Guardiola himself conceded that during his time as Barca manager, he had never faced a team as intense and physical as Kobenhavn, two attributes that largely embody the high-energy game that Solbakken has his team play.

Having dominated the Danish Superliga throughout his tenure, Solbakken has built a well-balanced and stable squad, one as lethal in attack as it is rock-solid defensively, capable of overpowering lesser opponents, as well as shutting out clear superior opposition. Through 19 games of the league this season, Kobenhavn have scored a remarkable 50 league goals and conceded just 15, with the team sitting 18pts ahead of their nearest rivals and, barring a shocking collapse, all but certain to seal Solbakken his 5th league title with the club. Also an intelligent and well-spoken individual, Solbakken would surely be a prime candidate for many of Europe’s top club jobs this summer were it not for the fact he has already agreed to take charge of the Norwegian national side upon the retirement of Egil Olsen, at the culmination of Norway’s qualification campaign for Euro 2012, a job which he has declared a lifelong ambition. While one has to applaud Solbakken for showing such loyalty and dedication to his country, there is also a distinct feeling of disappointment that such a talented and promising young manager is seemingly set to miss the opportunity to prove themselves in one of Europe’s top leagues, in favour of nothing more than a glorified ‘part-time’ job. Certainly, club football’s loss will be Norway’s gain, and the country can look forward to their 2014 World Cup campaign with genuine optimism. It may be a little while before we see Solbakken test himself at a top European side but, at just 42 years of age, he still has plenty of time to do so.