And the 2007 MLS Awards go to…

By: Bob | October 30th, 2007

As we make our way through the week hoping that the return legs of the MLS playoffs are better than the uninspiring play we saw last weekend, it is time to take a look at some of the awards that will be handed out to a few luck players and managers as a reward for their work during the 2007. The finalists for the various awards are listed below along with one blogger’s views on who should win them.

Goalkeeper (Winner to be announced Wednesday):
Brad Guzan – Chivas USA
Pat Onstad – Houston Dynamo
Matt Reis – New England Revolution

The Offside Endorsement: It is a tough call choosing between Guzan and Onstad, but with 13 shutouts and some truly huge saves in big games, the young gun Guzan gets the nod.

Fair Play (Wednesday):
Cobi Jones – L.A. Galaxy
Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
Eddie Pope – Real Salt Lake

The Offside Endorsement: I would like to say give it to both Jones and Pope for their years of service in the league, but I have too many images of Jones diving and acting in the past to feel like he is worthy of the award. Pope should win it

Comeback (Next Monday):
Frankie Hejduk – Columbus Crew
Eddie Johnson – Kansas City Wizards
Pat Noonan – New England Revolution

The Offside Endorsement: Eddie Johnson has rebounded from an injury-plagued 2006 season in which he only scored five goals to have a 2007 season with 15 goals in 24 games. He barely edges Noonan, who also bounced back nicely from injury.

Defender (Next Monday):
Michael Parkhurst – New England Revolution
Eddie Robinson – Houston Dynamo
Claudio Suarez – Chivas USA
The Offside Endorsement: My heart wants to give it to Parkhurst, but my head goes with Suarez. The old man has had himself an outstanding season.

Referee (Next Monday):
Brian Hall
Jair Marrufo
Alex Prus

The Offside Endorsement: If the award is for the referee who is best at being bald and shit and whose head looks like a tit, than Brian Hall wins hands down. If the award is for the best referee in the league, for the love of God give it to anybody but Brian Hall.

Rookie (Nov. 7):
Adam Cristman – New England Revolution
Maurice Edu – Toronto FC
Dane Richards – New York Red Bulls

The Offside Endorsement: Edu had a fine year on a truly terrible team, but it is Richards who was the most consistent and best rookie all season and he deserves the award.

Coach (Nov. 7):
Dominic Kinnear – Houston Dynamo
Preki – Chivas USA
Tom Soehn – D.C. United

The Offside Endorsement: Preki. The dude guided an average Chivas USA team to the best record in the West.

Most Valuable Player (Nov. 15):
Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls
Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire
Luciano Emilio – D.C. United

The Offside Endorsement: If Blanco was around at the beginning of the season he might have won this award hands down. But he was not, so I see it as a two-dog race between Angel and Emilio. Angel was outstanding for the Red Bulls, carrying the team at some points in the season. Emilio was equally good and because his team finished with the best record I think he’ll win the honors.

Newcomer (Nov. 17):
Juan Pablo Angel – New York Red Bulls
Cuauhtemoc Blanco – Chicago Fire
Luciano Emilio – D.C. United

The Offside Endorsement: My guess is that Blanco will win this one, but I think that it should go to Angel if he doesn’t win MVP.

Your thoughts?

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Category: MLS, World Football

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DCfan

If there were an award for "Best Diving" I think Blanco would win that one hands-down. I've never seen anyone fall down so many times in one soccer game.
melissa

Congrats Guzan!
Laurie

I agree with most of your picks, except for Cobi. He's a changed man, Bob! A grown-up now! (That is my story and I'm sticking to it. And this year it's actually been true.)

I also think Dane Richards for Rookies of the Year (man, that guy is fast), Emilio for MVP, and JPA for Newcomer.
Ian

Martha - I'm not sure there's a league in the world right now that COULD elect a referee of the year with a straight face. It's a global problem, and I'm not sure it's worse in the MLS than in a lot of bigger leagues (Italy, England, etc).
Gianfranco

Angel is the MVP and best newcomer hands down. He has worked wonders for RBNY and has really made a difference on a team that on a good day can really be a force in this league, I just do not understand their inability to play up to their potential. I do agree with you Martha Dane Richards deserves a ton of credit but Angel created a lot of the space that Richards was able to work in, def a Rookie of the year possibility.
Martha

Totally agree that Dane deserves MVP but probably won't get it.

Also, I cannot believe they give away a best referee award with a straight face. I truly believe the officiating is the biggest problem with MLS -- they are shockingly bad, just across the board.

Also: JPA! JPA!
Rick

i dunno, with emiliano already taking the golden boot, i think mvp and newcomer will be divvied up between blanco and angel. everybody wins that way. or, emiliano could win a triple crown. who knows.
Ian

Preki's comeback has been pretty incredible, and that award would put a cap on it. I remember when fans (and bloggers) were calling for Preki's head ... now he's a Coach of the Year candidate with a playoff team. Crazy.