The MLS All-Star Coach and the Commish Add Their Picks (and Toronto Gets One Player)

By: Laurie | July 15th, 2008

First we had the fan selections. Six Toronto players.

Then we had the overall First XI — the result of averaging the fan selections in with coaches, players, managers and the media. Once everything was averaged out? Zero Toronto players.

Now we have the final seven, to be added to the first XI to make the MLS All-Star team — the five added by the coach, Steve Nicol, and the two added by the MLS Commissioner, Don Garber.

Oh, look, Toronto fans! Coach Nicol ~~threw you a bone~~ picked your talented defender, Jim Brennan! You will be represented!

Nicol’s picks were Juan Pablo Ángel (forward, New York Red Bulls), Jim Brennan (defender, Toronto FC), Christian Gomez (midfielder, Colorado Rapids), Pablo Mastroeni (midfielder, Colorado Rapids) and Pat Onstad (goalkeeper, Houston Dynamo). Garber’s picks were the red-hot Edson Buddle (forward, Los Angeles Galaxy) and Dwayne De Rosario (midfielder, Houston Dynamo).

Interesting that Red Bulls’ DP, Juan Pablo Angel is there, even though he’s spent much of the season injured, but there was no room for the third-highest goal scorer in the league, Luciano Emilio. Actually, no room for any DC United players of any stripe. Not that they mind, I’m sure, what with all of the exciting competitions like SuperLiga keeping them occupied.

From MLSnet

Full 18-Player MLS All-Star Roster:
Goalkeeper: Pat Onstad& (Houston Dynamo), Matt Reis* (New England Revolution)
Defenders: Jim Brennan& (Toronto FC), Jimmy Conrad* (Kansas City Wizards), Frankie Hejduk* (Columbus Crew), Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution)
Midfielders: David Beckham* (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cuauhtémoc Blanco* (Chicago Fire), Dwayne De Rosario+ (Houston Dynamo), Christian Gomez& (Colorado Rapids), Shalrie Joseph* (New England Revolution), Sacha Kljestan* (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni& (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers* (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Juan Pablo Angel& (forward, New York Red Bulls), Edson Buddle+ (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kenny Cooper* (FC Dallas), Landon Donovan* (Los Angeles Galaxy)

* First XI
& Coach’s Selection
+ Commissioner’s Selection