Soccer America ranks the best of MLS 2000
The annual Soccer America positional rankings are based on a playerÆs performance in MLS in 2000. MLS award voting is conducted before the playoffs conclude. Our positional rankings are compiled upon completion of the playoffs but prior to MLS Cup 2000.
The opinions of MLS coaches were solicited in the compilation of the rankings.
Many players were moved around during the season and were chosen for their overall performance as well as how they ranked at a certain position.
GOALKEEPERS
1. Tony Meola (Kansas City)
2. Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
3. Scott Garlick (Tampa Bay)
4. Zach Thornton (Chicago)
5. Mike Ammann (MetroStars)
6. Joe Cannon (San Jose)
One of the seasonÆs defining moments came in the playoffs when Meola saved what seemed to be a certain goal by pinning the ball with his hand against the inside of the post. He rescued the Wizards numerous times with spectacular saves, but he also permitted nary a ôcream puff;ö the shots he should have gobbled up, he did.
All in all, a brilliant season for Meola.
Hartman was again reliable and capable of the stunning saves that demoralize opponents.
Garlick had the heaviest workload of any starting keeper and more than a few of TampaÆs wins were thanks to his resiliency. Thornton often had to cope with a revolving door of defensive mates and finished strongly after enduring a few shaky outings.
Ammann would be in the top group even if he hadnÆt battled back from a grievous injury. Keepers have to be crazy, bold, and tough, and proud of it.
Cannon had a solid year for a bad team, and David Kramer (Colorado) filled in admirably.
OUTSIDE DEFENDERS
1. Greg Vanney (Los Angeles)
2. Mike Petke (MetroStars)
3. Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)
4. C.J. Brown (Chicago)
5. Tyrone Marshall (Miami)
6. Ezra Hendrickson (Los Angeles)
Vanney split time out wide and in the middle. During the playoffs, he stepped in at defensive mid. His versatility and competence were key elements in the GalaxyÆs success.
It wasnÆt a great season for either D.C. United or Agoos, but heÆs still a solid tackler. No opponent likes to see Hendrickson loping up the wing, and defensively heÆs good enough.
Brown is a resolute, rugged defender but still scary on the ball. Petke could be better in 1 v. 1 situations. Marshall is evolving into a reliable defender.
Brandon Prideaux didnÆt get the publicity of his teammate Nick Garcia, yet both of the young Wizards had fine seasons.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Peter Vermes (Kansas City)
2. Robin Fraser (Los Angeles)
3. Jorge Rodriguez (Dallas)
4. Marcelo Balboa (Colorado)
5. Pablo Mastroeni (Miami)
6. Paul Caligiuri (Los Angeles)
By nearly every criteria of defending ù leadership, tackling, positioning, covering, resiliency, set plays, composure on the ball ù Vermes excelled. HeÆs a consummate pro in every sense and an essential element on a very good team.
Fraser had a strong season, as did teammate Caligiuri. Rodriguez was one of the few Dallas players to perform consistently well. Balboa had two memorable goals ù the bike and an OT winner ù and many more solid games.
Mastroeni also played a lot of defensive mid in a Fusion team that hit hot and cold streaks.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS
1. Matt McKeon (Kansas City)
2. Chris Armas (Chicago)
3. Simon Elliott (Los Angeles)
4. Billy Walsh (MetroStars)
5. Chad Deering (Dallas)
6. Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City)
Thanks to the staunch work of teammate Zavagnin, McKeon was able, in the words of Coach Bob Gansler, ôto run free when he wanted.ö Upon that axis did the Wizards build their season.
Armas missed half of the games but seldom put a foot wrong otherwise, and Elliott silenced the critics who couldnÆt believe Sigi Schmid would waste a foreign slot on a New Zealander. Walsh stayed at home to anchor the Metros midfield.
DeeringÆs two-way work helped boost Dallas into the playoffs.
FLANK MIDFIELDERS
1. Mark Chung (MetroStars)
2. Diego Gutierrez (Chicago)
3. Steve Ralston (Tampa Bay)
4. Chris Henderson (Kansas City)
5. Dema Kovalenko (Chicago)
6. Martin Machon (Miami)
Chung rips past defenders, gets to the line and gets balls into the box. By stretching opponents, he and Peter Villegas opened up space for their high-scoring teammates. Chung also tracked and tackled.
Too bad for Henderson he wasnÆt reunited with Gansler a few years earlier. He, like Chung, had his best MLS season.
Gutierrez played wide, in the middle, and in the back. He can pass, tackle and run. WhatÆs not to like? Ralston put up stellar numbers for a high-scoring Mutiny team.
KovalenkoÆs propensity to foolishly foul dropped him down the list, although he may be the most skilled and the best finisher of the bunch.
Machon racked up 16 assists in just 24 games to nip Ted Chronopoulos of New England, Chris Klein of Kansas City and Eric Quill of Tampa Bay.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Peter Nowak (Chicago)
2. Carlos Valderrama (Tampa Bay)
3. Preki (Kansas City)
4. Oscar Pareja (Dallas)
5. Marco Etcheverry (D.C. United)
6. Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles)
The top two are no-brainers. Nowak reminded everyone why he was the MVP in 1998 and he had more to do this season. Valderrama shattered the season assist record and we hope he plays forever. Work rate ainÆt everything.
Preki flourished in a Wizards attack that didnÆt lean on him for every offensive nuance. Pareja grafted consistency onto guile for his best MLS season.
Cienfuegos buckled under the burden of national team duty and MLS demands.
As for Etcheverry, there were too many games in which he didnÆt get it done.
FORWARDS
1. Clint Mathis (MetroStars)
2. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
3. Hristo Stoitchov (Chicago)
4. Jason Kreis (Dallas)
5. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
6. Paul Bravo (Colorado)
Mathis truly blossomed with the Metros, and he nearly reached the 15 goal-15 assist summit first attained by Kreis last year. No one else has come as close.
Unlike most of his D.C. United teammates, Moreno produced most of the time. Stoitchkov got away with diving and complaining, but if you want the searing shots, incredible passes and flamboyant celebrations, you have to take the whole package.
KreisÆ numbers dropped from his MVP season as defenses paid more attention. Jones had a good, not great, season.
The GalaxyÆs Luis Hernandez is dangerous when he wants to be, but too often he isnÆt interested. ThatÆs never a problem with Mo Johnston of the Wizards.
STRIKERS
1. Mamadou Diallo (Tampa Bay)
2. Adolfo Valencia (MetroStars)
3. Ante Razov (Chicago)
4. Ariel Graziani (Dallas)
5. Miklos Molnar (Kansas City)
6. Diego Serna (Miami)
Diallo and Molnar may be somewhat one-dimensional, but in that dimension, scoring goals is all that matters.
ValenciaÆs power is no secret, yet the deft re-direction he scored in Game 3 of the semis against Chicago was a classic example of his poaching abilities.
Razov has always been provided with ample chances in Chicago, but this season his finishing was sharp as a new razor.
Six of MolnarÆs 12 goals (in 17 games) were gamewinners; of his four in the playoffs, three decided the outcome.
GrazianiÆs predatory instincts were dulled at times because of international duty, but heÆs the best exploiter of time and space in the box.
Serna was one of only three players to hit double digits in both goals and assists. Junior Agogo (Colorado) missed 10 games, but still scored 10 goals. Wolde Harris (New England) racked up 15 goals with a variety of striking partners.