Best of MLS 2005
By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor
Soccer America Magazine
Few team sports are less suited to formal classification by position than soccer. Molding a figurine out of liquid soap would be easier than ranking interchangeable players in myriad formations and systems. The fluidity of play and freedom of movement mock arbitrary assessments.
Nonetheless, the rankings approximate a hierarchy of those players who were most prominent in Major League SoccerÆs 10th season. They also generate a lot of, shall we say, discourse. As in the past, only a playerÆs performance in 2005 league and playoff matches is considered. Classifications, as in strikers and (second) forwards, are sometimes arbitrary. Several teams used four-man and three-man back lines extensively, and since the remainder was evenly split between the two systems, we evaluate both. Players who missed a large portion of the season are downgraded or excluded.
STRIKERS
Taylor-made finisher
After a dismal 2004 season in which the co-leading scorers potted a paltry 12 goals, four players hit or exceeded that mark and 11 reached double digits.
Taylor Twellman shies away from nothing on the field, and in 2005 he won his first outright goalscoring title with 17 to reign as MVP. HeÆs fearless to the point of madness, it seems, loves to crash the six-yard box, and has refined his first-time finishing.
An off-year for Carlos Ruiz (11 goals in 19 games) is a career season for most MLSers. One of his trademark bikes was a finalist for Goal of the Year, and twice he scored twice in the same game. He can be taunted to distraction and went AWOL a couple of times, but heÆs the leagueÆs most dangerous finisher if his head is right.
Out of nowhere came Herculez Gomez and if not for him thatÆs where the GalaxyÆs season would have ended. Josh WolffÆs 30 points (10 goals, 10 assists) was a career best. Jeff Cunningham, typically, scored goals (12) and feuded with his coach.
FORWARDS
Moreno still befuddles foes
Is Jaime Moreno taken for granted? Yes, nine of his 16 goals came on penalties, but he caused a few of those PKs himself, set up teammates for numerous chances that were shamefully squandered, and still befuddles defenders with guile, touch, and vision.
In the playoffs, again, Landon Donovan turned it on, yet his 12 goals and 10 assists for 34 points in the regular season were exceeded by only Twellman and Moreno, and he played just 22 matches. His mix of pace and precision, along with his ability to run into space and with the ball at his feet, is unmatched.
Youri Djorkaeff added class to a MetroStars organization in dire need of it on and off the field. In another season, Chris RolfeÆs confidence and caginess would have earned Rookie of the Year honors. Pat Noonan tailed off in the playoffs.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
De Rosario sparks Quakes
The 10 is not dead! Ex-forward Dwayne De RosarioÆs marionette moves sparked the Quakes midfield. He led the league with 13 assists and sprinkled some crackers – including an insidiously swerving Goal of the Year free kick – among nine tallies.
ItÆs hard to find fault with Christian Gomez, aside from the spitting, yet he might have led the league in goals had he not shot straight at the keeper or well wide when well-placed. Gomez and Moreno, when in sync, are magic.
Amado GuevaraÆs referee rants and petulant pouts canÆt mask his audacious talents. Clint Dempsey is more of a crasher and slasher than setup man and fought through some bleak spells to score 10 and assist on nine others. Thiago disappeared too often but at 22, the future for this Brazilian is bright.
RIGHT MIDFIELDERS
OÆBrien goes at defenses
Ronnie OÆBrien often played as a winger or could even be classified as an attacking midfielder. He finished second in assists with 12 and loves to run at people. Inconsistent crossing and occasional impatience are his only flaws.
Chris Klein is a freight train on the flank: powering forward into the attack, charging back to defend. Subtlety and compromise? Not here.
Cobi Jones: see playoffs, and respect a man of 35 who can still play a decade younger in the clutch. Eddie Gaven is a fantastic attacker who needs more grit and consistency. Steve Ralston had the worst stats of his career yet played an integral role in the RevsÆ excellent season.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
The duh! Choice
In this catch-all category of two-way players and/or those with a central partner, the duh! choice is Shalrie Joseph. Strong, fast, tough, skilled, smart, heÆll be an all-time Best XI candidate unless a foreign club snaps him up soon.
Pete Vagenas scored several timely goals during the GalaxyÆs early-season roll, labored through the tough months and solidified its spine in the playoffs. ThatÆs why he captains the champion.
Crew midfield keystone Simon Elliott rang up 11 assists; he does the dirty work yet has a feel for which pass to hit and when. Ben Olsen, aka ''the grafter,'' is tenacious in the tackle and aggressively supports the attack. Jesse Marsch can scrap with anyone, struck a remarkable volley in the playoffs and has cojones enough to take penalties.
LEFT MIDFIELDERS
ChungÆs age matters least
Mark Chung played both flanks for the Quakes, and when a groin injury sidelined Brad Davis his arrowing runs became a staple part of their attack. Like Jones and Djorkaeff, he proved that age (34) is the number that matters least.
Justin Mapp also played on the right and despite a few hiccups in form blossomed into a danger on the dribble.
Marshall Leonard anchored the RevsÆ left side and his absence was felt in the final. Sasha Victorine posted the best stats of his career and also played right back. Ramon Nunez impressed in limited duty.
HOLDING MIDFIELDERS
Clark covers grounds
Ricardo Clark got forward when he could, and when he didnÆt, covered amazing amounts of territory. HeÆs lightning-fast into the tackle and his recovery speed is among the leagueÆs best.
Chris Armas never changes and never quits. When he hunts the ball, it rarely escapes.
Brian CarrollÆs tidy work for D.C. earned him USA call-ups. Michael Bradley got ripped for being the ex-coachÆs son, but heÆs only 18 and can float a ball into space with the best of them. Simo Valakari has yet to stem his chronic propensity to foul.
THREE-MAN BACKLINE:
RIGHT DEFENDERS
Heaps is transformed
This is the season Jay Heaps transformed from athlete into soccer player. There were fewer desperation fouls and lunging grabs of jerseys. With more patience and poise, he played confidently.
Bryan Namoff, beset by injuries, dropped off from his excellent 2004. Still, he gets to a lot of balls and usually takes the right angle.
Once C.J. Brown was handed a clearly defined role as man-marker, he and the FireÆs defense stabilized.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
Parkhurst has all the tools
Inexperience scorched Michael Parkhurst a few times in his rookie season, and so what? The kid can run, pass, jump and tackle, and reads the game like he wrote the book. He was one of the few Revs to string together four solid playoff games.
Jim Curtin had to juggle teammates and systems during the regular season; with that sorted out, he and the Fire blanked D.C. twice in the playoffs.
Bobby Boswell lost his starting spot to Facundo Erpen and scored goals for and against his team, yet with him in the lineup D.C. compiled a lot of points. Robin Fraser retired after a rough season and a truly classy career.
LEFT DEFENDERS
Segares moves up quickly
Gonzalo Segares moved up from the reserve squad to win a regular spot in the fluid Fire defense. HeÆs rugged, not afraid to push up into the attack or look for a telling pass, and two of his goals were golazos. We like.
Joe Franchino cut down on his wild fouls, as a good captain should. A great left foot and true toughness compensates for that lack of pace. Chad Marshall struggled through the second-season syndrome, but no team wouldnÆt take his height and head in a heartbeat.
FOUR-MAN BACKLINE:
RIGHT BACKS
Albright learns ropes
''Chris Albright, of course,'' said Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo when asked to rate right backs, a position Clavijo played for the U.S. national team in the 1994 World Cup. Albright has learned the ropes of defending, is a monster in the air, and has the crossing down pat.
Bobby Rhine? He attacks like a midfielder and sometimes defends like one, too, but heÆs impossible to discourage.
Kelly Gray, another converted midfielder, did a good job during the regular season for a very good team. Chris Leitch isnÆt anything special but he can hold his own on the corner. Nick Garcia, who saw time in the middle as well, has the tools but not always the timing.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
Conrad takes no prisoners
Jim ConradÆs outstanding season eroded a bit down the stretch, as the load of national team duty piled onto MLS rigors took their toll. HeÆs the quintessential rugged defender who takes no prisoners and asks fewer questions.
Own goals in a 3-0 loss to the Quakes tainted the seasons of Galaxy veteran Tyrone Marshall and rookie Ugo Ihemelu, but tough times like those forged a strong partnership. Their pairing in the playoffs propelled L.A. to the title.
Another strong duo – San JoseÆs Dan Califf and Eddie Robinson – cracked in the postseason, yet the regular-season total of 31 goals allowed is testimony to their effectiveness.
LEFT BACKS
Barrett rarely stumbled
During his stint in Europe, Wade Barrett may have misplaced his ability to thread balls up the line or flight them diagonally, but defensively, he seldom stumbled until a rough playoff defeat in Los Angeles.
Todd Dunivant, benched during San JoseÆs 2003 championship run, played every minute of 36 regular-season and playoff games for the 2005 winner. Jose Burciaga was all-star material in the first half of the season and an afterthought in the final month as the Wizards wavered. Eric Denton is nothing sensational but for the Rapids in the final months he did the job. In just 13 games, Tim Ward showed enough to offer the Metros some hope.
GOALKEEPERS
Onstad makes few flubs
A ball through the defensive wall that slipped under his body in the Western Conference semis against the Galaxy was one of the very few flubs Pat Onstad encountered during his Goalkeeper of the Year campaign. He stopped what he should have stopped, caught and punched cleanly, and pulled off a few kick saves that any Canadian would have been proud of.
His reckless tendencies notwithstanding, Matt Reis proved himself to be a first-class keeper. Joe Cannon again fended so many barrages single-handedly he should be nicknamed ''Alamo.'' So-so numbers in the regular season didnÆt dissuade Kevin Hartman; he sparkled in the playoffs. Jonny Walker logged good stats for a bad team.
Positional Leaders
STRIKERS
1. Taylor Twellman (New England)
2. Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas)
3. Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles)
4. Josh Wolff (Kansas City)
5. Jeff Cunningham (Colorado)
6. Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
7. Edson Buddle (Columbus)
8. Brian Ching (San Jose)
9. Ante Razov (MetroStars)
10. Alejandro Moreno (San Jose)
FORWARDS
1. Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
2. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles)
3. Youri Djorkaeff (MetroStars)
4. Chris Rolfe (Chicago)
5. Pat Noonan (New England)
6. Ronald Cerritos (San Jose)
7. Scott Sealy (Kansas City)
8. Eddie Johnson (FC Dallas)
9. Jean-Philippe Peguero (Colorado)
10. Roberto Mina (FC Dallas)
ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS
1. Dwayne De Rosario (San Jose)
2. Christian Gomez (D.C. United)
3. Clint Dempsey (New England)
4. Amado Guevara (MetroStars)
5. Thiago (Chicago)
RIGHT MIDFIELDERS
1. Ronnie OÆBrien (FC Dallas)
2. Chris Klein (Kansas City)
3. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles)
4. Eddie Gaven (MetroStars)
5. Steve Ralston (New England)
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
1. Shalrie Joseph (New England)
2. Pete Vagenas (Los Angeles)
3. Simon Elliott (Columbus)
4. Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
5. Jesse Marsch (Chicago)
LEFT MIDFIELDERS
1. Mark Chung (San Jose)
2. Justin Mapp (Chicago)
3. Marshall Leonard (New England)
4. Sasha Victorine (Kansas City)
5. Ramon Nunez (FC Dallas)
HOLDING MIDFIELDERS
1. Ricardo Clark (San Jose)
2. Chris Armas (Chicago)
3. Brian Carroll (D.C. United)
4. Michael Bradley (MetroStars)
5. Simo Valakari (FC Dallas)
THREE-MAN BACKLINE:
RIGHT DEFENDERS
1. Jay Heaps (New England)
2. Bryan Namoff (D.C. United)
3. C.J. Brown (Chicago)
4. Frankie Hejduk (Columbus)
5. Jason Hernandez (MetroStars)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Michael Parkhurst (New England)
2. Jim Curtin (Chicago)
3. Bobby Boswell (D.C. United)
4. Robin Fraser (Columbus)
5. Facundo Erpen (D.C. United)
LEFT DEFENDERS
1. Gonzalo Segares (Chicago)
2. Joe Franchino (New England)
3. Chad Marshall (Columbus)
4. John Wilson (D.C. United)
5. Jeff Agoos (MetroStars)
FOUR-MAN BACKLINE:
RIGHT BACKS
1. Chris Albright (Los Angeles)
2. Bobby Rhine (FC Dallas)
3. Kelly Gray (San Jose)
4. Chris Leitch (MetroStars)
5. Nick Garcia (Kansas City)
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
1. Jim Conrad (Kansas City)
2. Tyrone Marshall (Los Angeles)
3. Dan Califf (San Jose)
4. Ugo Ihemelu (Los Angeles)
5. Eddie Robinson (San Jose)
6. Greg Vanney (FC Dallas)
7. Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)
8. Nat Borchers (Colorado)
9. Carlos Mendes (MetroStars)
10. Mike Petke (Colorado)
LEFT BACKS
1. Wade Barrett (San Jose)
2. Todd Dunivant (Los Angeles)
3. Jose Burciaga (Kansas City)
4. Eric Denton (Colorado)
5. Chris Gbandi (FC Dallas)
GOALKEEPERS
1. Pat Onstad (San Jose)
2. Matt Reis (New England)
3. Joe Cannon (Colorado)
4. Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles)
5. Jonny Walker (Columbus)
6. Nick Rimando (D.C. United)
7. Scott Garlick (FC Dallas)
8. Bo Oshoniyi (Kansas City)
9. Brad Guzan (Chivas USA)
10. Tony Meola (MetroStars)
(This article originally appeared in the November 21 & 28, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)