is that five or six days in a row that the Mercury has had Earthquake coverage? well done SJMN! aside: gotta go with Beas on the US POTY....since his move to PSV, his game has elevated considerably....
Actually, I might be inclined to vote for Boca. His play has been solid, although maybe I'm just being fooled by the comparison to the other outside defender (Frankie)
National team performance seems to influence the vote quite heavily, and that's where Landon has really shone. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls the threepeat. As for MLS comeback player of the year, I'd love to see Ching get it, but I suspect that Moreno will get the nod if he doesn't win MVP.
It's only Nats performances, not club that counts for this award. Donovan is the leading scorer for the Nats this season, along with getting the armband. Tony
i am aware of that...I was just noting how since Beas landed in Holland, his overal game has improved....with the Nats as well... "This year's winner will be announced in Los Angeles on November 18." all 3 deserve it....
I didn't mean to imply YOU weren't aware of that, but Quaker's comment was "seems to influence quite heavily" which is what I was responding to, sorry for any confusion. I think last year you could have made a point that LD wasn't the first choice for the award (I believe he said so himself), but even with my Donovan bias, no player has been more important or better for the Nats than he. I think Quaker is right, that Moreno will get the comeback player, but that's a shame. Maybe one of Quakes' goals will win the goal of the year, voting going on right now at mlsnet.com (hint hint). I voted for Ching. Tony
I think Landon should win it, and I think he will. While Beasley and Boca have been truly outstanding, Landon just made such a difference in so many games ... the least of which was the poise to get Ching the ball in Jaimaca. I just think this is a no-brainer for Landon.
Taking a small amount off the achievement because it was a friendly, but you've got to give Beas' some credit for burying his chance against Poland. He's what, the second US Nat to score in Europe since the mad scramble in front of the Yugoslav net where McBride scored in WC '98. (Mathis did it to Germany before Beas' score). There's something to be said for scoring in Europe and it keeps me wondering about who's stepped up their game higher, Beas or Donovan?
Well, seeing as how Donovan was sick and didn't get to go to the Poland game in Europe, that's not quite a fair comparison. And they both played in the Holland game.
LD's game against Mexico earlier this year is the best American performance I have ever seen. For that performance alone, LD gets my vote.
I didn't get to see the game in El Salvador so I probably missed some great work on Landon's part in that one. No argument about scoring when it counts, but with the exception of Mexico and Costa Rica, there is no real competion in CONCACAF for the US, and we now seem to be able to deal with either team effectively fielding MLS players. We're doing our job winning these games, winning in Europe is the next level for the US, or at least winning in South America... True, and wouldn't it have been cool to see both of them score in the Poland game?
yeah...those two blowouts in Jamiaca and Panama really highlight your point.... games played in Central America are never pretty...ask BA how comfortable he feels traveling down there needing a result... I will not argue that the US is in the top three....just with the hyperbole...
But the pressure of winning a friendly in Europe does not compare to the pressure of winning a WCQ away from home, IMO.
Getting ties away and wins at home are good results. I don't think every game should be a blowout, especially the road games. We're playing well enough so that a ************ ref shouldn't cost us the game. I wouldn't try to argue that point four years ago.
I'm not trying to say that it is easy, I'm trying to say that we're getting good enough to deal with the pressure of an away WCQ effectively. I think there is a difference between playing a lesser opponent in a hostile environment and a superior opponent in a "not so hostile" environment.
but are they really playing well enough? Jamaica & Panama were mere minutes from being losses....outside of a strong start, the Panama match was one of the worst the US has played in years....same with Jamaica... the US is fortunate to be where they are right now in WCQ.... and each of those games were one whistle away from changing the complexion of qualifying... even the Grenada match in Grenada....MAstroeni fould Roberts in the box and suddenly it is a game.... I am not trying to attack, just saying that nothing can be taken for granted when the World Cup is on the line....
That's right! Damn, I missed that one too. OK I'll admit I haven't seen enough US games this year to continue this debate... LD three in a row. So who's gonna start another thread, "Who would you want to see in Quakes blue next year if LD goes to Europe". I guess I will...
Actually, when I really think about it, not qualifying for the Olympics, getting our butts handed to us, with the people we had on the field seems to poke a bigger hole in my argument, only because it was a match late in the qualifying when we choked rather than an early match like the Grenada away match.