The Short List: Impact Rookies In Major League Soccer

By Allen Ramsey

The Short List is back and here to stay. After a short hiatus we’ve found a regular spot, right here on Wednesday afternoon.

With Major League Soccer and Women’s Professional Soccer now well underway, the U.S. National Team’s crowded schedule, Champions League action coming to a head, and close title races in some of the world’s biggest league, The Short List has plenty of topics to cover to make this a weekly feature.

For the first regular edition, and with an overabundance of European coverage this week, it fits to turn to MLS and look at some of the rookies who are making an impact in the season’s early going and could be in the running for Rookie of the Year.

Sam Cronin, Toronto F.C.: The second overall draft pick has not disappointed in the early going. The results are not rolling in for Toronto, but Cronin has played well and seems to be well on his way to being a very good player in MLS.

Cronin has earned three starts in four matches, and should continue to be a regular fixture in the T.F.C. starting XI throughout the season. If the tide turns and Toronto can start winning matches, Cronin will be a frontrunner for MLS Rookie of the Year.

Darrius Barnes, New England Revolution: A third round draft pick, Barnes has stepped into the center of New England’s defense and played like a star. He is a big athletic defender who has also added a new dimension to the Revs attack with his long throws that make every ball out of bounds seem like a set play.

Barnes may have competition as the best rookie on his team, or even his own back line, from Kevin Alston, who has also played well, but Barnes has the tougher task. With Gabriel Badilla out with injury the Duke product has been called upon to anchor the Revolution defense and could be earning a permanent spot with his play.

Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles Galaxy: When the Los Angels Galaxy took Gonzalez with the third overall pick, it was clear they were hoping to find an answer to some defensive problems. Three games into the season it looks like they may have found the future.

Gonzalez, much like Cronin, is not benefiting from his team’s fine form the way Barnes is, but he has been solid at the back. Learning from some of the better defenders in U.S. history in Gregg Berhalter and Tony Sanneh should be to the Texan’s advantage. Given the Galaxy’s high profile, Gonzalez has a high level of pressure on him to perform, but seems to be handling it well.

Steve Zakuani, Seattle Sounders: Despite having started only two games, the first overall draft pick is already making a name for himself. The Akron product notched a goal and an assist and has proven to be a great prospect as either a starter or a substitute. His pace is hard to contain and he has already shown some flashes of great skill.

The amount of talent on the front line for Seattle with Nate Jaqua and Fredy Montero may not bode well for Zakuani’s chances up front, but he seems to be well on his way to earning a regular spot on the field.

Chris Pontius, D.C. United: Pontius has stepped in and added an immediate punch to United’s attack. He started all four games for United and with one goal and one assist to his credit, the seventh overall draft pick has proven his worth as a partner to Luciano Emilio up front.

The duo has combined for four goals, and Pontius is not exactly deferring to the veteran, having taken ten shots in four matches. The UCSB product seems to have filled some of the vacancy left by Marcelo Gallardo.

Allen Ramsey is an assistant editor for Goal.com USA. The Short List will appear every Wednesday on Goal.com

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