McCarthy's Musings: And the Winner Is...

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MLS: Darren Huckerby, San Jose Earthquakes, September 2008 (ISI)

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By Kyle McCarthy

MLS Awards voting takes place before the playoffs begin, but there really isn't a good time to share the ballot. In that first playoff week, there are too many games and the awards are too distant. In the second and third weeks, the games are too important.

So I put it off until now – there isn't a calmer time than a World Cup qualifying matchday combined with a travel day in the middle of MLS Cup week. Yes, I realize that most of these awards have already found their homes, but it's important to go on the record with my choices. These selections haven't changed since I submitted my vote a few weeks ago.

One quick programming note before we get into the picks. I'll be heading out to Los Angeles on Thursday morning for all of the MLS Cup festivities. That means a daily dose of Musings from Thursday to Sunday as we inch closer to the Cup. And, of course, the Monday MLS Breakdown to figure out how Columbus or New York lifted the crown in the aftermath of what could be an entertaining final.

Most Valuable Player

1. Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus; 2. Landon Donovan, Los Angeles; 3. Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake

COMMENTS: This race wasn't even close. Barros Schelotto was the best player on the league's best team. How Cuauhtemoc Blanco was nominated for this award, I have no idea. The Mexican playmaker played well for half the season. Morales suffers from small-market disease, apparently.

Coach of the Year

1. Sigi Schmid, Columbus; 2. Preki, Chivas USA; 3. Jason Kreis, RSL

COMMENTS: Columbus missed the playoffs last season and won the Supporters' Shield this year. That makes Schmid the easy choice. Both Preki and Kreis deserve plaudits for their work in dealing with injuries and forging team spirit, respectively.

Defender of the Year

1. Gonzalo Segares, Chicago; 2. Chad Marshall, Columbus; 3. Bobby Boswell, Houston

COMMENTS: Marshall and Bakary Soumare stole most of the spotlight this season, but I thought Segares was the most consistent of the three. Good fullbacks are hard to find and are almost never rewarded with this award. And by never, I mean no fullback has ever won the award.

Goalkeeper of the Year

1. Jon Busch, Chicago; 2. William Hesmer, Columbus; 3. Pat Onstad, Houston

COMMENTS: Busch proved the doubters wrong with a solid year. Funny thing is Busch likely wouldn't have started had Matt Pickens stuck around. Hesmer and Onstad were both solid as well, with Joe Cannon and Matt Reis rounding out a good crop of goalkeepers this season.

Rookie of the Year

1. Kheli Dube, New England; 2. Geoff Cameron, Houston; 3. Sean Franklin, Los Angeles

COMMENTS: Terrible year for rookies. I can't in good conscience reward anyone who participated in the Galaxy's defensive debacle, even though Franklin did have a nice year. Dube's the pick for lack of better options.

Newcomer of the Year

1. Darren Huckerby, San Jose; 2. Andre Rocha, FC Dallas; 3. Claudio Lopez, Kansas City

COMMENTS: Terrible year for newcomers, too. Huckerby excelled since joining from Norwich City, but most of the other potential winners washed out terribly. Rocha wasn't bad and Lopez had his moments, but Huckerby's the only choice.

Comeback Player of the Year

1. Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas; 2. Marshall; 3. Santino Quaranta, D.C.

COMMENTS: Broken leg last year, 18 goals and a proposed European transfer this year. Not a bad rebound for the hulking striker American fans love to adore.

Fair Play

1. Michael Parkhurst, New England; 2. Alejandro Moreno, Columbus; 3. Andy Williams, RSL

COMMENTS: There is no one in this league who defends as smoothly as Parkhurst. Moreno would have been a nice choice too for his all-around performance this season.

Referee of the Year

Abstain

COMMENTS: I would have selected Ricardo Salazar, but he wasn't nominated. The standard of refereeing wasn't great this season, as evidenced by the nominees selected. Jair Marrufo was the best of that bunch and deserved the award amongst the nominees.

Best XI

GK: Busch

COMMENTS: Why change from the goalkeeper of the year?

DF: Boswell, Marshall, Segares

COMMENTS: It wasn't a particularly strong year for the league's established defenders. Jimmy Conrad's goals covered for the struggles in his own penalty box, Michael Parkhurst struggled with physical defenders and Eddie Robinson just plain struggled. Thank goodness for Boswell and Marshall returning to form, Soumare emerging and Segares continuing his fine play. Aside from that, the pickings were slim.

MF: Huckerby, Barros Schelotto, Morales, Steve Ralston (NE), Robbie Rogers (CLB)

COMMENTS: The first three are fairly obvious. The last two are not. Shalrie Joseph will likely take Ralston's place in the Best XI, but it was Ralston who was the Revs' talisman when things were good. Joseph also suffered an alarming dip in form from August onwards. Rogers drew the most criticism when I asked around. An offensive flopper without any defensive interest, the common refrain rang. Point taken, but defenders quivered when he ran at them this season. On sheer fear alone, he merits a spot. I also considered Joseph, Brian Carroll, John Thorrington and Dave van den Bergh for those last two spots before submitting my ballot.

FW: Donovan, Cooper

COMMENTS: Tough to make much of an argument for anyone else. Juan Pablo Angel and Brian Ching comprise a pretty darn good second string.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and blogs frequently during the week for Goal.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kylemccarthy@gmail.com.