In what was an up-and-down April for a lot of the top teams in MLS, one Western Conference team had two players push themselves to the forefront of any MVP conversation with their stellar performances.
The partnership between Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey has been a fruitful one ever since Dempsey arrived in Seattle back in August 2013, but the last three weeks may have been the best the two have ever played together.
This has landed them at No. 1 and No. 2 on this month's MVP Ladder, with Martins barely edging out his teammate for the top spot.
Here's how the rankings are determined: 10 of MLSsoccer.com's editors were polled for their top five MVP candidates, as of this month. Their votes were aggregated, resulting in the list below.
Five points were given to a player who received a first-place vote, four to a second-place vote, three to a third-place vote, two for a fourth-place vote, and one point was given if a player received a fifth-place vote.
NOTE: This voting in no way reflects the voting of the 2015 Landon Donovan MVP Award.
<strong>Rank (Pts.)</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Analysis</strong> |
<strong>1 (41)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Month: NR</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/obafemi-martins" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; background-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/05/MARTINS%2C-OBAFEMI_EK2V0073.png" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/3500_200x200.png" style="font-size: 9px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/obafemi-martins" target="_blank"><strong>Obafemi Martins</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>7 GP, 6 G (1st), 46.2% conversion rate</em></strong><p>Oba has picked up right where he left off in 2014. After narrowly missing out on 2014 MVP honors, Martins has come out in 2015 and scored nearly a goal per game and his partnership with the No. 2 player on this ladder has looked unstoppable.</p> |
<strong>2 (37)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Month: NR</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/clint-dempsey" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/05/DEMPSEY%2C-CLINT_EK2V0161.png" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/3500_200x200.png" style="font-size: 9px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/clint-dempsey" target="_blank"><strong>Clint Dempsey</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>6 GP, 5 G (T-2nd), 4 A (T-3rd)</em></strong><p>On a per-game basis there's little doubt that Dempsey has been the top player in MLS in 2015. If not for a hamstring injury, Deuce might be sitting at No. 1 on this ladder instead of his teammate.</p> |
<strong>3 (29)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Month: 5</strong> |
<strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/03/CASTILLO.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a></strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1903_200x200.png" style="font-size: 9px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/fabian-castillo" target="_blank"><strong>Fabian Castillo</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>9 GP, 4 G (T-6th), 5 A (T-1st)</i></b><p>After a breakout season in 2014, Castillo has come out even stronger in 2015. The Colombian winger has collected a total of three goals and three assists in his last three games.</p> |
<strong>4 (17)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Month: NR</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/benny-feilhaber" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/05/Benny-Feilhaber.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/sportingkc_logo.png" style="font-size: 9px; width: 75px; height: 83px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/benny-feilhaber" target="_blank"><strong>Benny Feilhaber</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>9 GP, 5 A (T-1st), 22 chances created (T-5th)</i></b><p>Arguably the best midfielder in MLS so far, Feilhaber has led Sporting Kansas City to a strong start in the Western Conference. Feilhaber has undoubtedly been the MVP of Peter Vermes' squad despite the presence of two recent World Cup stars.</p> |
<strong>5 (8)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Month: NR</strong> |
<strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kei-kamara" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/image_nodes/2015/05/Kamara_Kei_23.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a></strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kei-kamara" target="_blank"></a> |
<img alt=" " src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/CCSC-200x200.png" style="font-size: 9px; height: 75px; width: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kei-kamara" target="_blank"><strong>Kei Kamara</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>8 GP, 5 G (T-2nd), 34 shots on goal (2nd)</i></b><p>Speaking of SKC, their former striker has found a new home with Crew SC. Kamara has provided exactly what Columbus needed, a reliable goalscorer up top.</p> |
Others receiving votes: Sebastian Giovinco (6), Perry Kitchen (6), Octavio Rivero (6), Bobby Boswell (1), Omar Gonzalez (1)
Let us know what you think of our picks (and make your own) in the comments section below.
