Last week Robbie Keane overtook Obafemi Martins for the No. 1 spot on our MVP Ladder. But with Keane away on national team duty, Martins had the perfect window of opportunity to regain his spot at the top.
Unfortunately for Martins, could not capitalize. The Sounders star failed to get his team on the scoresheet in a 1-0 home loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The defeat, coupled with his lack of production, moved Martins even further away from Keane in this week's Ladder.
Here's how the rankings are determined: 10 of MLSsoccer.com's editors were polled for their top five MVP candidates, as of this week. 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.
<strong>Rank (Pts.)</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Analysis</strong> |
<strong>1 (49)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 1</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-keane" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Robbie-Keane.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1230_200x200.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-keane" target="_blank"><strong>Robbie Keane</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>28 GP, 19 G (3rd), 14 A (T-2nd)</em></strong><p>Keane was busy playing for the Republic of Ireland in Euro 2016 qualifiers, but that didn't stop him from keeping his spot atop the MVP Ladder. His clash with Martins and the Sounders over the next two weekends will go a long way toward determining who takes home the MVP trophy.</p><em>This week: vs. SEA (10/19)</em> |
<strong>2 (38)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 2</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/imagefield_thumbs/Martins_Obafemi.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Sounders.png" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; width: 70px; height: 99px; "> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/obafemi-martins" target="_blank"><strong>Obafemi Martins</strong></a></h2><br><strong><em>29 GP, 17 G (4th), 10 A (T-9th)</em></strong><p>The Nigerian forward was unable to take advantage of Keane's absence in a home shutout against the Whitecaps. He will get a chance to make up for it in a big way when the Sounders meet the Galaxy at StubHub Center.</p><em>This week: at. LA (10/19)</em> |
<strong>3 (21)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 4</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lee-nguyen" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px;" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Nguyen_Lee_14.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/928_200x200_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/lee-nguyen" target="_blank"><strong>Lee Nguyen</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>30 GP, 15 G (T-6th), 65 chances created (8th)</i></b><p>It may have been deflected, but it was still Nguyen's shot -- his 15th goal of the season -- that clinched his team's playoff ticket against the Montreal Impact. He continues to cement his spot among the top candidates.</p><em>This week: at HOU (10/16)</em> |
<strong>4 (12)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: 3</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/landon-donovan" target="_blank"><strong style="font-size: 12px;"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Landon-Donovan.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></strong></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/1230_200x200.png" style="font-size: 12.222222328186px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/landon-donovan" target="_blank"><strong>Landon Donovan</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>29 GP, 19 A (1st), 10 G, 103 CCs (1st)</i></b><p>Donovan failed to add to his assist or goal totals in the absence of Keane, which is likely the reason he moves down in this week's Ladder. But like Keane and Martins, he now takes the stage on national TV with the chance to lead his team to the Supporters' Shield.</p><em>This week: vs. SEA (10/19)</em> |
<strong>5 (11)</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;">Last Week: NR</strong> |
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/diego-valeri" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/Valeri%2C-Diego.jpg" style="width: 100px; height: 143px;"></a> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imagefield_thumbs/portlandtimberslogo.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<h2><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/diego-valeri" target="_blank"><strong>Diego Valeri</strong></a></h2><br><b><i>31 GP, 14 A (T-2nd), 11 G, 98 CCs (2nd)</i></b><p>With his two goals against the Earthquakes on Wednesday night, Valeri vaults himself back into the Top 5 for the first time in three weeks. He will try to hang on as the Timbers battle the Whitecaps for the West's final playoff spot.</p><em>This week: vs. RSL (10/17)</em> |
Others receiving votes: Bobby Boswell (6), Bradley Wright-Phillips (6), Pedro Morales (3), Thierry Henry (2), Clint Dempsey (2)
