a U.S. Open Cup qualifier in Columbus -- so he was well-rested when he joined Chivas USA. His contributions came almost immediately. Thrown into the mix because of a shortage of available players, Thomas played the full 90 minutes against the Crew in his Chivas USA debut on May 12.
Struggling before the match with a 2-3 record, the 1-1 tie was the club's first of the season. Afterward, Chivas USA went 2-0-2 with Thomas helping stabilize the backline.
Overall, Chivas USA won the Western Conference with a 15-7-8 record and allowed 28 goals, the second fewest number in the league.
"Shavar has done a great job but at the same time Claudio has done a great job, Jason Hernandez has been doing a solid job when he comes in," Chivas USA coach Preki said. "Shavar has been a great piece that we found and we expect even better things from him."
Marsch, meanwhile, said the Jamaican-born defender deserves some recognition for his efforts.
"He came late to our team but I've actually been surprised that he hasn't gotten more recognition for what he's done this year," Marsch said. "He's been a big part of it. I haven't heard talk much of him being Defender of the Year, not just for us but for the league and I think that he should be in that mix of guys they're talking about."
Thomas, though, was not a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year honors. Suarez, though, made the final three.
Still, Thomas is a taken aback somewhat when he hears the words "breakout season" mixed in with his name.
"Right now, some people think this is my breakout season," Thomas said while flashing his ever-present smile. "This is my fifth year in the league. In 2004 when I went to Kansas City, I played a lot of games. If you don't go back to the stat sheet, a lot of people don't see that. We made it to the [MLS Cup] final and I won the Open Cup, I was starting along with Jimmy (Conrad)."
After appearing in 15 games in his rookie season with Dallas, Thomas joined Kansas City before the start of the 2004 season. In his three seasons with the Wizards, Thomas played in 76 games and was a key part of the Wizards' defense during that span.
Having played with Preki helped pave his way to Chivas USA.
"As a teammate he believed in me and now he's my coach and he still does," Thomas said. "What better way to repay him than to go out there and play hard game in and game out and do my best?"
The rapport between Thomas and Preki is strong and carries over onto the team.
"Certainly, we've all come to respect him and the way he handles himself every day," Marsch said. "He's still a young guy in some ways but he's experienced too. He bring a good, physical presence to our team and he has a good relationship with Preki and kind of understands what Preki is looking for."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
