As we take a look at postseason awards elsewhere, let First XI be the first to present its Best XI for MLS 2008. Tough, tough calls here, folks. I wanted to pick Joe Cannon, but couldn't. I thought long and hard about Shalrie Joseph, but gave the nod to someone else. Brian Ching is another guy who's had a big year but got nosed out. Take a look and see, and I expect to hear from you.
11. Jon Busch (GK, Chicago Fire). Great story here, with Busch becoming a first-team 'keeper for the first time since 2004. His 1.07 goals against average is second only to Pat Onstad of the Dynamo, but Busch has seen a lot more shots (a league-leading 160, compared to just 98 for Onstad). You also have to love the fire in Busch's eyes. He can look like a crazed got at times. I've decided that Busch is the Dustin Pedroia of MLS.
10. Chad Marshall (DF, Columbus Crew). Marshall has been beyond solid for the Crew this season after an injury-plagued '07 campaign. He is physical without being dirty (only two cautions) and is probably the most dangerous set-piece target in the league. It's becoming pretty clear that one of Marshall's teammates (you'll read his name later in this column) will take home the MVP this year, but Marshall might just be considered a co-MVP on his own team.
9. Bakary Soumare (DF, Chicago Fire). The physically-imposing Soumare has been outstanding this year for Chicago and while he can be a bit overzealous in the tackle (10 cautions), he has become a defender that opposing forwards cannot stand to face. When you look back at shrewd draft picks in the last five years in MLS, remember Soumare, who was a second-round pick in the '07 SuperDraft, and a pick the Fire obtained when they traded Andy Herron to Columbus.
8. Wade Barrett (DF, Houston Dynamo). It would be criminal for Houston to not have some representation on the Best XI, what with them going for the "three-peat" and all. But with all the outstanding attacking players who have put up monster years in MLS this season, I felt the only place where I could find room for a member of the Dynamo was here, with old reliable Wade Barrett. The 32-year old left-footer just seems to put in the same effort year after year.
7. Brian Carroll (MF, Columbus Crew). Did I say Columbus could have co-MVPs a few seconds ago? Make that tri-MVPs because Carroll has been phenomenal in the center of the field for Sigi Schmid's club this season. Steady, smart and hard-working, Carroll has made Schmid look brilliant for trading Kei Kamara to San Jose and picking him up. And D.C. United has to be second-guessing themselves for leaving him exposed in the expansion draft last year.
6. Darren Huckerby (MF, San Jose Earthquakes). The Quakes were oh-so-close to becoming the first MLS expansion team to make the playoffs since the 1998 Fire and Fusion and the biggest reason they gave Bay Area fans so many thrills was Huckerby, who has a rare combination of talent and grit. At 32 years of age, Huckerby looks like a European import who will bring a veteran, Peter Nowak-type influence to his team over the next several seasons. Great signing by Frank Yallop.
5. Javier Morales (MF, Real Salt Lake). It'll be nervous times for RSL this weekend as they try to hold off Colorado (as well as KC and NY) for a spot in the playoffs, but regardless of what happens coach Jason Kreis has to be thrilled with the performance of Morales this year. The 28-year old Argentine gave RSL fans a taste of his talents in seven games a year ago, but this year they've gotten to see a full dose of his passing skills. Probably not a clear-cut Best XI pick in the eyes of many out there, but he gets the nod on this list.
4. Guillermo Barros Schelotto (MF, Columbus Crew). Pretty obvious to me that Schelotto will take home the MVP honors this season, for orchestrating the attack of the best team in the league. I just love to watch the way Schelotto gets his head up in traffic and easily spots teammates in dangerous spots. Seven goals and 19 assists, this guy is exactly the type of player Schmid needed to build a team around. Take a look at the great teams in MLS history and you'll see this type of player somewhere in the lineup, making everyone on the field play at a higher level.
3. Landon Donovan (MF, Los Angeles Galaxy). It's hard to fathom that LA has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons after winning their surprise double in 2004, but you cannot blame Donovan, who played inspired soccer this year and looks like a good bet to take home the Golden Boot. With a career-high 19 goals (in 24 games), Donovan teamed with Edson Buddle (14 goals) to put up some of the best numbers in the league. How did these numbers not add up to more wins? That's a question Bruce Arena is already beginning to address.
2. Juan Pablo Angel (FW, New York Red Bulls). This one's a really tough call, picking Angel ahead of Houston's Brian Ching, but I'm going with the "lack of supporting cast" rationale as I make this pick. While Ching has a stable unit around him, it seems Angel's teammates and strike partners have been changing since he showed up in New York last year. Still, he manages to score goals (13 in 22 games) and always seems to be putting balls in the net when his team needs it most.
1. Kenny Cooper (FW, FC Dallas). The big, strong striker will take his last, best shot at the Golden Boot this weekend at The Home Depot Center, going head to head with Donovan for the honor. Regardless of who takes home the scoring title, 2008 has been a coming out party for Cooper, who scored nearly half his team's goals this season. What's more, Cooper just turned 24.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
