Throughout the 2014 MLS season, MLSsoccer.com will take stock of the performances of rookie players once a month, looking at which first-year professionals are making the biggest impact for their team and in the league, and who could be in contention for Rookie of the Year.
The August Rookie Rankings reflect all games in the month, through the end of Week 25.
June and July saw Tesho Akindele's rapid rise up these rankings, thanks to his contributions for an injury-stricken Dallas side. But, oddly enough, Dallas are healthy now, and Akindele is still very much in Oscar Pareja's first-team plans. Now he's also at the top of the Rookie Rankings.
It was a tough call between Akindele and Harry Shipp, the Homegrown playmaker who has delighted Chicago Fire fans, but with Akindele getting even hotter (more below), and Shipp and the Fire still treading water, the nod at the top goes to the Dallas man.
There was also some movement below the youngsters, as Nick Hagglund and Steve Birnbaum both continued solid rookie campaigns in defense for Toronto FC and D.C. United, respectively, but swapped positions in the rankings. There was also one newcomer to the list, and deservedly so after a season of constant improvement – scroll down to find out who!
Only MLS regular-season games reflected on schedule and statistics.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 42px;"> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/USATSI_7915780_167117770_lowres.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; background-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/tesho-akindele" target="_blank"><strong>Tesho Akindele</strong></a><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/FC%20Dallas.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"></strong> |
<p>In his biggest month yet as an MLS player, Akindele recorded his first career hat trick and ended with a goal or assist in three of Dallas' five games. It's difficult to judge those numbers without noting the presence of an on-fire Fabián Castillo next to him, but the fact remains that Akindele has been as influential as any rookie in MLS this year. We'll likely find out more during a brutal September schedule for FCD.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Month: </strong>8/3 at Chivas USA (1-0 win, 90 min, 1 goal), 8/9 vs. Colorado (3-1 win, 75 min), 8/16 at San Jose (5-0 win, 90 min, 3 goals), 8/22 vs. Real Salt Lake (2-1 win, 90 min, 1 assist), 8/30 at Chicago (1-0 loss, 90 min)</li><li><strong>This Month: </strong>9/6 at Real Salt Lake (10 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>), 9/13 vs. Vancouver, 9/20 at LA Galaxy, 9/24 vs. Seattle</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 7 G, 2 A (18 GP, 15 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 85 points $5.2 million (12.0% owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 41px;"> |
<b>1</b> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/USATSI_7840596_167117770_lowres.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/harrison-shipp" target="_blank">Harry Shipp</a></strong><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Chicago_Fire_Soccer_Club_logo_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"></strong> |
<p>Shipp continues to comfortably lead MLS rookies in minutes played (1,723) and assists and trails only Akindele in goals, but a downturn in August that saw him start two Fire games on the bench and go the full 90 only once drops him to No. 2, for the time being. Still, it's pretty clear Shipp has something special about him, and he's got plenty of time to make his case.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Month:</strong> 8/2 vs. Columbus (1-1 draw, 33 min), 8/10 vs. New York (1-0 win, 90 min), 8/16 at Montreal (1-0 loss, 68 min), 8/23 at Toronto (2-2 draw, 58 min), 8/30 vs. Dallas (1-0 win, 27 min)</li><li><strong>This Month: </strong>9/7 at New England (7 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>), 9/13 vs. Toronto, 9/20 vs. D.C. United, 9/28 at Houston</li><li><strong>Season Statistics: </strong>6 G, 5 A (24 GP, 20 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>: </strong>112 points, $6.2 million (17.3% owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 42px;"> |
<b>4</b> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/USATSI_7863974_167117770_lowres.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; background-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/nick-hagglund" target="_blank"><strong>Nick Hagglund</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/prp-toronto_150.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<p>TFC may be in the doldrums right now, but Hagglund's continued strong play continued to catch the eye this month. Though his position in defense naturally does not lend itself to big attacking numbers, he has played it well and could make a late case for Rookie of the Year if he keeps it up.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Month: </strong>8/2 at Montreal (2-0 win, 90 min), 8/9 at Columbus (3-2 win, 90 min), 8/16 at Sporting KC (4-1 loss, 90 min), 8/23 vs. Chicago (2-2 draw, 90 min), 8/30 vs. New England (3-0 loss, 90 min) </li><li><strong>This Month: </strong>9/3 at Philadelphia (7 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com" target="_blank">MLS Live</a> in the US, TSN/RDS2 in Canada), 9/6 vs. Philadelphia, 9/13 at Chicago, 9/21 vs. Chivas USA, 9/27 vs. Portland </li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 A (17 GP, 15 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 61 points, $5.3 million (10.9% owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 41px;"> |
<b>3</b> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/USATSI_7679815_167117770_lowres.jpg" style="height: 55px; width: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/marlon-hairston" target="_blank"><strong>Steve Birnbaum</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/DC-United-Logo.png" style="height: 40px; width: 40px;"> |
<p>Birnbaum slips, but only because of a few noticeable hiccups near the beginning and end of an otherwise solid August. He has, by and large, continued to play well as a starter on one of the East's best teams, and that's nothing to sniff at.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Month:</strong> 8/3 at Houston (1-0 loss, 90 min), 8/9 at Real Salt Lake (3-0 loss, 90 min), 8/17 vs. Colorado (4-2 win, 90 min), 8/23 at Sporting KC (3-0 win, 90 min), 8/27 at LA Galaxy (4-1 loss, 90 min), 8/31 vs. New York (2-0 win, 90 min)</li><li><strong>This Month: </strong>9/6 at Vancouver (10 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com" target="_blank">MLS Live</a> in the US, TSN in Canada), 9/10 at New York, 9/20 at Chicago, 9/27 vs. Philadelphia</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1,170 minutes played (13 GP, 13 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 52 points, $5.2 million (7.4% owned)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 42px;"> |
<b>N/A</b> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/USATSI_7958699_167117770_lowres.jpg" style="width: 55px; height: 55px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; background-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/adam-bedell" target="_blank"><strong>Marlon Hairston</strong></a><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Colorado_Primary_COL.jpg" style="width: 40px; height: 58px;"> |
<p>Marlon Hairston missed the first half of the month through injury but soon scored his first MLS goal upon his return. That, combined with the strong play he showed prior to his three-game absence, is enough to get him on a list with a few rookies trending the other way.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Month:</strong> 8/2 vs. Real Salt Lake (1-0 loss, DNP - injured), 8/9 at FC Dallas (3-1 loss, DNP - injured), 8/17 at DC (4-2 loss, DNP - injured), 8/20 vs. LA Galaxy (4-3 loss, 77 min, 1 goal), 8/30 at Seattle (1-0 loss, 60 min)</li><li><strong>This Month: </strong>9/5 at LA Galaxy (10:30 pm ET, NBCSN in the US, TSN2 in Canada), 9/13 vs. Portland, 9/19 vs. Real Salt Lake, 9/27 vs. San Jose</li><li><strong>Season Statistics:</strong> 1 G, 1 A (17 GP, 7 GS)</li><li><strong><a href="http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/" target="_blank">MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager</a>:</strong> 34 points, $4.4 million (1.8% owned)</li></ul> |
Five more rookies to watch:Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Adam Bedell (Columbus Crew), Jared Watts (Colorado Rapids), Chris Duvall (New York Red Bulls), Patrick Mullins (New England Revolution)
