Major League Soccer today named Chivas USA's Brad Guzan as its goalkeeper of the year. The Illinois native and former South Carolina Gamecock anchored a defense that allowed just 28 goals this season, the second-best mark in MLS (Houston Dynamo was best, with 23 goals allowed). The choice of Guzan is consistent with Soccer Source readers' views, as reflected in the polls that have been running since yesterday (see right sidebar). I agree with this view as well. Guzan was for me the most impressive goalkeeper in the league this year. He's only 23 and could be on to great things. Unfortunately for him, there is a lot of competition at this position on the U.S. men's national team.
Separately, the league also anointed New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst as its winner of the MLS Fair Play award. This one contradicts what Soccer Source readers were saying via the polls. Over 80% of you voted for Cobi Jones, perhaps wishing to send him into retirement with this well-deserved hardware. Parkhurst is a good choice too, but I wonder if this precludes him from winning MLS Defender of the Year, a category he is also nominated for? (He happens to lead this poll by a significant margin as well, but there's still time.)
Oct 31, 2007
Chivas USA's Guzan Scoops Up MLS Goalkeeper Award
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Yeah, I voted for Cobi because I thought the fix was in. Parkhurst, though, had a mind-boggling low foul tally with no cards in the regular season.
ReplyDeleteI also think this may preclude him from winning DOY. The back line he anchors let up a lot of goals down the stretch.