Argentina call in MLS trio for World Cup qualifiers
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I started writing a big preamble to this about how we’re close to the finish line and we still have so much to discover about our teams and ourselves. I apologize for even considering wasting your time on a three-day weekend Friday. Look: Almost end of season. Awards. Who win? Someone! Let’s talk.
There’s a clear trio at the top of this race. We’ll go even more in-depth on this in our monthly MVP Power Rankings next week, but barring the MLS world catching on to how good Brian White has been this season, this is going to come down to three guys.
To me the best of the bunch is clear. At least in the sense of “Most Valuable” as I choose to define it. FC Cincinnati are set to run away with the Supporters' Shield and maybe even break the points record. They would be nowhere near that without Lucho Acosta. He leads the league with 24 goal contributions on the season and plays a critical role in nearly everything the best team in the league sets out to accomplish.
There are also going to be decent arguments for Atlanta’s Thiago Almada and Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar. Almada has 22 goal contributions and has technically outperformed Acosta if you remove penalties from their goal tallies. Mukhtar has slowed considerably as of late, but last year’s MVP is still only one goal contribution behind Almada. He’s been excellent.
Still, neither have led their team to the highs Acosta is leading Cincy to. For now, the choice seems clear. But also, ya know, these things are never really all that clear in the end. And by that I mean a handful of folks will absolutely vote for Lionel Messi.
This should be a no-brainer. Then again, I’m not sure how many voters are paying attention to MLS-wide post-shot xG differentials. What’s important here, though, is I am. And I’m here to tell you that statistically (per FBref), St. Louis’ Roman Bürki has saved 6.6 goals more than the average keeper. The next closest keeper – now that Djordje Petrovic is gone – is Seattle’s Stefan Frei. He’s only saved 4.4 goals above average. Bürki is running away with the statistical crown here in the most statistically definable position in the sport. St. Louis are on top of the West. I promise there’s only one answer here.
I’m going to level with y’all: Only the hosts of Extratime Radio should be allowed to vote on this. There are like 10 people sacrificing every available space in their brain to make room for opinions on every single player in MLS, and the majority of them are on that show. If Justen Glad has been outperforming Steven Moreira, they're the only ones who have a chance to know. I don’t envy them but I do respect them.
Anyway, I’ll hop off that soapbox to jump to another: Justice for fullbacks. It’s perpetually goofy that this is treated as a center-backs-only award. It’s like fullbacks are punished for actually contributing in attack beyond playing a hospital ball to the six in buildup over and over. Yes, I’m still mad about Kai Wagner’s snub last year. He played solid defense on the team that tied for the best record in MLS and contributed 15 (!) assists. Call it the Center Back of the Year Award and stop lying to the good people of this great country.
On a related note, Vancouver’s Richie Laryea has been awesome for two teams now this year, even if the first team happened to be a whole entire mess. I don’t think it was his fault. I might just haul off and vote for him. But I know the award will probably just go to the most notable center back on the team that’s allowed the fewest goals. That would be……[checking]...ah, yep, Walker Zimmerman. We’re back on schedule with this thing.
It took a second to figure out who would make the cut here but it came pretty easily after some thinking. The aforementioned Roman Bürki deserves a shout here as does his teammate Eduard Löwen. The buzz around Löwen has died down a bit after an injury but his numbers are still excellent, he absolutely passes the eye test, and St. Louis are set to win the West.
In the East, Giorgos Giakoumakis has a case here as well. Atlanta’s new striker leads the league in non-penalty goals with 12 on the season. He’s first in goals per 90 by a considerable amount. If he’d been healthy all year, he might be running away with this.
Oh, also, Lionel Messi will absolutely get votes here too. If Inter Miami make the playoffs you could definitely talk me into that being the right call.
Bradley Carnell is the (maybe) obvious choice here. Taking an expansion team to the top of the conference in year one despite dealing with lengthy absences from your DPs deserves a ton of praise. St. Louis have thrived with his game model.
That said, Pat Noonan is about to win the Shield with FC Cincinnati. Cincy were worse than an expansion team before Noonan arrived. It would almost feel weird not to give it to him. Maybe St. Louis will drop off and make this easy, but for now it’s a fascinating two-horse race.
Congrats yet again to Gonzalo Higuaín. Ok, but actually maybe João Paulo? Or Héctor Herrera?
Minnesota United's Reynoso named Player of the Matchday: Bebelo Reynoso is the latest Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire. Reynoso scored twice in a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids, marking the sixth multi-goal game of his Loons' career (most in club history). The No. 10's goals came via a penalty kick (18') and when cleaning up the rebound on Ismael Tajouri-Shradi’s shot (28'), all before Teemu Pukki (43') rounded out the scoring.
- Alan Velasco was inspired by Lionel Messi en route to joining the Argentina national team.
- Check out your Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.
- Take a look at which MLS players were called up for the upcoming international window.
- LA Galaxy maintained their playoff hopes in a Cali Clásico win.
- Seattle believe they answered critics who "don't believe" in the 2023 team.
- Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were held scoreless by Nashville SC's "resounding" defense on Wednesday night.
- Héctor Herrera is leading Houston to new heights.
Good luck out there. Talk to folks who know things.
