Tiered Power Rankings and MLS Awards Tracking

by Dave Clark on Sep 1, 2010 8:06 AM PDT

SBNation's weekly MLS Power Rankings are out again with only two major changes, both to California teams. This week also sees the launch of the Monthly Awards tracking.

In the Awards tracking two Sounders appear, one as the leading MVP candidate. And a former Sounder shows up as the leader for the Comeback Player of the Year.

SBNhanced MLS Power Rankings!

Team	Total vote count	First Tier votes	Last week's Tier
Tier 1 - Teams Contending For Cups
Real Salt Lake	24	8	1
Columbus Crew	24	8	1
FC Dallas	22	6	1
Tier 2 - Teams Likely in the Playoffs
LA Galaxy	18	2	1
NY Red Bulls	18	2	2
Seattle Sounders	16	0	2
Tier 3 - Teams On the Outside Looking In
Colorado Rapids	13	0	3
SJ Earthquakes	11	0	2
Chicago Fire	9	0	3
KC Wizards	9	0	3
Toronto FC	8	0	3
Tier 4 - Teams Competing for #3 Draft Pick
Chivas USA	1	0	4
NE Revolution	1	0	4
Houston Dynamo	0	0	4
Philadelphia Union	0	0	4
DC United	0	0	4

The SBNhanced MLS Power Rankings are a collaborative effort by SBN's soccer bloggers to rank the MLS teams each week.

Week 22 rankings. Updated 8/31/10

And here are the Monthly Awards races

Most Valuable Player:
1. Fredy Montero, 14
2. David Ferreira, 12
T3. Dwayne De Rosario and Edson Buddle, 5
5. Javier Morales, 3
6. Landon Donovan, 2

Defender of the Year
1. Omar Gonzalez, 15
2. Jamison Olave, 13
3. Osvaldo Alonso, 6
T4. Chad Marshall and Ugo Ihemelu, 2

Goalkeeper of the Year
1. Nick Rimando, 18
2. Donovan Ricketts, 11
3. Kevin Hartman, 6
T4. William Hesmer and Jimmy Nielsen, 3

Coach of the Year
1. Schellas Hyndman, 16
2. Jason Kreis, 14
3. Bruce Arena, 5
4. Robert Warzycha, 4
5. Hans Backe, 2

Rookie of the Year
1. Danny Mwanga, 21
2. Andy Najar, 11
3. Tim Ream, 4
4. Michael Stephens, 3

Newcomer of the Year
1. Alvaro Saborio, 20
T2. Jimmy Nielsen and Joel Lindpere, 7
T4. Ryan Smith and Marko Perovic, 4

Comeback Player of the Year
1. Sebastien Le Toux, 13
2. Bobby Convey, 10
3. Kevin Hartman, 6
4. Bouna Coundoul, 5
5. Chris Albright, 3
6. Dan Gargan, 2

Here's what I said about my voting behind the scenes.

MVP - Andy Williams is probably the biggest surpise on that list, and I'm making the call purely on statistics, just not ones that you've probably seen. He's one of the top players in the league by Shots +/-, Goals +/- and RSL basically doubles its opponents shooting % when he's on the pitch. He's quiet on the pitch, but his team is just so much better when he plays. Bommadog!

Defender - I don't think I'm copping out to put a Defensive Mid in as a Defensive stalwart. In most modern formations the CDM spends as much time in the attack as the wingbacks do. Alonso one of the best defensive players in the league and has shut down top scorers when he's healthy.

Keeper - I'm still with Ricketts,but maybe not much longer.

Coach - Maybe I read too much 3rd Degree, but I've never been a fan of Hyndman. I was wrong.

Rookie - Mwanga has to be the winner. Najar is golden as well. 3rd place in this one could go in a lot of direcetions, but if it was like the Heisman and only likely winners got the invite? Only two invitations go out.

Newcomer - Another award with a clear #1, and a lot of guys that could finish second.

Comeback - Call this my first apology to Mr Le Toux. You proved me wrong. Very wrong. Congrats. Too bad the team sucks, but you've been great.

A reminder, the Rookie is for a first time professional, while the Newcomer is for people new to the League.

Thoughts on any of the rankings?

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Comments

I don't think of Seba as a comeback player

maybe most improved, but he certainly didn’t suck last year…..really didn’t have a chance to make much of an impression either way, except in the USOC where he was pretty good

by Holum on Sep 1, 2010 9:17 AM PDT reply actions

1 Goal in League play

And MVPesque numbers now.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Sep 1, 2010 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Le Toux

Played nearly 1,500 minutes, got 15 starts and had one goal and three assists to show for it. He had a decent run in Open Cup play, but regardless of what you think about his playing out of position and whatever else, he didn’t produce with ample opportunity during MLS play.

Maybe he’s not a a classic comeback player since this is only his second year in MLS, but he definitely had a breakout campaign this year.

Read me at Sounder at Heart and Dreaming of Wigan

by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 1, 2010 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Are only MLS #'s considered for awards?

Or does the player’s season in all competitions get considered?

by JWAY on Sep 1, 2010 9:36 AM PDT reply actions

just mls

Read me at Sounder at Heart and Dreaming of Wigan

by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 1, 2010 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions

What player would change?

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Sep 1, 2010 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm not certain that any would, I just didn't know.

(newb alert!)

by JWAY on Sep 1, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Classic Homer Post

But Sigi’s got to be in the mix.

Considering the implosion that was the Sounders first half and considering his star player (and then lone DP) was neither happy nor productive, things could have easily gone from bad to worse.

I realize Sigi didn’t do it alone, but the Sounders’ turn-around has been nothing short of amazing.

by Jack Brando on Sep 1, 2010 10:10 AM PDT reply actions

Which coach listed should not get a vote

While Sigi gets one?

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Sep 1, 2010 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Arena

What coach wouldn’t have won with that talent? Ricketts, Donovan, Buddle, Gonzalez? And now they are falling off the pace? How?

by Jack Brando on Sep 1, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe Bruce Arena

Virtual implosion a little over halfway through the season.

I saw Steve Davis’ list included Preki. Not sure why he included him. TFC is looking to have another non-playoff season unless the one of the Quakes/Sounders/Rapids choke, which is much like last season.

by chrisperry1983 on Sep 1, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

The one area I think Sigi is better than the listed

is completely irrelevant to MLS voting. The thing is I think he has done one of the best jobs in dealing with multiple competitions it seems compared to MLS teams. I think we win tonight and at least a draw on Saturday would confirm that. I think that the Puerto Rico Islanders thrashing of LAG helped illustrate the importance of being able to balance a squad for a tight schedule.

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Tiered Power Rankings and MLS Awards Tracking

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