Mauro Rosales No Longer Dark Horse For MVP

by Dave Clark on Sep 7, 2011 8:40 AM PDT in Major League Soccer: News & Analysis

It was only two weeks ago that we at Sounder at Heart were calling Mauro Rosales a "dark horse" for Major League Soccer's MVP. With the Seattle Sounders being one of the clearly best teams in MLS the chances are pretty good that a player would get recognition, and since Fredy Montero and Kasey Keller are mere mortals in their numbers those who don't watch every single game may not find an easy pick. At least that was the thought.

It looks like the SB Nation MLS editors don't think the same way. Rosales was a clear #2 in our first tracking poll for MVP. Yes, Brek Shea is the leader and Landon Donovan is the likely number three. All three will be pushed hard going into the final stretch, but only one of those top three won't be playing in the October National Team games against Honduras and Ecuador.

There may be a break between traditional media and new media in the awards voting (both get votes - as do Jeremiah and myself). It is notable that those in traditional media are more likely to fall into East Coast Bias (that thing where since it is difficult to follow West Coast games they don't), but with the leaders all being from the West this should be less of an issue. In fact of the players that received a single vote from the 15 SBN editors only 2 play in the Eastern Time Zone - Thierry Henry and Dwayne De Rosario. Neither should have a chance at finishing first or second. Each has great numbers but both are on flawed teams.

A Sounder player seems quite likely to finish in the top three of the MVP race. Back in March no one would have guessed it would be by the one known at the time as merely #TheTrialist.

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I think Shea is a good candidate

and him suddenly becoming a rising USMNT star is helping his stock. Aside from being on flawed teams, DeRo has been hot/cold, and Henry seems to be like the rise-and-fall of Montero last season. Before anybody flips out on me, when I say rise and fall I mean the assisting or scoring in however many games straight. He was still a huge playmaker, but when you put up big numbers and then fly under the radar, they forget about you. That’s how I see Henry right now.

by chrisperry1983 on Sep 7, 2011 9:04 AM PDT reply actions

What about Drew Moor?

by ssfctrophies on Sep 7, 2011 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

Anyone that picks Drew Moor over Mauro Rosales for any type of MVP award is either insane or a troll.

Anyone.

by Aaron Campeau on Sep 7, 2011 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think Buzz Carrick is insane

nor a troll

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

by Dave Clark on Sep 7, 2011 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Anyone that disagrees w/ Mr. Campeau is either insane or a troll.

Anyone.

"But who would listen to Little Old Me anyway?"
-by -Dave Clark
and -thehemogoblin

by Little old me on Sep 9, 2011 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Shouldn't we keep quiet about this until we resign him?

I mean, we’re just doing Sala’s job for him and driving up Rosales’ salary cap hit, right?

"It's scintillating, it's sensational, it's Seattle Sounders FC soccer."

by LoiteringWithIntent on Sep 7, 2011 10:54 AM PDT reply actions

SoundersFC.com has a story on it

MLSSoccer.com will have a story on it.
SBnation.com/soccer has stories on it.

This isn’t going to be kept quiet, because it is going to happen.

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

by Dave Clark on Sep 7, 2011 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Of course.

I meant that to appear more sarcastic than it did.

Rosales has earned a big payday. I want him to get paid, but I also want the Sounders to sign him at a reasonable cap hit.

"It's scintillating, it's sensational, it's Seattle Sounders FC soccer."

by LoiteringWithIntent on Sep 7, 2011 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

funny story...

when I wrote my first Mauro Rosales story a few weeks ago, Sala sent it to Hanauer. Hanauer tells me “you cost us a few bucks.” true story.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.

by Jeremiah Oshan on Sep 7, 2011 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions 13 recs

I have to think Donovan is the favorite right now

Both Rosales and Shea had slow starts to the season. Shea was playing out of positions and Rosales was getting in game shape and working his way onto a starting spot. Donovan, as always, has been the best player on the Galaxy since the start of the season. He’s currently 2nd on the goal leader-board (although his assists have been down this year). Shea has to pass him on the goal totals. Rosales needs to bang in a few more to be competitive.

Barring a goal scoring streak…I think for either Rosales or Shea to get the MVP prize the Galaxy need to stumble going into the playoffs. Seattle or Dallas need to either clinch the Supporter’s Shield or look like they can beat LA in the MLS Cup. Otherwise I think a lot of voters will go with the safer/more well-known Donovan over the new guys.

by Dizzo on Sep 7, 2011 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

Donovan is also

Probably the best player of the three, in terms of talent / skill. And in terms of LAG, he is easily as important to LA’s offense as Rosales to Seattle or Shea to FCD.

I love Rosales, but the Sounders are good this year because they are good at EVERY position (except TF) – we, like the 2001 M’s, are a collection of many well-above-average players. Rosales may be the poster-boy for that concept this year, and certainly has made our offense click in the absence of Zak, but if you can imagine FCD without Shea for a stretch or LAG without Donovan… those teams look a TON more vulnerable than if Seattle were playing Neagle on the left and, say, Fernandez or Evans on the right (or some combo of those players).

I’d probably vote Donovan, but then go drink myself into a stupor to drown out how depressed that vote would make me feel. I detest Donovan, but he still strikes me as the single best player in MLS.

by Orothar on Sep 7, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

And the 2001 mariners had

The #1 and #3 MVP vote recipients

by clifford on Sep 7, 2011 1:48 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Actually, in some ways you could argue that Donovan isn't the most important component of LA's offense

I’d have to do all the work and track down the #s, but I’d bet that Beckham is as important, or almost as important at least, as Donovan is, in terms of all the goals the Galaxy have gotten off of set pieces and corners this season (and there have been a good few). Sure, Donovan is much more important in the run of play and Beckham gets a break for G & Ts and hot-buttered scones every third game, but his set-piece service makes LA a LOT more dangerous.

by Nevtelen on Sep 7, 2011 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions