Keller, Schmid, Rosales Finalists For Individual Awards

MLS announced the finalists for individual awards today. Three Seattle Sounders graced the lists. Coach Sigi Schmid will battle the only coach with a better regular season record (Bruce Arena) and a worst to first performance by Peter Vermes in Kansas City. There is no surprise to see Kasey Keller on the keeper short list with Kevin Hartman and Faryd Mondragon (maybe surprising). Mauro Rosales is joined by Luke Rodgers and Eric Hassli as Newcomer of the Year finalists.

All three Sounders will wait until next week on November 14th and 15th. There may be a precursor of the vote on Thursday the 10th when the MLS Best XI of 2011 is announced. Vote splitting should not have hurt minor MVP candidates like Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso in that round of individual recognition. Though several players were mentioned as potential MVP candidates, by having so many contributors no Sounder makes that list.

Competing for the MVP will be Brad Davis, Brek Shea and Dwayne De Rosario.