Who’s the U.S. player of the year?
It’s that time of year again, where my ballot for the Honda Player of the Year has arrived in my mailbox. I have till Sept. 24 to cast my ballot for the top three American players based on their play with the national team this year. The list of eligible players follows:
FREDDY ADU
DAMARCUS BEASLEY
CARLOS BOCANEGRA
MICHAEL BRADLEY
DANNY CALIFF
STEVE CHERUNDOLO
BRIAN CHING
RICARDO CLARK
JAY DEMERIT
CLINT DEMPSEY
LANDON DONOVAN
MAURICE EDU
BRAD GUZAN
FRANKIE HEJDUK
TIM HOWARD
EDDIE JOHNSON
SACHA KLJESTAN
EDDIE LEWIS
PABLO MASTROENI
DREW MOOR
OGUCHI ONYEWU
HEATH PEARCE
JOSH WOLFF
Obviously, some aren’t options. Drew Moor? Ricardo Clark? Probably not. Any thoughts? Tim Howard? Michael Bradley? (Though the choice is based on play with the national team, not your club.) Clint Dempsey? Old standby Landon Donovan? Oguchi Onyewu? I’m interested to hear your thoughts.
Unfortunately, all my memories of the US team involve us underachieving in the Olympics. Everything else got blacked out. I think it is between Dempsey and Howard, and I’m leaning Howard.
I would vote for Howard. Moreover, I feel that it will be a long, long time before anyone other than a goalie is worthy of this distinction on the USMNT.
It’s got to be Howard; he controls the tempo from the back and is in absolute control of his box. Although I thought Donovan had a great game against T and T tonight. His service on the first goal was perfect.
Dempsey has put four into the nets in WC Qualifying. He has to be on the top three list.
I would pick Howard or Bradley based on performance with the national team alone
So Tom, who did you vote for?