Two to talk about.
The three finalists for Honda Player of the Year (given to the best player for the U.S. MNT) are last year’s winner Landon Donovan, (who this year became the U.S. all-time leading goalscorer with 36 goals); 2006 winner Clint Dempsey (who has four World Cup qualifying goals so far); and goalkeeper Tim Howard (with five shutouts so far in qualifying).
That’s the same three I picked and again my vote went to LD.
Yes, I know Howard has looked a mountain of strength and reliability (with some great saves thrown in for good measure) behind a sometimes shaky defense.
Yes, I know Dempsey has been crucial because gawd knows Eddie Johnson (and others) have fired mainly blanks.
But without Donovan the U.S. just doesn’t go. Period. He’s the creative force, the attacking fulcrum, who is unafraid to run at defenders unlike so many American players.
It’s why Klinsey wants him at Bayern Munich in January (assuming he lasts that long in what is turning out to be a bad season already).
Yeah, he’s worth a record fifth award.
The winner will be announced Nov. 11 in downtown L.A.
Donovan haters: feel free to rip away.
The other award is for the top 11 players (and one coach) for the NCAA 50th anniversary team. Voting began Monday and runs until Oct. 15.
Among the finalists: Former Bruins Paul Caligiuri, Brad Friedel and Sigi Schmid and current Galaxy coach Bruce Arena.
