So the challenge was simple enough: Pick an MLS starting eleven that which has a total 2010
Guaranteed Compensation under $1,000,000.
The results were simple enough too. A pretty good team, I'd say. (Review it here.)
But as it turns out, the process of choosing the team and some insight about the league that
came from it are probably what was the most interesting.
Pepe Reina (31 Aug 1982) is a Spanish-born goalkeeper who currently plays for the Premier
League's Liverpool.
Plain and simple, Reina was sensational, keeping Birmingham scoreless at St. Andrews. The
Spaniard was able to produce three top-class goalkeeping saves in the first period to keep
Liverpool in the match.
Was thinking about the probable 2010 awards nominees, and this came to mind. Here's a list of MLS
Defender of the Year nominees, and where their teams ranked in terms of goals allowed:
1996 Fraser LA 3
1996 Doyle SJ 4 win 1996 Kooiman TB 5
1997 Dooley CLB 1
1997 Gough KC 4
1997 Pope DC 5 win
1998 Fraser LA 1
1998 Kubik CHI 2 win 1998 Pope DC 3
1999 Fraser LA 1 win 1999 Kubik CHI 3
1999 Agoos DC 6
2000 Vermes KC 1 win 2000 Fraser LA 2
2000 Addo TB 4
2001 Agoos SJ 1 win 2001 Llamosa MIA 4
2001 Mastroeni MIA 4
2002 Lalas LA 1
2002 Barrett SJ 2
2002 Bocanegra CHI 3 win
2003 Nelsen DC 3
2003 Pope NY 4
2003 Bocanegra CHI 5 win
2004 Conrad KC 1
2004 Fraser CLB 2 win 2004 Pope NY 10
2005 Califf SJ 1
2005 Conrad KC 5 win 2005 Marshall, T.
