WVHooligan 04 November @ 04:43 PM EST
2009 was a rough season for Ben Olsen and DC United. (Getty Images)
We knew going into 2009 that the calendar for DC United could be a fairly packed one. Possibly
Champions League matches, US Open Cup title to defend, summer friendlies, and of course the regular
season slate. It turned out to be just the case as DC United played a schedule so packed this year
it definitely raised some eyebrows about how little depth MLS clubs really do have.
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WVHooligan 29 October @ 04:08 PM EST
Andre Akpan could be a beast on the next level. (Harvard photos)
Last week I threw out some names that you may have already heard in line for next year's MLS
SuperDraft and I am back today with a few more. I hope to start making this list at least a twice a
month deal up until the draft in January.
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__________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com
There aren't many players in MLS more versatile than Geoff Cameron, and this year, there were no
defenders who were better.
When Houston's defense reached a critical moment of transition, Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear
turned to Cameron to help anchor the back-line early in the season and all Cameron did was respond
with dominant form few could have expected from the 2008 Rookie of the Year candidate.
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__________________________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com
There aren't many players in MLS more versatile than Geoff Cameron, and this year, there were no
defenders who were better.
When Houston's defense reached a critical moment of transition, Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear
turned to Cameron to help anchor the back-line early in the season and all Cameron did was respond
with dominant form few could have expected from the 2008 Rookie of the Year candidate.
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_______________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com
Being the top rookie in any MLS rookie class is an accomplishment, but being the best rookie in
arguably the strongest rookie class in league history makes the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year award
more special than most.
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_______________________________Photo by ISIphotos.com
Being the top rookie in any MLS rookie class is an accomplishment, but being the best rookie in
arguably the strongest rookie class in league history makes the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year award
more special than most.
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I haven't done interviews for a while. My full time job had been at its peak, but now with a slight
tailing off and the Sounders in the Playoffs I hope to get you a few interviews. First up is Steve
Zakuani. Rookie of the Year candidate, fan favorite and a threat along that [...]
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Alrighty ladies and gents, while some may be writing about postseason plans with passionate
pride, I will be doing my darndest to keep things interesting around here till March of 2010. And
when a team isn't in the playoffs (holla TFC, and San Jose!), the front office has to do the
same.
It is in that vane that the Red Bulls announced their awards for team MVP, Defender of the Year,
Newcomer of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Fan of the Year.
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WVHooligan 26 October @ 01:50 PM EST
The regular season is done, over, finished or whatever other adjective you want to use. For the
second straight season WVH got to participate in the league's media vote for the season awards.
Voting is now over and I felt it was time to share my votes with you all.
I'll have to admit some awards were tougher to vote on than others but I tried to span the
entire season's body of work as much as I could for these awards.
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Photo by ISIphotos.com
Now that the 2009 MLS regular season is over, it is time to start thinking about the end-of-year
league awards.
Last week, SBI had readers vote on all the major awards, and while there weren't any shocking
choices, there was some interesting voting breakdowns.
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Photo by ISIphotos.com
Now that the 2009 MLS regular season is over, it is time to start thinking about the end-of-year
league awards.
Last week, SBI had readers vote on all the major awards, and while there weren't any shocking
choices, there was some interesting voting breakdowns.
Click to continue reading...
It's been a fabulous season for rookies in MLS. All across the league, rookies have peppered
starting lineups, as the 2009 draft yielded one of the best returns ever.
As a result, narrowing the candidates is a tough call. Two rookies in D.C., Rodney Wallace and
Chris Pontius, started almost every single game for United, and Pontius showed his class with a
couple of spectacular goals this season.
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It's been a fabulous season for rookies in MLS. All across the league, rookies have peppered
starting lineups, as the 2009 draft yielded one of the best returns ever.
As a result, narrowing the candidates is a tough call. Two rookies in D.C., Rodney Wallace and
Chris Pontius, started almost every single game for United, and Pontius showed his class with a
couple of spectacular goals this season.
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Montreal 3-2 Vancouver
It was a high scoring affair at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. While most US soccer fans
had en eye on the their National team, hoping they would qualify for the 2010 World Cup, our
northern neighbors were watching carefully in an all Canadian USL-1 final.
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Montreal 3-2 Vancouver
It was a high scoring affair at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, Canada. While most US soccer fans
had en eye on the their National team, hoping they would qualify for the 2010 World Cup, our
northern neighbors were watching carefully in an all Canadian USL-1 final.
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WVHooligan 09 October @ 06:15 PM EST
Darrius Barnes is currently leading the way for the rookies. (Getty Images)
Its finally Friday, though I will admit this week has flown by for me due to it being a four-day
work week and things being fairly steady on both the regular job front and this place. I had
planned to do more than what had been posted today but I blame the weird rainy weather here in
Dallas for me not getting around to some of it.
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TORONTO - PistolasFC.com is thrilled to report that the team is on the verge of entering the
Toronto-Mississauga Cup put on by the Soccer Resort.com.
The tournament,
which runs all day Saturday October 24th, 2009, boasts competition
from around the world, including the US and local teams as well
The roster features 2 time MVP Mark Cinerari, All-Time Single Season Goalscoring Record Holder and
Rookie of the Year Rob Pikula, and newcomer and MSL's 2009 League Leading Scorer Harry K.
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*written by Player / Director Davidinho*
VAUGHAN - Pistolas F.C. welcomed all players yesterday for a year-end banquet to
cap off the 2009 season.
For those in attendance, the players were treated to food, drink and a flurry of sporting
activity.
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The United Soccer League announced on Wednesday that Minnesota Thunder's Ricardo Sanchez
was picked as a midfielder to the All-League First Team.
The USL First Division's 2009 All-League First Team, honoring the top 11 players of the season,
is voted on by the league's coaches and general managers.
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The United Soccer League announced on Wednesday that Minnesota Thunder's Ricardo Sanchez
was picked as a midfielder to the All-League First Team.
The USL First Division's 2009 All-League First Team, honoring the top 11 players of the season,
is voted on by the league's coaches and general managers.
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As some have heard at this point, Josh Wicks is going to be out 4-6 weeks because of a
dislocated shoulder and torn MCL. Milos Kocic is the next in line for goalkeeper. Bill Hamid is not
available for league matches, only CONCACAF Champions League.
With Kocic in goal, how does DC work with this?
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Pistolas F.C. 28 September @ 11:05 PM EST
TORONTO - Entering this season there were plenty of prospects - rookies - new to Pistolas FC and
looking to make their mark. Some big expectations were expected from them all.
Earlier in the season, a poll was held where fans voted on who they thought felt the most of this
pressure. Between Eckleton's brother Sam, former high school star Frank, MSL Superdraft picks
Stefan and Conrad, former Celtic FC player Jules, former CFL player Rob Pikula, and rugby playing
Colin, there were 7 rookies in total; only one can win.
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Former Mutiny star, Steve Ralston, tore the ACL in his right knee in the New England Revs' Saturday
loss to Seattle Sounders. The Revolution captain holds the MLS records for career games played and
career assists.
Ralston played twenty matches this season and scored seven goals and seven assists for the Revs,
second only to Shalrie Joseph.
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DCUMD 27 September @ 03:27 PM EST
By definition, the Convey Award goes to DC United's rookie of the year. The award's namesake is
Bobby Convey, who coincidentally is on the other side today. Convey was very promising in his short
time here in DC, and started 18 matches his rookie season, which sounded like a lot until this
year.
Last year's Convey Award went to Ryan Cordeiro with a huge 76% margin.
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The LA Galaxy have reason to be upbeat and concerned. Â They are playing pretty well, but they
are not remaining consistent as some thought they would (with vets like Donovan and Beckham and
reigning Rookie of the Year Franklin.)
In a blowout loss to Dallas on the 12th the Galaxy allowed a pretty mediocre team to get under
their skin and attack them at will.
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Kartik was right.   There was a buzz about this game – two solid, mature teams with
something to prove. In the end, the Galaxy went out deserved winners. Some thoughts...
Welcome back Sean Franklin. When 2008 Rookie of the Year Franklin tore his
hamstring in mid May, Galaxy fans saw disaster.
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By TRAVIS CLARK
In an attempt to increase the following and coverage of men's collegiate soccer -- the biggest
producer of MLS talent to this point -- welcome to a new series on the Division I game. Nearly all
the prominent MLSÂ rookies in 2009 came after a successful stint in the collegiate ranks, with
Akron, Maryland, UCSB, and Wake Forest produced some of the best rookies this season.
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By TRAVIS CLARK
In an attempt to increase the following and coverage of men's collegiate soccer -- the biggest
producer of MLS talent to this point -- welcome to a new series on the Division I game. Nearly all
of the prominent MLSÂ rookies in 2009 came to MLS after a successful stint in the collegiate ranks,
with Akron, Maryland, UCSB, and Wake Forest producing some of the best rookies this season.
Click to continue reading...
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                                               Â
                      Photo by ISIphotos.com
As we hit the three-quarter mark in the current MLS season, the race for MLS rookie of the year
honors is still too close to call.
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                                               Â
                      Photo by ISIphotos.com
As we hit the three-quarter mark in the current MLS season, the race for MLS rookie of the year
honors is still too close to call.
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When a soccer player turns thirty-five, it is generally considered that his best days are behind
him. There are exceptions to the rule and Steve Ralston [left] would be one of them. His goal in
Saturday's match that helped the New England Revolution beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 is his
seventh of the MLS season.
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WVHooligan 28 August @ 06:45 PM EST
Steve Zakuani makes a strong case for ROY. (Getty Images)
Last night in the links and thoughts we discussed the MVP race that is heating up, tonight we
shall take a look into an even tougher Rookie of the Year race. We all know how deep this year's
rookie class is and right now we could make a serious case for about five or six guys.
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Our first ever poll question was who was the best player to ever suit up for the Mutiny. The
overwhelming winner was Carlos Valderrama [right in that sweet Kappa bicycle jersey] with 73% of
the vote. El Pibe is in my opinion one of the best play makers to ever play in MLS.
He was one of those special players that only comes around once in a generation or so in a country.
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WVHooligan 29 July @ 01:40 PM EST
With today being the league's All-Star game it just felt right to go into some award talk. Most
of the awards feel like they are going to be decided very late in the year this season. A lot of
names in the running for things like the MVP race and the rookie of the year race. Only the
comeback award feels like it is all but given out to Chivas keeper Zach Thornton.
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