It was somewhat fitting that the 2014 Major League Soccer MVP scored the goal to decide the 2014 Major League Soccer season. Robbie Keane’s extra-time goal in Sunday’s MLS Cup clash against the New England Revolution gave the LA Galaxy the MLS Cup title for the third time in four years, capping what was a compelling campaign across the league.
The official MLS awards have already been handed out, but how does the league’s team of the season look on the basis of statistics? Here is WhoScored.com’s Best XI of the 2014 MLS campaign.
BILL HAMID (DC United) - 7.08
The DC United goalkeeper has been considered one of the best young number ones in MLS for quite some time, but 2014 was the year when Hamid became the league’s best. Hamid is battling with Sean Johnson for a place in the US national team set-up, especially with Tim Howard taking a break from Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad, and his performances for a resurgent DC United this season have put him in pole position for that place.
HENRI CAMARA (Montreal Impact) - 7.19
Some will claim that A.J DeLaGarza was the best right-back in MLS, given his performances in the playoffs for the LA Galaxy, but on the basis of statistics it is Henri Camara who came out of 2014 as MLS’s best in that position. From a defensive perspective Camara was solid for the Montreal Impact, averaging 2.4 tackles and 3.3 interceptions per game. However, Camara was among one of the most ill-disciplined players in the league, collecting 10 yellow cards and a red for the Impact in 2014. In that sense he became something of a liability for Montreal, but when he was focussed, Camara was among the best in MLS.
CHAD MARSHALL (Seattle Sounders) - 7.56
The Seattle Sounders needed defensive solidity heading into this season, and that’s exactly what they found in signing Chad Marshall from the Colorado Rapids. The 30-year-old was named the MLS Defender of the Year after an exceptional campaign. Marshall averaged a league high of 4.3 interceptions per game, whilst also making 1.5 tackles per appearance. His pass success rate of 83.1% allowed the Sounders to move the ball out from the back effectively, which was crucial to Seattle clinching the Supporters’ Shield.
OMAR GONZALEZ (LA Galaxy) - 7.62
On the basis of WhoScored.com match ratings Gonzalez finished the season as MLS’s best player, with a rating of 7.62. That might be slightly deceptive, given that the defender was never a challenger for the MVP award, but he was the basis on which the LA Galaxy built their championship-winning season.
It is Gonzalez’s anticipation that makes him such an effective defender, averaging 2.9 interceptions per game in 2014 and 7.7 clearances per game - making him the Galaxy’s most effective centre-back alongside A.J DeLaGarza or Leonardo. He was the centrepiece of a defence that kept a Major League Soccer-high 13 clean sheets this term.
ROBBIE ROGERS (LA Galaxy) - 7.29
Rogers may have started the 2014 season as a central midfielder, but he finished it as the best left-back in MLS. While the former Leeds United player struggled to find his place in the LA Galaxy side last term, he became an integral part of Bruce Arena’s championship-winning team.
The one-time USA international averaged 44 passes per game, demonstrating just how important he was to the Galaxy’s open play, contributing two assists in 2014. Rogers was unfortunate not to make the league’s official best XI this season, but has marked himself out as MLS’s best left-back.
DIEGO VALERI (Portland Timbers) - 7.46
Many will argue that Valeri is the finest pure playmaker in the league, even in a season that saw the Portland Timbers fail to make the playoffs. Alongside the likes of Javier Morales, Mauro Diaz and Federico Higuain, the Argentine is one of the most inventive players in MLS. Valeri averaged 3 key passes per game in 2014, ranking him among the league’s most prolific key passers, while also contributing 10 assists over the course of the season. His figures - which were a franchise record - are all the more impressive given the Timbers’ dismal campaign.
LEE NGUYEN (New England Revolution) - 7.39
While he was already an established MLS star before this season, this was the year that Nguyen joined the list of the league’s star names. The midfielder was the driving force between the New England Revolution’s charge to the MLS Cup final, scoring an astonishing 20 goals from his position just behind the central striker. Although the signing of USA midfielder Jermaine Jones proved a catalyst for the Revolution, it is Nguyen who must be credited with sparking New England into life in the second half of the season. His disappointing performance in the championship game left the Revs short against the Galaxy, but Nguyen had already secured his deserved third place finish in the MVP voting by then.
OSVALDO ALONSO (Seattle Sounders) - 7.33
As far as midfield anchors go, Alonso is Major League Soccer’s best. Averaging 3.6 tackles per game from his position in the centre of the pitch, the Cuba-born midfielder is crucial in giving the Seattle Sounders’ more attacking talents the platform needed to provide them with freedom going forwards. His average of 2.1 interceptions per game also demonstrates his standing as the player that holds the Sounders together, in a season that saw Sigi Schmid’s side clinch its first piece of MLS silverware with the Supporters’ Shield.
LANDON DONOVAN (LA Galaxy) - 7.54
Few players of legendary standing get the opportunity to go out at the top, but that’s what Donovan did by clinching his sixth MLS Cup title in his final game as a professional player. However, the 32-year-old has hardly lost his touch, leading the league for assists with 15 in 36 appearances in what is his final season.
Donovan is a hub of attacking creativity, with the former Bayern Munich and Everton man averaging more key passes per game (3.5) than anyone else in the league. And for a player whose career has been based on taking risks in the final third, his pass success rate of 82.3% for the season is very impressive. MLS, and the Galaxy, will miss him.
ROBBIE KEANE (LA Galaxy) - 7.58
The Republic of Ireland international fought off some stiff competition to land the league’s MVP award for 2014, finishing the campaign with 20 goals from 34 appearances. His goal in the MLS Cup final clinched a third championship title in four years for the LA Galaxy, but his all-round contribution was just as impressive as his goal return, with Keane also putting on 12 assists - only three fewer than league leader Donovan.
Keane averaged 4.1 shots on goal per game throughout the season, ranking him behind only Clint Dempsey across the entire league. His partnership up front with Gyasi Zardes, who would run the channels to create space for Keane, became the Galaxy’s greatest asset.
THIERRY HENRY (New York Red Bulls) - 7.57
The French striker will go down as one of the finest to ever grace MLS, but unlike Donovan - who concluded his MLS career with championship glory - Henry didn’t get the send-off he deserved. While Bradley Wright-Phillips finished the season as the league’s top scorer, it’s Henry who deserves much of the credit for the New York Red Bulls’ run into the playoffs, having contributed 10 goals and 15 assists in 35 games was slightly below his usual par.
Who did you think were the most impressive players in MLS 2014? Let us know in the comments below
