Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Who really is the leading MVP candidate???

Mike Magee, the savior of the Chicago Fire
Robbie Keane, statistical leader
Marco Di Vaio, golden boot leader
Diego Valeri, golden assistant
And then- the dark horses of the competition- Camilo (Vancouver), Frederico Higuain (Columbus), Diego Fagundez (Revolution).

So- who really IS the leader?!?!?!

Looking at the playoff statistics, only three of these men are on teams that are in the playoffs (Keane, Di Vaio, Valeri).  And they haven't even booked their tickets into November!  The way I see it- the MVP will be among this group, with the possible inclusion of say Eddie Johnson or Nick Rimando.  These men have led their teams and/or had a great statistical season.  The Golden Boot winner always is in the final three.  And usually so is the guy who contributed the most to his team.  And transferred players who go to a failing team and put it into playoff contention are usually high on that list.  But here's the thing that I say will decide the MVP- the golden boot.  Magee gets a hat trick or a brace, or even a goal- and Di Vaio doesn't score.  Magee will be in the lead for Golden Boot.  The Fire face a probably hung over US Open Cup winning DC United on Friday.  Montreal will head to a fortress- Houston Dynamo's BBVA Compass Stadium.  Will we see the golden boot leader change hands??  I think so- and here's why. 

DC are out of the playoffs.  They've really been out since July.  And their stars are probably tired from the US Open Cup win.  Well, it wouldn't shock me or probably anybody to see DC put out a side that isn't all there- tired, hung over (possibly literally), and just fighting not to get throttled.  Well- we then see a Chicago who wants revenge for DC knocking them out of the Cup.  Klopas has been trying to find the right players to put out there.  Magee, who will no doubt be the Fire MVP, will be at the center of the offense.  He wants that hat trick- and what better way to get it than against a poor side?  Chicago will probably win it- and Magee will probably score. 

On the other side- Houston Dynamo.  23 goals for at home- compared to 9 against.  And Houston wants a win too badly- with a win, they go into playoff contention, without the need of a wild card game.  Di Vaio is being figured out.  You saw it when the Fire faced Montreal.  Austin Berry was always on him, with Larentowicz nearby in case he was needed.  And against a Houston side that's been one of the best defenses, and have their great goalie, Di Vaio will find scoring extremely difficult.

But- that's just between Di Vaio and Magee.  What about Keane or Valeri, or anyone else?  Keane and Valeri are similar.  The only difference is Keane has played less games than Valeri.  But the team betterer award among these two goes to Diego.  He's contributed much to Portland, while LA relies on Keane, Donovan, Gonzalez, Junhinho, etc.  He isn't relied on as much as Valeri, Magee, or Di Vaio.  But the team betterer award should go to the player who plays great in multiple positions. 

Magee, Valeri, Di Vaio, Keane, and a dark horse (probably Camilo).  The best defenders- Valeri and Magee.  They are natural midfielders.  You see them running back all the time. 

After all this, I leave this prediction of how it'll end:

Magee (aka Mr. November) has a great month in October, leading the golden boot race.  Chicago make the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.  He wins October Player of the Month.

Valeri has a great month as well.  He gets multiple goals and takes sole possession of the assistant leader board.  He barely looses to Magee for player of the month.

Keane is called up by Ireland halfway through, and teams pounce on the chance.  LA barely miss the playoffs with Keane holding his head on the last day while watching Seattle celebrate a win.

Di Vaio starts to show his age, and Montreal's offense grows weak.  Montreal make the playoffs barely, with Di Vaio loosing the golden boot.

MVP VOTES
1. Mike Magee
2. Diego Valeri
3. Robbie Keane
4. Marco Di Vaio
5. Camilo

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