Why Mike Magee? I'll first see why people say he shouldn't be.
Chicago didn't make the playoffs
He didn't win the Golden Boot
Chicago only went from 7th to 6th in the East
I covered as much as I could. Well- here are my responses in order.
Chicago missed the playoffs by four goals. They dug themselves such a deep hole in the beginning but it doesn't help either that the last game of the season is versus New York Red Bulls in New Jersey when they have the chance to win the Supporter's Shield.
The Golden Boot: Magee almost won it. But didn't due to pure magic from Camilo. He lost by a goal. It was an amazing season for him- and he should've scored a few more. The only reason he didn't will come up later.
And going from 7th to 6th. I saw this in some comments on mlssoccer.com. Here's what he did: Chicago were 2-7-1 through the first ten games. Since he came on: 12-6-5. At the rate Chicago was going they would've had a season similar to DC, Chivas, and Toronto. But Magee came in and they became the best team in the East.
What else makes him the MVP? He always drops back. Watch a game where he plays up top. He's ALWAYS running back. If he had been like Di Vaio, he would've gotten probably 27 or more goals. But he continuously ran back to help defend and often started plays.
As for him against other players.
Diego Valeri
Valeri has had to do with 23 goals which is amazing. But Valeri has been surrounded by other MVP candidates all year. Lets admit it- Will Johnson, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, and Donovan Ricketts were on the team with him. As for Chicago: a future USA starting keeper, a defensive duo that could be the next Collin/Besler, a speedy Ghanaian, and a ginger ninja. But they didn't exactly have the best years ever- and they even said it. Nagbe, Ricketts, Chara, and Johnson were on their games and performing 110% whenever they could. That's what hurts Valeri to me.
Tim Cahill
Him or Cahill was tough- but not very. As with Valeri- great statistics and a great performance with his team. But he has one of the best ever in Henry and a rising keeper in Robles to aid him. Not to mention Espindola, Olave, and Lloyd Sam. He was the main key to New York- but you have to say this: Henry has done a lot as well, with more statistical greatness. And if Robles didn't have this season- New York aren't the Supporter's Shield winners.
Camilo
Camilo contributed much to the team and won the Golden Boot. Obvious MVP nominee. But I say Magee over Camilo due to the team records without them. Fire 3-7-2 without, 11-6-5 with. Vancouver 1-1-0 without, 12-11-9 with. His record is not a lot worse than Magee's, but considering the fact Magee was also 5-3-2 with LA, Magee's teams went 16-9-7 with him and 1-5-2 without. An amazing record for Magee with two teams. That gives him the edge over Camilo.
Marco Di Vaio
I'm going to get this out of the way. Some people have been saying on mlssoccer.com Di Vaio should win it due to the fact that he scored 20 goals in the run of play gives him the title- then they say he won't win it because he's on a Canadian team. Here's the truth: before this year, only two men have been worthy of MVP and come from Canada either in nationality or club. They were Pat Onstad, two time Goalkeeper of the Year, and Dwayne De Rosario, who won it in 2011. And Toronto was the Canadian representative in the MLS before Vancouver came on in 2011. Since then, Patrice Bernier, Camilo, Marco Di Vaio, and even Young Pyo-Lee have been major candidates for MLS awards. Now that that's out of my system, here's why Di Vaio didn't win it. He ALWAYS sits on the backline. Never goes back to help defend. He was offside 78 times this season- adding on four in the playoff game versus Houston. The MVP award should go to someone who helps across the board- not just in offense.
Robbie Keane
Keane is similar to Valeri and Cahill. Great statistics (had to do with 27 goals), however his team contributions haven't been as much as you'd think. Whenever Keane was out, Donovan, Magee, Zardes, and/or Gonzalez have been too. Donovan did much to aid Keane- setting up the goals, giving Keane the assists, etc. Keane could NOT have done this if it weren't for Magee in the first half and Donovan in the second.
MY RANKING OF THE TOP 15 MVP CANDIDATES
1. Mike Magee, Chicago Fire
2. Tim Cahill, New York Red Bulls
3. Camilo, Vancouver Whitecaps
4. Diego Valeri, Portland Timbers
5. Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy
6. Marco Di Vaio, Montreal Impact
7. Diego Fagundez, New England Revolution
8. Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City
9. Donovan Ricketts, Portland Timbers
10. Osvaldo Alonso, Seattle Sounders
11. Deshorn Brown, Colorado Rapids
12. Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy
13. Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake
14. Dillon Powers, Colorado Rapids
15. Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo
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