2016 MLS Awards: MVP, Coach, Comeback, and Rookie of the Year

[LionNYC]

http://www.nycfc.com/post/2016/11/01/four-nycfc-finalists-2016-mls-awards

NYCFC has four finalist for 2016 MLS Awards, the most of any team. To note, there were a lot of nominations (maximum of three per team, at least for MVP). The finalist are the top three based on votes from current MLS players, clubs and members of the media.

Winners are in ***Bold***

2016 Major League Soccer Awards Finalists
(Listed in alphabetical order by last name within each award category)

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)
***David Villa (New York City FC)***
Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Defender of the Year Finalists
***Matt Hedges (FC Dallas)***
Axel Sjoberg (Colorado Rapids)
Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
***Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)***
Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists
For this award, “newcomer” is defined as a player with previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
Ola Kamara (Columbus Crew SC)
***Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)***
Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
For this award, “rookie” is defined as a player without previous professional experience who made his MLS debut in 2016
Jack Harrison (New York City FC)
***Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)***
Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)

Coach of the Year Finalists
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
***Oscar Pareja (FC Dallas)***
Patrick Vieira (New York City FC)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Honors an MLS player who has overcome injuries and/or adversity in order to achieve success during the 2016 regular season
Frank Lampard (New York City FC)
Kevin Molino (Orlando City SC)
***Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union)***

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
***Matt Lampson (Chicago Fire)***
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)
***Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union)***
Chris Tierney (New England Revolution)

MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team
Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
***Columbus Crew SC***
Seattle Sounders FC
Toronto FC

Referee of the Year Finalists
***Alan Kelly***
Jair Marrufo
Baldomero Toledo

Assistant Referee of the Year Finalists
***Frank Anderson***
Ian Anderson
Eric Boria

Awards Announcements Schedule:
Schedule subject to change
November 10: AT&T Rookie of the Year
November 11: MLS Defender of the Year; AT&T Goal of the Year and MLS Save of the Year
November 16: MLS Comeback Player of the Year
November 17: Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year
November 21: Newcomer of the Year
November 29: MLS Coach of the Year
December 6: Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player
TBD: MLS Best XI

 

[Viewfrom226]

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)
David Villa (New York City FC)
Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Awesome, cue up the boring narrative of Giovinco playing with a chip on his shoulder this weekend and wanting to show everyone who is the "real MVP" (as opposed, Giovinco is just really good and may well score a decisive goal against us because, well, he's really good).

 

[SoupInNYC]

Have to think Villa will win it then as BWP and Kljestan should split votes.

Don't think Jack has a chance against Morris with the second half Jordan has had.

I think PV has a chance, but I would honestly vote for Pablo.

 

[Ulrich]

Neither RB player should win - each needs the other in order to garner the stats that they have, so neither is an MVP.

 

[LionNYC]

David Villa - Likely

Patrick Vieira - Maybe

Jack Harrison - No

Frank Lampard - Definitely

 

[Seven]

I am a little surprised Giovinco didn't sneak in there for MVP.

Agree with others that if you have two players from the same team neither should win.

 

[Midas Mulligan]

Baldomero Toledo up for the ref award. If ever an award should be cancelled, this is one.

I guess Alan Kelly would be my pick, but it's a dubious honor.

 

[Kjbert]

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
David Villa (New York City FC)

Defender of the Year Finalists
Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)

AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)

Coach of the Year Finalists
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Frank Lampard (New York City FC)

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)

MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team
Columbus Crew SC

Referee of the Year Finalists
Alan Kelly

 

[SoupInNYC]

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
David Villa (New York City FC)

Defender of the Year Finalists
Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)

AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)

Coach of the Year Finalists
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Frank Lampard (New York City FC)

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)

MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team
Columbus Crew SC

Referee of the Year Finalists
Alan Kelly

I think you've nailed in IMO. Though there are a couple I'm just uninformed about (humanitarian, fair play, referee)

 

[Kjbert]

If there was an underrated category, I would go with Sacha Klejstan. I think he is the best American in MLS right now - bigger impact than Jozy, Bradley, Gyasi, etc.

Colorado stinks. Either Pablo deserves Coach of the Year or Jermaine Jones deserves MLS MVP.

 

[canchon]

I am a little surprised Giovinco didn't sneak in there for MVP.

Klejstan is in there because he hit 20 assists, a milestone (first time anyone hit 20 since rule change).

Well, Giovinco only had 5 assists less than SK but he also had 17 goals. He needs to be a finalist, if not the winner.

 

[QuigrNYCFC]

I think PV will win. He will go down as one of the most successful European coaches in MLS history.

It will be good for the league and it's legitimacy to have him win.

 

[QuigrNYCFC]

I think PV will win. He will go down as one of the most successful European coaches in MLS history.

It will be good for the league and it's legitimacy to have him win.

Morris will win rookie of the year because America. I believe that Morris will win.

 

[gbservis]

Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists
David Villa (New York City FC)

Defender of the Year Finalists
Jelle Van Damme (LA Galaxy)

Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)

Newcomer of the Year Finalists
Nico Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders FC)

AT&T Rookie of the Year Finalists
Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC)

Coach of the Year Finalists
Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Frank Lampard (New York City FC)

MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year, presented by Advocare, Finalists
Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)

MLS Fair Play Finalists – Individual
Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC)

MLS Fair Play Finalists - Team
Columbus Crew SC

Referee of the Year Finalists
Alan Kelly

Disclaimer I am a USMNT fan and appreciate all that Landon as done but... Does anyone else find it comical that David Villa, World Cup and Champions League winner is potentially going to win a trophy named after a guy who has accomplished fractions of what he has from an international perspective. Assuming MLS has dreams of some day being a top tier soccer league it seems like they pulled the trigger a bit early on naming the MVP trophy.

Okay I'm ready for my beating now....

 

[adam]

Disclaimer I am a USMNT fan and appreciate all that Landon as done but... Does anyone else find it comical that David Villa, World Cup and Champions League winner is potentially going to win a trophy named after a guy who has accomplished fractions of what he has from an international perspective. Assuming MLS has dreams of some day being a top tier soccer league it seems like they pulled the trigger a bit early on naming the MVP trophy.

Okay I'm ready for my beating now....

They'll just rename it the Pulisic award in 10 years.

 

[FootyLovin]

Does anyone else find it comical that David Villa, World Cup and Champions League winner is potentially going to win a trophy named after a guy who has accomplished fractions of what he has from an international perspective

They'll just rename it the Pulisic award in 10 years.

They won't rename it Pulisic because he won't play in MLS. It's an MLS award, not an international play award. It's a pretty easy argument to make that Donavan has been one of if not the most influential player in MLS history. I think it's totally appropriate to name the MLS for him.

I'd find it more odd to have it named for Beckham or Henry or Villa most of whose achievements were outside of MLS.

 

[adam]

They won't rename it Pulisic because he won't play in MLS. It's an MLS award, not an international play award. It's a pretty easy argument to make that Donavan has been one of if not the most influential player in MLS history. I think it's totally appropriate to name the MLS for him.

I'd find it more odd to have it named for Beckham or Henry or Villa most of whose achievements were outside of MLS.

You sure NYCFC isn't signing him after he wins the 2022 WC? I can start a Reddit rumor to that affect to make it true.

 

[gbservis]

They won't rename it Pulisic because he won't play in MLS. It's an MLS award, not an international play award. It's a pretty easy argument to make that Donavan has been one of if not the most influential player in MLS history. I think it's totally appropriate to name the MLS for him.

I'd find it more odd to have it named for Beckham or Henry or Villa most of whose achievements were outside of MLS.

Not advocating that is be named after someone different, I think it shouldn't be named at all at this point. If the league continues to grow it's going to be strange to have the award named after the guy who was essentially the big fish because for the most part he stayed in the small pond.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Disclaimer I am a USMNT fan and appreciate all that Landon as done but... Does anyone else find it comical that David Villa, World Cup and Champions League winner is potentially going to win a trophy named after a guy who has accomplished fractions of what he has from an international perspective. Assuming MLS has dreams of some day being a top tier soccer league it seems like they pulled the trigger a bit early on naming the MVP trophy.

Okay I'm ready for my beating now....

I would bet that David Villa has more respect for Landon Donovan than you do.

 

[Kjbert]

Christian Pulisic will, at some point, play in MLS. It might be when he is 21 or 31.