By Steven Goff, Washington Post
The end of MLS’s regular season ushers in not just the postseason but the awards season. The biggest prize, and typically most scrutinized, is the MVP trophy.
New England Revolutions’ Lee Nguyen (24) keeps the ball in play against the Columbus Crew during the first half of their MLS Cup playoff game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. New England won 4-2. (AP Photo/Mike Munden)
MVP is, of course, an abbreviation for most valuable player, a Rorschach test for voters and fans: How does one define “most valuable?” Most valuable to the club’s success? To the players around him? To the league? If the playoffs are so much more important to MLS’s profile than the Supporters’ Shield, shouldn’t the polls remain closed until December?
Had the league created a player of the year trophy instead, we would probably enjoy an easier time selecting the winner, particularly this season with so many strong candidates.
The 2014 player of the year is Robbie Keane, the Galaxy’s Irish forward. Statistics are a crutch in awards season; it’s easy to declare the winner by using the tallest numbers. In Keane’s case, though, one cannot ignore the digits: 19 goals and 14 assists in 29 league appearances for an L.A. squad that recorded 61 points, second in the Supporters’ Shield race.
He not only accumulated the most combined goals and assists; he did it with pure class. He is a winner. He crosses the country and an ocean to represent his country. The blend of pure ability, spirit, leadership and professionalism makes him the finest player in MLS.
The best player, yes, but the most valuable? Here is where the criteria becomes murky. Keane was accompanied by Landon Donovan and a dynamic young striker, Gyasi Zardes. Donovan was MLS’s best supplier with 19 assists, while Zardes alleviated pressure on Keane by scoring 16 goals. No doubt, Keane’s contributions and presence elevated Donovan and particularly Zardes, the second-year pro; that should figure into the MVP equation. But they made him look better too.
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