NBA COACHING NEWS 11-24
November 30, 2021
2021 MLS Cup Playoff Preview
November 30, 2021
It’s never easy to pick a top ten list in the MLS, and it was a chore to do this season. Long-time standouts like Diego Valeri are no longer the talented players they were in the past, and former Golden Boot winners Carlos Vela and Josef Martinez were not as effective after suffering major injuries. That has led to a lot of new blood on this year’s top ten list, and two goalkeepers and two defenders have to be included in a season that saw no player score more than 20 goals.
Top Ten MLS Players for the 2021 Season
No. 1 Carles Gil (Midfielder) – New England Revolution
MLS Comeback Player of the Year Carles Gil has had an incredible season. Gil overcame an injury shortened 2020 campaign to be the best player on the best team in the league. His 18 assists were tops in the MLS, and that’s why the New England Revolution are the favorites to win the 2021 MLS Cup. He is considered the most likely player to be named the Landon Donovan MVP with his play despite missing a whole month of the season.
No. 2 Hany Mukhtar (Midfielder) – Nashville SC
It’s hard to overstate the impact that Hany Mukhtar has had with Nashville SC. This team was built with an emphasis on defense, making Mukhtar extremely impactful because of his creativity in the midfield. Mukhtar has 16 goals and 12 assists this season, and he has played a direct part in over half of Nashville’s goals.
No. 3 Joao Paulo Mior (Midfielder) – Seattle Sounders
There are a lot of players to highlight on Seattle, but Joao Paulo Mior has been in a class of his own. His basic stats don’t jump off the page with three goals and 11 assists in 31 matches, yet there is a reason that he was named one of the five finalists to be named the MVP. Joao Paulo was signed as a Designated Player last year, and he has lived up to the billing.
No. 4 Daniel Salloi (Forward) – Sporting Kansas City
This has been a breakout season for Daniel Salloi. After scoring one goal and one assist in 35 matches with Sporting Kansas City in 2019 and 2020, Salloi has been incredible with 16 goals and eight assists this year. That has made Sporting Kansas City a trendy pick to win the 2021 MLS Cup.
No. 5 Andre Blake (Goalkeeper) – Philadelphia Union
Goalkeepers often don’t get their just praise, but Andre Blake has been sensational in net for the Philadelphia Union once more. The two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year lost out on the award this season, but he was an All-Star and was pivotal to the Union advancing to the conference semifinals.
No. 6 Matt Turner (Goalkeeper) – New England Revolution
Matt Turner had a superb season in goal for the best team in the MLS. The New England Revolution ran away from the rest of the league, and Turner was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for his play.
No. 7 Valentin Castellanos (Forward) – New York City FC
Valentin “Taty” Castellanos was the MLS Golden Boot winner in 2021. He notched six goals in New York City’s FC last four games to help them host a playoff game, and his eight assists led to him earning the award over DC United’s Ola Kamara.
No. 8 Johnny Russell (Forward) – Sporting Kansas City
Few players have been as consistent as Johnny Russell in the MLS. Russell has 40 goals and 31 assists in 109 matches, and he had his best season in 2021 with 15 goals and eight assists.
No. 9 Andreu Fontas (Defender) – Sporting Kansas City
The best center back in the league has been Andreu Fontas. He leads the league in Goals Added, and he is an excellent passer and disruptor in the middle of the defense. Fontas has been a superb passer, and he has the uncommon ability to kickstart his team’s attack despite being a center back.
No. 10 Walker Zimmerman (Defender) – Nashville SC
Nashville may have some of the longest odds to win the MLS Cup, but Walker Zimmerman gives his club a good chance to surprise the oddsmakers. Zimmerman has been the star of the team since its founding last year, and he is a finalist to be named MLS Defender of the Year after being named to the MLS Best XI team in 2019.
