July 27th will see the culmination of Manchester United’s US tour with a game against an XI known as the Major League Soccer All-Stars. What may be just another game to United is seen by many advocates of MLS as a showpiece for those who’ve performed well during the season, providing them with an opportunity to truly test themselves. The team will also be looking for revenge on the back of last year’s rather embarrassing 5-2 defeat at the hands of Alex Ferguson’s men.
Long before the game has begun questions are being raised about those chosen to represent the league. The initial selection process is an online vote with fans being given the power to decide. What appears on the surface to be a brilliantly democratic process has had its flaws highlighted, with some branding it a popularity contest.
The inclusion of Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler in the game day roster has been a major discussion point. After he advertised mobile phone application company Handmark on his personal Twitter page, they in turn urged their one million-plus followers to vote for Besler as an All-Star pick. It’s unlikely all of those that voted for Besler are MLS or even football fans, leading many to question the validity of the process and his inclusion.
With the vote aimed at reflecting the views of fans when players arguably more deserving such as Philadelphia Union’s Carlos Valdés remain unselected, the spectacle begins to lose authenticity. However, the league’s bigger names such as Thierry Henry and David Beckham have deservedly made the XI with both posting impressive stats this season.
The nation’s other All-Star games hold an element of ‘popular player selections’, and MLS is no different. With the game supposed to reflect form it appears MLS is struggling to decide whether this is still the case. It seems obvious to suggest that fans’ favourite players are not always the best.
Of those chosen, the other surprise inclusion is San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski. After winning the Golden Boot last season his form has dipped significantly this season with six goals in 15 games. This is contrasted with MLS new boy Charlie Davies, who has not only scored more goals than Wondolowski but done so in fewer minutes. The fact that Davies has come in for heavy criticism regarding his penchant for diving potentially reinforces the suggestions of a glorified popularity contest.
However, five spots still remained in the 18-man roster with decisions on those places being made by team manager Hans Backe. Don Garber, the league’s commissioner, announced his selections Saturday evening and added New York’s Juan Agudelo and Besler’s teammate Omar Bravo to the roster, the latter no doubt chosen to further appeal to Mexican fans.
Hypothetically Davies still had a chance of making it going into Monday, with Backe still to make his announcement. Those hopes were dashed, however, when Backe selected Omar Cummings, another disappointing decision when you consider Davies’ record is superior to all but two of the six forwards selected.
The domination of New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy players has also not gone unnoticed. At the time of writing LA sit atop their respective conference table, but their rivals do have games in hand with which to overtake them. The lack of a clear points gap, particularly in the East where Philadelphia Union are top by two points with two games in hand over New York, highlights the league’s competition. Unfortunately this is not reflected in the All-Star selection, with just a single Union player (goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón) being chosen.
Further examples can be taken from the four players that form the team’s defensive line. The fact that the side that have conceded the least in the league (Real Salt Lake) are able to secure just one spot while the aforementioned Union garner none is perplexing. Of course football is about opinions, but when you consider situations such as Besler potentially taking a spot from a more deserving player the process once again looks questionable.
Seattle Sounders manager Sigi Schmid was left unimpressed, aiming a thinly veiled dig at the decisions made. His Sounders sit one point behind LA but due to a schedule clash with the CONCACAF Champions League are unable to partake. When asked how he felt about missing out he replied: “I’m sure they can find some more guys from LA [Galaxy] and New York [Redbulls] to fill the spots.”
Some players have been credited however. Brek Shea has been nothing short of sensational this season, leading FC Dallas into the playoff spots despite an injury to the league’s reigning MVP, Colombian playmaker David Ferreira. Like Schmid and his goalkeeper Kasey Keller, Shea is also unable to participate due to the CONCACAF Champions League, but his inclusion acknowledges what has been a fantastic season for the potential league MVP.
Voting reform looks unlikely and seven spots still remain, with those positions being allocated through a player vote. Thankfully Brad Davis (currently leading the league in assists) was a late selection by coach Backe, but Real Salt Lake’s custodian Nick Rimando currently remains unselected along with Davies. Either way with the ambiguity of the term ‘All-Star’ still around it’s unlikely fans will ever agree just who is the best MLS has to offer and what that even means.
This is a guest post by Kristan Heneage.
Tags: All-Star, Don Garber, Hans Backe
I have not like the MLS,politics and nepotism prevails.thats why i was not to thrilled when my son wanted to come to the mls,it was a good fit,because he needed playing time and the MLS WOULD PROVIDE IT.mls is mls.
[...] Two-Footed Tackle on the All-Star selection: “With the vote aimed at reflecting the views of fans when players arguably more deserving such as Philadelphia Union’s Carlos Valdés remain unselected, the spectacle begins to lose authenticity.” [...]
Although you seem to be arguing a reduced fan role in voting, I think that the real problem is the media role in voting which gets to filter the candidates that fans are allowed to vote for. Perhaps if each team’s list were compiled by local media, this would be ok, but at least with Philadelphia’s list (Philly’s 6 biggest names on team), it’s clear that conglomerate media selections are as awful as you claim the fan’s are. The example you cited, with Carlos Valdes being snubbed (and I think Sheanon Williams too), was solely the cause of the media not including him on the ballot. Valdes was near the top of twitter/texting votes as well as all-star-ballot-snubs on mlssoccer.coms’s fan voting
of course its a popularity contest.. why act surprised…
the average fan does not know enough players or even know how theyve played this year compared to their home player so they will vote for the home team player or for the better known name.
btw, no one cares about NFL, Ice hockey or NBA all star games…. its not the MLS which is going to make people think about this PR exercice twice.
these money tours are what they are… lets not try to overanalyze meaningless but lucrative friendlies