Puddle's MLS Awards and Best XI

Here's MY humble take on the best of MLS from 2012

Yesterday Major League Soccer announced their best XI for the year, and they'll be announcing the rest of their awards throughout the rest of the week leading up to MLS Cup.  Here is my take on the awards, who I would give them to if I were MLS dictator.  I'm sure all of the players about to be mentioned will value these awards as one of the highlights of their careers, right up there with that time that they got in the face with a line drive shot.

Manager of the Year--Frank Yallop, San Jose Earthquakes.  Yallop was also announced today as the actual coach of the year, and it's really hard to argue with his selection given what the Quakes were able to accomplish.  The men from Buck Shaw tallied 66 points and scored a league high 72 goals en route to picking up the Supporter's Shield and earning a birth in the next CONCACAF Champions League.  I certainly didn't always agree with the way the Quakes played it, but one can't argue with the results in San Jose. (Honorable Mention--Ben Olsen, DC United.)

Goalkeeper of the Year--Michael Gspurning, Seattle Sounders.  I'm going to come out and say that Gspurning got jobbed in the official MLS Best XI.  While Jimmy Nielsen certainly had a great year and was a worthy candidate, The Seattle man had a better goals against average (0.73) and a better save percentage (77%) than the White Puma.  I'm also probably a little biased as I saw Gspurning pretty much stone RSL right out of the playoffs at Rio Tinto Stadium.  He also seems to be very humble and definitely earned a new fan that night. (Honorable Mention--Andy Gruenebaum, Columbus Crew.)

League Most Valuable Player--Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes.  I really don't think there is any argument here.  Not only did Wondo tie the mark for most goals in a single season, he was just clutch all throughout the regular season, being totally instrumental in the Quakes' run.  I watched more than a couple of Quakes matches where Wondo would come in off the bench on a "night off" and save the team's bacon late on.  His on field leadership was fantastic and for the most part he stayed away from the antics of his teammates such as Steven Lenhart. (Honorable Mention--Chris Pontius, DC United)

Now with out further ado, my MLS Best XI for 2012:

Goalkeeper--
Michael Gspurning, Seattle Sounders. (H.M.--Andy Gruenebaum, Columbus Crew)

Defenders--
Matt Besler--Sporting Kansas City
Nat Borchers--Real Salt Lake
Justin Morrow--San Jose Earthquakes
Jermaine Taylor--Houston Dynamo
(H.M.--Aurelien Collin, Sporting Kansas City.  Austin Berry, Chicago Fire)

Midfielders--
Chris Pontius--DC United
Graham Zusi--Sporting Kansas City
Brad Davis--Houston Dynamo
(H.M.--Osvaldo Alonso, Seattle Sounders.  Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake. Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy.)

Forwards--
Chris Wondolowski--San Jose Earthquakes
Alvaro Saborio--Real Salt Lake.
Eddie Johnson--Seattle Sounders.
(H.M.--Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy.  Jairo Arrieta, Columbus Crew.  Alan Gordon, San Jose Earthquakes.)