Real Madrid’s 3-0 defeat of D.C. United on Sunday has officially closed the book on this summer’s run of international friendlies. From the MLS All-Stars’ loss to Everton to the L.A. Galaxy’s respectable performance against FC Barcelona, there were superstars aplenty on display for large crowds across the nation.
The list is an impressive one, including Lionel Messi, Raul, Tim Howard, Kaka, Christiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry, just to name a few. Such an injection of talent onto the MLS playing field got me thinking about our own hometown superstars. That list is also impressive, but have they lived up to the billing? Let’s take a team-by-team look at the biggest names in MLS, assessing whether or not they’ve made the fantasy grade with two-thirds of the season now in the books.
Chicago Fire – Cuauhtemoc Blanco
The recently-recalled Mexican international has four goals and eight assists in 15 appearances this season. No Chicago field player has accumulated more points than the fiery (pun intended) forward. A solid season means Blanco has been up to par. Grade: A-
Chivas USA – Sacha Kljestan
The U.S. national team player may be the closest thing this team has to a superstar, and as the most expensive player on the team’s fantasy roster, Kljestan has been a big disappointment. Thirteen games have produced just one assist (no goals), and he’s averaging just four points per appearance. Grade: D-
Colorado Rapids – Conor Casey
A hat trick against Chivas in his return from injury Saturday has put Casey at the top of the scoring charts in MLS with 11 goals. He has deservingly parlayed his amazing season into U.S. national team appearances, and he could well see action when the Red, White & Blue head to Azteca Stadium for Wednesday’s crucial World Cup qualifier. Amazingly, Casey’s point total of 242 isn’t even the best on his team; that honor goes to strike partner Omar Cummings (268). Grade: A+
Columbus Crew – Guillermo Barros Schelotto
The reigning MLS and MLS Cup MVP has been great this season – when he has been on the field. The Argentine missed his fourth straight game Saturday due to injury, but it hasn’t hurt the Crew, which has won all of those matches, dating back to July 18. His vision is the best in the league, but he can’t earn you points when he’s sitting on the bench. Look for him to make a return soon. Grade: B+
D.C. United – Luciano Emilio
As a Designated Player, many have expected more from Emilio this season. He’s always dangerous, but the Brazilian is such a streaky player. He goes through long scoreless stretches but then explodes, but it seems there have been more periods of the former in 2009. Eight goals and two assists isn’t terrible, but Emilio isn’t exactly lighting it up either. Grade: C+
FC Dallas – Jeff Cunningham
With the departure of Kenny Cooper to Europe, Cunningham has stepped up in a major way. Five goals in his last two games has at least put the Hoops back in striking distance in the Western Conference and Cunningham is only two goals behind Casey for the league lead. Factor in his relatively low asking price and Cunningham has proven to be a great value. Grade: A
Houston Dynamo – Pat Onstad
No goalkeeper in the league has racked up more points than Onstad. What else needs to be said? The Canadian continues to dominate and is a big reason the Dynamo are in first place in the West. He’s not inexpensive, but he’s certainly reliable. Grade: A
Kansas City Wizards – Claudio Lopez
Though he’s no longer a Designated Player, Lopez is still a former Argentina international with World Cup experience and a resume that includes some of the top teams in the world, so he certainly qualifies as an MLS superstar. Five goals and four assists in 18 appearances is not bad, but it’s not out of this world either. Grade: C+
Los Angeles Galaxy – David Beckham
Landon Donovan costs more and is a huge player for the U.S. national team, but there are very few players on Earth that are bigger superstars than David Beckham. After turning his back on the Galaxy for the first half of the season, Becks has returned stateside and hasn’t looked too shabby. He scored a nice goal against Barcelona, but that doesn’t count in league play or the fantasy game. Three appearances and just one assist. Grade: F
New England Revolution – Taylor Twellman
A neck injury has kept Twellman on the sidelines for practically the entire MLS season. He has two goals in just two appearances, and without him on the field the Revs look like a very ordinary team. Their 6-6-6 record proves that point. You can’t really blame Twellman since being injured isn’t his fault, but the season has been a big bust for the St. Louis native. Grade: F
New York Red Bulls – Juan Pablo Angel
Speaking of seasons that are a bust… The Red Bulls are just awful, and that’s coming off their best-ever season last year, when they made it all the way to MLS Cup for the first time ever. They are now easily the worst team in MLS, and Angel is probably the most frustrated member of the club. The Colombian is a great player, but he can’t be expected to do it all himself. Grade: D+
Real Salt Lake – Javier Morales
The Argentinean playmaker hasn’t been the dominant force that he was last season, registering just one goal and four assists in 18 appearances thus far in 2009. The result is a team that is below .500 with just 10 games left in the regular season. Averaging just six points per game isn’t going to cut it for Morales. Grade: C-
San Jose Earthquakes – Joe Cannon
In reality, this team doesn’t really have a superstar, but Joe Cannon is probably the closest thing the Quakes have to one. The ‘keeper has played every minute of the MLS season, but his solid play hasn’t helped San Jose stay out of the Western Conference basement. It’s unfair to blame the Quakes struggles on Cannon, but sometimes life just isn’t fair. Grade: D
Seattle Sounders – Freddie Ljungberg
It’s the other Fred – Montero – that has made the most noise on the field in Seattle’s first season in MLS, but Ljungberg, a former Swedish international, has had an up and down season for the Sounders. The ex-Arsenal man has the ability to change a game with one play, but he certainly hasn’t been dominant. Two goals and five assists are modest numbers, though the club as a whole has been a great success both on and off the field. Grade: B-
Toronto FC – Dwayne De Rosario
Finally with his hometown team, De Rosario has carried his fine form from Houston up over the border this season. His eight goals and three assists in 18 games have helped keep this team very much in the race in the Eastern Conference. De Ro has always been a big game player, so look for him to step up even more as the race for the playoffs heats up in the last third of the season. Grade: B