|
| |
 |
|
|
Mathis, 2000
|
Ten Best: Individual seasons (Part 2)
November 17, 2005
5) Amado Guevara, 2004
If he only kept it up for the final third of the season, for Guevara's first two thirds were spectacular. Ending the year with ten goals and ten assists, the first Metro to lead the league in scoring and named MLS MVP, he was the engine that ran the team... Until he ran out of steam late.
4) Eddie Pope, 2003
Pope had a horrible second season with Metro, but his debut campaign in 2003 was sublime. Anchoring a young defense, Eddie was a rock in the back, stopping attack after attack after attack. He also scored two huge goals in one game in the Open Cup.
3) Youri Djorkaeff, 2005
The voices that screamed about another aging European coming to MLS shut up once Djorkaeff stepped onto the field. He was at his best down the stretch, taking on a leadership role and leading the team to a playoff berth when all seemed lost. Eleven goals and eight assists, so many of them key, playing through pain, and leading on and off the field... We can use more aging Europeans like that.
2) Tim Howard, 2001
We saw a tease of him in 2000, but in 2001 Howard had arrived. His numbers were not earth-shattering, but playing behind a makeshift defense saw Tim raise his game to a whole new level. He was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for his efforts.
1) Clint Mathis, 2000
He started the year with LA, arrived when Luis Hernandez came to MLS, and then showed everyone why he "loved NY". 13 goals, 13 assists in league play (18 and 16 in all competitions), but that doesn't even begin to tell the story of Mathis' importance to the club. He took the team on his shoulders, terrorized opposing defenses, scored five in a game against Dallas, and helped lead Metro on the best run in its history.
Just missing out:
Giovanni Savarese, 1996
Gio scored the first eight goals in Metro history, silencing his critics every time he put the ball in the ole' onion bag.
Eduardo Hurtado, 1998
As much as he sucked in 1999, in 1998 Hurtado set the still-standing team record with 14 league assists; he scored 12 goals and 15 assists in all competitions.
Clint Mathis, 2001
It could have been the best season in not only Metro, but league history, if it was not cut down by the torn ACL.
Amado Guevara, 2003
Guevara scored only three in league play, but his four goals in the Open Cup led the team to the brink of its first title.
Eddie Gaven, 2004
The youngster broke onto the scene with seven goals and seven assists, and was often the team's best attacking option.
Amado Guevara, 2005
Two hat-tricks headline Amado's year, and 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions are superior numbers to his MVP season.
|
