Angel has torn the league up since arriving from Aston Villa earlier this year. His 9 goals in 11 of RBNY's 15 games (only 11 of which Angel played in) have kept Los Toros Rojos near the top of the Eastern Conference all year. Were it not for his production, the Meadowlands outfit would be in huge trouble as The rest of the team has only managed to score 17 combined goals. By scoring game-winning or game-tying goals, Angel has personally earned Red Bull 4 points (1-0-1). Now that defenses have figured him out, can he keep up the production?
YNSA Goalkeeper of the Half
Will Hesmer, Columbus Crew
Naturally, Houston Dynamo's Pat Onstad should get an honorable mention. Anytime you can have a GAA below 1.00 is going to give your team a fantastic chance. However, I think Onstad unfairly benefits from having a team that is playing out of its mind right now. Hesmer is an unknown quantity (hence no available photos of him this season), and teams are still trying to find their way around him. Hesmer has a better shot/save ratio than Onstad, a GAA of 1.00, and has helped key Crew on their recent hot streak. All while faced with a porous backline, and at times, little offensive production.
YNSA Comeback Player of the Year
Eddie Johnson, Kansas City Wizards
Unwanted in Dallas, injured, hurt, labeled a wash-up, a flash-in-the-pan, Johnson has regained the form seen in 2005 when he burst onto the scene as one of the United States' greatest strikers. His 12 goals and three assists lead MLS in points, and this was with him taking time off to attend the Gold Cup and Copa America. Johnson has only played in 11 games, and has provided the strike force needed to raise Kansas City's hopes of returning to the playoffs.
Supporters of the Year
Toronto Football Club
I think it should be requisite from here on out that MLS hand a guide manual to new expansion owners on how to create the best atmosphere in the league. It should really only contain comments from Peter Wilt, the architecht of Chicago's Section 8, and the rest from Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment, the I/Os of Toronto FC. MLS has awakened a sleeping giant, and combined with decent performances from the Canadian national team recently, Canada may be waking up to its soccer passion. Toronto's fans are a traveling roadshow, visiting New England, Columbus, and Chicago so far, while selling out at home.
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