Worst Performance of the Year
Greg Janicki
In their first game in the 2009 CONCACAF Champions League, all D.C. United wanted was to escape Honduras with a tie. His second time in the CL should have been much easier, but for Greg Janicki things unraveled pretty quickly against Marathon. At the start of the game he failed to clear a ball out of the box, allowing Walter Martinez to poke it into the net. In the second half, Janicki finally cleared a ball out of the box... but into the back of the net. Just five minutes later he tripped up a rushing Marathon attacker and awarded them a penalty kick. The match ended 3-1, and Janicki has been relegated to the bench more often than not the rest of the season.
The Ability to Burn Your Retina Award
Wilman Conde
When Volkswagen thought it was a good idea to create some funny celebration videos to advertise their product and the league, I am sure they never envisioned that Wilman Conde would willingly remove his shirt and subject tiny children to his chest hair. Warning: the video is only for those people with the ability to close their eyes.
Runners up: naked D.C. United in 'The Body Issue.' (shudder)
Weakest Goal of the Year
Gino Padula
A perennial assist man, Padula was never known to put the ball in the net. Nor is he known to really look that pretty when he's on the ball or defending. Regardless, the freekick that was sent in by Padula on that fateful night against New England just three weeks ago will haunt the Matt Reis for a while. As the ball was set up about 40 yards out, the pass went into the middle of the box and New England defender Emmanuel Osei looked to have the situation handled. But instead of heading it away, he let the ball fall to the earth, where Matt Reis unsuspectingly stood. The ball continued into the net, thus giving Padula his first ever goal in the MLS.
Worst "The Sitter" Clip of the Year
'Screaming 'keepers'
Seriously, who gives this guy a mike? Lalas, you play great, but you don't speak so well. Keep your analysis on the intricacies of the sport to yourself.
Worst Team of 2009
D.C. United
This team had all the potential, all the motivation, and what seemed like the most to play for back in March. Now the team looks to implode with Tom Soehn's coaching career in Jeopardy (D.C. has never kept a coach for more than three years) and fans are unhappy with the wonderful message left to them by president Kevin Payne. Not to forget, the team might be building a future stadium in Baltimore, thus creating the need to build new supporters, which is exactly what this team needs. NOT! (My thoughts on the matter can be found here.)
Save of the Year (for a non-goalkeeper)
Tyrone Marshall
Up 1-0 on the Crew, the Sounders looked like they could be the team that could snap Columbus's 20+ game win streak at home. In the 70th minute, Robbie Rogers made a pass to Eddie Gaven, who then headed the ball in front of the net to Steven Lenhart, who sent a looping header past goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Marshall, who was playing near the line jumped and kicked the ball away from the net in one spectacular motion, clearing the ball just off the line and preserving the lead.
National Team Call up of the Year (from the MLS)
Robbie Rogers
After having a very successful 2008 campaign, Rogers looked like 2009 would be his breakout year and one that would get him back into Europe. Unfortunately for him the MLS year didn't take off like he had hoped, but his call up for this past summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup definitely improved his spirits. His improvement over the tournament gave him a call up in the last qualifying match for the U.S. against Costa Rica, where he was inserted in the final 20 minutes of the match to spark some offense. Almost tying it up in the 72nd minute, Rogers put in the corner kick that resulted in the now infamous header by Jonathan Bornstein. The rest is history.
Runners up: Connor Casey, Kyle Beckerman
Individual Performance of the Year
Bouna Coundoul
It took all season, but it was worth the wait. In the very last match of the season Coundoul put on a clinic in goal, stopping everything in front of him with precision and flawless motions. So poetic was his goalkeeping last Saturday, that even after the whistle blew he had no problem stopping random shots with ease. While some may say Chad Barrett should have been given a free kick and Coundoul a red card for his tackle early in the game, the rest of the evening was for the Senegalese, who made five saves and shutout Toronto FC 5-0 in their final match at Giants Stadium and eliminated the Canadians from the playoffs.
Best Outlook
San Jose Earthquakes
When I think of how well the Western Conference was this past season, it's hard to imagine that it can get any better. Californians beware as San Jose looks to make a lot of noise this coming offseason (get a midfielder in the draft!) and have finally solidified their lineup to something that can take on the best in the business week in and week out. I would be surprised if San Jose was not in the top 6 come next October. I dare you to take me up on it. (My full take is here.)
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