Most Valuable Player: Landon Donovan. With 8 goals and 5 assists, Donovan is on his way to having the greatest statistical season in the history of MLS. If he keeps the pace up, he will score 30 goals and have over 20 assists, both likely MLS records. Yes, Beckham helps. Alot. But LD is the league’s best player. Honorable mention though must go to Blanco, Schelotto, Guevara, Gomez and Cooper.

Most Surprising Player: Jon Busch. Busch was the target of rumors at the beginning of the season. The Fire had drafted a hot young keeper (who never showed), and brought in some others, presumably to push Busch out. Well, despite seeing more shots than any keeper in the league, Busch has given up the fewest goals. Consider the rumors squashed.

Most Improved Team: There are so many you could go with here: L.A., Colorado, Columbus, Chicago. But for my money, no one has come farther so far this year than TFC, who is close to matching their win total from a year ago already. You’ve got to hand it to Carver and Johnston.

Best Player Acqusition: Speaking of Johnston, his bringing in of Guevara, although controversial, has thus far paid dividends. But, I have to go with Christian Gomez in Colorado. For years, the Rapids have played stifling defense, but lacked the offensive playmaker to spark the offense. Well, for a pittance, they got perhaps the league’s best, Gomez.

And of course, the booby prizes!

Worst Coach: Tom Soehn. He’s got the players, he just doesn’t have them playing well together. Whatever they do to get up for road games, they need to do the opposite. One goal in 360 minutes away from home? Soehn needs a healthy Olsen soon, or he may be looking for a new job.

Least Valuable Player: Marcelo Gallardo was supposed to be an upgrade from Christian Gomez, but he has looked like a big-time downgrade. Defensively, he is still pretty sharp, but he can’t spark the offense the way Gomez could. He’s too easy to contain and lacks his predecessor’s imaginative play. If I were a DCU fan, I would long for the man who actually delivered Supporters Shields and MLS Cup Championships, Gomez.

Most Surprising Player (in a bad way…): Brad Guzan. The man once hailed as the Next Big Thing in American soccer looks pretty pedestrian this season. Sure, injuries may be hampering him, but if that’s the case just sit until your healthy. The last thing the Goats needs is Guzan delaying his return to 100% health while ceding 3 goals a game.

Least Improved Team: DCU (see any trend here?). This team has fallen apart. Their road play is ghastly and their former dominance at home has been replaced by mediocrity. The biggest problem is the defense, which has struggled despite the additions of respected South American stalwarts. Soehn needs to right the ship soon, or United will be divided over his future with the club.

Worst Player Acquisition: One could go with Gallardo again here, but that would just be plain mean. The Louse, Claudio Lopez, hasn’t been a huge success in KC, but he’s not a grand failure either. Well, not yet. I am going to have to go with Carlos “the Fish” Ruiz, which isn’t fair necessarily because he has been injured all season except for two games, but it still is kind of fair because Lalas and the Gals knew they were buying a fragile fish. Well, you break it, you bought it, L.A. Here’s to hoping Ruiz returns healthy and proves me wrong.

The Rich Get Poorer?

Last year’s Supporter’s Shield Winner DC United and last year’s MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo have looked bizarre. Granted, both teams lost key players in the offseason, but both also brought in some new talent that just hasn’t gelled yet. DCU has been miserable on the road, losing all four games, while Houston can’t find the net. One has to feel that ‘08 will be the end of both these team’s great runs.

COL On Top!

In the East, it’s the COLumbus Crew, and in the West, the COLorado Rapids. Both teams’ turnarounds are due to the COLlaborative play of their leaders, Schelotto and Gomez. Will they continue to COLdcock opponents?

L.A. What?

What a difference a year makes. Well, offensively anyways. The Gals have 5 more goals than any other team this year, which is swell. Now, if they could just not give so many up. Beckham’s play has been strong, but he has been most valuable in the way he has opened the field up for Donovan.

1. Columbus Crew [last week 1]: Though the win streak was snapped, CMB still escaped from BMO Field with a point. Not many teams can claim that this year.
2. Chicago Fire [last week 2]: Not what you expect from the Fire @ home. HOU frustrated the offense, and the defense can’t cede late goals like Boswell’s.
3. Colorado Rapids [last week 4]: The Rapids played their trademark shutdown D at the Dick, and it paid off as they were boosted to the top spot in the West.
4. New York Red Bulls [last week 3]: NYRB out-willed KC, which is really saying something. Angel & Altidore both contributed in a truly tough draw.
5. New England Revolution [last week 8]: All Hail Steve Ralston! This team is so much better when the straw that stirs the drink is actually in the drink.
6. Toronto FC [last week 7]: Nobody has been able to hang with the Crew, but TFC pulled it off. Hats off to Big Mo, whose acquisition of Guevara was genius.
7. Kansas City [last week 6]: KC played well, but looked a bit tired down the stretch. How that happens after an off week is anyone’s guess, but it shouldn’t.
8. Los Angeles Galaxy [last week 9]: The most explosive offense in the league dominated the usually stingy Burn defense. Donovan couldn’t play better.
9. Houston Dynamo [last week 13]: Holy turn of events, Batman! HOU is suddenly looking like, well, HOU. Nice to see De Rosario actually look like he cares.
10. FC Dallas [last week 5]: Ouch. I just can’t decide what was the worst part. Giving up 3 goals to Buddle? Davino’s own goal? Serioux’s ejection?
11. Chivas USA [last week 12]: Kljestan is carrying the Goats on his back. In a 10 minute period in the second half, his mercurial play secured the win.
12. Real Salt Lake [last week 11]: Pretty hard fought loss by RSL, who let a draw slip away late. It’s not surprising they couldn’t beat COL @ the Dick.
13. DC United [last week 10]: Oh how the mighty have fallen. DCU should just forfeit their away games if this is how they’ll play. They could save alot of $ on fuel.
14. San Jose Earthquakes [last week 14]: Shut out. Again. Well, James Riley actually scored a goal. But unfortunately it was for his old team. It’s a start though.

 Player of the Week: Well, that Buddle fellow scored three goals, so I am sure every analyst and their brother will give him the weekly hardware. But I am going to go with Kljestan. I think he is one of the best mids in the league right now, if not the best. In the near future, I imagine he will be a solid starter on the MNT as well.

While Chelsea denies the story, former Chelsea boss has been long rumored to being the new Inter coach. Jose Mourinho is very close to Lampard (and Drogba) and Lampard has stalled on signing a new contract.

I think it will be a very interesting summer at Stamford Bridge with a lot of changes, regardless of how they do against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Los Angeles 5, FC Dallas 1
The Galaxy scored four goals - including two by Edson Buddle - within a 15-minute span midway through the first half en route to a 5-1 victory over FC Dallas. Buddle went on to complete a hat trick five minutes from the end on a header at the left goalpost off a cross from David Beckham. The win moved the Galaxy (3-3-2) into sole possession of second place in the MLS Western Division standings, while FC Dallas (2-3-3) dropped to fourth in the division with the loss.

Dynamo 2, Fire 1
The Dynamo (2-2-4), has won twice in a row after struggling for more than a month for win No. 1. The two-time defending MLS Cup champions also won for the third time in three games at Toyota Park, and handed the Fire (5-2-1) their second loss at home this season.

Crew 0, Toronto FC 0
Columbus (6-1-1) had a five-game winning streak ended. Laurent Robert nearly scored for Toronto in the 60th minute, drifting in from the right, beating two defenders and sending a left-footed shot past goalkeeper William Hesner and off the post. Columbus hasn’t lost in six games while Toronto (3-2-2) is unbeaten in five.

Revolution 2, Earthquakes 0
Kheli Dube scored for New England (5-3-1) in the sixth minute, before Riley’s own goal in the 23rd. San Jose (1-5-1) only had one shot on target and four overall. Taylor Twellman didn’t play again for New England because of an injured ankle.

Chivas USA 3, DC United 1
Chivas came from behind to win a match for the first time in club history. After Marcelo Gallardo put DC ahead in the 30th minute, Chivas’ Jesse Marsch tied the match in the 73rd minute. Jorge Flores scored a late goal to help give Chivas (2-4-2) a two-goal cushion. DC United fell to 2-6 and remained winless in four road games.

Wizards 1, Red Bulls 1
Danleigh Borman’s late goal lifted the 10-man New York Red Bulls to a 1-1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night. Borman’s second goal of the season came in the 81st minute, when he took a pass from Juan Pablo Angel and beat Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Jimmy Conrad gave Kansas City (3-3-2) the early lead when he scored on a header in 20th minute off a corner by Carlos Marinelli. The Red Bulls (3-1-3) extended their unbeaten streak to five games.

The stadium is named for the club’s sponsor - the famous Dutch beer. The Grolsch Fortress was formerly known as the Arke Stadium. Twente now join league champion PSV Eindhoven in the next installment of the UEFA Champions League.  FC Twente ended the regular season with 17 wins, 11 draws, and 6 losses for a total of 62 points.

So just who are these FC Twente guys?  Here’s a break down of The Reds key players.

Goalkeeper - Sander Boschker

Recently called up to the Dutch provisional squad for Euro 2008, Boschker made several quality saves against Ajax and the goalkeeper is a major reason for the club’s success in 2007-2008.

Forward - Blaise Kufo

The 32 year-old Swiss striker’s two goals were enough for Twente to overcome Ajax.  On April 7th 2008, Kufo resigned with the club until 2010.  In 155 league appearances, he has 85 goals.  Blaise ended with 21 regular season goals in 2007-2008.  He has been the top goal scorer at the club since 2003-2004.

Midfielder - Stein Huysegems

While Stein hasn’t seen a great deal of first-team minutes, one has to assume that he will begin to figure more prominently at the Fortress of Beer!

La Liga:  Real Murcia 3-5 Barcelona

The Catalan club ended the season on a high note after their recent embarrassment at the hands of Real Madrid. Goals from Samuel Eto’o (23’), Thierry Henry (26’), and a hat-trick from Giovani dos Santos (33’, 52’, and 66’) proved too much for Murcia.  Barcelona will be in unfamiliar territory soon enough when they attempt to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Serie A:  U.C. Sampdoria 3-3 Juventus

Juventus completed a successful campaign in their return to Serie A.  League leaders Alessandro Del Piero (21) and David Trezeguet (20) combined for Juve’s three goals.  Former A.S. Roma forward Vincenzo Montella tied the match in the 80th minute for Sampdoria.  Montella is fifth all-time on the goalscorers list at Roma.

Bundesliga:  Hamburg SV 7-0 Karlsruher SC

Hamburg cemented their fourth place finish in the German league with their lop-sided victory over Karlsruher.  Peruvian forward Paolo Guerrero scored three times in a fourteen-minute span during the first half of play.  A brace from Croation Ivica Olić concluded HSV’s score fest.

Ligue 1: FC Sochaux 1–2 Paris Saint-Germain

A brace from Amara Diané capped an impressive end-of-season run that saw PSG stave off relegation.  The club took 8 points from their final four league matches to finish 16th.  Diané who plays internationally for Cote d’Ivoire finished as PSG’s top scorer.  Media reports have recently linked the forward with a move to Premiership side Newcastle United.

Since departing Milan’s youth ranks, Marco has played exclusively in Italy in both the Serie A and the lower leagues.  This past summer, A.C. Milan sold Borriello to newly promoted Genoa C.F.C., but Milan maintains some rights as it was a co-ownership transaction.

This co-ownership fact has lead several media outlets to speculate that the Rossoneri will look to return Borriello to the San Siro should the club qualify for the 2008-2009 UEFA Champions League this weekend against Udinese Calcio.  Milan currently sits in 5th place in the Serie A standings. A.C. Fiorentina occupy the 4th and final Champions League spot.  Fiorentina are two ahead of Milan with 63 points.  If Fiorentina wins against Torino, A.C. Milan can do no better than to earn an UEFA Cup spot in Europe for next season.  A Fiorentina loss opens the door for Milan to remain a Champions League participant.

Will Marco Borriello return to Milan to bolster the attack or will the forward stay with Genoa C.F.C. as they continue to push for European play?  The results from this weekend will lead to the answer.

Andrei Arshavin came up through Zenit St. Petersburg’s youth system playing with Zenit-2 in 1999 and 2000.  After this apprenticeship, he moved to the senior club full-time in 2000.  Arshavin was moved all around the midfield before settling in as a second striker; although, if needed he can return to a midfield playmaker or winger role.

His versatility, vision, and playmaking attributes played a large role in his being named as the Russian Footballer of the Year in 2006.  In 2007, Zenit St. Petersburg won the Russian Premier League.  Andrei enjoyed a successful campaign with 10 goals and 11 assists.  He has played his entire club career in St. Petersburg with Zenit.  In 214 matches, he has 47 goals.

Internationally, he has scored ten times in 33 national team appearances.  With goals against Euro 2008 participants Germany, Portugal, and Romania, the forward can be counted on to perform against top competition.  He will not be able to play in Euro 2008 until the third group match.

Will he end up in Germany, England, or remain in Russia with Zenit as they prepare for Champions League play?

Just when you thought MLS was becoming a legitimate part of the American sports landscape, the commissioner, former NFL Europe Chief (um, how’d that league end up again?) Don Garber, has to open his big trap and set soccer back a few years. And what could lure “the Don” to come out swinging like a vintage Rock-em Sock-em Robot?

Well, basically pundit Michael Wilbon called Toronto FC fans “minor league” and “garbage” for throwing streamers onto the field during corner kicks. How dare he?

This would not offend me as Wilbon calls something “garbage” about every five seconds. Its usually his buddy Kornheiser’s shirt or Stat Boy’s daily attempt at humor instead of 30,000 maniacal TFC fans.

If he had called Raiders’ fans “garbage”, Roger Goodell wouldn’t release a statement.

No, Goodell would simply smile and Dude-like respond “well, that’s like, your opinion, man.”

But Garber? He has to start a skirmish.

Garber responded to Wilbon by arguing that unlike other sports, soccer fans “are a part of the game experience.”

Um, what the hell is he talking about?

Has he never been to an NFL game (in America) where on 4th and 1 near the goal line you can actually hear your ear drums explode (I know, sounds impossible doesn’t it)?

Has he never seen those Anaheim or California or whatever Angels fans waiving around their little rally bats and worshipping that monkey from Outbreak.

He’s definitely never been to an NHL game in Canada, where they have the only hockey venues in the world that feature more fights in one section of the arena than on the ice.

Listen, soccer is different than other sports, there’s no doubt about that. But you can’t claim that it’s the only sport where
“fans are part of the game experience.” If you do, you not only end up sounding like an idiot, but you also risk alienating fans of those other sports by insinuating their favorite is inferior.

And MLS does not need to be in the business of alienating fans.

I must admit, I have always thought the practice of throwing streamers on the field was stupid. Beside the point that it creates more work for the field crew (I know, what do I care?) it could interfere with play.

I think it’s even more stupid though that the Commish is choosing to take a throw-away remark by a pundit and turn it into a public squabble. Soccer’s merits need to be publicly debated in America, but debating the merits of throwing streamers onto a soccer field?

Well, like the streamers themselves, it’s just garbage.