Bradley Wright-Phillips could run away with Major League Soccer MVP award

There is only one man worth showcasing this week as it pertains to the 2014 Major League Soccer MVP award. Those saying otherwise are attempting to voice a “hot take” or generate discussions and/or page views.

New York Red Bulls hitman Bradley Wright-Phillips struck Supporters’ Shield contenders Seattle Sounders for a hat-trick, the striker’s third of the campaign, this past weekend, and New York cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Seattle. That victory gave the Red Bulls some breathing room in the standings. New York are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, one point ahead of the Columbus Crew and three points ahead of the Philadelphia Union.

As for Wright-Phillips, it now seems inevitable that he will make history at some point over the next month. BWP sits on 24 goals for the campaign, three behind the MLS record for a single season. The Red Bulls have five MLS contests ahead of them before postseason play, and there is little reason to believe that Wright-Phillips will, so long as he remains healthy, cool down before October ends.

New York will be away to LA Galaxy this coming Sunday for a nationally televised contest. The Red Bulls host the Houston Dynamo on October 4. Wright-Phillips has hit the back of the net five times in two games against Houston this season. New York host Toronto FC, who are in all kinds of turmoil regardless of the status of designated player Jermain Defoe, on October 11. Columbus, who have been stung by Wright-Phillips on two occasions in 2014, are away to the Red Bulls on October 19. New York end the regular season at Sporting Kansas City. Wright-Phillips is averaging a tally per game versus SKC this year.

That six of the 24 goals buried by Wright-Phillips in 2014 have come from the penalty spot does not and should not factor into his MVP candidacy. Goals are goals. They all count the same on scoreboards. 20+ goals netted during play along with however many penalties BWP converts en route to setting a new record are good enough for a MVP award.

That said, nothing is guaranteed to Wright-Phillips as the final weekend of September approaches. Regardless of what journalists say on the matter or how people vote, no player deserves to be named MVP if his club doesn’t qualify for the postseason. 10 of the 19 teams in MLS make the playoffs under the current system.

A player is only so valuable if his side cannot manage to be in the top-five of conference standings on November 1.

It is that logic which has kept Portland Timbers designated player Diego Valeri off of MVP lists. Valeri is having a great season, second behind LA Galaxy superstar Landon Donovan in assists with 14. Valeri has also scored on nine occasions.

Thefinal playoff spot out of the MLS West will come down to the Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. Portland are ahead of Vancouver by two points in the conference table.

Aug 27, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; D.C. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan (10) raises his arms after scoring on a penalty kick in the second half of the game against D.C. United at StubHub Center. Galaxy won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Three other players come to mind as MLS MVP candidates, the first being the previously mentioned Donovan. The United States Men’s National Team legend calling time on his playing days at the end of the season has 9 goals and 15 assists in 2014. He remains the sentimental choice for the award considering all that he has meant to MLS and to US Soccer during his career.

One of Donovan’s teammates could, however, snatch MVP away from the American. Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes both sit on 15 goals as LA prepare to take on the Red Bulls.

The Galaxy are tied with the Sounders atop the overall league standings with 54 points. Seattle have a game in hand over LA.

Obafemi Martins of Seattle also remains a MVP candidate. He has 13 goals and 9 assists this season.

None of those fantastic players — not Donovan, nor Keane, nor Zardes, nor Martins, nor DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, nor KC forward Dom Dwyer, nor anybody else in MLS — is ahead of Wright-Phillips in the MVP race, and BWP being leapfrogged looks unlikely.

The Red Bulls are playing their best soccer of the season at the start of fall. They have taken 10 points from 12 in their last four MLS contests. Their current run has included victories over Kansas City, rivals DC and Seattle. Each of those sides are ahead of the Red Bulls in the overall league table. It’s possible, maybe even already decided by destiny, that New York could clinch a playoff spot via Wright-Phillips breaking the MLS single-season scoring record.

Keep the champagne on ice and ready, RBNY front office. You should have something meaningful to celebrate for the second straight October.

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