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2014 MLS MVP: It’s Bradley Wright-Phillips

By Zac Wassink

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Wright-Phillips clinched his MLS MVP win by equaling the single-season goal-scoring record.

Critics of Major League Soccer — and plenty are out there — cannot make legitimate comments about the league lacking quality attacking players. No fewer than five such individuals broke away from the pack to emerge as 2014 MLS MVP candidates. All will compete in the upcoming MLS Playoffs, and it’s very possible that one (or more) of them will hoist the MLS Cup in December.

Only one, however, added his name to the MLS record books with his play during the regular season, and that is why he should be named league MVP.

2014 MLS MVP final vote: On the outside

Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are one of the more positive surprises of the 2014 MLS season. New England started off hot, survived a bit of a cold spell, and finished second in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The Revs were only four points off of conference champions DC United.

Nguyen could be the top “value player” on this list. While he doesn’t play for a club that was competing for the Supporters’ Shield on the final Saturday of the MLS regular season, Nguyen finished fourth in the league in scoring with 18 goals. He added 5 assists to his personal stats.

Nguyen will enter November in scintillating form. He has hit the back of the net in each of his past four starts, striking for 5 goals in October. The Revs will be a dangerous side assuming that Nguyen will retain his solid form throughout the next six weeks.

Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy

There was once a time when Donovan was more of an emotional MLS MVP candidate than one actually worthy of being part of the conversation. The United States Men’s National Team legend will call time on his career after LA play their final game of the campaign, and the MLS all-time great receiving one final personal honor would have been a nice gesture from voters.

Make no mistake about the fact that Donovan has earned his spot on this list. He led the league in assists with a total of 19. Donovan also struck for 10 goals. They may not have finished the campaign atop the overall league standings, but LA could be the favorites to win MLS Cup.

Donovan and company have done it before, and they have the goods to win it all again in 2014.

Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy

Oct 19, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane (7) during pre-game warmups before the Los Angeles Galaxy match against the Seattle Sounders FC at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

To the victor go the spoils, or so the cliché teaches, and thus Keane finishes beneath a Western Conference rival in MLS MVP voting. LA had a chance to win the Supporters’ Shield this past Saturday,  but they could not earn the away victory versus the Seattle Sounders. LA’s 61 points was good enough for second place overall in the MLS standings.

Keane had himself yet another fantastic season for the Galaxy. The ageless wonder had a hand in 33 regular season goals, matching 19 tallies of his own with 14 assists. There is an easy argument to be made for Keane deserving to be recognized as the best attacking player in MLS.

Do not at all believe that Donovan and Keane make for a one-two punch responsible for carrying the Galaxy into the playoffs. LA have a talented and deep squad capable of making a run in any postseason tournament.

2014 MLS MVP final vote: Runner-up

Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders

Explaining Martins’ MLS MVP candidacy is a simple task: He was the top player on what was the league’s best regular season team.

Done and done.

Martins was credited for playing roles in 30 total goals. He notched 17 of his own, and Martins also contributed 13 assists for the Sounders. His final three assists came in the two games against LA that clinched the Supporters’ Shield for Seattle.

US Soccer star Clint Dempsey made international headlines in the summer of 2013 when he made his switch from Tottenham Hotspur to the Sounders. While Dempsey has undeniably had a good season, it is Martins who is the Seattle MVP. History is the only thing that keeps him from winning my vote for the league’s top honor.

2014 MLS MVP final vote: Winner

Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls

Thierry Henry is a living legend who has done it all in the world of soccer. Tim Cahill is the uncrowned 2013 MLS MVP, the top player on the side that won the Supporters’ Shield a season ago.

Wright-Phillips not only outdid both in 2014. He made club history and matched a MLS record.

Wright-Phillips hit Sporting Kansas City for a brace in the final game of the regular season, finishing the campaign with a share of the MLS single-season scoring record of 27 goals. The Golden Boot winner who was barely mentioned if at all in MLS preseason previews was a bright spot on a roster that failed to meet expectations following last year’s Supporters’ Shield run, and there is little doubt that the Red Bulls would not be in the playoffs without Wright-Phillips.

The cases some are making for Wright-Phillips not winning MLS MVP are downright ridiculous.

“But he should have scored ‘x’ amount of goals and broken the record.” Sorry, I guess Wright-Phillips merely making history will have to do it for you.

“But he plays alongside Henry. He should score in every match.” No player on this list is a one-man wrecking crew.

“But the Red Bulls were largely lackluster in regular season play.” That only strengthens the argument for Wright-Phillips winning MLS MVP.

27 goals in a season is the benchmark for MLS. Wright-Phillips matched that, and in doing so he snatched the MVP award from Martins and from any other contenders.

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