DC Soccer 2006 MLS Best XI

By Joseph Schoenbauer

Picking DC Soccer’s 2006 MLS Best XI proved to be a very difficult process, possibly because the 2006 World Cup caused DC Soccer correspondents to miss many MLS games.  Nevertheless, in the end it was easy to make a strong case for all of the players included in the team, which is more than can be said for MLS’s official Best XI.

GK: Matt Reis – With the most shots faced, most saves, most shutouts, least goals against as a team and the best goals against average for goalies that played for the entire season, Reis stood out all the way to the MLS Cup finals, where his teams luck ran out despite him saving one penalty and scoring another himself.  A commanding season.

D: Jose Burciaga Jr., Kansas City Wizards – With 8 goals and 8 assists on the season, Burciaga Jr. was by far and away the best attacking defender in the league.  Named Kansas City’s team MVP; Burciaga Jr. cannot be faulted for the Wizards capitulation at the end of the season.

D: Bobby Boswell, DC United - The anchor of the 3-man DC defense, Boswell grew in leaps and bounds this year and stood out for his positioning and improved passing out of the back for the most attacking team in the league.

D: Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution – MLS’s 2005 Rookie of the Year was an ever present in a New England back line that conceded the fewest goals in regular-season play.  A great organizer and arguably anticipates better than any defender in the league.

M: Ricardo Clark, Houston Dynamo – An inspirational rock in center midfield for Houston, Clark was extremely unlucky to be suspended for the MLS Cup.  He was a huge reason they were there in the first place.  His positioning and ability to cover all over gave his attacking midfielders Mullan, Davis and De Rosario the ability to push forward in search of goals with forwards Brian Ching and Alejandro Moreno/Paul Dalglish.

M: Shalrie Joseph, New England Revolution – The dominant defensive midfielder in the league, Joseph is very strong in the tackle and pleasantly skilled on the ball.  Capable of doing two players work in the center of midfield, Joseph is the pulse of the Revolution

M: Dwayne De Rosario, Houston Dynamo – Dynamo teammate Brian Ching may have grabbed the headlines in the MLS Cup final, but De Rosario stood out as Houston’s greatest attacking threat throughout the season, totaling 11 goals and 5 assists in an attacking midfield position that had him do his fare share of work behind the ball as well.

M: Christian Gomez, DC United – DC Soccer’s 2006 MLS Player of the Year, Gomez has become a crowd favorite at RFK Stadium for obvious reasons.  Counting the playoffs, Gomez scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists, tying him with Jeff Cunningham.  Not blessed with the greatest speed or stamina, Gomez’ speed of thought, ability to combine with teammates and deadly right foot consistently are far too much for opposing defenses.

F: Jaime Moreno, DC United – Gomez’ attacking partner extraordinaire, Moreno is arguably MLS’s all-time best player, and certainly would be were it not for injuries suffered and a year with the MetroStars.  His 11 goals and 10 assists combined to make DC United the only team to have 2 players with double digits in goals and assists.

F: Jeff Cunningham, Real Salt Lake – The most dangerous forward in MLS, Cunningham possesses the skills and speed to take on one defender after another in one-on-one situations, or work with his teammates to find the back of the net, evidenced by his 16 goals and 11 assists on the season.  A star worthy of a greater team, or at the least, greater recognition from the National team.

F: Ante Razov, Chivas USA – Under Bob Bradley once again, Razov showed the form of his Chicago Fire days, raking in 14 goals and 8 assists which led to Chivas USA’s march to the playoffs and remarkable turnaround from last year’s abysmal first season.

Honorable Mentions: F Clint Dempsey, New England; M Andy Dorman; M Ronnie O’Brien, Dallas; F Carlos Ruiz, Dallas; M Niko Hernandez, Colorado; M Brad Davis, Houston; D Wade Barrett, Houston; M Ivan Guerrero, Chicago; GK Troy Perkins, DC United; M Amado Guevara, Red Bulls