2007 MLS Awards

It's almost getting to the point of the year. The MLS regular season is in the home stretch, and it's time to start deciding who gets the pretty trophies to sit in the living room.

MLS has been doing an Awards Tracker (supposedly completely unofficial), and here's the updated top 3 for each award.

MVP
Luciano Emilio, DC
Juan Pablo Angel, NY
Shalrie Joseph, New England

Thoughts: They went with the top goalscorers for the top two places, which I don't think is necessarily fair. Angel is more important to NY's success than Emilio is in DC. I'd even go so far as to say that Ben Olsen should be considered as the most valuable player in DC. Maykel Galindo (ranked 4th) is the most valuable of the forwards in the league, in my opinion. Joseph is important, but not critical, to New England's success.

Newcomer of the Year
Luciano Emilio, DC
Juan Pablo Angel, NY
Maykel Galindo, Chivas USA

Thoughts: Juan Toja should be higher than 5th. It's a shame Blanco arrived so late in the year, or he'd be a shoe-in for this one.

Rookie of the Year
Maurice Edu, Toronto
Dane Richards, NY
Adam Cristman, New England

Thoughts: Richards is my rookie of the year, even over the impressive Edu. There haven't been as many impact players in the rookie crop this year.

Goalkeeper of the Year
Brad Guzan, Chivas USA
Pat Onstad, Houston
Troy Perkins, DC/Matt Reis, New England

Thoughts: I agree with this one, too. Guzan has been awesome for the Goats this year, and should be forcing his way into the national team pool for good.

Defender of the Year
Eddie Robinson, Houston
Michael Parkhurst, New England
Claudio Suarez, Chivas USA

Thoughts: This is always a hard category for me. It seems like it usually goes to either the defender who scores the most goals, or somebody from the top defensive team in the league. That said, I agree with the top 2 choices here. Robinson just keeps improving his game. I would have to throw Wade Barrett into consideration as well.

Coach of the Year
Preki, Chivas USA
Tom Soehn, DC
Dominic Kinnear, Houston

Thoughts: Preki has done the most with the least out of the top teams in the league, he deserves the award. I would also put Steve Nicol in my top three. He's lost talent (Dempsey), but kept the Revs strong.

Let's hear from the Cupcake Nation in the comments...