2017 MLS Week 10 Team of the Week
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth, Minnesota United FC
1x Team of the Week
Many goalkeepers had unbelievable weeks but sadly I can only pick two. This week Mr. Bobby Shuttleworth is my starting goalkeeper after holding a shutout against Sporting Kansas City. In this shutout Shuttleworth was heavily tested and had to record seven saves. I also had to give Shuttleworth the starting goalkeeper spot because he was the only keeper this week to break his nose in a shutout win.
DEF: AJ DelaGarza, Houston Dynamo
1x Team of the Week
The Galaxy seem to be missing this defense leader inside and outside of their locker room. Now AJ has brought his leadership to Houston. This week AJ played a dominate game at rightback where he and the rest of the Houston backline was able to hold a shutout against Orlando City. Besides a great job holding Larin and the Lions quiet, AJ assisted on Alberth Elis’s 23rd minute goal.
DEF: Matt Hedges, FC Dallas
4x Team of the Week
Matt Hedges returns as FC Dallas had another dominate game to remain undefeated. Hedges had the best day defensively as he and the rest of FC Dallas shutout Real Salt Lake 3-0. RSL looked awful offensively and FC Dallas’s defense smothered them from the beginning. Hedges scored the second goal for FC Dallas as well. A goal and a shutout will be another reason why Hedges could win Defender of the Year for a second straight season.
DEF: Florian Jungwirth, SJ Earthquakes
2x Team of the Week
The best week from a defender has to come from Florian Jungwirth. Last week the San Jose defender held a shutout and also scored the game winning goal. This week, Jungwirth held a shutout against the mighty Portland Timbers. He played out of his mind against the likes of Fanendo Adi and Sebastian Blanco. Jungwirth was once again a factor on offense as he assisted on both goals scored by Chris Wondolowski.
DEF: Francisco Calvo, Minnesota United FC
1x Team of the Week
Calvo was one of the more exciting new signings for me this offseason, and though he hasn’t impressed greatly, he hasn’t been awful either. This week looked like one of his best since joining MLS. Calvo wasn’t able to factor in on the offensive side of things but his presence on defense was phenomenal. Calvo was a major force at centerback for Minnesota to hold a shutout against Sporting Kansas City. The rest of the defense didn’t hold up as well as Calvo, but he did the best he could and it showed.
MID: Rodney Wallace, NYCFC
1x Team of the Week
The former MLS Cup champion was a quiet signing for NYCFC this offseason and has turned into an every game starter. Wallace assisted on David Villa’s first goal of the game, then he later scored the goal to put them ahead, and finally assisted on Maxi Moralez’s 61st minute goal. Wallace presents another offensive threat that allows David Villa to dominate as well. A great week from Wallace lead to a 3-1 NYCFC win over Atlanta United.
MID: David Accam, Chicago Fire
1x Team of the Week
David Accam has been one of the most talented players in MLS in recent years. Now with offseason acquisitions Accam seems to be having fun in Chicago again. This week the Fire tied the Galaxy 2-2 at home. Accam was a factor on both of the Fire’s goals scoring the first in the 13th minute and assisting Nemanja Nikolic in the 16th minute. A great week from the talented midfielder puts him on the team of the week for week ten.
MID: Romain Alessandrini, LA Galaxy
3x Team of the Week
I brought up the woes of LA Galaxy earlier, but this man has been the only bright spot for them so far in 2017. The Galaxy were down 2-0 to the Fire but were able to come back and get a much needed point out of the game. Alessandrini was a factor on both of the Galaxy’s goal in this game. He first assisted on Daniel Steres’s 56th minute goal and then later assisted on Giovanni Dos Santos’s 65th minute goal. The former Ligue 1 midfielder is definitely showing his class in MLS.
MID: Miguel Ibarra, Minnesota United FC
2x Team of the Week
The Miguel Ibarra of old is finally showing his form! Miguel Ibarra has had back to back amazing weeks for Minnesota. This week the American midfielder was able to assist on the only two goals scored by Minnesota against the stingy SKC defense. Ibarra first assisted on Abu Danladi’s first ever MLS goal in the 22nd minute. Batman also assisted on Superman’s goal in the 39th minute. A solid week from the midfielder who is finally looking like the starter he was supposed to be in the beginning of the season.
FOR: CJ Sapong, Philadelphia Union
2x Team of the Week
The only way that the Union were going to get their first win of the season was going to be a magical performance from one of their stars… and CJ Sapong delivered. Sapong scored the game’s first goal in the 74th minute, then the game’s second in the 81st minute, and he finished his hat trick with a 85th minute penalty kick. Sapong has been their top offensive producer so far in 2017 and now he leads MLS with seven goals.
FOR: Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes
2x Team of the Week
Someone is turning back the clocks in 2017. Chris Wondolowski dominated offensively in San Jose’s 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers. The Timbers backline looked lost when dealing with Wondo the Great. He started his day off with an assist on Jahmir Hyka’s 8th minute goal. He would solidify his dominant day by scoring a brace with goals coming in the 31st and 55th minutes.
Bench:
GK: Jesse Gonzalez, FC Dallas
2x Team of the Week
DEF: Jonathan Mensah, Columbus Crew SC
1x Team of the Week
DEF: Ethan White, NYCFC
1x Team of the Week
MID: Alex, Houston Dynamo
3x Team of the Week
MID: Abu Danladi, Minnesota United FC
1x Team of the Week
FOR: Mauro Manotas, Houston Dynamo
1x Team of the Week
FOR: Maxi Urruti, FC Dallas
3x Team of the Week
