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I feel bad for C.J. -- he just missed the U-23 age cutoff by a mere five days. He would've been a lock for the U-23 team and, hence, the Olympics. Instead, he'll have to earn it the hard way. Of course, the "hard" way means showing the U.S. coaches that he can be a younger and more athletically imposing version of Edson Buddle. He should get a call in January with an eye toward the future. I'm almost certain that Sapong will get capped in his career -- 10 past Americans who won MLS Rookie of the Year have a least one international appearance.
Assessing Sporting KC's U.S. national team prospects - KansasCity.com
In those first few weeks Cesar and Besler were to remain as center back pairings until the Frenchman from Portugal slid into Sporting Kc's backline like a hand in a glove. This 'mystery defender' soon earned his place in the Starting XI and his name became known to all.... Aurelien - 'I will kill for you' - Collin.
The Front Men: TFM's Newcomer Of the Year Award: Aurelien Collin
Kei Kamara, making easy goals look hard and impossible goals seem like a piece of cake since 2008. The degree of difficulty on this attempt alone makes it the top goal of the year. Even had he missed it, I'd have put it on this list somewhere. (Worth noting, Kamara tries something like this every 6-7 shots in practice. It seems random but he knows what he's doing.)
Sporting Kansas City's Top 10 goals of 2011 - KansasCity.com
Portland's Darlington Nagbe came into MLS with a bigger reputation as a creator than a goal-scorer. But the lasting image from the Liberian's rookie campaign turned out to be a juggling wonder-strike for the ages, good enough to claim the title of the 20111 AT&T Goal of the Year. Nagbe scored the golazo in the 45th minute of what was eventually a 2-1 home loss to Sporting KC in Week 16.
Timbers' Darlington Nagbe wins AT&T Goal of the Year | MLSsoccer.com
That would leave Arnaud, Harrington, and Saad as the likely favorites to be taken. Of those 3 I think the most appealing to take would be Michael Harrington. Harrington is still young, he'll be 26, has made over 100 starts in MLS play for KC, giving him an experience factor, and is made $110,000 this past year against the cap. Harrington would give Montreal a guy that could step in immediately and start on their back line. This is why I hate the expansion draft, KC could lose a guy they've spent the last 5 years developing since he came out of UNC. And they'd lose him for nothing.