Starry nights: MLS Team of the Week – Round 8

ProSoccerTalk’s Best XI from Week 8 in Major League Soccer includes plenty of familiar names – unlike past weeks in 2013, where so many newer faces tended to dominate the weekly Best XI talk.

Goalkeeper:

• Portland Timbers’ Donovan Ricketts

Why we like him: This was a tough call between the Timbers man, who had four important stops in a draw at San Jose, and Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando, whose penalty kick stop was among five saves while blanking Chivas USA. Has there ever been a goalkeeper in MLS better at turning away spot shots? Doubtful. Have you seen his numbers?

Back line:

• FC Dallas’ George John
• LA Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez
• Sporting KC’s Aurelien Collin

Why we like them: Dallas’ John keeps appearing here. The guy just keeps delivering, getting it done again on defense in Round 8 and helping to create the penalty area mayhem that put the Western Conference leaders in front early against Vancouver.

Collin was part of the defense that gave up two in a loss to the LA Galaxy. But that was SKC’s second game in four nights, and it followed cross-country travel. Collin was quite strong (as was the entire Sporting back line) in blanking Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls in Harrison to begin Week 8 in MLS.

Midfield:

• LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan
• Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso
• New York Red Bulls’ Dax McCarty
• FC Dallas’ David Ferreira
• Real Salt Lake’s Javier Morales

Why we like them: Shalrie Joseph supported Alonso’s busy ball-winning and distribution in the Sounders’ huge road with at Colorado – allowing Alonso to be even more, you know, “Alonso.”

Donovan had a goal and assist and just keeps moving himself in the right direction. Across the country, McCarty opened the scoring in New York’s win over New England. That was in addition to his usual chores in anchoring the midfield around Red Bull Arena.

Ferreira had his Colombian footprints all over Dallas’ early goal in the victory in North Texas, and his work on the ball helped keep the Red Stripes in charge through most of their 2-0 win.

Real Salt Lake’s playmaker had a similar night, and then some. Morales hit the game-winner and was probably the best player in the field for a big stretch of his team’s 1-0 win over Chivas USA.

Forwards:

• Philadelphia Union’s Jack McInerney
• Philadelphia Union’s Conor Casey (pictured above, on the right)

Why we like them: We’ve talked enough about McInerney; if you haven’t seen it, then you aren’t spending enough time with ProSoccerTalk!  (And there may be more coming … hint, hint.) So let’s get on that, eh?

Meanwhile, let’s be sure to mention all of Casey’s good work in the Union’s 3-2 triumph at D.C. United. His passing and hold-up play was useful throughout the afternoon. And the former U.S. international gets his statistical due in this one, as well, with a goal and assist. Truly, this might have been Casey’s best game since 2010.