If anyone remembers the predominant argument for and against Chicago’s Mike Magee as a potential league MVP (or, for that matter, if anyone wants to click on it here), then making the case for and against Vancouver Whitecaps talented Brazilian attacker Camilo is a cut-and-paste job.
It’s the same doggone thing.
Unfortunately for Camilo, that doesn’t say good things about the chances of adding his name to the distinguished list of Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Players.
Camilo is certainly doing his part. He is just one off the pace for MLS Golden Boot, a mere goal behind Montreal sniper Marco Di Vaio (and dead even with Magee, both on 18 goals).
Beyond that, Camilo is delivering important goals (like last night’s pair, and like the important insurance goal in a big road win two weeks ago at Montreal). And beyond even that, he is providing some sensational strikes; last night scissors kick for the late, critical equalizer was a genuine YouTube-worthy stunner.
Heck, we are not even talking about Vancouver as even a playoff longshot today if Camilo doesn’t nail that one. But therein lies the problem.
The Whitecaps remain a longshot.
Martin Rennie’s team plays at Seattle and at Colorado over the next two weeks, and probably need to win both just for a shot at post-season soccer going into the regular season’s final weekend. (Vancouver hosts Colorado on the last round of MLS regular season play.) The Whitecaps badly needed all three points last night; that would have pulled the Caps’ level with San Jose, both still one spot below the playoff red line.
As it is now, Colorado will have to collapse spectacularly and San Jose will need a mini-collapse of its own for the Whitecaps just to have a chance.
Now back to the “Magee argument.” Remember, only once in league history has the star man of a non-playoff team earned league MVP. That was Dwayne De Rosario back in 2011, when the trio of finalists could be called “high quality, but not overwhelmingly spectacular.” (The other finalists were Houston assist king Brad Davis and young Dallas winger Brek Shea.)
This year, the likes of Robbie Keane, Di Vaio and Magee (if Chicago can make the playoffs, that is) will be too strong, and a player who can’t push his team into the post-season will fall aside before the argument ever really gets going.
Camilo would have a strong MVP case to make – but his team probably isn’t going to make the playoffs, and that’s going to be a real buzz kill on his chances.
