19 May 2008
WVH Weekly Awards For Week 8
Posted by Drew Epperley under: Chivas USA; DC United; KC Wizards; MLS; New England Revolution; New York Red Bulls; San Jose Earthquakes; Weekly Awards .
A very interesting week in Major League Soccer. While the goal of the week was easy to figure out after reviewing the week’s 19 goals, the player of the week winner is a little tougher to decide.
A few guys had quality a quality game over the weekend or Thursday night for some Rapids fans. But shifting through the mess were a couple guys. Edson Buddle’s hat trick was nice but was it really good enough for player of the week? Both David Beckham and Landon Donovan had good afternoons in Dallas. Both Greg Sutton and William Hesmer recorded a shutout in the 0-0 draw in Toronto, but both were also helped by solid defense and their goal-posts. I thought Christian Gomez and Sasha Kljestan both had solid games in week eight.
But in the end I am going old school here. It took 80 minutes for New York to finally get by him and his defense but in the end this player and his club walked out of New York with a solid 1-1 tie. Yes, that man I am talking about is Kansas City Wizard goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.
I know I’ve been rough on Hartman over the last year or so for showing his age and all but Saturday I got a glimpse of the past out of him. His defense cleared a couple off the line for him but shot after shot Hartman answered the call. Seven saves on the evening, all were big for the most part. Sure the one goal let in cost his club two points on the road, but I really doubt many keepers in the league would have stopped that rocket of a shot from New York’s Danleigh Boreman.
Like I said, old school. Probably Hartman’s best effort in a couple years. For me it was his best so far in his time in KC. Congrats, Hartman, I’m probably the only one talking about you outside of KC this week for this honor.
Now as for the goal of the week. That one was easier to find. DC United hasn’t had much to celebrate but it should get another goal of the week out of DP Marcello Gallardo. His rocket of a shot by Chivas keeper Brad Guzan was something that DC fans should enjoy. Hell, any soccer fan should enjoy that kind of play. Its just too bad it wasn’t enough for DC to get by Chivas on Saturday.
Now normally I don’t do a “Goat of the Week” or a “Bad performance of the week” but maybe after this past weekend I should start doing so. If you haven’t seen the James Riley own-goal against New England, just view below. Its not a matter of a “What was he thinking?” moment, but more of a “WTF!” kind of moment. Definitely some miscommunication between Riley and keeper Joe Cannon.
See for yourself!
3 Comments so far...
walter Says:
19 May 2008 at 3:39 pm.
Hartman played well, but you have to go with Buddle’s hat trick!
drew.epperley Says:
19 May 2008 at 3:42 pm.
it was a toss up really…I saw Buddle’s HT up close but for the most part the Dallas defense made it look better than it actually was. Still he was a very close second this week for me. More than likely he will get it from the league though. I wanted to be different.
n8 Says:
19 May 2008 at 11:43 pm.
Did you see Hartman a few weeks ago against the Fire in Chicago for the 1-0 KC win? That was his best game with the Wizards so far.
