Ah, that we would be preparing for a 16 team league next season! We aren’t that far from it having been reality. Toronto FC’s debut will make thirteen teams in our “national” league, and since we’ve had three MLS markets disappear in the past ten years, we could be preparing for Toronto to re-balance the league at an even 16 instead of unbalancing it at 13. It would be terrific to have Tampa Bay, Miami, and San Jose on board for the 2007 season.

But we at the AAXI can’t help but wonder how having those teams in the league still would have changed the composition of the weekly AAXI teams. What Yanks would have stood out for the Earthquakes, Mutiny, and Fusion in 2006? We present two players who might have stood out for each of the three teams.

Cam Weaver - F - Tampa Bay took a few months to overcome first year jitters. But once he settled in with the Mutiny, the rookie who moved up from the USL’s Seattle Sounders had a better year at forward than any other first year player besides Jonathan Bornstein.

Preki - M - Miami found himself on the outs with Kansas City at the end of the 2005 season, but rather than accept an offer to become an assistant coach with Bob Bradley at Chivas USA, he returned to southern Florida to spend a second season with the Fusion. And while he has not been a regular starter with the Fusion, the veteran had a few good games left in the tank as a spot starter and twenty minute specialist.

Troy Dayak - D - San Jose managed an amazing recovery from what many feared was a career-ending injury during the 2005 season. Dayak returned from an offseason stint as coach of the MISL’s California Cougars to serve as the inspirational leader of the revamped Earthquakes defense, as San Jose fans cheered for their long time favorite as he snagged a series of AAXI nominations.

Eric Denton - D - Tampa Bay spent his sixth season with the Mutiny following the trade that brought him to Tampa Bay from DC United. A fixture in defense, Denton also continued to show an occasional propensity to get forward and threaten the goal. The poor man’s Chris Albright, the Santa Clara grad made the AAXI a handful of times and remained the face of Tampa Bay Mutiny soccer.

Scott Vallow - GK - Miami finally broke out in MLS the way he stood out for Rochester many seasons. The former backup to Scott Garlick, Joe Cannon, and Pat Onstad found a steady spot in a fifteen team MLS after not catching on in earlier stints with New England, Colorado, and Dallas.

Joey Gjertsen - F - San Jose moved south from the USL’s Vancouver Whitecaps to join the Earthquakes following a solid rookie season. The Tacoma native came to MLS with little fanfare, but the Evergreen State College graduate steadily increased his playing time over the course of the season and made his way onto the AAXI a time or two by the time the season wrapped up.

But let’s get back to the existing squads and this week’s team. Finally some offense for the AAXI! It may have taken until week 27, but the defense-heavy formations of the past few months give way this week to a 2-4-4. How good was the collective attacking midfield group and forwards? So good that there is no spot this week for Brian Ching and his stunning game winning goal.
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Troy Perkins – (7)

had a great game. He had no chance at all on Brian Ching’s amazing goal. As for the rest of this game, he stopped Ching point-blank early in the second half and showed complete command of his box. We’re not sure there’s a keeper in the league who is better coming off his line into traffic.

Bobby Boswell – (4)

played very well all night and did not seem to be at fault on Ching’s goal. He stoned Dwayne DeRosario several times when the Canadian was burning down the field. Most defenders get left clutching at air, but the Boz timed his tackles perfectly.

Chris Albright – (4)

had a blinder of a game. He absolutely owned the right side of the field in the Chivas match on both offense and defense, and put in a pair of terrific assists. You really can’t say enough about how well he played. Some people may ask where another exciting, attacking MLS defender is on this list, but unlike Albright, Jose Burciaga didn’t play much defense on against RSL.

Brad Davis – (4)

whipped good cross after good cross in against DC United all game long. He was finally rewarded when Paul Daglish flicked on the cross that Brian Ching hammered home, but Davis’s play impressed throughout the match.

Steve Ralston – (2)

was perfect on dead balls for New England against Colorado. His penalty kick early in the match beat Cannon despite the Rapids goalie being three yards off his line, and his perfectly driven free kick led to the Revolution’s second goal. Even though he didn’t distinguish himself over his Rev teammates during the run of play, Ralston was solid, meaning that his overall work justifies his spot on this week’s AAXI.

Brian Mullan – (6)

wasn’t his typical marauding self but he still showed why he’s one of the best midfielders in the league. He matched the tireless Josh Gros stride-for-stride all night and played some excellent defense to help limit DC’s offense.

Jacob Thomas – (5)

was inserted in to the match in the second half he changed it all around and led the Crew to two goals to put the game out of FCD’s reach. The first being a rocket off a free kick that was 30 yards out - too bad there’s no video from this one; it was glorious although it still wouldn’t have beaten Ching’s bicycle for MLS Goal of the Week.

Josmer Altidore – (3)

is almost single handedly keeping New York in the race to make the playoffs. With his second game winning goal in three games, and third straight game with a goal, Altidore justified Bruce Arena’s decision to give the 16 year old his first starting spot.

Josh Wolff – (5)

was involved in all three Kansas City goals. Had Wolff played like this more often this season, KC wouldn’t be fighting for their playoff lives. But this is the weekly AAXI, not the season AAXI, and Wolff belongs here. The goal he scored was pure power, and got the Wizards off on the right foot.

Jason Kreis – (5)

netted a terrific equalizer that earned Real a precious point on the road at Kansas City. After RSL went down a goal early in the game, Kreis dropped back to let other players loose on the attack, and he blocked a good chance for KC early in the second half. But needing a goal, RSL pushed Kreis forward, and he hit a powerful header off the post that he followed up and knocked home for his eighth of the season.

Alan Gordon – (2)

is growing into a pretty good forward. His assist on Pete Vagenas’ goal was very well done and scored himself on an unstoppable header late in the game. The AAXI staff isn’t sure if he’s a target forward like Ching or a poacher like Taylor Twellman or something else, but he looked pretty good Saturday night against Chivas USA.
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  • And ismitje said, “Let there be an AAXI header”; and there was an AAXI header.
  • And ismitje said, “Let the best players in MLS be gathered together into one place, and let the AAXI list appear.” And it was so.
  • All typos and errors should be blamed on ismitje. That’s the price you pay for omnipotence.