Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
NBCSports Header Logo

Glance at MLS All-Star ballot, who would you pick?

Los Angeles Galaxy v Sporting Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, KS - SEPTEMBER 05: Head coach Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City looks out onto the field against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second half on September 5, 2011 at LiveStrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

Getty Images

A day after the MLS All-Star ballot was released, you’ve had some time to contemplate who’s on offer.

As Steve Davis mentioned in this blog yesterday, there were some incredibly noticeable absences from the list released by Major League Soccer.

George John’s omission is quite bizarre considering he is the lynchpin of one of the leagues best defenses. And having Adam Jahn and Lionard Pajoy is quite baffling at the moment.

But considering each team gets six selections on the initial ballot, no matter what happens, I suppose a few discrepancies will pop up here and there.

Peter Vermes has the task of picking the starting XI and will have some pretty tough decisions. And at the risk of alienating some of you diehard MLS fans, here is my All-Star starting lineup playing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Chicago Fire v Sporting Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, KS - JUNE 29: Pavel Pardo #17 of Chicago Fire kicks the ball away from Graham Zusi #8 of Sporting Kansas City in the second half at Livestrong Sporting Park on June 29, 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Getty Images

DeAndre Yedlin

Seattle Sounders’ DeAndre Yedlin stands on the field before an MLS soccer match against the New England Revolution, Saturday, April 13, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

AP

2012 MLS Cup - Los Angeles Galaxy Training Session

CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Omar Gonzalez #4 of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on during the Los Angeles Galaxy training session at The Home Depot Center on November 30, 2012 in Carson, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Will Johnson-Timbers 2

MLS Toronto FC Impact Soccer

Montreal Impact’s Marco Di Vaio left, and Toronto FC’s Richard Eckersley vie for possession of the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer game at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on Saturday, March 16, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Peter McCabe)

AP

Seattle Sounders v Los Angeles Galaxy - Western Conference Championship - Leg 1

CARSON, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Robbie Keane #7 of the Los Angeles Galaxy celebrates his goal in extra time of the first half against the Seattle Sounders in Leg One of the Western Conference Championship at The Home Depot Center on November 11, 2012 in Carson, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Seattle Sounders FC v Los Angeles Galaxy

CARSON, CA - JULY 04: Mauro Rosales #10 of the Seattle Sounders FC pursues the ball during their MLS match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on July 4, 2011 in Carson, California. Sounders FC and the Galaxy played to a 0-0 draw. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Vancouver Whitecaps v FC Dallas

FRISCO, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Lee Young-Pyo #12 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC battles for the ball against David Ferreira #10 on September 15, 2012 at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Getty Images

GK: Raul Fernandez (FC Dallas)

D: DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Jamison Olave (New York Red Bulls), Young-Pyo Lee (Vancouver Whitecaps)

M: Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), Will Johnson (Portland Timbers), Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders)

F: Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact), Claudio Bieler (Sporting KC), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)

*********************************************************************************************************************

My rationale behind the above is quite simple. The form of these players in MLS this season.

The vast majority have played extremely well, hence why they’re on the ballot in the first place. However they also have the right mixture of experience and talent to be classed as the ‘creme of the crop.’

Bieler would be the central point in attack, with Keane and Di Vaio feeding off his knockdowns. I know Thierry Henry will be in here somewhere, but this would be my starting XI. Then Zusi and Rosales would be the creators in midfield, with Zusi free to roam while Rosales sits in alongside the defensive minded Johnson.

At the back it was a pretty easy decision. Great balance in two attacking full backs with Yedlin and YP Lee, while not many people are getting through the bustling duo of Gonzalez and Olave.

In goal was a tricky one. But due to Dallas’ great defensive displays and Fernandez’ performances for the Peruvian national team, he gets the nod over other candidates.

So what would your starting XI be for the All-Star game? Let us know.