Right, then, it's time to name the Forward of the Year. I contemplated calling this the 'Striker of the Year' award, but I've opted for the more playing style-neutral term, as we've got an array of styles in here. While we didn't have a bad season on the scoring front, there were a few runs where we couldn't score for the life of us. I don't think that's the fault of any of these players.
Now, it's interesting, because there were times when we played two midfielders up top with Luis Gil and Jean Alexandre (the latter of which is in this list, as he's played largely in that spot this season), and there were times when we could've played two forwards and had four on the bench. It's been a particularly odd season, hasn't it?
Fabian Espindola (27 played, 25 started, 10 goals): Fabi, our feisty Argentine with flowing locks and the innate ability to run at defenses and create his own special brand of havoc, has shown everyone that yes, he can work, and yes, he can work hard for 90 minutes. At the worst of times, when our heads dropped as a side, he'd still be out there trying to make things happen. It doesn't always come off for him, but he's always working to make things happen. Can we ask for much more than that? Together with Saborio, he's formed a very good partnership, and long may it continue.
Alvaro Saborio (23 played, 22 started, 11 goals): Sabo, the one and only, is only second in the league in goals scored in all competitions for the last two years — just behind one Chris Wondolowski. Pretty damn good for a player some were ready to ship off in the summer, right? I think those claims were born out of a frustration with the side and with the player, and while yes, he's a bit moody, he's clearly devoted to performing well for the club. We can't ask more than that, can we? But we get much more. We get goals of the highest order — that playoff backheel being one of the best scored at the club. He also led the club in goals scored this season, but only just.
Jean Alexandre (19 played, 9 started, 1 goal): Yes, I've included him as a forward, though that's probably not his natural position. It is, however, the spot we've seen him in this season, and while it's not always come off right, he did score a brilliant goal — I do believe he won goal of the week for it (he did) — and he did work for the side. I do worry about his tackling at times, but if he can sort that out, maybe we can see him move back to the midfield.
Paulo Araujo Jr. (11 played, 5 started, 2 goals): Paulo Jr., speed demon he is, spent much of his time this season struggling with injury, and he hasn't quite looked back to his blazing best yet. He looked quite good early on, and I think everyone's got a load of confidence in him, but he'll need to prove that he's got what it takes — again. If he keeps his head down, works hard, and stays with the club, I do think he can achieve some great things, but he'll need a full preseason again to get back to it.
Artur Aghasyan (4 played, 1 started): Mr. Aghasyan came, played a bit (but not much), then left. It was really a bit too bad, the way it worked out, because he seemed like he might be good — but at a lower level, perhaps. He never quite fit in, and while he looked to work hard, it didn't work out particularly well. He's now at the Los Angeles Blues, and I hope he works hard, gets down to it and makes a name for himself.
Cody Arnoux (2 played, none started): Cody only played 69 minutes this season, as he, like so many others, was struck by the injury demons. The two times we saw him on the pitch this season, though, he looked strong and hard-working, and I'd like to see more of him next season.
Chris Agorsor (1 played, none started): My, my, this boy is apparently very, very fast. He's another player whose career has been damaged by injury, and he's certainly unlucky to have broken his hand not long after arriving at the club, as he'd likely have seen more than 10 minutes on the pitch of he'd been able to play. Again, like Cody Arnoux, I hope he's a player we see next season, as he seems to be genuinely exciting.
Now, this award's actually tough to give to a single player, but the two obvious players are Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio. Fabi's worked himself half to death at times, and he's always willing to put in a shift. Alvaro has put in shifts that may seem less strenuous — he runs at players less often — but he's been great in positioning and approach. Both have been essential this season.
It's with no reluctance, though, that I name Fabian Espindola the forward of the year. At times, he's been the only attacking player on the pitch who's looked capable of making things happen, and even though he doesn't hit all of his shots, he's back again, trying as hard as any player has.
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