Rather that continue with my typical wild gesticulation in the form of the printed word, let's just get on with this, shall we? I'm naming my Midfielder of the Year, and I've got a lot to say about our boys in the middle of the park. When you consider our season, you've got to see our midfield as a bright spot, even though things didn't always work out as we would have hoped. Right, so here we are, ordered by league appearances.
Andy Williams (31 played, 20 starts): Andy Williams, Bomma Dog, the RSL original: He may be 34, but you can't always tell by his performances. He lacks a bit of mobility sometimes, but he makes up for it in an innate sense of positioning and a willingness to fight in the midfield. Two goals and one assist were probably less than he deserved, but this was an odd campaign for everybody in the midfield. And while he sometimes lacks the stamina to go 90 minutes, he's always willing to come off the bench and play. I can't imagine the club without him, and while he has to retire sometime, here's hoping he's got a bit left in the tank.
Kyle Beckerman (29 played, 27 starts): It's been a bit of an interesting campaign for Mr. Beckerman — he went from being out of favor with the national side to being first-choice, he was used as a deep-lying playmaker more than perhaps he would have been in normal conditions, he scored the odd goal or two (three goals, actually. And nine assists, well and truly leading our side in that column.) And while we lost him at the end, he was one of those tipped for a chance at the MVP award. Still, nobody ever expects a humble defensive midfielder with dreadlocks to win that, do they?
Will Johnson (25 played, 22 starts): What, I wonder, would things have been like if Will Johnson hadn't gone to the Gold Cup with Canada? Ah, if wishes were horses, eh? But really, Will is a player you can't help but admire. He may make the occasional reckless tackle, but he's always — always — fighting for the shirt, fighting for the badge, fighting for the team. He had his share of injury issues, but he seems to recover well, and you really probably can't keep him down. He's a fighter, that one.
Ned Grabavoy (25 played, 21 starts): Ned Grabavoy is the sort of player that, when he's doing his job right, you hardly notice him — and then he scores a vital third goal against Seattle. He didn't net a single assist or goal during the regular season, which is bound to be a bit of a sore spot for him, but he hassled and harried in the midfield in exactly the ways we needed. Alongside Will Johnson, he formed an excellent midfield partnership, and he became a real vital cog in our side.
Luis Gil (25 played, 14 starts): What can you say, aside from, "Dude, he's only 17?" (Apologies to The RSL Show for lifting a phrase, but it's really good!) That he came into the side, got his head down, and worked is all you need to know — but it completes the story when you consider that he, a 17-year-old was picked for the starting spot that Javier Morales had made his own. We've embraced him as fans, and he's embraced us right back — I hope he stays for a long time. For a kid with such talent, though, is that really possible?
Collen Warner (24 played, 15 starts): It's hard to say what to make of Collen Warner at this point. He's still young, and he's had some performances that haven't inspired, but he's also looked quite good at times. He can spot a pass well, and he's had five assists this season, but he's struggled to fit into our system well in his second season with the club. I think more time is necessary to get a good perspective on him, and he seems to be a guy that'll work for the shield — but is that enough?
Arturo Alvarez (16 played, 8 starts): Arturo Alvarez, a somewhat high-profile player whose journey across the MLS has been peppered with club after club, seemed like he might have been a good acquisition for Real Salt Lake. But while Javi was out for most of the season, and we needed somebody to come in and help on the creative side of things, he looked pedestrian. That he only saw eight starts and eight subs in tells the story. Across the whole season, he played fewer minutes that Javier Morales. I'd be surprised if this one stays — he may not fit into our formation well, but the best players will work when they need to, and that's been a problem.
Javier Morales (10 played, 9 starts): What is there to say about Javier that hasn't been said already? He's our talisman, and when he went down on that fateful day, we knew things would be tough, and tough they were. But he's come back into the side, recovered well, and will have a full pre-season to get back to full fitness. That he worked so hard to come back for us is remarkable: He's an inspiration for fans, players, managers — everyone involved.
Nelson Gonzalez (6 played, 2 starts): You've got to feel a bit for Nelson Gonzalez. In his few performances for the club this season, he never looked quite like capturing the potential we pegged him as having. Still, when he broke his foot in training, we all felt for him. There was plenty of time left in the season for him to make a mark, he's young, and there was every possibility he could go on to be quite good — even if he is still on loan. He had a rough journey getting here, and I can't help but hope that we give him another chance. If only those damned international spots weren't so hard to come by.
Yordany Alvarez (5 played, 4 starts): Our second Alvarez, on loan from Orlando City, joined at the end of the USL Pro season and served ably in the Kyle Beckerman role. His performances weren't necessarily inspiring all the time, but it does take adjustment to fit into our midfield. If we keep this Cuban exile for the 2012 season, we'll finally have a capable backup for our captain.
Nico Muniz (Did not play): Nico Muniz was signed only toward the end of the season as a homegrown player. The experience he's getting with the first team should serve him well, but I confess, I've not had the opportunity to see him play yet. Here's hoping to a successful 2012 for the lad.
When deciding who I ought name my Midfielder of the Year, the one question that sticks out is, "Who can't we have done without?" If you asked me that at the beginning of the season, it would have been Javier Morales. Clearly, we survived without him — and as inspiring as his comeback was, ten matches really isn't enough for the award. The answer, then, becomes obvious: Kyle Beckerman. Always, always fighting, never looking down, always looking forward. Can you imagine 2011 without him? I don't want to try.
'Til tomorrow, then, when I'll name my forward of the year.
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