2007 FCTP MLS Rookie of the Week...Week 4...

This week we had a lot of games and I am including the Colorado - RSL game in spite of MLS thinking it was a week 5 game. All told 217 MLS players took the field this week, a big increase from last week's total. 17, or 8% were rookies with 53% of the rookies starting their games. 35% of the rookies started and played the entire match.

Here are the rookies who played the entire game:
Chris Seitz
Dane Richards
Michael Harrington
Andrew Boyens
Maurice Edu
Ty Harden

Here are the rookies who started but didn't finish:
Maurice Edu (second game)
Michael Harrington (second game)
Robbie Findley

Here are the rookies who came on as subs:
Nico Colaluca
Andrew Boyens (second game)
Sinisa Ubiparipovic
Kurt Morsink
John Cunliffe
Adam Cristman
Wells Thompson
Osei Telesford

First off, we saw the #1 2007 MLS SuperDraft pick in action for the first time this week. Maurice Edu started both games for Toronto this week. In some of the action I saw he looked solid. He showed some creativity and composure in the TFC home opener getting a nice shot off.

Michael Harrington got the first two assists of his career this week, both coming in separate games against TFC. He is proving to be well worth the number three selection in the MLS SuperDraft. However, we've given him the award already this season.

Chris Seitz played well in his MLS debut. His first half save of a strong Kyle Beckerman shot kept the score at zeros going into halftime. Not all MLS keepers would have gotten to that one. However in the second half his defense let him down and he made a rookie mistake picking up that back pass. We're not going to debate if that was in fact a back pass here, but a veteran keeper would have left nothing to doubt by clearing the ball as far from his goal as possible. It looks as if Seitz will have a rookie season similar to Brad Guzan's, but Seitz looks to be the real deal and will probably win this award once or twice this season...if RSL's defense improves.

This week the FCTP MLS Rookie of the Week goes to Dane Richards. He's been a close runner up in past weeks and he continues to show well for the best team in MLS right now, New York. His speed on the flank keeps teams guessing and he helps open up space for Claudio Reyna to operate. New York gambled on Richards because of his international status but the 19th overall SuperDraft pick is paying dividends thus far.