Tuesday 27 October 2015 12:29, UK
WhoScored.com takes a look at the top players from the MLS regular season based on their ratings to name their best XI.
To qualify, all players must have played in at least half of their side's league matches in the 2015 season so, for example, despite finishing the campaign with the third highest rating from WhoScored.com (7.76) Didier Drogba does not make the cut having featured just 11 times for Montreal Impact.
Bill Hamid - D.C. United
We start in goal, where D.C. United's Bill Hamid is named for the second season running. A rating of 7.24 from WhoScored.com was an improvement from his score of 7.12 in 2014, producing the fifth most saves in the league (101), the fourth most cross claims (35) and winning twice as many man-of-the-match awards (four) as any other 'keeper.
Alvas Powell - Portland Timbers
Taking the spot at right-back is Jamaican international Alvas Powell. The 21-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign with Portland Timbers, who narrowly missed out on automatic qualification to the play-off quarter-finals from the Eastern Conference. Powell ended the season with the second most tackles in MLS (118) and ranked sixth in terms of successful dribbles (60), proving a real asset at both ends of the pitch.
Fabinho - Philadelphia Union
On the opposing side Philadelphia Union's Fabinho gains the left-back berth despite another disappointing season from Jim Curtin's side. The Brazilian finished ninth in MLS in terms of tackles and interceptions combined (184) and was missed in the 11 matches he wasn't included in the starting XI. Indeed, Philadelphia's win ratio almost doubled (34.8 per cent) when Fabinho did start compared to when he was absent from the line-up (18.2 per cent).
Omar Gonzalez - LA Galaxy
Along with Hamid, the only other player to retain his place from WhoScored's MLS team of the season for 2014 was LA Galaxy centre-back Omar Gonzalez. Securing the second highest rating in the league (7.68), the US international earned his score having made more interceptions per game than any other player (5.6) whilst using his height to great advantage, ranking fourth in terms of aerial duels won (109).
Kendall Waston - Vancouver Whitecaps
Gonzalez's partner in the XI offers a similar physical presence, with Vancouver Whitecaps' Kendall Watson narrowly ahead of the American in the aerial duel stakes, winning 121. The Costa Rica international was key to his side's second placed finish in the Western Conference, with no side conceding fewer goals in the regular season than the Caps (36).
David Accam - Chicago Fire
Taking the first of the spots on the flanks was Chicago Fire's Ghana international David Accam. His side may have picked up fewer points than any side but the 25-year old was a bright spark, scoring four more goals (10) than any team-mate and ranking second in the league in terms of dribbles per game (2.9). Moreover, a cross accuracy of 37.5 per cent was the best of all players to attempt at least two per game in MLS.
Fabian Castillo - FC Dallas
On the opposing wing the one player to complete more dribbles per game than Accam was Fabian Castillo. He takes his place on the left having beaten an opponent at least 23 times more than any other player in MLS (115), while he was FC Dallas' top scorer, with nine goals on route to the Western Conference championship.
Mauro Diaz - FC Dallas
FC Dallas are the only team to be represented by more than one player in the XI, with Mauro Diaz joining Castillo in the WhoScored.com team of the season. The 24-year old was Dallas' chief creator with eight assists, ranked seventh in the league in terms of dribbles per game (two) and produced more accurate through balls than any other player (16).
Benny Feilhaber - Sporting Kansas City
Another impressive performer in the final third, Benny Feilhaber's contribution to Sporting Kansas City was crucial to their play-off qualification. The 30-year old was one of only three players to register double figures for goals (10) and assists (11), ranking second to the aforementioned Diaz in accurate through balls (14).
Kei Kamara - Columbus Crew
Former Norwich and Middlesbrough striker Kei Kamara leads the line in the XI having netted 22 times - no player scored more - upon his return to Colombus Crew. The 31-year old used his aerial threat to superb effect, scoring at least five more headed goals (nine) than any other player in the league and winning the most aerial duels (137).
Sebastian Giovinco - Toronto FC
Sebastian Giovinco completes the XI and picks up WhoScored.com's player of the season award with a rating of 7.80. The Italian may not have been the biggest name to arrive in MLS but was certainly among the most intriguing, and has played himself back into international recognition following a sensational campaign.
The 28-year old forms a little and large partnership with Kamara having remarkably not even competed in a single aerial duel all season. Giovinco was sublime on the deck though, equalling Kamara's 22-goal tally while also registering more assists (13) than any other player. He averaged the most shots per game (5.5) in the regular season, scored the most direct free-kicks (five) and struck at least six more goals from outside the box in total (10) than any other player.
