TORONTO – About this time last year as everyone breathlessly barked about Jeff Cunningham’s amazing goal scoring surge over the season’s back half, I was telling anyone who would listen the same thing: Cunningham is finishing, and all credit to him for that … but he’s really just putting the exclamation points on a lot of brilliant work done in Dallas’ midfield.
A little more about MLS MVP David Ferreira
Indeed, Dax McCarty was doing wonders in arranging things for Cunningham and others through the back stretch of the 2009 campaign, as a big Dallas run nearly saw the Red Stripes move into the playoffs. So was Dave van den Bergh, who quit carping about the coach long enough to deliver some of his signature left-footed beauties.
But for all their good work, it was David Ferreira who was truly the whole kit AND caboodle for FCD’s offense. Ferreira was chopping all the wood – Cunningham was just starting the fire.
People were just a little slow to pick up on it because, well, Dallas is Dallas and a lot of people were not paying close attention, which is completely understandable. But they certainly began noticing around the mid-point of this year, as Ferreira just kept doing the business.
Friday, as you know, he finally got his due. And how. Here’s my piece from SI.com on why the tightly packed little bundle of skill, smarts and fierce competitiveness deserved Major League Soccer’s 15th Most Valuable Player Award.
Oh, one more thing. Dallas has two option years remaining on the deal that pays Ferreira about $300,000 a year. FCD coach Schellas Hyndman said Friday the club is working hard to deliver a new deal that will tie their new MVP to Pizza Hut Park for years to come.
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