My MLS All-Star media voting

I am almost 100 percent certain that Bruce Arena is not going to dial up my Google Phone and ask for my thoughts on how he should arrange the MLS All-Stars against Sir Alex his mighty men of Man U later this month. Manchester United, of course, is the designated opponent for this year’s All-Star selections.

The latest word, by the way, is that Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, with their combined age of 114, will join the tour and the match at Reliant Stadium.

But if Arena does dial up my digits, here’s what I’d recommend. These are my selections, which I just turned in. The media vote accounts for 25 percent of the total vote for the MLS starters.

How does my team appear to stack up against the Old Trafford outfit? Eh, not too bad, I’d say.

Strong in goal with Long Donovan Ricketts. My MLS midfield wouldn’t be too bad. (By the way, MLS voting requires you to pick a 3-5-2, and the “positions” are set. So, you may know, for instance, that Landon Donovan has been playing midfield for most of the last two years. Apparently the person putting together this ballot didn’t. So don’t blame me for that one.)

If you haven’t seen Joel Lindpere play for Red Bull New York, I can tell you right now he’s my pick for MLS Newcomer of the Year. He’s a damn good two-way midfielder, and one of the real keys to Red Bull’s stunning turnabout. By the way, there are two names who I think deserve some strong consideration based on their play this year who just might surprise you: Seattle sophomore Steve Zakuani and versatile Philadelphia attacker Sebastien LeToux.

My forwards will have at least one guy who has proven he has the chops for EPL action in Landon Donovan.

The defense is a wee bit shaky, really devoid of single, true international. All three of my starting selections are good, but somewhere south of world class. Wilman Conde is a great defender, although he’s had a couple of shaky minutes this year. Omar Gonzalez is on his way to greatness but still has one or two moments a game where the focus seems to drift. Cory Gibbs is my No. 3 in the back, but honestly that one could have been any one of about four guys.

Goalkeeper: Donovan Ricketts, L.A. Galaxy.

Defenders: Wilman Conde, Chicago; Omar Gonzalez, L.A.Galaxy; Cory Gibbs, New England.

Midfielders: Shalrie Joseph, New England; Joel Linpere, Red Bull New York; Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake; Brad Davis, Houston; Dwayne De Rosario, Toronto.

Forwards: Landon Donovan, L.A. Galaxy; Edson Buddle, L.A. Galaxy.