The midseason transfer window is open in MLS, but sometimes having a player improve in the middle of the year is like signing a brand new player.
Philadelphia Union’s Ilsinho wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 18
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
That’s been the recent run for the Philadelphia Union, anyway, who have two offseason additions that have started clicking in earnest in recent weeks. First it was Dutch midfielder Roland Alberg, and now it’s Brazilian midfielder Ilsinho, whose two goals in Philly’s 3-0 win over D.C. United led to SB Nation’s voters naming him MLS Player of the Week for Week 18.
The Brazilian got off to a bit of a slow start this season. Although he showed his array of tricks from his first appearance, local broadcasters repeatedly discussed his need to lose a substantial amount of weight. It seemed weird, except now that he’s coming good, maybe the Union’s patience in him was warranted.
Beyond that, the only other near-consensus on the week was for Colorado Rapids striker Kevin Doyle, who scored a goal and an assist in a comeback 2-2 draw in Vancouver. The rest of the votes were pretty much scattered around the league.
Full results for Week 18, with first-place votes getting three points, second-place votes receiving two points and third-place votes earning a point each:
| Player | Votes |
| Ilsinho | 20 |
| Kevin Doyle | 14 |
| Mauro Diaz | 5 |
| C.J. Sapong | 5 |
| Matt Hedges | 4 |
| Justin Morrow | 3 |
| Chris Seitz | 2 |
| Bill Hamid | 2 |
| Jelle Van Damme | 2 |
| Roland Alberg | 2 |
| Shkelzen Gashi | 1 |
| Robbie Keane | 1 |
| Ola Kamara | 1 |
| Kei Kamara | 1 |
| Michael Salazar | 1 |
| Brian Rowe | 1 |
And here are the full ballots for Week 17:
| Voter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Rob Usry (Dirty South Soccer) | Ilsinho | Matt Hedges | Justin Morrow |
| Kartik Krishnaiyer (Bitter and Blues) | Kevin Doyle | Ilsinho | Shkelzen Gashi |
| Austin Fido (Once a Metro) | Ilsinho | Kevin Doyle | Roland Alberg |
| Drew Epperley (Big D Soccer) | Kevin Doyle | Chris Seitz | Robbie Keane |
| Rafael Noboa y Rivera (Hudson River Blue) | Mauro Diaz | Bill Hamid | Ola Kamara |
| John Rossi (Brotherly Game) | Ilsinho | Mauro Diaz | Michael Salazar |
| Michael Citro (The Mane Land) | Ilsinho | Matt Hedges | Kevin Doyle |
| Alicia Tolar (Dynamo Theory) | Ilsinho | Kevin Doyle | Roland Alberg |
| Jason Anderson (Black and Red United) | Kevin Doyle | C.J. Sapong | Justin Morrow |
| Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart) | Ilsinho | Justin Morrow | Brian Rowe |
| Alicia Rodriguez (The Goat Parade) | C.J. Sapong | Jelle Van Damme | Kei Kamara |
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