The All-Star Process

OK. I'm going to be away from my computer for a little while so I thought I would share some concerns about the all-star selection process and give some suggestions on how to fix it.

The current way the all-star game is run is by the votes from fans. Now when the fans vote they can write some players in, but this is not a large area on the cards or on the web site. I think that this is a great way for MLS to handle the all-star for most of the candidates, but I think a little more needs to be done.

As an example of this need lets take a look at John Spencer of the Colorado Rapids. As a new player to the league hardly anyone knew him before he came here. Does he deserve to be at the all-star game? Well, lets see. The Scotsman has started every match for the Rapids and is currently tied for the MLS lead in goal scoring with Diego Serna. He has played for some of the top teams in the UK and is definitely an all-star. But he is not even in the starting eleven for the West.

Or how about Abdul Thompson Conteh? Conteh is currently ranked as 7th on the points earned list. The DC United midfielder has played in 16 DC matches and has been in the top of the points ranking for most of the season. Yet I do not see his name in the ranks of the "all-stars."

I think a problem with the current all-star selection process is that it is purely a popularity contest. This means you could score a bunch of goals and yet still be somewhat unknown, like Spencer.

I have two suggestions for this. One is to have 3/4 of each team decided by the fans. This way the fans would get to say who they would like to see at the all-star game. But have the other 1/4 decided by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA). This is the same group who votes for the MLS player of the week. This would allow them to view who has been chosen by the fans and then see which players they feel were most overlooked and add them to the roster.

Another possibility would be to have the coaches for the all-star team chosen a little earlier and then let them choose the players that they want for that last 1/4. Its possible that they would fill those slots with some of their own players, but that could be a nice bonus that these coaches are given.

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