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Making an All-Star case for LA's Ricketts
Players around MLS praise Galaxy goalkeeper
By Larry Morgan / MLSnet.com Staff
Donovan Ricketts currently ranks fifth among MLS goalkeepers with a 1.08 goals-against average. (Getty)
CARSON, Calif. -- Kasey Keller of Seattle Sounders FC might have the recognition and Houston's Pat Onstad and Chivas USA's Zach Thornton might have the most shutouts, but Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts deserves to be on the All-Star team.
At least, so say coaches and teammates with two weeks remaining in voting for the game against Everton FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, on July 29. There is no question, in their opinion, the Jamaican international deserves to be honored.
"He's the best goalkeeper in the league," Galaxy midfielder Dema Kovalenko said. "Some guys may have the numbers and shutouts, but he's the best. I'm not just saying that because he's my teammate, but he's kept us in a lot of games.
"He definitely deserves to go."
Ricketts currently ranks fifth among MLS goalkeepers with a 1.08 goals-against average. Onstad is first at 0.64, followed by Thornton at 0.80, Keller at 0.90 and Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando at 1.06. Ricketts also has the fewest victories among the top five with two, one of the factors that could hurt his chances.
Ricketts said he really doesn't care if he's named or not.
"I came here to play for the LA Galaxy," he said. "If I get chosen to the All-Star Game, that's good. But my focus now is geting wins and doing what I can for the LA Galaxy.
"I'm not too overly concerned about it."
Ricketts, who has given the Galaxy arguably their most dependable netminder since Kevin Hartman several years ago, is having an MVP-type season, in the opinion of his goalkeeping coach, Ian Feuer.
"Even the whole league," Feuer said. "Kasey has done well, Zach has done well and a few others have done well, but in terms of someone coming into the league and just tearing it up ... for him deserving to be on the All-Star team is an understatement.
"Every part of his game is awesome. He's the best in the league, by far."
Keller currently is the leading vote-getter overall among the fans, followed by Seattle Sounders FC teammate Freddie Ljungberg. Fans' online voting counts for 25 percent of the total tally while coaches and general managers, players and media evenly split the other 75 percent.
In any event, Ricketts' teammates strongly believe he should get the honor despite numbers that might not be as impressive as those of his league counterparts.
"Unfortunately in this league, a lot of times it is about numbers," Kovalenko said. "A lot of times it's about shutouts and statistics, but he definitely deserves it."
Defender Todd Dunivant said the Galaxy would be in big trouble without the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder.
"He's definitely been an All-Star for us," Dunivant said. "You never know what could work against him. There are some guys that have been around, and maybe he's still an unknown to people who don't follow the league that closely. It would be a shame if he didn't get on the team."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com
Players around MLS praise Galaxy goalkeeper
By Larry Morgan / MLSnet.com Staff
Donovan Ricketts currently ranks fifth among MLS goalkeepers with a 1.08 goals-against average. (Getty) - US success, MLS inherently linked
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CARSON, Calif. -- Kasey Keller of Seattle Sounders FC might have the recognition and Houston's Pat Onstad and Chivas USA's Zach Thornton might have the most shutouts, but Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts deserves to be on the All-Star team.
At least, so say coaches and teammates with two weeks remaining in voting for the game against Everton FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, on July 29. There is no question, in their opinion, the Jamaican international deserves to be honored.
"He's the best goalkeeper in the league," Galaxy midfielder Dema Kovalenko said. "Some guys may have the numbers and shutouts, but he's the best. I'm not just saying that because he's my teammate, but he's kept us in a lot of games.
"He definitely deserves to go."
Ricketts currently ranks fifth among MLS goalkeepers with a 1.08 goals-against average. Onstad is first at 0.64, followed by Thornton at 0.80, Keller at 0.90 and Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando at 1.06. Ricketts also has the fewest victories among the top five with two, one of the factors that could hurt his chances.
Ricketts said he really doesn't care if he's named or not.
"I came here to play for the LA Galaxy," he said. "If I get chosen to the All-Star Game, that's good. But my focus now is geting wins and doing what I can for the LA Galaxy.
"I'm not too overly concerned about it."
Ricketts, who has given the Galaxy arguably their most dependable netminder since Kevin Hartman several years ago, is having an MVP-type season, in the opinion of his goalkeeping coach, Ian Feuer.
"Even the whole league," Feuer said. "Kasey has done well, Zach has done well and a few others have done well, but in terms of someone coming into the league and just tearing it up ... for him deserving to be on the All-Star team is an understatement.
"Every part of his game is awesome. He's the best in the league, by far."
Keller currently is the leading vote-getter overall among the fans, followed by Seattle Sounders FC teammate Freddie Ljungberg. Fans' online voting counts for 25 percent of the total tally while coaches and general managers, players and media evenly split the other 75 percent.
In any event, Ricketts' teammates strongly believe he should get the honor despite numbers that might not be as impressive as those of his league counterparts.
"Unfortunately in this league, a lot of times it is about numbers," Kovalenko said. "A lot of times it's about shutouts and statistics, but he definitely deserves it."
Defender Todd Dunivant said the Galaxy would be in big trouble without the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder.
"He's definitely been an All-Star for us," Dunivant said. "You never know what could work against him. There are some guys that have been around, and maybe he's still an unknown to people who don't follow the league that closely. It would be a shame if he didn't get on the team."
Larry Morgan is a contributor to MLSnet.com
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