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Ricketts still top 'keeper to Galaxy
Jamaican international has solidified L.A. defense
By Larry Morgan / MLSnet.com Staff
Donovan Ricketts had a 1.03 GAA and nine clean sheets in his first year with the Galaxy. (Getty)
CARSON, Calif. -- Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday after a season in which he led the league in goals-against average (0.87) and shutouts (12) and tied for most victories (12).
Los Angeles Galaxy coaches and players sent along their congratulations, but not without a sense of disappointment.
If they had their way in the decision-making process, Donovan Ricketts would have won the award. The Jamaican international, in his first season in Los Angeles, finished with a 1.03 GAA, 9 shutouts and 10 victories and did wonders in solidifying a defense that as recently as last season led MLS in goals allowed.
"Absolutely," midfielder Chris Klein said when asked if Ricketts was the league's best goaltender. "I wouldn't want to have any other goalie than Donovan. I think he's shown over the course of the year ... I don't want to take anything away from Zach, who had a great year ... but for us and our team Donovan is the best goalie in the league."
"We're comfortable with that. We don't need an award to tell us that."
Ricketts, who spent five seasons with English sides Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City and then Village United in Jamaica before joining the Galaxy, was a member of Jamaica's 1998 World Cup team and has earned 74 caps for his country. In December he helped his countrymen secure a berth in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, who missed the first two games of the regular season but finished with a 10-5-1 won-loss record, casts an imposing presence in front of the net.
"He's so long," Klein said. "If you look at every aspect of the game, he does it well. He's a guy that has all the physical tools and really puts it together in the best way during the game. We know what we're going to get from Donovan."
Defender Gregg Berhalter, another new addition to the Galaxy's back line this season, also said Donovan was the league's best goalkeeper and was disappointed Ricketts did not get the award over Thornton and the other finalist in the balloting, Seattle Sounders FC's Kasey Keller.
"Credit goes to Zach, who also had a good year," Berhalter said, "but Donovan deserved to win it. When I first saw him I knew he had quality. He has that aura about him ... you can see he's confident in himself and on the field and that definitely helps the team.
"There's been games where he hasn't gotten much work, but when teams get that one, good chance he saves it. That's when you need goalkeepers to win points for you, and he's definitely done that."
Dema Kovalenko said he was happy for Thornton, a former teammate in Chicago, but he also was one of many who felt Ricketts got shortchanged in the voting. He also didn't want to diminish Thornton's achievement in any way, but he did say he found the final result a little hard to figure.
"Unfortunately this league is a little bit about numbers," Kovalenko said. "I'm not taking anything away from Zach ... I'm happy for him and he's a good friend of mine ... but I think our goalie is the best in the league.
In my opinion he should have won. He's going to get it next year."
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena didn't want to get caught in any discussions on whether or not Ricketts was unjustly overlooked.
"You don't want to get into that game, that this guy is better than that guy," Arena said. "The fact that Donovan was a finalist for the award speaks volumes for what he did this year. He had a terrific year. Zach Thornton is a deserving winner, he had a fantastic year and give him all the credit, but we're real happy to have Donovan Ricketts."
Jamaican international has solidified L.A. defense
By Larry Morgan / MLSnet.com Staff
Donovan Ricketts had a 1.03 GAA and nine clean sheets in his first year with the Galaxy. (Getty) CARSON, Calif. -- Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday after a season in which he led the league in goals-against average (0.87) and shutouts (12) and tied for most victories (12).
Los Angeles Galaxy coaches and players sent along their congratulations, but not without a sense of disappointment.
If they had their way in the decision-making process, Donovan Ricketts would have won the award. The Jamaican international, in his first season in Los Angeles, finished with a 1.03 GAA, 9 shutouts and 10 victories and did wonders in solidifying a defense that as recently as last season led MLS in goals allowed.
"Absolutely," midfielder Chris Klein said when asked if Ricketts was the league's best goaltender. "I wouldn't want to have any other goalie than Donovan. I think he's shown over the course of the year ... I don't want to take anything away from Zach, who had a great year ... but for us and our team Donovan is the best goalie in the league."
"We're comfortable with that. We don't need an award to tell us that."
Ricketts, who spent five seasons with English sides Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City and then Village United in Jamaica before joining the Galaxy, was a member of Jamaica's 1998 World Cup team and has earned 74 caps for his country. In December he helped his countrymen secure a berth in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, who missed the first two games of the regular season but finished with a 10-5-1 won-loss record, casts an imposing presence in front of the net.
"He's so long," Klein said. "If you look at every aspect of the game, he does it well. He's a guy that has all the physical tools and really puts it together in the best way during the game. We know what we're going to get from Donovan."
Defender Gregg Berhalter, another new addition to the Galaxy's back line this season, also said Donovan was the league's best goalkeeper and was disappointed Ricketts did not get the award over Thornton and the other finalist in the balloting, Seattle Sounders FC's Kasey Keller.
"Credit goes to Zach, who also had a good year," Berhalter said, "but Donovan deserved to win it. When I first saw him I knew he had quality. He has that aura about him ... you can see he's confident in himself and on the field and that definitely helps the team.
"There's been games where he hasn't gotten much work, but when teams get that one, good chance he saves it. That's when you need goalkeepers to win points for you, and he's definitely done that."
Dema Kovalenko said he was happy for Thornton, a former teammate in Chicago, but he also was one of many who felt Ricketts got shortchanged in the voting. He also didn't want to diminish Thornton's achievement in any way, but he did say he found the final result a little hard to figure.
"Unfortunately this league is a little bit about numbers," Kovalenko said. "I'm not taking anything away from Zach ... I'm happy for him and he's a good friend of mine ... but I think our goalie is the best in the league.
In my opinion he should have won. He's going to get it next year."
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena didn't want to get caught in any discussions on whether or not Ricketts was unjustly overlooked.
"You don't want to get into that game, that this guy is better than that guy," Arena said. "The fact that Donovan was a finalist for the award speaks volumes for what he did this year. He had a terrific year. Zach Thornton is a deserving winner, he had a fantastic year and give him all the credit, but we're real happy to have Donovan Ricketts."
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