July 29, 2010 BEST OF THE NEWCOMERS SA: Lindpere No. 1 among signees
Joel Lindpere ranked as the top newcomer in MLS by Soccer America. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Soccer America has ranked Red Bulls midfielder Joel Lindpere as the top newcomer of the year, through Wednesday's all-star game.
Soccer America said this about the Estonian midfielder:
"Midfield fulcrum Lindpere (15 games, 1 goal, 3 assists) is re-shaping the holding midfield role into more of a two-way function few players in this league can match. He’s a busy sort – 23 fouls committed, 24 suffered – and to get through half a season in that position with just one caution means he’s either sneaky, or just good."
Soccer America ranked the the otheer four of the top five newcomers
2. Alvaro Saborio, Real Salt Lake
3. Juninho, Los Angeles
4. Ryan Smith, Kansas City
5. Jimmy Nielsen, Kansas City
Whether any of those players will wind up as MLS newcomer of the year, it remains to be seen. With the addition of former French international striker Thierry Henry and other players, the competition could be stiff through the end of the regular season in late October.
