MLS Best XI: A look at what the top U.S. football team SHOULD have been, with Chelsea legend included

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The MLS Best XI was released and certainly had an impressive lineup of top stars in United State football. While the list seemed incredibly solid, here at CaughtOffside we believe it fell short of being the absolutely ideal starting XI from the country due to the omission of at least one Chelsea legend who took the league by storm: Didier Drogba.

Drogba joined the Montreal Impact in late July and made his debut as a starter on September 5 – and he scored a hat-trick in his very first start. From that game forward, Montreal would win seven of their last 11 matches and earned a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs with Drogba leading the charge. He would finish the season with 12 goals in 12 games.

The Chelsea legend isn’t the only snub from the list. Several superstars and even MVP nominees were mysteriously absent from the list and deserve much more recognition.

Here is what the MLS Best XI should have been:

GK Adam Kwarasey (Portland Timbers)

With a lead-tying 13 shutouts and the game-winning a.e.t. kick to beat Sporting Kansas City in the Knockout Round, Kwarasey is the total package

DF Laurent Ciman (Montreal Impact)

The MLS Defender of the Year, Ciman led Montreal to a great finish and their second playoff apperance in MLS.

DF Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls)

Miazga may be one of the fastest rising stars in United States football and helped the Red Bulls overwhelm opponents from the back.

DF Kendall Watson (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Vancouver GK David Ousted tied the league-lead in clean sheets thanks to Watson’s efforts.

MF Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew)

10 goals and 13 assists by Finlay helped the Crew reach the MLS Cup Final, and they nearly won the whole thing too.

MF Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls)

The Red Bulls were the best scoring team in MLS thanks in large part to the scoring opportunities McCarty opened up.

MF Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls)

McCarty may have made scoring opportunities, but Kljestan turned those opportunities into points and assists, recording 14 assists for the Red Bulls this past year.

MF Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC)

The April player of the month and second-leading assist creator, Feilhaber led Sporting Kansas City to victory in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup as well as the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

FW Kei Kamara (Columbus Crew)

A three-time player of the week and a 22-goal scoring genius, Kamara willed Columbus to multiple big wins in the MLS Cup Playoffs as well as the regular season.

FW Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)

The MVP of MLS, Giovinco put on a performance for Toronto that will have even the top European clubs interested in him.

FW Didier Drogba (Montreal Impact)

Just because Drogba played only less than a third of the season doesn’t mean he can’t be on the list. He averaged a goal in every game he played for the Impact and was simply unstoppable.

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