Wednesday, November 03, 2010

MLS Foul Awards 2010

Here we go - the regular season is over, and now we can look at the official statistics and find out who led the league in 8 different foul categories. As always, I'll be looking at each player's stats per 90 minutes, rather than just raw totals.

Which players will win in the eight categories below?

1. Most Fouls Committed
2. Least Fouls Committed
3. Most Fouls Suffered
4. Least Fouls Suffered
5. Most FC Compared to FS
6. Most FS Compared to FC
7. Most FC + FS
8. Least FC + FS

Rules:
  • Players must have played 20% of the season, in minutes. This year, that was 540 out of 2700.
  • Field players only, no goalkeepers.

But first, a look at the total number of fouls leaguewide in this season and years past:

Total Fouls (1996-2010)


FC FS Diff Games FC FS
1996 4432 4386 46 160 27.70 27.41
1997 4583 4579 4 160 28.64 28.62
1998 5402 5132 270 192 28.14 26.73
1999 5551 5285 266 192 28.91 27.53
2000 6489 6236 253 192 33.80 32.48
2001 5211 4966 245 158 32.98 31.43
2002 4559 4364 195 140 32.56 31.17
2003 4836 4584 252 150 32.24 30.56
2004 4573 4348 225 150 30.49 28.99
2005 5670 5432 238 192 29.53 28.29
2006 5573 5297 276 192 29.03 27.59
2007 5524 5232 292 195 28.33 26.83
2008 5211 4880 331 210 24.81 23.24
2009 5146 4729 417 225 22.87 21.02
2010 5263 4843 420 240 21.93 20.18

For the 10th consecutive year, the number of fouls committed is down. As you can see, there was a clear change starting in 2008 and continuing to this day. One note: I got this data by adding up each player's totals from MLSsoccer.com, so that excludes any FC/FS by goalkeepers. Through 2003, those numbers were readily available and thus were included. There were also more fouls called per game in 2000-03 due to overtime.

Now, on the award winners and top tens for each category!


1. Most Fouls Committed

And the winner is...

New York's high-paid, low-scoring Ghanaian forward Salou Ibrahim. He played the fewest minutes (747) of any of the 2010 winners, but he made them count, easily leading his former teammate Mac Kandji.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC
1 Salou Ibrahim NY 3.133 747 26
2 Macoumba Kandji NY/COL 2.870 1129 36
3 Alan Gordon LA/CHV 2.777 1199 37
4 Joseph Niouky NE 2.697 1,068 32
5 Martin Saric TOR 2.498 1,153 32
6 Tony Tchani NY 2.404 1610 43
7 Maxim Usanov TOR 2.325 1,045 27
8 Dema Kovalenko LA 2.275 712 18
9 Pablo Hernandez DC 2.272 1,149 29
10 Bratislav Ristic CHI 2.211 692 17

The first thing that I notice is that 9/10 are foreign. Only Alan Gordon is representing the red, white, and blue. Gordon actually is in the top ten for the 4th time in his career (3rd straight year), which only trails Ben Olsen (5) all time.

You also may be surprised to learn that Kovalenko is making his first top ten appearance. That's right, until 2010 he had never been in the top ten for fouls committed per 90 minutes. Oh, he's been very close a few times, but he's never made it until now. Perfect timing with Paul Gardner just writing an article about his dirty play.

Also notable is the fact that both Ibrahim and Tchani were out for the first playoff game. Will their returns make for a much more physical second leg?

All Time Winners

1996 Jose Vasquez LA
1997 Paul Keegan NE
1998 Paul Keegan NE
1999 Paulo Dos Santos NE
2000 Matt Okoh COL
2001 Matt Okoh NE
2002 Raul Palacios COL
2003 Carlos Ruiz LA
2004 Jesse Marsch CHI
2005 Brian Ching SJ
2006 Marcelo Saragosa LA/DAL
2007 Roberto Brown COL
2008 Rod Dyachenko DC
2009 Quincy Amarikwa SJ
2010
Salou Ibrahim
NY


2. Least Fouls Committed

And the winner is...

Earthquakes defender Jason Hernandez, who averaged one foul for every 482 minutes he played. His rate of 0.187 per 90 minutes is the second highest in league history, behind Terry Cooke in 2006 (0.135).

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC
1 Jason Hernandez SJ 0.187 2,412 5
2 Scott Palguta COL 0.321 560 2
3 Corey Ashe HOU 0.327 1,650 6
4 Robbie Findley RSL 0.332 1,355 5
5 Santino Quaranta DC 0.347 2,331 9
6 Mike Banner CHI 0.353 1,019 4
7 Sebastien Le Toux PHI 0.357 2,520 10
8 Kosuke Kimura COL 0.373 1,931 8
9 Robbie Russell RSL 0.376 1,915 8
10 Richard Mulrooney HOU 0.377 1,671 7

Le Toux/Mulrooney are making their second top tens. Le Toux was nominated for the fair play award, along with C.J. Brown and Chris Wondolowski. In the last four years, somebody from the top ten in this category has been the winner.

Also interesting to see Findley ranked so high.

All Time Winners

1996 Billy Thompson CLB
1997 David Patino COL
1998 Gerell Elliot DAL
1999 Kevin Knight NY
2000 Carlos Valderrama TB
2001 Robert Fraser COL
2002 Richard Farrer DAL
2003 Jesus Ochoa LA
2004 Kelly Gray CHI
2005 Michael Parkhurst NE
2006 Terry Cooke COL
2007 Terry Cooke COL
2008 Terry Cooke COL
2009 Steve Ralston NE
2010
Jason Hernandez
SJ


3. Most Fouls Suffered


And the winner is...

Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales, more infamous this week for committing fouls rather than suffering them. While he may be suspended this weekend for the second leg against Dallas, his likely replacement Andy Williams has actually ranked in the top ten in this category an all time best 7 times (along with Alejandro Moreno).

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FS
1 Javier Morales RSL 3.162 2,163 76
2 Pablo Hernandez DC 2.820 1,149 36
3 Kenny Mansally NE 2.813 928 29
4 David Ferreira DAL 2.801 2,699 84
5 Freddie Ljungberg SEA/CHI 2.701 2,432 73
6 Joseph Ngwenya HOU 2.598 589 17
7 Brian McBride CHI 2.469 1,604 44
8 Alejandro Moreno PHI 2.416 1,974 53
9 Emilio Renteria CLB 2.310 857 22
10 Fredy Montero SEA 2.295 2,353 60

Like I said, Moreno has a long time history of dominating this category (and some would say diving). However, a lot of the other players here have been highly ranked before. Ljungberg/Mansally/Montero/Ngwenya are making a second appearance (as is Morales), while McBride makes his third. So only 3/10 haven't been made this top ten before.

All Time Winners

1996 Giuseppe Galderisi NE/TB
1997 Damian DAL
1998 Diego Serna MIA
1999 Jason Moore DC
2000 DaMarcus Beasley CHI
2001 Onandi Lowe KC
2002 DaMarcus Beasley CHI
2003 Jose Cancela NE
2004 Davy Arnaud KC
2005 Alejandro Moreno SJ
2006 Jose Cancela NE
2007 Cuauhtemoc Blanco CHI
2008 Marcelo Gallardo DC
2009 Freddie Ljungberg SEA
2010
Javier Morales
RSL


4. Least Fouls Suffered

And the winner is...

The only returning winner from 2009, Kansas City's returning center back Shavar Thomas. He played almost the same amount of minutes this year as last (1,432 vs 1,459), and doubled his fouls suffered...from 1 to 2.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FS
1 Shavar Thomas PHI/KC 0.126 1432 2
2 Mista TOR 0.165 544 1
3 Ike Opara SJ 0.197 914 2
4 Bobby Boswell HOU 0.198 2277 5
5 Tim Ream NY 0.200 2700 6
6 Carlos Mendes NY 0.202 1785 4
7 Jason Garey CLB 0.230 784 2
8 Jason Hernandez SJ 0.261 2412 7
9 Shaun Francis CLB 0.272 993 3
10 Roy Miller NY 0.277 1948 6

Look at the totals for all the NY defenders. That jumps out at me, as well as the low totals for rookies Ream/Opara/Francis. And Mista, I think a goalscorer is supposed to draw a few more fouls than that.

Boswell/Thomas make their third top tens, and Hernandez/Mendes make their second. For Hernandez, this comes after winning the award for fewest fouls committed above.

All Time Winners

1996 Richard Weiszmann NE
1997 Joey Martinez DAL
1998 Kris Kelderman MIA
1999 Leo Cullen MIA
2000 Brian Johnson KC
2001 Edson Buddle CLB
2002 Zak Ibsen SJ
2003 Daouda Kante NE
2004 Hong Myung-Bo LA
2005 Kenny Cutler RSL
2006 Kelly Gray HOU
2007 Bobby Boswell DC
2008 Ezra Hendrickson CLB
2009 Shavar Thomas CHV
2010
Shavar Thomas
PHI/KC


5. Most FC Compared to FS

And the winner is...

A player who was waived midseason: New England's Joseph Niouky. He ranked 4th in fouls committed, and wins the award here. That now makes four straight winners of this award who didn't be returning to their club the next season.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC FS FC FS
1 Joseph Niouky NE 1.938 1068 32 9 2.70 0.76
2 Martin Saric TOR 1.795 1153 32 9 2.50 0.70
3 Maxim Usanov TOR 1.636 1045 27 8 2.33 0.69
4 Shaun Francis CLB 1.450 993 19 3 1.72 0.27
5 Alan Gordon LA/CHV 1.426 1199 37 18 2.78 1.35
6 Jovan Kirovski LA 1.352 932 20 6 1.93 0.58
7 Salou Ibrahim NY 1.325 747 26 15 3.13 1.81
8 Macoumba Kandji NY/COL 1.275 1129 36 20 2.87 1.59
9 Wilman Conde CHI 1.204 2019 41 14 1.83 0.62
10 Julius James DC 1.177 1682 38 16 2.03 0.86

Gordon makes his 3rd top ten, while Conde/James/Kirovski make their second.

All Time Winners

1996 Curt Onalfo LA
1997 Cle Kooiman TB
1998 Cle Kooiman MIA
1999 Geoff Aunger DC
2000 Ricardo Iribarren DAL
2001 Brian Namoff DC
2002 Raul Palacios COL
2003 Diego Walsh CLB
2004 Simo Valakari DAL
2005 Esteban Arias CHV
2006 Marcelo Saragosa LA/DAL
2007 Roberto Brown COL
2008 Rod Dyachenko DC
2009 Quincy Amarikwa SJ
2010
Joseph Niouky
NE


6. Most FS Compared to FC

And the winner is...

Retiring US soccer legend Brian McBride. He's the 4th straight Chicago Fire player to win this award, after three straight years of Cuauhtemoc Blanco taking it. This is McBride's second victory in this category, after 2002.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC FS FC FS
1 Brian McBride CHI -1.908 1604 10 44 0.56 2.47
2 Javier Morales RSL -1.706 2163 35 76 1.46 3.16
3 David Ferreira DAL -1.667 2699 34 84 1.13 2.80
4 Jaime Moreno DC -1.591 905 7 23 0.70 2.29
5 Freddie Ljungberg SEA/CHI -1.554 2432 31 73 1.15 2.70
6 Corey Ashe HOU -1.473 1650 6 33 0.33 1.80
7 Guillermo Barros Schelotto CLB -1.379 2545 14 53 0.50 1.87
8 Ryan Smith KC -1.326 2104 15 46 0.64 1.97
9 Nathan Sturgis SEA -1.214 1483 11 31 0.67 1.88
10 Robbie Findley RSL -1.196 1355 5 23 0.33 1.53

I wouldn't have guessed Sturgis here at the beginning of the season.

A lot of players have made this top ten their home:

McBride - 8 times
Moreno - 5 times
Schelotto - 3 times
Ferreira/Ljungberg/Morales - 2 times

McBride's 8 top tens in this category are tied for the record in any of them, along with Andy Williams in the next award, Most FC + FS.

All Time Winners

1996 Giuseppe Galderisi NE/TB
1997 Damian DAL
1998 Gilmar TB
1999 Jason Moore DC
2000 DaMarcus Beasley CHI
2001 Onandi Lowe KC
2002 Brian McBride CLB
2003 Jose Cancela NE
2004 Jose Cancela NE
2005 Jose Cancela NE
2006 Jose Cancela NE
2007 Cuauhtemoc Blanco CHI
2008 Cuauhtemoc Blanco CHI
2009 Cuauhtemoc Blanco CHI
2010
Brian McBride
CHI


7. Most FC + FS

And the winner is...

DC United's Argentine import Pablo Hernandez. Hey, now we can say that DC won something this year. He ranked second in fouls suffered, and just outside the top ten in fouls committed.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC FS FC FS
1 Pablo Hernandez DC 5.091 1149 29 36 2.27 2.82
2 Salou Ibrahim NY 4.940 747 26 15 3.13 1.81
3 Kenny Mansally NE 4.752 928 20 29 1.94 2.81
4 Joseph Ngwenya HOU 4.737 589 14 17 2.14 2.60
5 Javier Morales RSL 4.619 2163 35 76 1.46 3.16
6 Macoumba Kandji NY/COL 4.464 1129 36 20 2.87 1.59
7 Dema Kovalenko LA 4.298 712 18 16 2.28 2.02
8 Emilio Renteria CLB 4.201 857 18 22 1.89 2.31
9 Alan Gordon LA/CHV 4.128 1199 37 18 2.78 1.35
10 Steven Lenhart CLB 4.006 1640 38 35 2.09 1.92

All the usual battlers are here, it seems. Six players make their second top ten - Gordon/Kandji/Kovalenko/Lenhart/Mansally/Ngwenya. Last year's winner (and FC vs FS winner) Quincy Amarikwa didn't play enough minutes to qualify, but he certainly was on pace to win again (6.98 per 90).

All Time Winners

1996 Alberto Naveda NE
1997 Paul Keegan NE
1998 Evans Wise NE/TB
1999 Paulo Dos Santos NE
2000 Diego Serna MIA
2001 Onandi Lowe KC
2002 Alejandro Moreno LA
2003 DaMarcus Beasley CHI
2004 Andy Williams CHI
2005 Brian Ching SJ
2006 Atiba Harris RSL
2007 Andrea Lombardo TOR
2008 Atiba Harris CHV
2009 Quincy Amarikwa SJ
2010
Pablo Hernandez
DC


8. Least FC + FS

And the winner is...

It shouldn't be a surprise if you've read this far. He made the top ten for the least amount in both categories. It's double award winner Jason Hernandez of San Jose. It's also the lowest mark in league history. In fact, the top four here are all in the top ten all time.

2010 Top Ten



Team Per 90 Min FC FS FC FS
1 Jason Hernandez SJ 0.448 2412 5 7 0.19 0.26
2 Tim Ream NY 0.633 2700 13 6 0.43 0.20
3 Scott Palguta COL 0.643 560 2 2 0.32 0.32
4 Darrius Barnes NE 0.700 1800 8 6 0.40 0.30
5 Robbie Russell RSL 0.752 1915 8 8 0.38 0.38
6 Shavar Thomas PHI/KC 0.754 1432 10 2 0.63 0.13
7 C.J. Brown CHI 0.769 2340 12 8 0.46 0.31
8 Bobby Boswell HOU 0.830 2277 16 5 0.63 0.20
9 Eric Alexander DAL 0.854 1054 6 4 0.51 0.34
10 Michael Stephens LA 0.908 1884 13 6 0.62 0.29

The previous winner and record holder, Sam Cronin, wasn't even in the top third of eligible players.

Multiple top tens in this category: Barnes/Hernandez/Palguta with two.

All Time Winners

1996 Frank Yallop TB
1997 David Patino COL
1998 Leo Cullen MIA
1999 Leo Cullen MIA
2000 Eric Denton DC
2001 Leo Cullen MIA/NE
2002 Richard Farrer DAL
2003 Chris Brown KC/NE
2004 Kelly Gray CHI
2005 Clyde Simms DC
2006 Terry Cooke COL
2007 Michael Parkhurst NE
2008 Michael Parkhurst NE
2009 Sam Cronin TOR
2010
Jason Hernandez
SJ


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