Welcome to this week's Designated Player Roundup, taking a look at how the league's 14 DPs fared over the past week of MLS play. For some background on each of these fellows, check out the first edition of DP Roundup. Done? Good. Let's see how some of the league's ostensible marquee talents did this week.
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Week 4 (April 4 - April 10)
Archives: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
David Beckham (LA): Becks, wearing the armband, did what Becks does: Served up a tasty set piece. This time, it was an early corner kick that earned him an assist on Mike Magee's goal in L.A.'s 1-1 draw with D.C. United. But it got a bit ugly after that, as Becks saw yellow for a two-legged challenge that crumpled D.C.'s Josh Wolff and got passions flaring -- that was his fourth yellow card in as many weeks, meaning he'll be in suspension trouble if and when he gets cautioned again (which, based on the trend, will probably be this week).
Juan Pablo Angel (LA): Angel played the majority of the match, registering one shot on goal and being subbed out after 89 minutes... which was right around the time that a rather contentious penalty kick* was awarded to D.C., allowing Charlie Davies to score the equalizer.
Landon Donovan (LA): Landycakes had the benefit of missing the on-field shit show, nursing a leg injury and getting some rest ahead of the Galaxy's midweek game against Toronto. That didn't stop him from weighing in, though, as he took to Twitter to express his eloquent thoughts on the game's biggest flashpoint.
Julian de Guzman (Toronto): For the second straight week, JDG came in as a halftime sub, as he reintegrates himself into the lineup after offseason knee surgery. He certainly had a chippy 45 minutes, as he committed four fouls (one of which was punished with a yellow card, his second in as many weeks) but also began to show some signs that he could be as effective in coach Aron Winter's system as many had hoped.
Branko Boskovic (DC): His biggest contribution of the game -- and of the season to this point, really -- was being the one to play the through ball to Davies that, soon after, led to the contentious penalty kick.* Oh, I suppose I should say that the * indicates that it was an utter dive on Davies's part. But hey, that's kinda, sorta an assist for BB, right? (Note: It's not. Also worth noting, he came on in the 81st minute, meaning he's retaining the title of DP Albatross 2011 for this week.)
Thierry Henry (NY): Henry is continuing his fine form, going another game without scoring a goal. Wait, did I say "fine"? Well, I meant something else. None of his teammates could convert either, as New York fell 1-0 at home to the upstart Philadelphia Union. Still, Henry better bag some goals quickly... 'cause if new teammate Dwayne De Rosario manages to pot one for New York before he does, holy smokes, can you imagine how many cheque-signing motions we'll see?
Rafael Marquez (NY): No red card for Rafa this week. Just a yellow... though he did get it, essentially, on reputation (and because Sebastian Le Toux barked at the referee until he showed it). Still, we're awaiting Rafa's first true meltdown moment of 2011. When it comes, it's going to be glorious.
Alvaro Fernandez (Seattle): While Fernandez did nothing for the Sounders this week (he was on the bench for the entirety of the team's 2-1 win over Chicago), he did make a move here at the DP Roundup, inching ever closer to Branko Boskovic's title of DP Albatross 2011. One more week like this one, and that crown may switch hands. Stay tuned.
Fredy Montero (Seattle): Montero is still out, recovering from wrist surgery. Thankfully for Seattle, the offensive slack was picked up by... O'Brian White? Wow. Well, at least Nathan Sturgis is working out in Toronto.
Omar Bravo (KC): As Kansas native Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, "there's no place like home". Well, that's where Bravo will be spending much of the month and a half, as he was diagnosed last week with a sports hernia. SKC didn't miss him this week -- since they didn't play -- but his absence shall be no trifling matter going forward.
Alvaro Saborio (Salt Lake): Following RSL's momentous aggregate victory over Deportivo Saprissa in the midweek, which saw them advance to the CONCACAF Champions League final, a number of regulars (including Saborio) got the day off for the team's weekend fixture with New England. And they still won 2-0. Yeah, there's a reason Salt Lake was the unanimous choice around here to win the MLS Cup in 2011.
(For what it's worth, the absences gave young Canadian Will Johnson the opportunity to wear the captain's armband... which he then relinquished in the second half after being deservedly sent off.)
Eric Hassli (Vancouver): Y'know, for a guy that was a relative unknown upon entry to the league, this burly Frenchman sure is making a name for himself. Cautioned during Vancouver's 1-1 midweek draw with New England, yup. Called upon to take a penalty, which he converted, yup. Removed his jersey to celebrate the goal, drawing the automatic second yellow and a sending off, yup.
So if you're counting, that's three games, three goals, two red cards. Thanks to that moment of incomprehensible on-field stupidity, Hassli missed the Whitecaps' match against Houston on Sunday, which they lost 3-1 to Houston.
Andres Mendoza (Columbus): No Mendoza in the lineup for the Crew's 0-0 draw with Chivas, as he sat out with an adductor strain. Emilio Renteria took his place up top for Columbus but, as you can guess from the scoreline, he didn't find the back of the net.
Fabian Castillo (Dallas): The 18-year-old (!!!) may have had his coming-out party in Dallas's 3-0 win over Colorado, in a rematch of last year's MLS Cup. He turned in his first full-90 performance for Dallas, had a couple of great opportunities at goal, and created David Ferreira's first goal (though, for some reason, wasn't credited with an assist). Ferreira subsequently put a pacifier in his mouth to celebrate, which I'm going to (incorrectly) guess was an homage to the fact that Castillo is 18 freaking years old.
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