Coming soon is the outcome of the MLS balloting for MVP, and for the first time a Sounders FC players is a finalist.
Obafemi Martins made the final cut, along with Robbie Keane of the Galaxy and New England’s Lee Nguyen. Since everyone has their own subjective reasons for voting, and since we peons have no say, very few words will be devoted to pleading a case. However, this is the time and space to examine the numbers and how Oba’s fare when compared to Sounders legends who did claim their league’s top individual honor.
Seven Seattle players have earned MVP awards: Roger Davies and Peter Ward in the NASL; Chance Fry, Peter Hattrup, Mark Baena, Leighton O’Brien and Sebastien Le Toux in A-League/USL.
Five of those MVPs were members of Sounders or FC Seattle sides that won either the regular season or cup, or both, or advanced to the final. Each winner was part of a playoff-qualifying side. As a Supporters’ Shield winner, Martins is very much among peers.
More than just a poacher, Oba creates both opportunities for himself and others. His assists per match (0.42) average is the highest among the legends, slightly ahead of O’Brien (0.41), whose role was primarily as playmaker.
In terms of style, Martins compares most closely to Ward: tight control, bursts of speed, effective at hold-up play, quick on the turn and ever so slippery. Their goals (0.55/0.56) and assists per game are nearly identical.
Martins was involved in 46 percent of Seattle goals and converted 22 percent of his attempts, both fourth among the MVPs. He benefits from his partnership with Clint Dempsey. That was true of his predecessors, who were, for the most part, half of a 1-2 punch. Six of his 13 assists have involved connections with Deuce. When Dempsey was away at the World Cup, Martins did not generate any assists.
Still, it was during that stretch playfully referred to as the Oba Martins World Cup, that he perhaps made his strongest case for MVP.
Lest we forget, the national team call-ins began after a 5-nil thrashing at New England. At that point Martins became the unquestioned focus of the Sounders attack. He responded and so did the Rave. Seattle went unbeaten (5-0-2) in seven games across all competitions with Martins scoring four times.
That marked the start of the Martins for MVP campaign. Already a sensation by virtue of his goal of the week efforts, he was runner-up for May player of the month.
When Keane and the Galaxy began making their move in late summer, Oba responded with another surge. Seattle won six in succession, thanks to six Martins goals, including one in the Open Cup final.
And when the Sounders went into a funk after that final, it was again Martins who got them going again, scoring four times in the next two wins.
The best argument for Martins is this propensity for providing what Seattle needed, just when they needed it most. That has a multiplier effect on his records for goals (17) and total points (47). His celebratory backflips get attention, however it’s his grit that wins lasting respect (not to mention new contract).
Whether Martins wins out over Keane and Nguyen remains to be seen, but his body of work is certainly on a par with that of Sounders MVPs past.