by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

It's time to tab the finest American eleven we can for the year that has passed - but since the rules are normally a little too simple for these types of lists, we're throwing in a new factor.

While league strength will still play some part in rating performances, I've dialed that down to lend a bit more weight to how strong a player's year was relative to the quality of his championship.

Therefore, it is much easier for MLS players to compete directly against European-based players - and has even allowed one second division defender to make our first team. Obviously, with all other things being equal, a player from the superior league will get the nod.

Before we dive in, let's lay down another pair of quick statutes: club form alone is key for this honor roll, yet I will use Bob Bradley's preferred 4-4-2 formation instead of picking one of my own.
 
Injuries and coach's disfavor have cost the likes of Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Adin Brown, Benny Feilhaber, Frank Simek, Jonathan Spector and Taylor Twellman a shot at this squad, but there is plenty of quality left over to salute.

In goal:

With so many top-notch netminders to choose from across the globe, picking the best one was always going to be difficult. In the end, Friedel edges out Howard (who was hurt by a brief slump at the beginning of this season) and Hahnemann (who spent half the year a level below in the Championship).

Brad Friedel (Blackburn/Aston Villa)

As consistent as can be and as intimidating as ever, Friedel moved home base for his traveling excellence show to Aston Villa in summer and is now breathing Premiership rare air. What's more, he is also busy mentoring Brad Guzan, whose future can surely only get brighter by the day.

Honorable mentions: Colin Burns (Ljungskile), Jon Busch (Chicago), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA/Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), Tim Howard (Everton), Troy Perkins (Vålerenga), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern)

On the backline:

Not quite as much deliberation here as one might expect, although it really was tough to have to leave Goodson out of a center back slot. For various reasons, the outside back basically picked themselves by putting in far more influential years than any of the competitors.

RB - Charles Kazlauskas (TOP Oss)

The only second flight man on our list, Kazlauskas is so crucial to TOP fortunes and was so outstanding while being shuffled between six positions on the three field lines nearly every week, he had to be named over an unusually weak right back field. Despite usually being stationed in defense, Kaz netted four times last year to match his career-best 2007 total.

CB - Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liège)

One of the obvious picks, Gooch is the solid base that the Belgian champs are built upon; he was massive in back-to-back do-or-die European ties against Liverpool and Everton. His year essentially ended with Standard begging him to stay and help them chase UEFA Cup glory.

CB - Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

The MLS Defender of the Year beats out some strong contenders (Conrad, DeMerit, Goodson) to claim this spot. Dominant in the air and increasingly potent on set pieces in crunch time, Marshall has delayed his pond hop a little longer by staying with the Crew. I like the decision... just so we understand that it really is only 'a little longer' before he steps up a level or two.

LB - Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham/Rennes)

The National Team captain slides over to his French post, but it's really no charity move. The man they call 'Los has put in steady show after steady show in a new environment for Les Rouges et Noirs, who at the break, find themselves in a title race - something not seen much lately in Ligue 1 parts.

Honorable mentions: Gregg Berhalter (1860 Munich), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Michael Harrington (Kansas City Wizards), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Zak Whitbread (Millwall)

In the middle of the park:

This was the toughest line to call, with Bradley the only instant-pick and several more than solid choices at the other posts. It was extremely difficult to shun Kljestan, but in my opinion, this formation does not exactly lend itself to his inclusion.

CM - Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)

I'm really stunned Beckerman wasn't called into January USMNT camp. His arrival signaled a change in that franchise's direction and he was again very influential in their breakthrough season, effectively forming a deadly partnership with #10 Javier Morales. Right now, he may be the most underrated American player going.

CM - Michael Bradley (Heerenveen/Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Most of the credit for Mikey's place here goes to his first six months of the year in Friesland. Playing an all-around game, Bradley was one of the leaders of a team finishing fifth in the Eredivisie, as well as its top scorer. Frankly, he has struggled mightily since moving to 'Gladbach, but the only American Abroad to outdo his 10 league goals in 2008 was Charlie Davies.

AMR - Clint Dempsey (Fulham)

Yeah, he wasn't a starter the entire year... but name another American attacker that pitched in for a Prem survival drive and resurrected his status under a new boss by netting four times in seven starts? Sorry, was that question too specific? As it stands, Deuce is our top field player in the top league in the world (says I). He's in.

AML - Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

Rogers was the champs' slash-and-burn man this season. Not only did he pitch in six goals from midfield, but the California native topped the team in shots on goal and finished a close second to Chicago agitant general Cuauhtémoc Blanco in free kicks won. He caused a lot of trouble, to be sure, but could do even more damage if his crosses regularly found the mark.

Honorable mentions: Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew) Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Ryan Guy (St. Patrick's Athletic), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Jeremiah White (Aarhus GF)

And finally, up front:

Perhaps the easiest line of all, though I did briefly consider Cooper against Donovan. It would be nice to see our foreign production increase in 2009. Fortunately, Donovan will try to help on that score this year - whether that's for three months or the full calendar, we shall see.

F - Charlie Davies (Hammarby)

One of the quickest picks of the bunch, Davies had a breakthrough year, both in Sweden's top flight and with the USMNT. Speed never slumps, but now he has regained his scoring touch. Fourteen league goals translates into any language.

F - Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

It would be hard to ignore any MLS guy with 20 goals and nine assists, much less its signature star. And yet, the numbers don't tell the whole story. Now, he takes his scintillating act overseas - maybe to finally gain that "world class" tag American fans desperately want him to earn one of these days.

Honorable mentions: Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire/Toronto FC), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners. You can send him your comments and questions, kudos and criticisms at greg@noshortcorners.com.

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