MLS Players name their most overrated in the league

Mar 4, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; General view of a match ball during the first half of the game between the New England Revolution against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Commerce City, CO, USA; General view of a match ball during the first half of the game between the New England Revolution against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

As part of an annual player survey, MLS players named who they thought was the most overrated player going into the 2017 season. Where they right?

Each year a MLS player survey is conducted to get an idea of the general consensus around the league. In this latest edition the players once again named Mix Diskerud as the most overrated player in MLS.

According to ESPNFC, Mix received 16% of the votes, twice as much as second place (Michael Bradley). While being named as the most overrated by only 16% of your peers isn’t that troubling, getting the top honor two years in a row is a sign.

May 19, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NYCFC midfielder Mix Diskerud is interviewed by the media during the Heineken Rivalry Week Media Day at Twitter HQ in NYC. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NYCFC midfielder Mix Diskerud is interviewed by the media during the Heineken Rivalry Week Media Day at Twitter HQ in NYC. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

The evidence against Diskerud is straightforward. With a salary over $750,000, he simply hasn’t earned that role or amount since joining NYCFC. It is fair to say that Mix was always a fan favorite on the USMNT while playing in Europe, and that there was a buzz when he made the switch to the states.

However, after two season, 39 appearances and just four goals, he was weighing down the NYCFC roster. Earlier in the off-season we even debated on which MLS club he would best fit in at, knowing a move had to come.

In the need, neither club would move for him, NYCFC bought out his contract and now the rumors are that he will return to Scandinavia. Not many USMNT players join and fail in MLS, but with so many returning to the states it was bound to happen.

USMNT bias?

Feb 3, 2017; Chattanooga, TN, USA; United States midfielder Michael Bradley (4) kicks the ball during the second half against Jamaica at Finley Stadium. United States won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2017; Chattanooga, TN, USA; United States midfielder Michael Bradley (4) kicks the ball during the second half against Jamaica at Finley Stadium. United States won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently wearing the national team jersey outweighs any big international moves, when it comes to placing a target on your back. Five of the top ten players voted for were Diskerud, Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya, Jozy Altidore and Jermaine Jones.

Next: MLS Power Rankings: Week 1

Bradley and Altidore? That’s a stretch. Regardless of how you value them, getting Toronto FC all the way to the MLS Cup earns them a year off any list similar to this one. However, the indication seems clear from the league players. If you are a USMNT player, and decide to leave Europe to join MLS, you better deliver.