Just an average Joe

Voodoo and phases of the moon often dictate which players in MLS are considered "underrated." Is it a lack of national team exposure? Given the vast number of players that have been called in by Bruce Arena over the years, that isn't necessarily one of the criteria. And being a foreign international doesn't guarantee notoriety in MLS either. Is it a dearth of All-Star team appearances? When the format was East vs. West, it seemed like everyone and their mother qualified, especially with Commissioner's picks that often didn't reflect current form. (Although kudos to Don Garber this time for two deserving selections in New England's Taylor Twellman and D.C. United's Christian Gomez.) Granted, this year's format - with a smaller group set to face English Premier League side Fulham - is much more of a meritocracy than it's been in the past, and more closely resembles what will likely be the MLS Best XI selections at year's end.

There are also those players who have earned all of the above-mentioned accolades in the past, but whose stock has fallen due to injury or a loss of form. It's possible that they could still be considered underrated.

Rich Schultz/WireImage

Tyrone Marshall remains underrated despite his All-Star game call-up.

But suffice to say, if a player is a recent All-Star or U.S. national team performer, they're no longer getting the shaft from fans, media, and coaches. So sorry Matt Reis and Shalrie Joseph; that you guys are finally getting your due means there is no room on ESPN's All-Underrated XI. Ditto for you Jimmy Conrad. Hitting the trifecta of MLS Best XI, national team call-up, and All-Star selection in the last year means you are no longer flying under the radar.

What follows is those players (and coaches) who are still underappreciated.

Dominic Kinnear, Head Coach, San Jose Earthquakes

It's doubtful that there have been many other coaches in MLS history who have been dealt a tougher hand than Kinnear was prior to this season. With his roster shorn of All-Stars like Landon Donovan and Richard Mulrooney, Kinnear was forced to revamp his side, and has done so with a heavy reliance on young American talent.

The former U.S. international has also made some astute trades in the form of Mark Chung and Kelly Gray. The results have exceeded all expectations, as the Quakes head into the All-Star break challenging for the top spot in the Western Conference.

Scott Garlick, GK, F.C. Dallas

Did I just say that a recent All-Star selection would prevent a player from being considered underrated? Well just because your own coach names you to the All-Star team, that doesn't mean a player's underrated status is forfeited.

For a guy who won an MLS Cup with D.C. United, Garlick has led as nomadic an existence as any keeper in MLS, leading one to speculate that something must be wrong with him. But he's enjoyed success at virtually every stop, despite playing for some less than stellar sides in Tampa Bay and Colorado. Now that he's surrounded by some serious talent in Dallas, Garlick is showing his best form.

Todd Dunivant, D, Los Angeles Galaxy

The 3rd year veteran has one of the silkiest touches of any defender in MLS. Dunivant also owns an accurate left foot and his prodigious throw-ins turn the most innocuous of dead ball situations into serious scoring threats. The knock on Dunivant has been that he's soft, but the Stanford grad has tallied three yellow cards this year, an indication that he's adding a little bit more bite to his game.

Dunivant was called into a national team camp at the conclusion of his rookie season, and if he continues to perform for the Galaxy in the second half of the season, he may get another chance.

Eddie Robinson, D, San Jose Earthquakes

Following the 2002 season, Robinson's star was on the rise, and he celebrated his breakout year with a call-up to a national team training camp. But a series of injuries impeded his progress, and despite being on the field for the Quakes run to the 2003 MLS Cup, the North Carolina product is still something of an unknown quantity.

Now teamed with Danny Califf in the center of the Quakes defense, a recent healthy streak has seen Robinson combine tough tackling with surprising speed to make him one of MLS's best central defenders.

Tyrone Marshall, D, Los Angeles Galaxy

Marshall was named only as an All-Star game injury replacement which shows just how underrated he continues to be. This guy is just plain nasty. Ask Landon Donovan if he's glad to have Marshall as a teammate now, instead of an opponent. The Jamaican is another guy who combines speed and toughness, along with an ability to score from set pieces.

One could argue that a guy who has been a fixture for his country's national team can't be underrated, but Marshall is rarely high on the list of top defenders in the league. If the Galaxy can turn around their road woes, that trend may get reversed.

Ezra Hendrickson, D, Chivas USA

Another guy who has bounced around the league a bit, Hendrickson has had stops in L.A., Dallas, D.C, and now Chivas, although a hefty contract in years past may have accounted for that. Hendrickson has long been one of the most versatile players in MLS. His long legs make him a nightmare to get around and give him the pace to join the attack as well.

The problems at Chivas have been well documented, but the St. Vincent and the Grenadines international has been one of the few bright spots this year.

Josh Gros, M, D.C. United

As one MLS head coach put it, "This guy just does his job." Whether it's tracking back to put in a challenge or getting into the attack to deliver crosses, the Rutgers product goes about his business with a quiet, but ruthless efficiency.

Perhaps it's Gros' fate to be in the background given that he's surrounded by virtuosos like Christian Gomez and Jaime Moreno. But where would those two players be without the 2nd year man's tireless running? Despite the offensive talent elsewhere on the field, Gros has been contributing more to the Black-and-Red's attack this year, tallying three goals.

Dewayne De Rosario, M, San Jose Earthquakes

During his first four years in the league, De Rosario was something of an enigma. His reluctance to release the ball would often drive fans to distraction, only to get back in their good graces by scoring spectacular goals. An early season move into an attacking midfield role seemed to play to the Canadian's weaknesses rather than his strengths. But instead it has brought out the best in De Rosario, where his passing and work rate have provided the Quakes with a vital offensive spark.

De Rosario's creativity is borne out by his eight assists, including a cheeky back-heel against the MetroStars on May 7 that led to the game's only goal. He has also tallied three game-winning goals.

Thiago, M, Chicago Fire

Thiago has added considerable guile and flair to Chicago's attack, providing the Fire with the prototypical No. 10 that every team wants.

Thiago was on the Fire's radar as early as the 2004 season, but salary cap constraints prevented him from joining the side until this season, where his four goals and six assists have proved invaluable. Knee surgery has put a temporary halt to Thiago's heroics and it may explain his omission from the All-Star team, but a quick recovery has him poised to enjoy an equally effective second half.

Andy Dorman, M, New England Revolution

When a slew of international call-ups threatened to sidetrack New England's season, Dorman was one of those who came to the rescue. With his box-to-box running and fierce shot, the Welshman's play could see him hang on to his starting slot for the rest of the season. Not bad for a guy who was selected in the sixth round of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

Dorman's unselfish play was best illustrated late in New England's 3-2 victory over F.C. Dallas on July 16. It was then that his near post run drew two Dallas defenders, creating space for Taylor Twellman to lash home the game winner in stoppage time.

Alejandro Moreno, F, San Jose Earthquakes

He probably has the most ungainly running style in MLS, but somehow, Moreno just gets the job done. Early in his career, the Venezuelan chafed at the super-sub role he was handed with the Galaxy. And it appeared that he would have to be content with the same designation this season, but Brian Ching's injury troubles have created an opportunity for a starting role that Moreno has seized with both hands.

What Moreno lacks in speed, he makes up for with guile and a predatory instinct in front of goal. His five goals currently have him tied for first on the Quakes, and an extended run in the side should see him add to that total during the latter portion of the season.

Nate Jaqua, F, Chicago Fire

At 6-foot-3, there's more than just a tendency to stereotype Jaqua as your prototypical target-man, but his technical gifts go far beyond that of a typical forward. In fact, it's been Jaqua's inability to better use his size that explains his sometimes uneven progress through his first two years in the league. But this season Jaqua has put it all together, combining size, outstanding footwork, as well as excellent one-on-one skills to become one of the top marksmen in MLS.

Jaqua's stellar play was halted by an ankle injury, but if the University of Portland product can recreate his early form, then it shouldn't be long before the accolades at both league and international level start coming his way. Jaqua was named as an All-Star alternate, but for now remains underrated in my book.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS for ESPN Soccernet.com. He can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com