Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez receive Castrol Index awards

Yesterday Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez were awarded Castrol Index awards as the top midfielder and defender in the league according to the Castrol Index in 2014. The Index awards players points for their positive movement on the field.

The Top Midfielder award went to Landon Donovan after being ranked number 15 overall on the Castrol Index, with 676 points over 2,717 minutes played and reflecting a season total of 10 goals. His goal total puts him below players like Lee Nguyen, but his assist total and positive passing in the final third were enough to push him up the ranks.

Omar Gonzalez was further down on the Index, but with four goals and two assists in 1,901 minutes of play it was good enough for top defender of the league.

The Castrol Index tracks more than 1,800 movements per match, with actions taking place in attacking positions weighted more. Certainly Donovan and Gonzalez, and Robbie Keane who finished in the top five are worthy of postseason recognition of their efforts which were enough to land to LA Galaxy in MLS.