Oz Alonso, the Seattle midfielder (pictured above) whose surprising productivity so far was a topic on my show today, still has a lot to aspire to if he truly is going to be among the top-fouled offensive threats in MLS. Just take a look at last year’s star-studded “fouls suffered” leaderboard and their rates per game:

PLAYER, TEAM … FOULED PER GAME (TIMES FOULED/GAMES PLAYED)
1.) Cuauhtémoc Blanco , Chicago … 2.4 (71/30)
2.) Davy Arnaud, Kansas City … 2.3 (54/24)
3.) Robbie Rogers … 1.9 (59/31)
4.) Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake … 1.8 (57/31)
5.) Francisco Mendoza, Chivas USA … 1.6 (48/30)
Alejandro Moreno, Columbus … 1.6 (49/31)

I do like that list there above because it shows a compelling link between offensive productivity and the often-ignored FS statistic, giving yet another way to gauge effective offense beyond goals and assists. Any coincidence also when (look at the list below) considering that eight of the top nine teams on the FS list last year made the playoffs? I’m literally asking. In my opinion, yes, but everyone is entitled to their own as long as they take a good look at the list.

The full look:

FOULS SUFFERED, TEAM
1.) Houston 338*
2.) Columbus 317*
3.) New England 313*
4.) Chivas 296*
5.) Real Salt Lake 285*
6.) New York 282*
7.) Toronto 279
8.) Kansas City 278*
9.) Chicago 272*
10.) Los Angeles 251
11.) Dallas 243
12.) San Jose 241
13.) DC United 240
14.) Colorado 216

*Qualified for MLS Cup playoffs

PHOTO COURTESY: Seattle Sounders