Davies, who is now with Bayern Munich after a record transfer from the Vancouver Whitecaps, registered four assists for Canada in the calendar year. That’s the second most by a Canadian player since the record keepers started counting assists.

So, when the Whitecaps call Davies “homegrown,” take that term with a bit of a grain of salt. If Free Footie isn’t mentioned in the press releases, if it’s not mentioned in the thinkpieces that will be written about the Davies transfer, well it’s a grand disservice to a great organization.

And, tactics, while important, are just part of the game. Let’s be absolutely clear. Tactics do not win games by themselves. Good tactical decisions by managers give their players the best possible chances they have to succeed. But it is still up to the players to provide the intangibles, the skill, the grit, the desire, to win games.

So, here’s the question. Based on the criteria of most valuable to his or her team, to whom would you give the award (man, woman or both)? We at The 11 would love to know.