Six New York Red Bulls Announced for 2012 Major League Soccer All-Star Game Ballot

Major League Soccer's All-Star game featured three New York Red Bulls players in 2011 and just one in 2010 (Theirry Henry, Tim Ream, Juan Agudelo, and Juan Pablo Angel, respectively). Late last week MLS posted the 2012 fan ballot with six players from each team eligible to be voted into the roster that will take on Chelsea at PPL Park in Pennsylvania on July 25.

The obvious two nominees from New York are Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper who are both in the chase for the Golden Boot with nine and eleven goals, which is particularly impressive for Henry considering he's missed a few games due to injury. Rounding out the ballot are Heath Pearce, Joel Lindpere, Dane Richards, and Ryan Meara. Pearce played in the last two all-star games, starting in 2010 and coming on at half-time in 2011. Lindpere was a 2011 all-star team players' choice but did not make the game-day roster. Dane Richards and Ryan Meara would be making their first all-star game appearances, which although unlikely with enough support from New York fans would not be completely out of the question. An all-star nod to Meara would be a tremendous addition to an already stellar rookie season.

Almost as notable as the nominees are the players who did not make the cut. The largest omission being Dax McCarty, who has grown into his role in the Red Bulls midfield in 2012 and is one of the most important factors in the team's current six game unbeaten streak in league play. It's also never a good sign for a Designated Player not to make the ballot, but between injuries and suspensions the omission of Rafa Marquez is not raising any eyebrows the way it would have had he been included.

What do you think about the New York all-star nominees? Outraged that Rafa Marquez was left off the ballot? Let us know in the comments below.