A different set of awards for the first half of the 2011 MLS campaign.

Seth Vertelney is an associate editor of Goal.com. Follow him via Twitter, Facebook or send him an Email

With the barrage of midseason awards columns that will no doubt strike soon, I decided to offer up some alternative awards for the first half of the 2011 MLS season. Without further ado....Chivas USA rookie forward Victor Estupiñan was about as confident as he was inaccurate when he made his now-infamous preseason prediction that he’d bag “25 to 30 goals “ in his debut MLS season. The Ecuadorian is currently 25 to 30 goals shy of his forecast, as he’s only attempted one shot on goal all season long. It didn’t go in.His dive against Omar Gonzalez early in the season put him in the running, and his flop against Chris Wingert sealed the prize. The league’s feel-good comeback story has eight goals this season, but four of those came from the penalty spot, and two of them were created by the aforementioned swan dives. Davies has unfortunately learned MLS referees are easier to fool than a 105-year-old blind woman playing checkers.For making themselves disappear, this one goes to Sebastien Le Toux and Alvaro Saborio. In 2010, the two combined for 26 goals. This season, they have three: a Le Toux penalty kick, and a Saborio brace this past weekend against hapless Toronto FC (more on them in a bit).In 12 games, the Whitecaps forward has six goals, five yellow cards and three red cards. He’s scored one of the greatest goals in league history (his stunner against Seattle a couple weeks ago) and also managed to earn one of the dumbest red cards in league history (committing the automatic yellow card offense of removing his jersey after a goal...when he already had a yellow card). He ranks among the league’s best in confidence, skill, and penchant for crazy tackles. Also, his words carry weight that would break a less interesting man's jaw.This one goes to the Chicago Fire, who have an incredible 2-4-11 record. They’ve almost tied twice as many games as they’ve either won or lost, and have set a MLS record with their current streak of six consecutive home draws.A creation of sports media gadfly Bill Simmons, the Ewing Theory posits that when a team loses its best player, it oftentimes bands together and plays better than it did before the loss of said star player. When 2010 league MVP David Ferreira went down with a broken ankle on April 23, it was assumed the Hoops would go down with him. Instead, they’ve rattled off a 6-1-3 record since his injury and currently are tied for the second-most points in all of MLS. Helping pick up the slack have been Brek Shea, Fabian Castillo, Marvin Chavez and Andrew Jacobson, who’ve all been outstanding this season.Speaking of Jacobson, he’s one of two players cast aside by their former teams who’ve been reborn this season in a new location. A part-time starter in Philadelphia, Jacobson was acquired for a future draft pick by FC Dallas this offseason, and has evolved into a focal point of coach Schellas Hyndman's midfield. Brunner was left unprotected by the Crew in the expansion draft, and the Timbers happily selected him and made him their unquestioned starting center back.Question: How can it be possible that the league’s best goalkeeper has by far the league's worst goals against average? Answer: When that goalkeeper plays behind the Toronto FC backline. Frei has been the Polish army to the rest of the league’s Blitzkrieg, as he’s faced a league-high 99 shots on goal (second place in that category is Matt Reis with 76). He’s held up admirably, making stellar saves on a routine basis to keep his side in matches, but ultimately, allowing TFC two goalkeepers wouldn’t be enough to keep the goals from flying in. His European move can’t come soon enough and luckily, scouts have a good chance to see him tested every game.For continuing to purchase high-priced talent all over the field, while ignoring their black hole at goalkeeper, this one goes to the New York Red Bulls. Much like the Gunners, the Red Bulls have a high payroll with big names like Thierry Henry, Dwayne De Rosario and Rafa Marquez, but have failed to invest in a proper goalkeeper. With both Greg Sutton and Bouna Coundoul recently allowing goals that most Sunday leaguers would have stopped, maybe the Red Bulls will finally look to upgrade in the summer transfer window.Once again, the league table resembles a seesaw with a fat kid on one end. The Philadelphia Union is in first place in the East on 26 points, which would only be good enough to tie for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Red Bulls sit tied for second place, and they’ve won once in their last ten MLS matches. Last season, only two of the eight playoff teams came from the East. Don’t be surprised if the minimum three represent the Eastern Conference in this season’s ten-team playoff format.In a league of parity, the Galaxy is the only team that could make a legitimate claim at being a powerhouse. Last season’s Supporters Shield winners have the most points in the league with 35, the fewest losses with two, and the best goal differential with +10. All of this has been achieved without leading goalscorer Landon Donovan for the past month, who’s been with the U.S. national team.For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page