I thought we could have a thread just for discussions regarding the draft, and then the draft itself. For a history of FCD's Superdraft & Supplemental draft picks, see this page: http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2013/01/update-dallas-all-time-college-draft-and-superdraft-picks FCD's picks this season are #7 and #20. Note 1: Our "natural" selection in Round 2 was #26, which we traded for Andrew Jacobson. Win. Note 2: We acquired the #20 pick in exchange for Jeremy Hall. Win. What do you think we need? Who do you think we should get with those picks?
Jason Saghini's mock draft (http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...d-mlssoccercom-mock-draft-after-combine-day-1) has Dallas picking up Austin Aztex alum Kekuta Manneh. I saw him play, and score, several times last year. He finishes his chances remarkably well, but those chances seemed to come in streaks with the Aztex. I thought he had a tendency to wander back into the midfield and disappear at times. I'm not convinced that he's going to make a big impact in his rookie year in MLS, but I'm often wrong.
A couple of hard working holding mids that aren't afraid to get stuck in. Either that or trade one pick for future trade picks and draft a strong young keeper with upside.
I think Caleb Porter will trick FCD into trading all their picks for Kris Boyd (half salary paid by Portland).
If Dillon Powers is still available when our pick comes up, as some mock drafts indicate he will be, I think he'd be a no-brainer and is ready to fill that position on any MLS team right now. He was, in my opinion, the MVP of the Aztex team last season, and he's gotten good reviews at the combine. He's really not a bruiser (thankfully, IMO), and he has been accused in the combine reports of giving up the ball as often as he wins it (which was very often on the Aztex), but I think his level of soccer intelligence and his calming presence more than compensate.
For different reasons, Richard Sanchez and Josh Lambo are both pretty strong arguments against drafting a "strong young keeper with upside". Personally I'm okay with the holding mid but only because Hyndman seems to do well with defensive draft picks, not necessarily because that's what we need.
Most mock drafts I've seen have us taking either a midfielder (a la Dillon Powers or Maryland's Stertzer) or a forward. I believe that at #7 there will be a Generation Adidas player available. (maybe, probably) We'd probably take whatever GenAd player is left! It could by Manneh.
I would be shocked if they picked Manneh, since he is so young and raw, which they don't really need at forward. Gotta think center midfield is the need position.
FWIW...............Top Drawer Soccer's most recent mock draft has us taking John Stertzer of Maryland. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2013-mls-superdraft-mock-draft-v-30_aid28343 I've seen this player mentioned at #7 in a number of mocks now. If Powers is taken, this might be the direction we go for midfield help. At #20 they have us taking another Maryland player...........defender Taylor Kemp. I believe he's a fullback, so that would fill an area of need for us in terms of depth. In SB Nation's Mock draft, Daniel also took John Stertzer. http://www.bigdsoccer.com/2013/1/15...fc-dallas-sb-nation-john-stertzer-blake-smith At #20 Daniel selected a winger out of New Mexico named Blake Smith.
Seems like I could be wrong about this................. http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2013/01/fc-dallas-looking-experienced-players-2013-superdraft With three young players recently added (Acosta, Woodberry, Baladez), something Dallas aren't inclined to do is take a chance on a younger Generation adidas prospect in the SuperDraft. Hyndman has taken two Generation adidas players in his four drafts, forwards Andrew Wiedeman and Peri Marosevic, with neither making any major impact on the club. While Dallas would love their salary cap-exempt contracts, there’s really no room on Hyndman’s team for another young player who isn’t ready to contribute from Day 1. “I don’t know if we need any more young players,” Hyndman said early last week. “You look at a Generation adidas player coming out as a junior, that’s a little bit different from picking up a senior, and if you’re looking at a freshman coming out, that’s a little tough. It’s tough to bring in that player and not really be able to count on him for a couple years.”
I was kidding about FCD taking Kris Boyd but the reason it came to mind was because it was plausible given FCDs history. Just close your eyes tight and remember that 2010 cup run.
With the signing of defenders Woodbury and Keel, and the forward Baladez, the midfield is the area that must be addressed. Further, we know that Clavijo is looking for another international forward! He cannot possibly fail! Dillon Powers should be the pick if he is there. Powers is a linking holding midfielder, something that has been missing since the departure of Dax. He would work well in the center of a five man diamond midfield formation. I understand there might be a temptation to select more of a defensive player here, but it should be resisted. Even if Peter Luccin does work out, he will be sitting quite a bit. Even though he has been ejected just a few times, he does pick up the cards quickly. We have, however, seen Andrew Jacobson fill in adaquatley, and Bobby Warshaw could fit in there, as well as Jackson, in a pinch. With the second pick, the team should take a chance. We all know SH system. David Ferreira, every game, always 90 minutes. There is no deviation in this. Other teams are fully aware of this. Which is why Ferreira is so often hacked. FCD has no player with anything close to the talent he has, and we have seen the team struggle without him. Which is why FCD should draft either Leonardo Fernandez from Stony Brook of Chris Harmon from U Conn. Both players have vision, creativity, and sharp passing skills, along with the ability to score themselves. FCD needs to find an attack. Powers can help immediately, and Fernandez or Harmon could play in the unfortunate possibility of a Ferreira injury, and also step in for mop up time. No reason to play him when the game has gotten away. More rest, less risk of injury, especially if the opposition is frustrated. I suspect two defenders will be selected. Dead but dreaming, Scipio Diabolus, vox fatum. http://www.cabovillas.com/properties.asp?PID=103 Forever in horns.
Definitely not Oduro-like. I think he has a long way to come, but finishing is definitely not one of his problems. If he has the ball anywhere in the box and takes a shot, it seems to go in the net more often than not. At least in PDL. Defenders and goalkeepers are both better in MLS, obviously, but from what I saw last year I feel that Manneh can at least put shots on target consistently. What he doesn't do as well, in my opinion (though other Aztex fans should weigh in too, I know they read this board), is connect with other players, particularly wide players. He likes to drop back and pick up the ball in midfield and then go on long runs up the middle and shoot from the top or middle of the box. That's exactly the kind of thing that I worry might not work as well when he's up against an Alonso or a Bernardez or a Rimando.
Well.............it is true that in the past 5 years we've gotten 4 starters in the draft (Hedges, John, Loyd, Shea). The #7 pick shouldn't be a crap shoot, but the 2nd round always seems to be. With the #7 pick, we should get a contributor. Here are the last five #7 picks in the draft: 2012: Nick DeLeon, DC United 2011: Kofi Sarkodie, Houson 2010: Jack McInerney, Philly 2009: Chris Pontius, DC United 2008: Patrick Nyarko, Fire
I like your analysis, but let's not get seduced into taking the local guy at #7. Supposedly...................John Stertzer of Maryland has outplayed Dillon Powers at the combine. In fact, some say Kyle Bekker of Boston College could also now be ahead of Powers on some draft boards. [Bekker's more of an attacking central mid than Powers is.] We've seen in articles (I forget where, Big D soccer?) that FCD has done a lot of scouting of Maryland. That's primarily due to the fact that we had London Woodberry and Mikey Ambrose playing there last season. Supposedly they really like Stertzer. Note that in Soccer America's last mock draft............... http://www.socceramerica.com/article/49981/2013-mock-draft-first-round.html .....................they have Kyle Bekker going well before either Powers or Stertzer. In fact they have Mikey Lopez available to us at #7. I don't think he's going to be there when we pick, but you never know. If he is, he provides that holding mid with the benefit of being Generation Adidas.
The Combine is important to an extent, but several guys have had below-average performances in recent years and ended up just fine in MLS. If Powers is available, I'd take him for sure. I won't be against Stertzer or Lopez (I'll be surprised if he is still there), but I really feel Powers is ready to play right away and will be a viable option once he signs with a team and gets in a routine. The local talent thing isn't really a must, but it's definitely a bonus and should make him more comfortable with the situation. I still have a feeling we will package both picks and move up in the draft or trade for a current MLS player who can help right away. I just really don't think we will keep both picks, but who knows... I'm excited to see what happens.
It'll be interesting. I'm not sure if we trade both picks to move up............that the talent up there is worth it. At #7 we're going to get a really good prospect, and then can get some depth at #20. There's a lot of talent in this draft, but I'm not sure there's "blow your mind" talent at the top of the board. By the way, Lopez is also also a local talent. He played at Andromeda, just like Dillon Powers. [You may already know that. I was pointing it out for the peanut gallery at large.] Lopez would have the added benefit of already having been Garcia's running partner in UNC's midfield. I think it's inevitable that Garcia will be joining us as a homegrown signing. Maybe as soon as the 2014 season.......................
It's looking more and more like Lopez may indeed be there at #7, but who knows. If he is, we should probably jump on that and be happy. I still really like Powers, but I'll be happy with either. Powers has fallen pretty far down everyone's mock drafts, so that's not looking very likely. And I agree with you about not trading both picks for a higher pick in this draft. It's a pretty deep draft class, but there aren't many definite stars. If we trade both picks to someone, a proven player better be coming to Frisco in return.
I love draft day. It's like christmas morning... I hope Schellas was a good boy this year and he gets everything he wants.
Wow. This draft isn't going as I excpected. Any number of players that we've discussed above are available. If we want a central midfielder..........Powers, Lopez, and Stertzer are all still on the board with the Crapids picking at #6.