2013 Superdraft

Thanks. I probably saw the accursed name of Ives, and stopped reading.

He sounds like a project, or the most singular libero ever.

 

Ives' Mock Draft 3.0 is up

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/01/sbi-2013-mls-mock-draft-version-3-0.html

 

In case you wanted to know, Ives has the Rapids taking DeShorn Brown F, Emery Welshman F, and Marc Cintron LW. No CB's. This would not be a bad haul, though. Ives commented that both Welshman and Cintron looked good today, so who knows? They may climb the board.

On the Rapids' website, Bravo said. "Our thought process is, let's go with the best available player at this point because we're going to need depth at all positions."

The Rapids would have to add defensive depth from elsewhere, maybe in the supplemental draft, but it seems supplemental draft players rarely make their teams.

 

So is this 3.0 version part of an evolving liklihood of picks,... or is it just another possible version of what might happen, each version being just as valid as the next?

 

It's evolving. Ashton Bennet was picked at #9, whereas before he was way down the list. The most interesting mocks will be post-combine.

 

Is Nico Clavijo the answer to a trivia question?

 

In "Insites" I neglected Blake in my brief review of midfielders. Apparently, in contrast to Match Day #1 he was very solid today. One of the top 5-8 midfielders. In addition to his obvious physical prowess he was solid technically & tactically.

 

Story about Zavaleta. Mentions that Wilmer Cabrera is one of the people who really helped him develop as a centerback when he was with U-17 team.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...ward-or-defender-zavaleta-ready-pick-position

 

Another mock by mlssoccer. This is only after Day 1, though:

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...d-mlssoccercom-mock-draft-after-combine-day-1

MLS editors pick Hurtado, Johnson, or Zavaleta for the Rapids. Seems Johnson has hurt his stock so far in the combine. I like Hurtado (RW) and Zavaleta (F/CB) for the Rapids at this pick.

 

Zavaleta - a resounding yes. Hurtada no @ #6. Hurtado is a good player who has shown well at Combine. He is strong & uses his muscle to his advantage, good speed but not a sprinter. Could be a top 15 pick but a real stretch at #6.

 

What's the world on Dylan Tucker-Ganges? I'd love to see a Husky on the Rapids again (Ty Harden was our last IIRC).

 

Thus far he has had the advantage playing alongside of Farrell but he has looked good. Big, strong & comfortable with the ball at his feet he is not a super athlete. Good positional sense with adequate speed. I would grab him at #25 but strongly doubt he will be available then.

 

Ives Galarcep reports that Walker Zimmerman is the Rapids' number one choice:

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/01/mls-combine-off-day-observations.html

He says that it will be necessary to trade up to get him, possibly with Jeff Larentowicz.

 

He also said today that Toronto was close to signing former SKC d-mid Julio Cesar. Could that be a bargaining chip Toronto is playing? Seems unlikely they would sign him and also make a trade for Larentowicz, or is that not as crazy as it seems to me.

 

Ives's article leans more towards the "they won't trade Larentowicz to move up to #1" angle for the reason you note (plus they have Frings). Though it does say they're shopping Jeff.

 

Is there really a need to trade for #1? After putting this out along with all of their declarations that they want mexican-american players it is basically a lock that Chivas will pick Carlos Alvarez or Mikey Lopez. (Boy, would that be an incredible ruse though if they were actually just leading people astray and are planning on one of the defenders the whole time. Good thing their dysfunctionality is real.) So you let Toronto get the hype of #1 overall and pick their guy, which many are saying is Farrell. Chivas picks Carlos Alvarez. And you trade for the #3 pick and still get your guy Zimmerman. If we can't work a trade with them, then we might be kissing a Def good-bye at #6 because it seems Zavaleta is the only other defender worthy of going that high, but there is a good chance New England or Vancouver would take him it sounds like. Maybe it isn't the end of the world to not get one of those three, but it is starting to seem like the club has been counting on that this offseason considering the lack of any additional signings in Defense since Calderon.

Maybe you can trade Chivas for #2, but it seems like they have made up their mind and Chelis doesn't want to trade.

 

The only player that seems worth trading up for is Farrell. I don't think the Rapids should trade JL unless it is a great deal. JL and allocation money/draft pick(s) for Farrell would be a great deal. Otherwise, I would stay put and hope Zimmerman, D. Brown, or maybe Manneh falls to 6.

Chelis has said Chivas will take Alvarez. And Toronto just signed Julio Ceasar, in addtion to already having Frings. That seems to suggest neither of those teams would want to trade for JL, who seems to be the only player the Rapids' might trade that anyone else would want. I think the Rapids should just stay at 6 rather than trade up and pick Zimmerman too high.

 

Perhaps a motivation for listening to Millionarios about Castrillon is to acquire more money to use in a trade?

From all accounts Zimmerman and Farrell are choices 1a and 1b. It stinks that Zimmerman hasn't been able to participate at combine. If they really are equal, I would prefer Zimmerman due to his size (6'3") compared to Farrell (5'11"). The Rapids could use some height along the back line when we face teams like San Jose with Gordon and Lenhart.

 

Think it just posted: http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...ado-superdraft-preview-replacing-caseys-goals

 

And in typical MLSSoccer/Simon Borg failure, absolutely no mention of Diego Calderon, but a comment that we need to find fullbacks (both left and right).