Why does the MLS even have a draft? It's a very good question. It's not even close to being "Super" as far as a player's individual development, by any meaning of the word. Armchair Analyst: Did the Philadelphia Union win the 2014 MLS SuperDraft? http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2014...-mls-superdraft Better Today Than They Were Yesterday Philadelphia Union – Andre Blake, Pedro Ribeiro and Kevin Cope are all potential starters. Or, at the very least, they're guys who will eat up first-team minutes as soon as MatchDay 1 of this coming season. And then with their final pick of the day they took an honest-to-goodness left-footed soccer player in Robbie Derschang. This is pretty much the exact opposite of last year's performance from the Union. .................................................................................................................. So then, lets look at that winner of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft now a little over two months later. Philadelphia Union 2014 Picks #1 (Overall), #1 (Philly pick)- Andre Lewis, GK, currently active with the Union as the number 3 goalkeeper (Generation Adidas player/off budget). #15, #2 - Pedro Riberiro, M, sent down temporarily (?) to USL Pro affiliate Harrisburg. #25, #3 - Kevin Cope, M, Waived 2/19/14 #27, #4 - Robbie Derchang, D, waived 2/19/14 http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/thego...-Union.html?c=r The Union are set up in Orlando, Fla., this week for the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. Before arriving there, draft picks Robbie Derschang and Kevin Cope and trialist Michael Seamon were told their services were no longer needed. on. #44, #5 - Richie Marquez, D, sent down temporarily (?) to USL Pro affiliate Harrisburg. #46, #6 - Alex Sweetin, M, not on MLS active list, or inactive list ?? #52, #7 - Aodhan Quinn, M, not on MLS active list, or inactive list ?? #63, #8 - Luca Gimenez, M, not on MLS active list, or inactive list ?? http://www.mlssoccer.com/players?field_player_club_nid=All&tid_2=197&title=Alex+Sweetin "It's worth noting that just because a team drafts a player, that does not mean he is automatically signed to the team. So the Union didn't really lose anything except for a bit of pride by letting them go". http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/20...campaign=Unpaid *note: Cristhian Hernandez and Jimmy Mclaughlin (both 20 years old) are homegrown players playing with USL Pro affiliate Harrisburg. So, the team that "won" the 2014 MLS SuperDraft placed only one player on their first team from the 2014 MLS SUPERDraft, a third string keeper. who does not count against their budget. The current state of MLS for collage players: If you are not a Generation Adidas Player (off budget), or a Homegrown Player (also, off budget), then the chances of actually making it onto the MLS team of 30 players is... very, very slim! So then, why all the talk, US soccer media attention, and hyped up fuss about the MLS SuperDraft? Could the real function of the MLS SuperDraft really be all about something completely different? Could it really be more about keeping these players from being able to go somewhere else?? Is the MLS SuperDraft another method for MLS owners to keep player salaries lower? Does it limit the players options of where they can play? Is the MLS single entity ownership group a third party owner of players rights? http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/27/us-soccer-uefa-congress-platini-idUSBREA2Q0AX20140327 Do you know how it works, and where the money goes when a MLS player is sold to another league team? http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affedera...nomicrights.pdf All good questions to ask of our top league that is now nearing adulthood. Now lets take some time to talk about another little know MLS player salary tool, the ultra secret MLS team Discovery Signings... The 2014 MLS season will end in November. As well as the current MLSPU collective bargaining agreement. There are a lot of things to be fixed and it will not be easy. The MLS ownership group is filled with experienced NFL, and MLB owners there to help make sure MLS does not drop the ball on their collective interests in keeping control of players salaries... There is a lot of work to be done between now and December 2014.
It's not hard to at least address the name. It's called the SuperDraft because it was originally created by merging the MLS College Draft and the MLS Supplemental Draft. Later on, a new Supplemental Draft was added after the SuperDraft, but it was merged in again for the 2014 season.
Danny Mwanga, Tony Tchani, Ike Opara, Teal Bunbury, Zach Loyd, Amobi Okugo, Jack McInerney, Dilly Duka, Zach Schilawski, Blair Gavin, David Estrada, Bright Dike, Corben Bone, Austin Da Luz, Collen Warner, and Michael Stephens ... .... all have what in common ? Then, with that theme in mind: Tim Ream, Andre Akpan, Seth Sinovic, Justin Morrow, Steven Beitashour Chris Schuler, Eric Alexander, Steve Kinney Brian Perk, Sean Johnson, Shaun Francis
The problem is that you're making two opposing arguments. First, that players in the superdraft aren't very good. Second, that it's to restrict movement and keep salaries down. But if they aren't good, who cares if they move? The answer of course is that some of the players are good and so you want to allocate them in some fair way (and also to keep salaries down). For the players at the low end of the draft, it's just a way of simplifying things. These players are going to get minimum salaries anyway.
My opinion is the draft in its current state is so distant from that historical context that the name comes across as meaningless hyperbole.