Combine list to be supplemented by some young foreign prospects and the GA class yet. Expect another 12-16 names on that list. Honestly, I'm just hopeful that we can draft a decent, natural left back this year for depth. Other years, I've hoped for a lot from the draft and gotten mixed results. If we get two bites at the apple, (#26 and #29) I wouldn't even mind drafting two defenders for some added depth in the back.
If you look at the last 3 drafts, there haven't been any LBs who went in the 1st round. They started jumping off the board early 2nd. Even GA's Michael Tetteh and Tyler Polak lasted til the 2nd round. I imagine at least 2 out of Kemp, Nealis, Cochrane would be there. We seem to do extremely well in the 2nd round (post Stahl) so someone in scouting is doing a really good job there. I can't find a better player than Marfan and Gaddis that was taken in he 2nd round in the last two years.
Servando Carrassco and Chris Korb are pretty good pros out of the 2011 2nd Round. But I'll agree, we've done very well in the 2nd round the last two years.
A few new 1st round Mock Drafts (Ives and Top Drawer Soccer) - Kemp (Maryland) predicted to go in the 1st round in both mocks, Nealis (Georgetown) and Kindle (Cal State Bakersfield) each predicted to go in the 1st round in one mock - Cochrane (Louisville) not predicted to go in 1st round (he seems like the player that the Union will eventually pick for a LB in this draft). http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12/sbi-2013-mls-mock-draft-version-1-0.html 1- TORONTO FC *Andrew Farrell, Louisville, Centerback 2- CHIVAS USA *Mikey Lopez, North Carolina, Central Midfielder 3- TORONTO FC *Walker Zimmerman, Furman, Central Defender 4- NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION *J.J. Johnson, VCU, Forward 5- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Dillon Powers, Notre Dame, Central Midfielder 6- COLORADO RAPIDS *#DeShorn Brown, Central Florida, Forward (Jamaica) 7- FC DALLAS *#Kekuta Manneh, FC Solar, Forward (Gambia) 8- MONTREAL IMPACT Blake Smith, New Mexico, Left Winger 9- COLUMBUS CREW #Ashton Bennett, Coastal Carolina, Forward (Jamaican w/Canadian Residency) 10- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Erik Hurtado, Santa Clara, Forward 11- CHICAGO FIRE Carlos Alvarez, UConn, Attacking Midfielder 12- REAL SALT LAKE Ryan Finley, Notre Dame, Forward 13- HOUSTON DYNAMO Will Bates, Virginia, Forward 14- SPORTING KANSAS CITY John Stertzer, Maryland Central Midfielder 15- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES Eric Schoenle, West Virginia, Central Defender 16- SEATTLE SOUNDERS Tommy Muller, Georgetown, Central Defender 17- D.C. UNITED Taylor Kemp, Maryland, Left Back 18- MONTREAL IMPACT Ian Christianson, Georgetown, Defensive Midfielder 19- LOS ANGELES GALAXY Kory Kindle, CSU-Bakersfield, Left Back http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2013-mls-superdraft-mock-draft-v-20_aid28251 1- TORONTO FC *Andrew Farrell, Louisville, Centerback 2- CHIVAS USA *Jose Gomez, Creighton, Central Midfielder 3- TORONTO FC *#DeShorn Brown, Central Florida, Forward (Jamaica) 4- NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION *Walker Zimmerman, Furman, Centerback 5- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS Dillon Powers, Notre Dame, Central Midfielder 6- COLORADO RAPIDS Mikey Lopez, North Carolina, Central Midfielder 7- FC DALLAS Erik Hurtado, Santa Clara, Forward 8- MONTREAL IMPACT Chris Thomas, Elon, Forward 9- COLUMBUS CREW Blake Smith, New Mexico, Left Winger 10- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS #Ashton Bennett, Coastal Carolina, Forward (Jamaican w/Canadian Residency) 11- CHICAGO FIRE John Stertzer, Maryland Central Midfielder 12- REAL SALT LAKE *J.J. Johnson, VCU, Forward 13- HOUSTON DYNAMO Ryan Hollingshead, UCLA, Right Midfielder 14- SPORTING KANSAS CITY *#Kekuta Manneh, FC Solar, Forward (Gambia) 15- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES Eric Schoenle, West Virginia, Central Defender 16- SEATTLE SOUNDERS Machael David, UCSB, Defensive Midfielder 17- D.C. UNITED Jimmy Nealis, Georgetown, Left Back 18- MONTREAL IMPACT Taylor Kemp, Maryland, Left Back 19- LOS ANGELES GALAXY Tommy Muller, Georgetown, Central Defender
Hee was not on the initial GA list but I have to think that he will be added if a team wants to make him one of the top picks - especially if Toronto is willingly to trade the #1 overall pick since they also have the #3 overall pick. Ives seems to think that he will not be a GA in this upcoming draft. http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12/2013-mls-draft-big-board-version-3-0.html#more-21656 Zavaleta’s exclusion from the current Generation adidas conversation may surprise some, but MLS scouts aren’t convinced he is the finished product, and there is still a big question about just where he is best suited (whether at forward or centerback). He had an outstanding NCAA Tournament, but at the moment it doesn’t seem like it was enough to earn him a place in the 2013 MLS Draft. Here is the current GA target list: Generation adidas Deshorn Brown (contract to be extended)Andrew Farrell (contract offered but not accepted as of this date)Jason Johnson (contract to be extended)Mikey Lopez (contract offered but not accepted as of this date)Kekutah Manneh (contract signed)Andrew Zimmerman (contract offered but not accepted as of this date)http://www.3rddegree.net/2012/12/13/2013-mls-generation-adidas-preliminary-list/
Given the way Ives board (v. 3.0) has fallen, Union stay @26 & 29 they have a chance to make this year's 2nd rd as good as any. Nealis @ 26 & Chris Thomas @ 29 and I'm dancing................
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12/2013-mls-draft-big-board-version-3-0.html Here is how the LBs fared in the latest Ives Top 50 Big Board: 15 - Taylor Kemp (Maryland) 20 - Greg Cochrane (Louisville) 22 - Kory Kindle (Cal State Bakersfield) 27 - Jimmy Nealis (Georgetown) 46 - Jack Bennett (St. Johns) [counts as international player - England] Given that the Union will select a LB with one of its 2 second rounders, I would think that they will not select a forward with Hoppenot and Hoffman slipping down the depth chart with the Le Toux and Casey acquisitions. In terms of other positional needs which could be addressed in the draft and some possible names with Hackworth ties: G (if Harrison does not return) - Larry Jackson - Santa Clara [ex-US U17] CB- Danny Wenzel - Wake Forest [ex-US U17] RM/LM - the team could always use more options here especially as there are a bunch of LM players who could be mid-round picks
Zman Gunner, I know this gets said a lot, but it still doesn't seem often enough. You are awesome. The sheer volume of information you spread around these boards must be such a time sink for you. Thanks for all you do, our little corner of BS wouldn't be the same without you.
Another player who may fall into 2nd who could add value is Jose Gomez (Creighton). Ives has him at 35 but he is finalist for Hermann Award and lead Creighton to final 4. He played at Reading United last summer. Excellent on ball with very good vision. Plays as attacking CM.
gonna respectfully disagree (in part). You can't put all eggs in Casey's basket, and Hoff and Hoppy are more or less sub answers to Jack and Seba. If they can fill that spot internationally, then yes-there could well be some AM/Wing options at that 2nd slot. Don't see another G drafted this year. In any event, I think I'm gonna attend the Sunday combine session this year, as they are opening it to the public.
Given our progress so far this offseason, I think we grab the best LB available with our first pick in the draft (which may not be #26 by the time the draft rolls around) and pick best available player (sans GK and RB) with any other picks. Departures at CB (potentially Valdes or Soumare) or attack-minded midfielders (Adu and Daniel seem the most likely) could sway the best available to a need-based pick though that pick still wouldn't be expected to be a starter. Given the players we have acquired at forward in particular, I don't know that we are going to find an impact player that can make a difference for us up there this season. I am still curious to see if we add another player to the front line from abroad.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12/sbi-2013-mls-mock-draft-version-2-0.html The latest Ives mock draft has Philly taking: 26. Uwem Etuk - LM (West Virginia) 29. John Gallagher - LB (Penn State) LBs taken with earlier picks include Kemp (17), Kindle (19), Nealis (20) and Cochrane (21).
Knowing nothing about these players, I'm fine with this draft simply so we can have someone named Uwem Etuk on the team. Awesome name.
I just like this one better: http://www.soccerbyives.net/2012/12/2013-mls-draft-big-board-version-3-0.html Not so much Bekker @ 26 and Monge @ 29......... but the idea of Nealis being there @ 27 Smith @ 28 and Thomas @ 30 are particularly appealing........
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...na-star-zavaleta-signs-generation-adidas-deal Zavaleta now in the draft, not that it helps us any.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...raft-top-10-ranking-best-left-backs-available Here is the skinny on left backs in the draft class - one of them surely will be a Union selection in the 2nd round of Thursday's SuperDraft (could see them even selecting 2 of them between SuperDraft and Supplemental picks - especially if one of them can also play LM) since most of them either have local ties or played in the Mid-Atlantic region where the Union can most easily scout in person. Left back is always one of the most sought-after positions for MLS coaches and they hit the jackpot with this year’s draft class. Left back might be one of the deepest positions in the draft pool with four highly touted left backs and another four or five draftable players who could earn a roster spot this spring. Here are the top 10 left backs on my draft board: 10. Austin McAnena (Ohio State): This might be a stretch after he played in the middle of the field for most of college (specifically at holding mid), but McAnena is naturally left-footed and a good passer who can strike a ball over distance. It’s a long shot, but it’s a shot. 9. John Gallagher (Penn State): Here's a forward who has worked his way to left back and is relatively new to the position. There are more like him. He’s naturally left-footed and super-strong, and there are those that think he’s a sure bet to put it all together in MLS. But there are also plenty of detractors. 8. Jack Bennett (St. John’s): A left-mid to left back transplant. He can get up the field, but it’s his defensive abilities that will be in question. Being a smart player out of a good program (see Connor Lade) could be enough to get him a chance to earn a roster spot. 7. Nico Clavijo (unattached): A bit of an unknown quantity, the son of the FC Dallas technical director returned from a stint in Uruguay’s second division to play the 2012 season with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Some around the league feel he’s at or above the level of the other Combine players. 6. Ryan Clark (Monmouth): Clark has played all over the field in college, but left back seems the most likely place for him to land an MLS gig. 5. Greg Cochrane (Louisville): A versatile left-sided player who found success in college at left mid, but most likely ends up at left back in MLS, offering up his attacking talents from the back. 4. Dylan Remick (Brown): Among the top tier of left backs in the draft, the four-year All-Ivy selection is athletic with good size and can get forward. But unlike some of the guys on this list, he is a defender first and foremost. 3. Korey Kindle (CSU Bakersfield): Uber-athlete who converted from forward to left back two years ago and might be a bit of a project on the defensive side. But he has more upside than anyone else at the position. 2. Taylor Kemp (Maryland): Some would argue that Kemp is the best left back in this draft pool, but he struggled with injuries in 2012. When he’s on the field he provides everything you need from the position and is above average across the board with excellent service. 1. Jimmy Nealis (Georgetown): Nealis went from relative unknown to hot prospect in 2012. He has good size and athleticism. He’s comfortable on the ball and makes an impact in the attack whether on the dribble or with service from the wing.
I still think Cochrane - with his Reading United/Burke ties and training stint(s) with the Union - is high on the team's list. Granted, Hackworth said that he's happy to have those second round picks for use in a potential trade. Did I hear correctly, the SuperDraft will NOT be televised this year?
http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft...occercoms-2013-mock-draft-pre-combine-edition Here are the latest mocks from mlssoccer.com (Simon Borg's pick is listed first, Matt Doyle is next followed by Jason Sagini) in terms of the Union picks: Pick #26SPick #26imon Borg Matt Doyle Jason Saghini Pick #26 John Stertzer (MF) Maryland With Amobi Okugo likely to feature at center back, Zach Pfeffer out on loan and Brian Carroll another season older, it will help to have an all-round midfielder who can do it all.Dylan Remick (DF) [Doyle] Brown Still kind of stunned he didn’t get a Combine invite. Big, athletic and skilled, Remick could be a long-term solution at left back for Philly.Tommy Muller (DF) [Sagini]GeorgetownWith Carlos Valdés looking like he's heading out on loan and not much depth at center back, Philly take the somewhat underrated central defender prospect off the board. Pick #29 T.J. Nelson (MF) [Borg] Southern Methodist Another quality central midfielder who has operated as a deep playmaker for SMU. Although his size is still a question, his quality on the ball and his vision and passing ability make him too good to pass up here.John Gallagher (DF) [Doyle] Penn State If Remick doesn’t work out, then Gallagher will. That’ll be the idea at PPL Park, anyway. He doesn’t have the same upside, but he’s solid and mistake-free.Ryan Clark (DF/MF) [Sagini]MonmouthAnother guy who could end up at left back or left midfield, but the Union could use some cover at both, so the versatilitiy helps his cuase.
The two extra GA signings help give us a few more options down in the low 20s because of the bump down. Still would be surprised to see us not drafting defenders. There seem to be quite a few prospects out there for us - though Hackworth recently raised the potential of trading a pick on one of the weekly podcasts.