Who Should The Fire Draft?

[lammygeek]

The Fire should draft CJ Klass. He is a top-notch defender. He has excelled at all levels, including youth titles with the Chicago Magic, and playing for the US U-20 side at last years World Youth Championship in UAE. With the dismal year Gray had, and with Brown getting older, Klass would be a perfect fit. He's local too (well... Rockford is at least in the same state as Chicago), and he might bring more fans to the stadium, although I realize that is not the major criteria for drafting him. He is a solid, well-built, professional defender though... and he will surely solidify the Fire backline.

And it would give us the potential to line up two 'CJs' in the back...

Too bad we lost DJ, now that would be something.

[Tmagic77]

You did...

What I was saying is the PDL team uses top talent from national college teams and additional local college players in the summertime of their college years. They train in the Fire system and under Fire coaching and under the Fire name.


CFR?

Matko is Fire coaching? Or did I miss something?

[Marchetti]

Mike Matkovich is not being paid by the Chicago Fire. He is often times consulted by the Fire, and probably has close ties to Wilt and Co., but he, as the coach of the Reserves, is paid by Amadan Soccer LLC.

[Onionsack]

What about this guy as a leftback draftee or reservee?
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/wiml/sports/m-soccer/auto_action/27780.jpeg
TRENT FURTSCH

He was a 4 year starter at UW-Milwaukee

Season G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
2004 ... 19/19 .. 14 .... 2 ...... 3 ...... 7
2003 ... 23/21 .. 14 .... 1 ...... 5 ...... 7
2002 ... 21/21 .. 12 .... 0 ...... 5 ...... 5
2001 ... 23/23 .. 10 .... 0 ...... 1 ...... 1

I know that Chicago has scouted this kid and given their weakness at leftback he may be an option..also his red hair would go nicley with Curtin.. a fire red backline if you will.

[iwishiweremingus2]

UWM kids on the fire. i'm all for it.

[bing1985]

You did...
... has the ability to now sign a professional developmental contract like we offer already directly with the Fire and play regularly in the reserve league and continue to devlop and perhaps contribute more directly to the first team than he would have by entering another club's system.


I get you - thanks for the explanation. I'm a bit surprised that the NCAA doesn't see any of this as violation of their rules. Maybe there's an advantage to being a stealth sport - flying under their radar.

[Greddy]

I get you - thanks for the explanation. I'm a bit surprised that the NCAA doesn't see any of this as violation of their rules. Maybe there's an advantage to being a stealth sport - flying under their radar.

Well, they still lose NCAA eligibility once they sign the contract. It's just for that sixth rounder that would have been drafted by Colorado and never seen the field. Now he can be signed after the draft by chicago, never to see the field. I definately like it better that way. We end up with a lot more local guys and CFR alumns, even if they aren't elite players.

Also, earlier in the thread I mentioned how it would be cool to draft a hot prospect like Quavas Kirk, now that we have a reserve squad. The reason I said that was because I think that young players are in a much better position to develop and mature now that they have a chance to play week in, week out, whether or not that is with the first team. We don't just have to draft them and put them on the shelf like we did with Capano anymore.

[Bob Morocco]

Well, they still lose NCAA eligibility once they sign the contract. It's just for that sixth rounder that would have been drafted by Colorado and never seen the field. Now he can be signed after the draft by chicago, never to see the field. I definately like it better that way. We end up with a lot more local guys and CFR alumns, even if they aren't elite players.

Also, earlier in the thread I mentioned how it would be cool to draft a hot prospect like Quavas Kirk, now that we have a reserve squad. The reason I said that was because I think that young players are in a much better position to develop and mature now that they have a chance to play week in, week out, whether or not that is with the first team. We don't just have to draft them and put them on the shelf like we did with Capano anymore.
We have the third pick and the tenth in the first round. The eighteenth in the second and a late third and early fourth. if this is the case I'd be more than happy with: Moor, Klaas, Kirk, Some dude, and another guy who the Revs were going to draft.

[soccerballz1]

word is that Thorrington will sign with Chicago as as allocation player and not come in via the draft........

[Tmagic77]

We have the third pick and the tenth in the first round. The eighteenth in the second and a late third and early fourth. if this is the case I'd be more than happy with: Moor, Klaas, Kirk, Some dude, and another guy who the Revs were going to draft.

I think we could possibly get 2 of the 3 of Moor, Klaas, and Kirk, but which is going to be left at the 18th pick? I'd think they'd all be gone by then. I think we'd have to trade up at least 5 spots to get all of them.

[Marchetti]

word is that Thorrington will sign with Chicago as as allocation player and not come in via the draft........
Well, that "news" would be nice... but honestly, why do people here always speculate like that? Why can't you cite a source? Your post has no credibility.

[swedcrip34]

Hindsight is 20/20, but here's a review of the 2004 draft

CHI (f CHI t NE) Buete, Scott R1P09Y04
CHI (f DAL t LA t MET) Griffin, Leonard R2P01Y04
CHI Pickens, Matt R2P09Y04
CHI (f SJ) Ibrahim, Sumed R2P10Y04
CHI (f NE) Stephenson, Khari R3P08Y04
CHI (f NE) Clanton, Denny R4P08Y04
CHI Hucles, Phil R4P09Y04
CHI Pilarski, Ian R5P09Y04
CHI (f DAL) McGowan, Ryan R6P01Y04
CHI McManus, Tony R6P09Y04

Buete made the senior roster all year.
Griffin got demoted to dev lat in the year.
Pickens I haven't seen play, dev all year.
Sumed Ibrahim got cut, but may be back.
Stephenson was traded to KC and looked pretty good in the playoffs.
Clanton - dev all year.
Pilarski got cut off dev.
Hucles, McGowan, and McManus weren't signed.

It's not really fair, but re-running the draft in retrospect, heres what could have been acquired. Since some of these guys are still around and haven't been played much yet, it's too early to tell, but for 10 picks, no breakout star yet (I heard Buete improved but I haven't been impressed yet).

CHI (f CHI t NE) Wingert, Chris R1P09Y04
CHI (f DAL t LA t MET) Grabavoy, Ned R2P01Y04
CHI Pickens, Matt R2P09Y04
CHI (f SJ) Gros, Josh R2P10Y04
CHI (f NE) Stephenson, Khari R3P08Y04 (wouldn't have traded)
CHI (f NE) Clanton, Denny R4P08Y04
CHI Sullivan, Gary R4P09Y04
CHI Gordon, Alan R5P09Y04
CHI (f DAL) Dorman, Andy R6P01Y04
CHI Parke, Jeff R6P09Y04

not having a top 9 pick hurt, but in retrospect I'd consider a different decision-making proccess for 2005. Buete, Griffin, Clanton, and Pickens may still turn out to be a good group but I'd be disappointed considering the 10 picks and not making the playoffs. I will give credit for being a great team at drafting p40s and keeping them on the roster - Bocanegra, Gray, (trading for a p40 Mapp), Pause, Capano. And drafting players like Curtin and Ralph and Dispy, Whitfield, and Ring. No other team has such a high # of contributers drafted and developed. It's too early to fully judge 2004 (though all the picks were college seniors), but something seemed off.

[creative_destruction]

Well, that "news" would be nice... but honestly, why do people here always speculate like that? Why can't you cite a source? Your post has no credibility.As per another thread, he was Thorrington's old high school coach and still keeps contact with him. So "word" would most likely come from family or John himself.

[soccerballz1]

Thanks, Creative One, I did coach JT and I still keep in touch with him and I am also careful about how I word things so as to not take advantage of my relationship with a former player.

Marchetti, let's just say that I have some pretty solid information about this. Without sounding like a soothsayer, don't be surprised if Mathis is "allocated" to RSL and Thorrington is "allocated" to the Fire. However, I will permit you to doubt.

[Marchetti]

Sorry. It's just that things would have made more clear if that was said the first time around.

[soccerballz1]

No problems, Marchetti. In fact, I hope JT does make it big with the Fire and, if he does, I'll let you buy me a pint to call it even when I come to Chicago to catch one of his games! :D

[Marchetti]

No problem.

[Bob Morocco]

I think we could possibly get 2 of the 3 of Moor, Klaas, and Kirk, but which is going to be left at the 18th pick? I'd think they'd all be gone by then. I think we'd have to trade up at least 5 spots to get all of them.
I'm hoping there is a hands off policy towards Kirk so he can fall to us at 18.

[Tmagic77]

I'm hoping there is a hands off policy towards Kirk so he can fall to us at 18.

I think that's asking a lot. Dallas had a hands off on Nunez and they took him first round. Kirk, minus a hands off policy, would probably be gone by 10 so I think we'd have to take him there.

[Bob Morocco]

I think that's asking a lot. Dallas had a hands off on Nunez and they took him first round. Kirk, minus a hands off policy, would probably be gone by 10 so I think we'd have to take him there.
Didn't Gaven go in the second round?