The Expansion Draft Thread (updated with results)

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by Ismitje, Nov 24, 2008.

  1. FuzzyForeigner

    Oct 29, 2003
    WA
    Club:
    Seattle
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From gosounders.com:

    Nate Jaqua, Houston Dynamo- Forward (14 games, 11 starts, 4 goals, 4 assists) :$174,125
    Brad Evans, Columbus Crew- Midfielder (26 games, 18 starts, 5 goals, 1 assist) :$33,000
    Stephen King, Chicago Fire- Midfielder (20 games, 8 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist) :$17,700
    Jeff Parke, New York Red Bulls- Defender (24 games, 23 starts) :$58,737
    James Riley, San Jose Earthquakes- Defender (24 games, 23 starts, 2 assists) :$33,000
    Khano Smith, New England Revolution- Midfielder (23 games, 18 starts, 2 goals, 3 assists) :$46,305
    Jarrod Smith, Toronto FC- Forward (20 games, 6 starts, 1 goal) :$36,000
    Nathan Sturgis, Real Salt Lake- Defender (3 games, 2 starts) :$108,000
    Peter Vagenas, Los Angeles Galaxy- Midfielder (14 games, 11 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists) :$144,000
    Tyson Wahl, Kansas City Wizards- Defender (16 games, 16 starts) :$33,000

    Kasey Keller is making 288k, letoux aruond 120k, Freddie is 415k, and Sanna Nyassi around 50k

    Total to around 1.6Mil. So 1.2 mil to go? Not bad.

    5 of these players are trade bait and 5 will stay.


    Seriously though guys: Evans behind or side by side Freddie Ljundberg? That is a solid middle.
     
  2. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  3. ojsgillt

    ojsgillt Member

    Feb 27, 2001
    Lee's Summit MO
    Re: The Expansion Draft Thread

    That is very true, I agree. but being conservative and showing the worst case with the data available, they still have a half a million in the salary cap. I bet you it is closer to 800,000.

    From a salary standpoint they sit in a very good position. Which is good because they need more players. A Super, a Supplemental, and a couple of Waiver drafts won't cut it to fill out a championship squad. They have the room they need to go get some players. Get a solid group of young americans together, put in one or two veteran MLSer's, find some high priced forgein talent add in your USMNT player and you are set.
     
  4. Earthshaker

    Earthshaker BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 12, 2005
    The hills above town
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No, he is not a bad player, he actually was a pretty solid defender for San Jose. Sure Razov is a good player, but, maybe they have other ideas for what they want in a front line. And Riley came cheap at $33,000. I think this was one of Seattle's better choices.
     
  5. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seriously, you'd better have a straight DM behind Evans, or it won't work.

    Looks like you guys are going to be in Sigi's 4-5-1 with Ljundberg playing Guille's role.

    And Evans the CM, and King the DM.
     
  6. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're probably right. Though I still say I'm shocked COL didn't lose a player as well.

    Also, I never said Riliey was a bad player, I just thought picking him in lieu of more proven (Razov, Vaughn form CHV) or (Petke, Burciaga, Cooke from COL) was surprising. Or guys with more talent (Flores, Kimura).
     
  7. ttujosh

    ttujosh Member

    Mar 9, 2003
    Dallas, Tx
    Re: The Expansion Draft Thread

    Until any trades come through the pipe with these players, color me underwhelmed. Obviously everyone disagrees with the selection of Vagenas, but another pick that bothers me is Riley. I think this kid has shown that he can't be consistent at this level, and joins his 3rd team in 3 seasons. I think you can say Nicols is a good eye for talent, and Yallop is too, so when both guys made him available, that tells me they see the same thing I do. That comment Henderson made about Jarrod Smith being a good target forward confuses me, because isn't that what Jaqua is supposed to be? So you picked the kid to be a back up for Nate Fn Jaqua? For the sake of Sounders fans, hopefully their signings get better, but with several of these being questionable picks added to Keller, Freddia, and Nyassi not playing this season, this team could be very shaky.
     
  8. Earthshaker

    Earthshaker BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 12, 2005
    The hills above town
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, I know you didn't say he was a bad player, but, maybe Seattle was choosing more for position, and not just raw talent. Flores may have more natural "talent" but, I doubt he could play right back as well as Riley.
     
  9. jade1mls

    jade1mls Member

    Jul 9, 2006
    Seattle


    Ok I just want everyone to know, in case you were wondering, this chica is not me.
     
  10. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Jade is back???
     
  11. boomersooner027

    May 13, 2004
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    Bahamas
    This is the most interesting post about the expansion draft by a mile.
     
  12. The Cadaver

    The Cadaver It's very quiet here.

    Oct 24, 2000
    La Cañada, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Right.

    Glad that's cleared up.


    Really had me worried, there. :rolleyes:
     
  13. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    this post made me laugh...

    kinda odd that princess makes her first and only post and just after jade says its not her after saying she was leaving BS for forever...

    by saying its not her makes it more likely that the new name IS her since that name was just created and only has one total post...

    either way, no one here really cares, just funny that jade decided to post after so long to say that...
     
  14. evangel

    evangel Member+

    Apr 12, 2007
    I thought Jade's prenuptial with DC United stated that if she ever switched teams she could no longer post on BigSoccer.
     
  15. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    went from New England to DC to Seattle to Philly...:rolleyes:

    jk Jade...:):p
     
  16. SeattleSupporter

    Aug 17, 2004
    North Sound Ultra
    And who the hell are you?
     
  17. stopper4

    stopper4 Member

    Jan 24, 2000
    Houston
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    n00b
     
  18. scott47a

    scott47a Member+

    Seattle Sounders FC; Arsenal FC
    Feb 6, 2007
    Austin, Texas
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Back on topic, I have read some more about it and, to be honest, I don't think it's that bad of a draft.

    I guess it depends on what you expected.

    I can see all 10 of these guys making the opening roster. Parke, Riley, Vagenas, Jaqua and Khano Smith seem like obvious starters on opening day.

    Evans, Sturgis and Wahl have an outside chance of starting.

    Jarrod Smith and Steven King seem like obvious bench players, with Smith given the role of backing up Jaqua.

    Of course that still leaves some holes in the starting lineup. But there is plenty of time between now and March, and we are expecting a handful of Sounders USL players to latch on, as well as some blood from S. America, including the long-rumored arrival of Freddy Montero as the second striker.

    If that happens, I think there are just a couple question marks on opening day:

    Keller
    ?? -- Parke -- Wahl? -- Riley
    Le Toux -- Ljungberg -- Vagenas -- K. Smith
    Montero --Jaqua

    Bench:
    Evans, Sturgis, King, J. Smith, Nyassi, (expect Chris Eylander as backup GK), ??

    The best team in the league? Probably not. But maybe not the worst, either.
     
  19. SeattleSupporter

    Aug 17, 2004
    North Sound Ultra
    You may have some BigTalker years on me, but I don't think you have a clue Waldo.
     
  20. MLS3

    MLS3 Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    Pac NW
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Parke won't be around for opening day, still is suspended for a couple more games...and or leaving to another league..

    any lineup with Vagenas is automatically the worst in the league...just look at is as whoever else is starting in the midfield, he cancels out any good they do...

    then Khano Smith is worthless, but at least I'll be able to catch (literally) a few of his "crosses"...

    otherwise, I like how our roster is shaping up, just need to make sure Vagenas is nowhere near our team by opening day and I see no reason we can't compete for a playoff spot and a trophy next season...
     
  21. Baysider

    Baysider Member+

    Jul 16, 2004
    Santa Monica
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Relax, he's only making fun because you don't know who Jade is. It isn't so much a distinction as something you lived through.
     
  22. Baysider

    Baysider Member+

    Jul 16, 2004
    Santa Monica
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    I actually didn't expect much so I don't think they did that bad. My sense is that teams have become smarter about the expansion draft and you're not going to see all the wheeling and dealing you did with Toronto. I was surprised by the lack of keeper being taken and traded, but who knows what's behind that.

    I don't know. If they line up like that there's going to be a lot of trouble. I can't see Vagenas holding down the central midfield when you have three attacking players like Le Toux Ljungberg and Smith. It wouldn't surprise me to see more of a 4-2-3-1 with Montero Ljungberg and Smith being the "3" backed by Vagenas and Evans.

    Presumably there are other internationals Seattle is expecting to bring in.
     
  23. Earthshaker

    Earthshaker BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 12, 2005
    The hills above town
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, you are the person who doesn't honor a bet you lose. :) Now, run along and remove your mug from the avatar and put the Sounder logo up.;)
     
  24. soccerfan

    soccerfan BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 13, 1999
    New Jersey
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    according to another poster here , they used some high tech stuff to pick the best players.-so YES this are the best players

    quote
    "Hanauer and Henderson will make their final determinations from the Emeryville, Ca., offices of Match Analysis, a provider of video and statistical analysis tools, archiving services, and value-added content for professional soccer. Match Analysis records and verifies over 2400 distinct events per match. Using proprietary technology, every touch by every player is catalogued precisely, synchronized against video feeds, and stored in an expansive video database of international football."
     
  25. GOALSeattle

    GOALSeattle Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Seattle
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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