The lists are out: http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/12/2016-mls-expansion-draft-protected-and-unprotected-lists To my surprise, Ricketts is unprotected. No disrespect to a youngster with some potential but Endo gets protected while Ricketts is left exposed?
Well, we can only lose one player - and Rickets is an international - figure Beitashour goes before Ricketts.
That was my thinking, too. Bono did really well when Irwin was injured and (maybe because of injury?) I really don't remember times when Irwin stole games for us. So I'd be comfortable going into next season with Bono as our starter if we had to.
Endo was protected because you have to protect 3 internationals.....Cooper...Giovinco...Endo are our 3 protected internationals. The only reason that either of the expansion teams would take Ricketts (who would be an international to them but not TFC) is if they thought they could get more in a trade back to TFC or (more likely) a trade to Montreal or Vancouver (ie. Call them up and say "look what we stole from TFC...what would you give us for him?")...but he has very limited value to either of the US based expansion clubs. Beitashour would be interesting to them but way too expensive.....likely to go is Irwin if either team wants to invest in an experienced keeper or Bloom...experienced, inexpensive and servicable defenender.....outside chance that Lovitz goes but unlikely. BTW...if I were these teams I would be letting TFC know that I had a very strong interest in taking Ricketts and trading him to Montreal or Vancouver....then make a deal with them (like a 3rd round draft pick for Lovitz) to agree not to take Ricketts.
Another thought....it speaks volumes about the job TFC have done that the 11 they have unprotected would likely be reasonably competitive in a lot of MLS matches lined up in a 4-4-2 Irwin Beitashour - Simonin - Williams - Bloom Lovitz - Cheryou - Johnson - Babouli Ricketts - Roberts (had to put the back up keeper up front to use all eleven...but the point is that is a pretty good batch of players for any MLS team to have to leave unprotected)
Also remember Bloom is an Atlanta native so could see that as another reason to be pick but I am hoping they don't take Beitashour off our hands (despite high cap hit I think he will be selected)
There is a lot of talk that Minnesota is very keen on Irwin....not sure what the order of selection is but since each team can only lose one player, they had best take Irwin before Atlanta takes Bloom. Getting an MLS experienced (but still fairly young), US domestic full back on a good contract has to be very appealing to AUFC.
I'm surprised that they're protecting both of Haggaleta. I don't see either of them as being completely irreplaceable; I figure it would be much harder to find a quality MLS-experienced goalkeeper
To be fair, other than Dempsey, how many other players in the league can say they've scored against England in a world cup? Two young cheap starting-caliber American CB's are pretty valuable in MLS. If I was an expansion team and either of them were available I'd take one over anyone else we've protected I remember when Orlando joined we all thought they'd take him for similar reasons (iirc his wife is/was posted around there) so while I wouldn't rule it out I don't think geography is that big a factor All of that said, here's who I think is most likely to go, ranked 1. Irwin 2. Beita 3. Ricketts 4. Bloom 5. Lovitz 6. Williams 7. Everyone else (they'd be dumb to pick WJ since he can just become a free agent after and I think I read somewhere he doesn't want to go to an expansion team) It would be a huge shock if we don't lose anyone. Virtually the only downside to being an actual good MLS team
more likely that they will trade the allocation order right to Guzan to his hometown Chicago Fire now
You can assemble quite the team of ex-TFC players from the unprotected list without actually picking anyone from TFC's list. Check out this starting 11 (with a few players playing out of position): F: Oduro, Dominic Amarikwa, Quincy MF: Barrett, Chad Gomez, Herculez LaBrocca, Nick Bekker, Kyle Edu, Maurice D: Nagamura, Paulo Wynne, Marvell Warner, Collen GK: Konopka, Chris I don't know if it is more reflective of the fact that because of their years of lineup changes, half the league is ex-TFC players, or that most of the ex-TFC players are not players teams want to keep. Or both.
maybe we get him back for, say, Bloom and Williams.. It was speculated that Minnesota was interested in Irwin....not Atlanta. Atlanta has first pick on returning players and Guzan is coming back....they also made a young keeper their first ever signing.....then they go out and take 2 goalies with their 5 expansion draft picks? Methinks they are in deal making mode!
Can confirm a deal in place for Irwin to go back to Toronto. Hearing Mark Bloom and cash is headed back to Atlanta. Bloom from Marietta, Ga.— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) December 13, 2016
Sounded kinda like a handshake deal before hand to make sure Irwin didn't end up with Minnesota FC so Atlanta picks him, get player they prob looked at picking before hand in Bloom and little allocation.