Re: The Expansion Draft Thread fyi - Mauricio Matamoros = Mauricio Castro personally I wouldn't be sad to see Wells Thompson or Khano Smith get picked from the Revs. I wouldn't be pleased to see Badilla go, particularly with Parkhurst not certain to come back. I also kinda like Castro but that's less of an issue.
Re: List of available players in expansion draft Things move fast around here: More United and MLS News - Steve Goff, Soccer Insider
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Here are the players that stand out to me as real bargains: Marco Pappa Adam Moffat Alex Zotinca Ray Burse John Wolyniec Jeff Parke Rohan Ricketts Is there something about internationals Pappa, Moffat and Ricketts that make them less desirable? I mean, there are a lot of new int'l spots, right? Guys like Andy Williams, O'Brien, Razov etc. may have another year or two in them, but aren't real bargains.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread This differs from the MLS press release last month: Given that the Rapids exposed both Facundo Erpen and Tom McManus I'd say Seattle's press release is incorrect.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread I would take: (Assuming Jaqua will be traded in turn for No HOU players) ------------Jaqua(HOU)*--------LeToux(SEA)------------ -----------------------Ljungberg(SEA)-------------------- Banner(CHI)----------------------------------Gaven(CLB) ------------------------Wicky(CHV)----------------------- Wahl(KC)-----Sturgis(RSL)-----Parke(NY)------Klein(LA) ------------------------Keller(SEA)------------------------ M Nyassi (SEA) M Mediate (DC) D Badilla (NE) D Pitchkolan (DAL) Various others I considered: 1. Is Gaven going to be out of contract? 2. Ante Razov 3. Marco Pappa (Hes on loan, if he would go to Seattle, Id take him) 4. Greg Dalby (potential) 5. Tom McManus (if I wanted another forward) 6. Victor Sikora (experienced talent) 7. Louis Crayton (screw DC over) 8. Peralta/Martinez(DC)(if they wanted to come to Seattle) 9. Wade Barrett(if theres no Jaqua deal) 10. Khano Smith (speedy boneheaded LM) 11. Matthew Mbuta (i like him) 12. Ronnie O'Brien (large salary tho) 13. Johann Smith (foreign player i think)
Re: List of available players in expansion draft ^^^ That lineup is ~1.12 million plus 400k for DP and maybe 250k or 300k for Keller. So it totals ~1.8mil for 15 players leaving ~600k for 9 more players. If I've taken up too many dollars with an expansion draft, then I might consider Moffat instead of Gaven for a savings of ~150k, despite his foreign status.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Chivas USA Flores, Jorge Kennedy, Dan Razov, Ante Vaughn, Lawson * Chicago Fire Banner, Michael King, Stephen * Marmol, Lider Pappa, Marco Pablo Woolard, Daniel Colorado Rapids Burciaga, Jose Cooke, Terry * Kimura, Kosuke McManus, Tom Petke, Mike Columbus Crew Evans, Brad Gaven, Eddie * Lenhart, Steven Miglioranzi, Stefani Moffat, Adam Noonan, Pat FC Dallas Burse, Ray Pitchkolan, Aaron Sikora, Victor * D.C. United Cordeiro, Ryan Crayton, Louis Doe, Francis Dyachenko, Rod Martinez, Gonzalo * Houston Dynamo Ashe, Corey Barrett, Wade Caig, Tony Ianni, Patrick Jaqua, Nate * Mulrooney, Richard Waibel, Craig Kansas City Wizards Hohlbein, Aaron Morsink, Kurt Pore, Ryan Thompson, Abe * Wahl, Tyson Watson, Lance Los Angeles Galaxy Allen, Ely Cronin, Steve Klein, Chris * Randolph, Michael Tudela, Josh New England Revolution Angulo, Jose Badilla, Gabriel * Phelan, Pat New York Red Bulls Jimenez, Diego * Magee, Mike Mbuta, Andongcho Mendes, Carlos Parke, Jeff Wolyniec, John Real Salt Lake Deuchar, Kenneth Joy, Ian Kovalenko, Dema Sturgis, Nathan * San Jose Earthquakes Grabavoy, Ned O'Brien, Ronnie * Riley, James Toronto FC Smith, Johann *
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Pappa is here on a loan, he has no chance of playing for another team. Ricketts has a high salary and has very little chance of being selected.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Wicky was hurt before he came to MLS and now is still hurt. A year older and on turf? Nah. Moffat is the bigtime pick at d-mid, I think. I'd take Zotinca over Klein--I think he has a lower salary and is somewhat younger and can play a variety of positions. I've never seen LeToux play, so I don't know if he'd be complementary to Jaqua. I certainly don't think the Ching-Jaqua combo was very good. There are some real wildcards out there like Dejair--who knows what he can really do? I also think Francis Doe is better than advertised as a 3rd or 4th forward--DC certainly used him enough in desperation.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread International slots are the easiest to fill in terms of finding comparable talent. It is far harder to pick up quality game ready US players because they are usually either already starting for an MLS team or they are playing abroad for more money. You have to do some scouting but you can find players that are as good as the unprotected international players at roughly the same price (that isn't to say there aren't some bargains though. If I'm Seattle I pick up the following players: Chi: Marmol .Only if NY is interested in him still and there is someone to get from NY. CUSA: Talley. Quality starting Midfielder in MLS. Flores if they are looking for a substitute striker). Clmb: Tough choice here. I like gaven, noonan, and evans. Any of the 3 are good in my book. FCD: Burse. Young, athletic, and has shown he can spot start if needed. A few years under Keller will do wonders. LA: Randolph. Not the best defender but cheap and somewhat versatile. RSL: Sturgis. Can play when not injured. Could also command some trade value. Ian Joy might be a good defensive pick up unless you take...... Hou: Barrett. Nate the tall would be the logical choice here, except I think the offensive talent is better than the defensive talent. NY: I'd take a flyer on Touray. Lot of upside if you want a project. Otherwise not a lot to pick from here (but better than other teams). NE: Possibly Tierney. I like what I have seen from him in the games he has played. TFC: Johann Smith. Not a lot of options left and I think he has some upside. This draft has some real good talent but they are clustered onto the same teams (like Columbus and Houston). The big issue for Seattle is that they already signed Keller so most teams can leave their starters unprotected knowing that Seattle won't pick them or if they do they don't have bargaining power. This allowed teams to protect one additional field player that otherwise would have been left unprotected.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Honestly I think there is a lot about contracts that as fans we don't know. So people speculate on Pappa without understanding his loan deal or on Gonzalo Martinez after DC has already uninvited him (see Goff) for next year and he could be on his way back to S. America. That makes all of this speculation tough -- but fun, too. I'd say that Wade Barrett and Brad Evans stand out to me as the plumb picks on the lists, with defensive players like Riley, Burciaga, Prideaux, Vaughn, Zotinca, Jimenez, Joy and even Velez as possibilities. The back line is empty at this point and needs some players with MLS-level experience. I think the team already plans on signing Chris Eylander from USL Sounders as second keeper -- so a keeper pick is a trade deal. And I think the teams know that, which is why so many starting MLS keepers were left exposed.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread In that case I think I'll go: I would take: (Assuming Jaqua will be traded in turn for No HOU players) ------------Jaqua(HOU)*--------LeToux(SEA)------------ -----------------------Ljungberg(SEA)-------------------- Pappa(CHI)-----------------------------------Sikora(DAL) ------------------------Moffat(CLB)----------------------- Wahl(KC)-----Sturgis(RSL)-----Parke(NY)------Klein(LA) ------------------------Keller(SEA)------------------------ M Nyassi (SEA) M Mediate (DC) D Badilla (NE) D Vaughn (CHV) ~1.65 mil for the whole new 15 man roster.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Feel like troubleshooting with my initial draft list? Chicago Fire - Brandon Prideaux Columbus Crew - Eddie Gaven FC Dallas - Aaron Pitchkolan DC United - Quavas Kirk Houston Dynamo - Nate Jaqua KC Wizards - Tyson Wahl NE Revolution - Khano Smith NY Red Bulls - Jeff Parke RSL - Ian Joy SJ Earthquakes - Ned Grabavoy Reasonings: * We have a few offensive players already in the pipeline * A goalkeeper (Eylander) likely to sign, too * We need defenders and toughness in midfield
Re: List of available players in expansion draft So, a few months after Chicago refused to let Marmol play in NY, they put him on the expansion list. Stay classy, Fire FO. Not much real talent available for Seattle. I'm a bit surprised Gaven's on the list, but I supposed Rogers and Ekpo make him expendable. I'd be rather surprised if Seattle didn't pick him up. There's a few names that pop out, but most of those are to be avoided considering contract size/injury history (Ronnie O'Brian, Rasov).
Re: List of available players in expansion draft If i was Seattle i would got straight for youth and excitment on the wings. Bring in Both Gaven and Johann Smith. Eddie gaven might not be the once explosive kid with Metrostars anymore, but with a new team maybe he can?
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread I am surprised that Columbus has two of their starting mids in Evans and Gaven available. I dont follow the club, just saying its surprising they were good enough to start on Sunday, then 24 hrs later are on the block.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread Moffat was the early season starter, then got hurt. Seattle can have one, but not both. Either way, we are covered. Gaven could also play in that spot, or even Noonan. Gaven. Makes close to 200k (165?) depending on how one counts, and Noonan is also close to that level (or more). Again, you can have one, but not both. And we also have depth at the spot, with Ekpo and even Evans. Though he doesn't play enough D yet, the thought of Ekpo on one side and Rogers on the other should absolutely terrify MLS defenses. Marshall. Unsure of his status. Leaving Gaven and Evans open allowed us to protect 9/11 of the starters, (Ekpo and Iro were the bench players protected). If Marshall leaves for Europe (he is out of contract) we then would need Iro to partner O'Rourke in CD. If he was left open and selected, we'd have serious CB problems. Iro is huge (6'5") and not as polished as Marshall, but is already dominant in the air. And Ekpo has insane talent and ball skills. You'll see.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread I am not as high on Ekpo as others. I would much rather have Gaven. Keep in mind Ekpo is totally right footed. Gaven plays both sides.
Re: The Expansion Draft Thread A lot of good players out there for Seattle to look at. If they wanted to put most all their cap towards the starting 11 they could field a pretty scary team. Here is what I would do if I was them. Ante Razov Lider Marmol Mike Petke Adam Moffat Ben Olsen Pat Onstad (trade bait much!?) Jeff Parke Dema Kovalenko Ned Grabavoy Rohan Ricketts ..............Keller.............. ................................... ..Marmol...Petke...Parke... .................................. ............Kovalenko.......... ................................... ...Olsen..Moffat..Ricketts.. ................................... ...........Ljungberg............ .................................... ......Razov.......Le Toux..... Now, it is kind of silly, because that line-up alone would be a little over 2 million. But, depending on how much the cap gets increased, it could be doable.