3rd Degree, as always does a fantastic review and write up of the MLS Combine, and the Generation Adidas class for 2007 has been announced. The Fire have the 8th pick (1), the 21st pick (2), the 34th pick (3), and the 47th pick (4). First off, what positions do you feel the Fire need and could potentially fill or back up with a draft pick? Second, based on the reports provided above and anything you may have heard or seen, and taking into considering the picks, who do you think the Fire should invest in come Friday's draft?
RM seems to be the area of need along with CAM and depth in the back. From 3rd degrees reports,it doesn't look like there are any ready made CAMs in the draft. We either leave Mapp there or look to a trade/DP to fill the spot. As for RM there are some interesting prospects starting with Colaluca from VA, Richards(a converted striker) from Clemson and maybe the GA Arguez(sp?). If we can get a GA RM then that is my pick. If we want to go D early, then Needham from SMU or Holbein from Wisc look like possibilities, but if we re-sign Tony for one more run, then I take Soumare from VA and groom him to anchor the backline.If we do go D first, then I take Hayden from IU in a later round as an experienced RM-4 year player who has played that position in a 3-5-2. DISCLAIMER:this stuff is based mostly on 3rd degree and other internet reports. Other than Hayden and Tudela(IU) and Dalby from ND I have not personally seen these guys in action.
Colaluca for a RM spot and Needham on D to bolster the backline when an aging CJ Brown retires at the end of the next season. Those are best-case scenarios and don't take into account and trades or filling of DP slots.
Hey guys, Over @ U-sector (Torontos supporters club) they've done a Mock Draft if youre interested: http://www.embargo.ca/ultras/news/articles/20070111-1.html
The only problem there is we will need 2 first rounders to get both of them. Peter Wilt seems to think the Fire may be angling to trade up or aquire more picks, so perhaps it would be workable. The downside to Colaluca is a supposed lack of interest in playing defense-making him a right-sided Mapp. However, I read a report on him at UVA that said he really turned it on this year as a more complete player after struggling with defensive responsibilities before. He is from an Italian family and grew up playing with immigrants in his hometown which has made him a "flair" player per the write-up in Soccer America.
As a RM, I am intrigued by Dane Richards from Clemson. He is Jamaican, but not yet a SI. He was a forward in college, but played wide right at the combine and turned a few heads. The fastest player entering the combine was supposedly Cory Ashe from UNC- a left mid. When matched up against each other for a game, Richards toasted (Franchinoed?) Ashe. If he could get comfortable wide and play both ways, then speed kills.
The Fire still need wingers on both sides. I'm going with left-winger Amaechi Igwe for the first pick with the hope a solid backup defender falls to the 2nd pick.
I would think the Fire would look to overseas for their attacking RM or CM and either take the best player available especially defense or someone that won't count against the salary cap.
I hope we take Colaluca if indeed he has flair. I love watching individual flair, and other than Mapp and Thiago, and to a lesser extent Rolfe, we really don't have that on our team. Besides, he'd be great for Coca Cola commercials.
The only team I see with a high pick that would actually want Zach is RSL at 6th - two spots above the Fire at 8. I'm not sure if that is moving up high enough to get Dalby, but it's definitely worth getting rid of Zach for nevertheless! Buzz has us taking 8 CHI Anthony Wallace South Florida Chicago doesn't look at their roster and see a lot of hole, so they too will go with youth. Wallace can really cover a large range of the field and could be a long term solution at right back, right midfield, or holding midfield. Check out his excellent Mock Draft here: http://www.3rddegree.net/thirdindex.cfm?page=article&show=20256
Because I don't want to start a thread on this and hypothetically it impacts the draft, does anyone think that the Beckham acquisition hurts the Fire considering AEG is footing $9 million a year for him? What I mean is, does this make them less likely to shell out any kind of money to bring a Pavel Nedved or other DPesque player of high calibur and salary here to Chicago?
good question, I think no. Well, I hope not. Here comes the draft. WE traded for Columbus' first round pick!? We're up next after TFC who picked Edu.
FIRE pick Bakary Soumare, UVA Defender, 6'4" tall IN 2005: Redshirted the season after playing one minute against #10 Duke (10/16). HIGH SCHOOL: Two year letterwinner at La Salle Academy ... Parade All-American ... 2004 team MVP ... 2004 League Co-MVP ... two time All-City ... two year team captain ... played club soccer for Red Storm Arrows ... team won 2002 Super Y League Nationals ... was named MVP of Super Y League National Final ... three year team captain. PERSONAL: Guardians are James and Marie Kelly ... born November 9, 1985 in Mali ... also recruited by Maryland, Wake Forest, Michigan, Duke, and St. John's. Soumare takes long road to Combine article on MLS website http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20070107&content_id=81307&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
And we didn't give them our first round pick, either? Columbus strikes me as a team that could use Big Zach, but a first round draft pick for him is more than I would have thought. Of course, with a 6'4" defender as a first-round pick, it coule be bye-bye Jimmy. Later, COZ
From Buzz's Draft recap under "Can't Miss Picks" A defender to replace Brown after his retirement, I would think. I like this pick, curious about the player to be named situation. No way Jimmaugh or Zach warrant a #3 pick.
Columbus has a lot of needs to be filled as far as I can tell. They could probably used a tweener like Pause or one of our strikers if I had to guess. Big Zach isn't a bad idea either. Or I guess my previous guess of Sanneh, unless they want to keep him around to groom the new kid.
Well it is the Crew we're talking about. Maybe Sigi would take Thorrington and an 11 pack of doughnuts - we get to keep at least one doughnut, for having to keep Thorrington on the roster for as long as we did.
Anyway, Soumare is GA. If we can still get Colaluca with the #8 pick, we're doing good on the prospect vs. salary cap issue. Later, COZ