It will be easier to play a 3-5-2 in Philly because opponents will be afraid to use the wings for fear of getting too close to our fans.
Difference is DC always used speed on the wings when Nowak was coach. I actually don't know if Nowak ever used a 4-4-2 in his 3 years at DC. He also would probably dispute the unsuccesful nature of the 3-5-2 since he went 42-27-25 when he was in charge of DC. A 3-5-2 is only not going to work if you don't have the personel to pull it off. Since he is picking the personel I'm going to assume he will pick players that will play the system. That is why I think any picks that are outside backs are going to be trade bait, unless they are going to play the wide midfielder role.
Galaxy fan here Just dropping by to say that I'm looking forward to seeing which players your franchise selects tomorrow morning, and can't wait for Philly to start play in 2010. Dunivant, Saunders, or Esky are the players I can see being plucked from LA. I went to the Union website and the stadium looks like it's going to be a great venue. ---Rude(best of luck in 2010)Deck
Expansion Draft Hey guys, now that the lists are out of who each team is leaving unprotected I wanted to see what everyone thought and who they'd like to pick up in the draft.
Nowak used a 3-5-2 at DC when he had an EPL-caliber CB (Ryan Nelsen) in 2004 but then was able to use a then rookie (Bobby Boswell) after Nelsen departed before the next season. For the 2008 Olympics, Nowak used a 4-4-2.
Ok, Zman beat me to a detailed rundown so I'm not going to go into huge detail like I was going to. I will make some observations that are in addition to what he has said and add a couple extra options on some of the teams. My analysis is based on what I have seen in past drafts and my understanding of what Nowak wants out of a team. This also assumes that they are picking players to stay on the team, and this probably isn't the case. Usually you see a couple players traded off so I really can't predict those. Chicago: Banner is the player I think Nowak would go with here. He is probably a good candidate to play that outside mid that is important in a Nowak 3-5-2. He is quick, can play D, and can contribute on the offensive end. Lowry is another option but I think Banner's combination of talent and price makes him the leading candidate. Chivas: Curtin or Saragosa are possibilities from Chivas in addition to Thomas and Talley. Curtin is local and has always been a steady centerback. He isn't the best but he is more than serviceable. Saragosa could play a couple posistions for the team and may be an outside candidate. Thomas may be passed on just because he takes up an international slot. Columbus: Renteria is just as viable as Moreno and Garey and might bring more to the table than both. He is mid-20s, has international experience, and is the kind of forward that I think fits well in a Nowak system. He pressures the ball, is tough, and is just a handful. He is a more skillful version of the 2004 version of Esky. Colorado: Jordan Harvey. List begins and ends there for the most part. I could see Holoday being a sleeper pick here. Dallas: This is a crapshoot. Wallace might work well as a wide player but he is inconsistent and also plays the same spot as Banner (who is a better option right now). Richetti would be my pick as he is solid as a d-mid and is a very good linking player. Pairing him with a pure destroyer type d-mid would make a very formidale pair in front of the 3 man back. However, him or DVB is just as likely to be picked and traded away. Then you have Purdy who is young and still has upside. As I said, total crapshoot. DCU: Nothing to add here. Jacobsen maybe and McTavish less likely. I'm probably passing here though as I think there is better talent elsewhere. Houston: Not much to add here either. Houston hasn't really left a lot that fits into what Nowak would look for. Chabala is the most likely candidate but probably as trade material. KC: Besler tops my list here. Young, cheap, and has played well and often. Could either be kept as a player or used to trade with another team. Hohlbein would be very similar to Besler in that he could stay or be traded. I'm not sold on Hartmann being picked as keepers just aren't picked in expansion drafts. I believe it is easier to find a good american keeper through other means than you can find outfield players. LA: Ugh. Do not want. I just don't see anything here for Nowak to choose (see Zman's comment for Esky). Gordon can't score headers when he is being fed by Beckham, enough said. NE: Heaps has played in a 3-back system in New England so he could definitly be a pick here. He is experienced so I can see him possibly being picked up. I wouldn't look past Thompson here because he reminds me of Josh Gros. What he lacks in skill he makes up for in hustle and heart. That fits the mold of a Nowak wide mid to perfection. NY: I think if there is a pick from this mess it would be Zimmerman. Young, cheap, and has potential. I think he may be a player that Nowak would think highly of. RSL: I would say that Grabavoy would be the most likely to be picked out of this group. He is serviceable and could be a decent bench and cover player. Russell doesn't, to me, fit a role for Nowak so I think he gets passed on. SJ: Again, a mess of a team that really doesn't seem to have much value. Wondolowski might be ok but he has never been able to transform his reserve match form into anything on the first team level. Convey's salary makes him like going on a date with an good looking girl with mono. Sure people will think it is a fantastic idea, and it may be worth it for a little while. However, you are sure going to regret the decision for a lot longer period of time than the good times make up for. SEA: Riley or King. This depends on other options made with other picks. Riley is a good value pick but there are other options that are just as good and King is the same way. TFC: Total Frickin' Crap. Anyone picked is for trade purposes. So, who do I see them picking? Banner Curtin Renteria Richetti Besler* Heaps Zimmerman King Chabala* Harvey* * 2 of the 3 will be traded for draft picks or allocation money
Depends. I original was going to write a college thesis and do a detailed break down on what I thought the top two or three players on each team brought to the table. Consider yourself lucky.
Chivas: Mayen, Gerson- D/M or Jazic, Ante D Chicago: Banner, Michael- D/M or Carr, Calen F C-bus: Garey, Jason- F Colorado: Peterson, Jacob- F/M or Ballouchy, Mehdi Dallas: Wallace, Anthony- F/M DC / ? Possible skip or Emilio, Luciano San Jose: Pitchkolan, Aaron- D Houston: Chabala, Michael D KC: Hartman, Kevin-G NE: Igwe, Amaechi D or Phelan, Pat - M LA: Kirovski, Jovan M/F or Eskandarian, Alecko - F New York: Ubiparipovic, Sinisa- M or Skip the pick SLC: Grabavoy, Ned - M (I love this kid) Seattle: King, Stephen- M Toronto: Guevara, Amado- M
Soccer America's Mock Draft & Analysis: http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=35468
I'm not sure why previous posters are calling for the drafting of Carl Robinson from TFC. He's 33 and saw a big dropoff in play this past season. He's always had his critics in 2007 and 2008... but had his supporters too. This year it was mostly criticism. He's also expensive (300K) and wouldn't like being negotiated down significantly and moving outside Toronto. So while some criticize Guevara's attitude, I'm not sure you'd get a keener by drafting Robinson either.
If past expansion drafts are any indicators, some of today's draftees will never see a day in the Union jersey due to (1) draft and trade scenarios (Brian Carroll - picked by Quakes, traded to Crew; Khano Smith - picked by Sounders, traded to Pink Cows) or (2) inability to sign as player opted to play in other leagues (Clarence Goodson - picked by Quakes, signed with team in Norway; Jeff Parke - picked by Sounders, trialed with teams in Europe before signing with Vancouver in USL). Speaking of Parke, I - like some other folks here - would not be surprised if there is a handshake deal in place where Philly either drafts a Sounder today and trades him back to Seattle for Parke or has a deal in place with Seattle to get Parke in exchange for allocation $ or a draft pick as well as an agreement not to pick a Sounder in today's draft.
A few notes: Ray Burse is a very solid keeper with a very bright future. He can be had super cheap. Segares adds experience on a back line. The guy is getting old, but his experience could help keep your team from getting riddled with goals in the first season. Grabavoy is a solid utility player. Forward? Emilio would be worth the money, and I'd go for Christian Gomez as well. That way, you will have an instant hate-fest with DC United. Now that's the way to get started in MLS with some serious intensity.