We're less than a month away now, right? Who do you think will be around at #4 that we might be interested in? I'm not that familiar with the crop of signings expected and of course there will be some last minute additions, but what's the outlook as of right now? Some names I've heard mentioned: Alecko Eskandarian - Metro and DC drool over this guy. Probably gone at #1 unless another Twellman in the draft Nate Jaqua - Supposedly a stud d-mid with good size. Doesn't sound like good fit for Burn. Am I thinking of the right guy here or is Jaqua another forward? Diego Walsh - A-mid prospect from SMU. Don't know if he's good enough for #4. Phillip Salyer - Left back coming back to MLS from Bundesliga. Make your predictions now!
prospects I am guessing we will have no idea until they actaully have the draft. There are just too many unkowns (to us, but I am sure Jeffries knows.) 1. what burn players will re-sign 2. who will be cut 3. how many more players will sign with mls and who 4. status of player's health (Gbandi, Cerritos) 5. possible trades #5 seems the least likely, but it could still happen. I (and many others it seems) think the team is pretty solid as is, so the consensus seems to be that they will take the best player available. When that is the case, no one really knows until the pick is made. In a nutshell, I will probably be very annoyed until the draft.
P-40 I just hoped they take the best p40 available. It just seems that the P40 players have the same skills as the college guys, but they are younger and have more potential. And they are generally in the youth nat's pools, so that gives them an extra avenue to develop. I have only been following for about a year and a half, so I could be way off. That's just how it has looked to me.
He is a good player, but is not in my top 4... which is not saying much as I am not a college expert.
Nate is a target forward from the University of Portland, if memory serves. Actaully, he reminds me of Bobby. He could be useful if the Burn is pounding crosses in the box. Then again, Cerritos might be back, and he is dangerous through the air. If Bobby leaves, Jeffries might feel as if he is forced to take a player like this. I certainly hope not. Players like this, though not as accomplished as Nate, wil be around later. Salyer, Salyer, Salyer.
At this point there is only one report on Salyer coming back, and that is from Chris Bergin. I asked him about it and he said he talked to Salyer and it is legit... but one report is one report... http://www.3rddegree.net/
As a friend of Phil's, I talked to him 2 days ago, and its not 100% yet. Blame MLS and Todd Durbin for sitting on thier asses if he decideds to go back to Germany.
What? Do they want him to come back at $24K a year as some kind of punishment for leaving for Europe? If he does come back, I'm not sure he will last until #4.
Why would Dallas take Salyer if we've already got two guys who can play left back--Broome and Gbandi. Broome will likely get called into the nats this year after the Bruce gets over his Barrett fetish. What does the Burn really need other than to let Vaca play in the center of the midfield and ROB have the right wing mid spot? Stone is the dmid understudy who should be even better next year. Take a P40, the four year college seniors tend to suck MOST of the time. I'd say take a center back like David Stokes(UNC Jr. when he declares for the draft) since that is probably our weakest position.
Becasue you can never have too many good young defenders. Or too many good left footed players. Both of which Salyer is. And becasue there will be an expansion draft after this season. The BUrn has no HOLES right now. Any pick at number 4 will the best player around.. a player for the future.
Agreed, but do you really need three guys who play LB on your team? You don't think that the pick would be better served by choosing someone else?
I have written on this and other boards that Salyer is not a good match for the Burn. We agree on that. If Salyer slips to number four, which I doubt, you cannot leave that much talent on the board. If Salyer was in the MLS draft last year, Jeffries would, in my opinion, have taken him over Gbandi. If the Burn can get him, don't even think twice. Worry about what to do with him and everyone else later. Not a good fit really, but too much talent to pass up.
I agree completely. At #4 it's best player avaliable time. If by some stretch Eskadarian slips to four should the Burn pass becasue thay have Jason Kreis? Heck No!
These are my thoughts exactly. The Burn is totally set on the left side. Salyer can play on the right as well so they may take him for a Suarez understudy...