http://www.mlsnet.com/content/03/oped0121connolly.html "Either way, any team that ended up with Eskandarian would be a winner from this draft, regardless of the other selections. Those who watched him score 25 goals this past season at Virginia said how rare it is to find a true finisher in the college ranks, and have no hesitation saying he’ll succeed at the next level right away. “You don’t score that many goals at a place like UVA and not be extremely talented,” said Ben Olsen. “We’re all excited to see what he brings to us.” Am I the only one who does not put too much stock in how many goals a guy scores in college. I haven't seen him play - but that's a lot of hype. The draft is a crapshoot. Remember Steve Shak? Who was the leading goal scorer drafted last year? I don't even know. Lucci Gonzalez was pretty good at SMU and he got waived. Eskandarian may be worth the first pick but saying he'll succeed right away - I'm not holding my breath. And another good draft for Dallas this year some would say. I'll take last year's Rookie of the Year candidate over a future rookie every time.
pretty good analysis while of course many big soccerites have done just as good if not better on these boards. i think he's being a bit harsh on kc. after all, they traded their #3 for wolff and got their starting right back (to replace burns) with their #2. sure, they may not have drafted a dozen P-40s, but they still strengthened their squad. and colorado was never going to go for a "playmaker". they'll let chung and henderson take care of that while grimandi and mastroeni play the two-way midfield. if they end up with their african striker, and he's as good as the rumors say (a big "if" i know), they'll provide plenty a threat at the offensive end. and i agree with northside: the last 3 "great" college strikers drafted high in the first round: curtis, carrieri and gonzalez (i think). carrieri's done alright, curtis nabs a goal here and there (and has absolutely no touch) and gonzalez has yet to settle. maybe eskandarian is light years ahead of them, but i'll believe it when i see it.
Of course, none of these "great" strikers were good enough to make the US Under-20 team at the World Youth Cup. By contrast, Eskandarian was the second-youngest member of our 2001 squad. (Convey was the youngest.)
well, that's a good point. don't get me wrong, i'm rooting for the kid. i hope he knocks in 15 right out of the gate and lives up to all the hype.
I agree. Connolly praises the Burn for trading their #4 overall pick for Brad Davis, yet neglects to give kudos to KC for trading their #3 overall pick for Josh Wolff. It seems as though Connolly might be suffering from a little attention deficit disorder. Trade your pick on draft day and receive the accolades; make a similar trade a week earlier and prepare to be criticized for having a poor draft.
and what about not saying about the Metros giving up what they gave up to get what they got. Davis, Akwari, and 2003 draft picks.
Same thing came up on the Wizards boards. I asked there and ask here, by boring does he mean that we didnt trade around meaningless picks that we would have used on players that never would make the roster? Or that we didnt trade one pick in return for a player to be named later? I was at the draft, it was all kinda boring, especially the pointless trading around of picks when few of the picks make rosters. That said, KC had to be in the top three at the draft. Going into this season we needed a defender and a goal scorer. We get proven players at both spots, each having won championships. To me thats a lot better than drafting a couple 16-22 year olds that might make our roster. Some might see that as boring but, as KC proved before, boring can win championships.
with wolff, simuntenkov, fabbro and preki, i don't think kc will be that boring this year. another thing connolly doesn't mention is re davis. yes, it seems on its face like a great trade for davis, adding one of the hot shot young left sided midfielders in teh game. what he didn't mention is they already have martinez, who i think has a year left on his contract, and is a pretty damn good players himself. add to that broome who can push up to left midfield if gbandi slides in at left back, and you're almost overcrowded at left midfield.