We've got the ninth position in the draft. What college players are available to us in that spot? What members of the USMNT u-20's are available. Here are the options from that squad: Cameron, Knox F 6'3" 210 09/17/83 Bronx, N.Y. University of Michigan Clark, Ricardo M 5'10" 165 05/21/83 Jonesboro, Ga. Furman University Cochrane, Ryan D 6'1" 170 08/08/83 Portland, Ore. Santa Clara University Cronin, Steve GK 6'2" 195 05/28/83 Fair Oaks, Calif. Santa Clara University Grabavoy, Ned M 5'7" 155 07/01/83 New Lenox, Ill. Indiana University Harvey, Jordan D 5'11" 170 01/28/84 Mission Viejo, Calif. UCLA Johnson, David M 5'11" 160 01/16/84 Venice, Calif. Willem II (Holland) Klaas, Craig Jared D 5'7" 160 08/23/83 Cherry Valley, Ill. University of Washington Lancos, Chris D 6'1" 175 07/12/84 Belford, N.J. University of Maryland Marshall, Chad D 6'3" 185 08/22/84 Riverside, Calif. Stanford University Simek, Frank D 6'0" 175 10/13/84 Millstadt, Ill. Arsenal Williams, Ford GK 6'3" 190 02/20/84 Raleigh, N.C. University of North Carolina Alternates Baumstark, Clint GK 6'1" 200 01/09/83 Thornton, Colo. University of Alabama–Birmingham Would we want someone from the u-17's? Are there any u-23's still left? Whatever happened to defender Alex Yi from UCLA, is he still an option? What about US players that are overseas? Jovan Kirovski hasn't made it out of the reserves for Birmingham City and they are third from the bottom. Joe Max-Moore hasn't seen first team action for Everton. Would Earnie Stewart want to play in the US? Would we want any of these players? Your thoughts and suggestions?
my $0.02 I don't follow college soccer, but based on the list you provided, I would be interested in knowing more about a few of these guys. Size does matter and the Revs are sorely lacking in this area. With that in mind, Cameron Knox looks interesting as do Chad Marshall, Chris Lancos, and Frank Simek. I have heard that keepers are not in high demand and tend to be available later in the draft, so we could look at one of those for later on. I think drafting a young keeper to backup Adin would be a smart move, focusing trades and discoveries on more immediate needs. U17 seems a bit young to me. Who are the successful U17's playing now? Convey? U23 seems more reasonable. As for overseas, I have never heard anything about Kirovski wanting to come to the US, but Joe-Max has said he would want to finish out his career in MLS, though I don't get the impression that he feels that time has come. Stewart came out during the World Cup saying that he definitely wants to play in MLS next season. I remember reading something about his preferences and cold NE wasn't one of them.
While I want someone who can come in and help out next year, I'm also going to contradict myself in saying it would be nice for the Revs to have a young player that can grow on this team (an Edson Buddle, Eddie Johnson, Convey type). Just my 0.02... Monty
Since Monty's always plugging his alma mater, allow me to do the same: Senior Jeff Deren has 15 goals and 6 assists through 14 games playing for UMass-Amherst. He's a local from Chicopee, MA. As of his last game he became the leading-scorer in UMass Men's Soccer history... a team this humble author was once recruited for ;-)... He's tied nationally for fourth in scoring in the NCAA... As for a player I wouldn't mind getting a look, defender Chris Lancos from Maryland. He's only a freshman this year but he's 6"1, 175, and has been a member of the U-17, & U-20 National Teams. He was also a student at the U.S. residency program at Bradenton Academy. Just some thoughts... The Magpie
The U-20 National Team isn't really the place to look, since most of those guys are freshmen and sophomores in college, and not very many of them will be in the draft, I don't think. Being away from my player database, names I come up with off the top of my head include: Matt Crawford, M, North Carolina Jason Cole, D, Saint Louis Alecko Eskandarian, F, Virginia Ryan Gibbs, F, Virginia Jack Jewsbury, F, Saint Louis Ricky Lewis, D, Clemson Roger Levesque, F, Stanford Ryan Mack, M, Indiana Mike Mariscalco, M, Butler Pat Noonan, M, Indiana Casey Schmidt, F, Boston College Curits Spiteri, GK, Portland Mike Tranchilla, F, Creighton Diego Walsh, M, Southern Methodist Doug Warren, GK, Clemson I'm sure I've forgotten a few, but as things stand right now, I think the bulk of the first two rounds will come from those names.
Good call with Deren Magpie, Good to see another UMass grad on these pages. I had the chance to see a number of his games last season, his junior year, and he was class then and from all that I've heard from the people in the know in Amherst he is progressing better than could be expected. He won't be the guy for us with the #9 pick but surely a situation to monitor.
You might add Ricardo Clark, M, Furman and David Testo, M/F, UNC. This draft is going to be heavily loaded with forwards, especially if players like Jason Thompson (E.Illinois), Nate Jaqua (Portland) and Jeremiah White (Wake) decide to come out early. The focus might just shift to young attacking players who can both create offense and score as well, such as Clark, Mack, Mariscalco and Testo.
Knox Cameron at 6'3 210 seems like the Ideal strike partner for twellman. From what I understand he has some pretty good speed too for a big guy...Unlike Ian "snowshoes" Fuller. Too bad he is only a Sophomore. So for he has 10 goals in 14 games for the wolverines. would be nice if he came out early.
If Serna returns and is in the proper fram of mind, then we have a more potent strike force with TnT and Diego. Assuming that the forwards go first in the draft, I'd like to see the REV's add depth to the defense. Ryan Cochrane (D, 6'1", Santa Clara), Jordan Harvey (D, 5' 11", UCLA) and Ford Williams (G, 6'3", UNC) were all just named to the u-23 team. I'd like to see our draft choices involve these three. I also hear great things about Ned Grabavoy (M, 5'7", Indiana University). My concern with him is that he could be Johnny Torres Part 2 - the Little Man Returns. Pick up an international playmaker #10 outside the draft.
I wonder if "Gooch" (Onyewu Oguchi, or something like that) will reconsider MLS, since he hasn't gotten approval to play with Metz. As for Joe-Max, I think a big part of his problem has been staying healthy. He's probably fallen off the depth chart because he hasn't been available too many times when they did need him. I don't think at this stage, returning to the MLS will suddenly make him more durable.
As I wrote in another thread: Has anyone noted yet that it *isn't worth it* to win the Eastern Conference if, as a result, you end up in the draft selection order *behind* San Jose, Dallas, and Colorado? Just another example of how stupid this conference alignment thing is. Especially next year, if they go to a home-and-home playoff system, when home-field advantage will be worth even less: they apparently aren't going to count away goals. We need a single table for the playoffs *and* the draft!
Do you really think the Revs would have made it to the MLS Cup without the home field advantage they acquired by winning the Eastern Division?
Sure. In fact, based on the proposed plans for next year's playoffs, we did it using *this* year's scenario. If you look at the two playoff series this year, we beat both Chicago and Columbus on total goals after two home-and-home matches where the second match was away (and one of those was an away win). So who cares if you play the second match away? BFD. And if the league isn't using away goals as a tiebreaker next year--and they say they're not--"home field advantage" is worth even less. The only advantage is the "mini-game" and PKs are on your pitch, if you're tied on goals after two matches. But it's sort of beside the point--so let the Conference title *still* give you home field advantage in the playoffs, for what it's worth. What I'm really saying is: where the *draft* is concerned, selection order should be based on total points accumulated during the regular season. Now I get a t-shirt that says "Eastern Conference Champs" while I watch three teams with better years than we had pick before us.
It would be great if it happened but the chances are quite slim. He's actually getting paid by Metz and has been training with the team. Plus, MLS wouldn't offer him enough money.
You're probably right that Gooch will not be in MLS, because even if the Metz contract isn't approved by the French FA (and it likely will not be), he probably can find a club somewhere in Europe. But, if he wants to be in the mix for WC'06 and all of the international contests in between, he might forsake a lower division European club to return home to MD and play for DC United in front of Bruce Arena who still lives in Fairfax, VA, has season's tickets and regularly attends their home games. I can't think of a better situation for him if he wants Nat's exposure. So while I'm decidedly in the minority, I do think there's a possibility that he will sign with MLS if Metz is forced to end the contract before the deadline to sign for the SuperDraft. -Tron
Getting back to the prospects, I wonder if this might be the year when the Revs move up in the draft to get their hands on someone who could possibly give them some immediate help. For instance, of the players that I'm pretty sure will be in this draft, I think the two that would most help the Revs are Diego Walsh and Pat Noonan. Unfortunately, I don't think either of them are likely to be around with the #9 pick. If the Revs could dangle either Jay Heaps or Rusty Pierce in a package to get a high pick, would you consider it? Yeah, we'd be a little thinner, but we could hopefully pick up a little bit more depth later on in the draft.
Re: Re: Draft Considerations Realistically, we would have placed 5th. That means starting out against Colorado, who beat Dallas in Dallas to advance. Our second round opponent would have been LA.
I remember Pat Noonan's name from last year's college finals. I find it difficult to measure the college talent. There are just too many colleges and too many players. What can you tell me about these players?
I wouldn't trade any of our defenders unless we were bringing in another one. For instance, if there were a left back that I thought could come in and play right away, you might trade Joey for a draft pick to get him. Five solid defenders is the minimum we need to get by. Also, I'm not at all sold on Llamosa playing the whole season as a starting central defender, because he made a lot of mistakes last year and he's not getting any younger.
I wouldn't do it---college players may look good but for the most part are unproven and some do well and some tank at the senior level. Both Rusty and Jay are solid defenders and improving under SN. Trading them for an unproven college kid would be a mistake. My guess is that there will be planty of quality players that can be had with our first three or four picks. We may not pick up a starter but we can get a trainable assets to add depth. We a back up keeper, a back up left back and depth in midfield and forward. Between trades and out top picks we can get our needs met. Let me also throw this out: The teams that have done the best in MLS have been the teams with a core of good players. a good coach who can motivate and a roster that has been reasonably stable. The Revs have the first two items and we should hope that we don't have too much turnover this year. One or two key additions (a returning Serna for example) and our 2002 squad is solid contender. Dropping/trading Asad, Rooney, APC and maybe Downing and Fuller and we have space to add a major addition and some depth. Wholesale changes would be a huge mistake.