Mock Expansion Draft

Carlos Llamosa is a defender, not a midfielder.

 

Joselito Vaca goes first to Chivas
Jamil Walker to RSL
de la Torre to Chivas
Countess to RSL
Jonny Walker to Chivas
then who knows

 

Before making a mock draft, it's definitely worth considering the lessons of history. The link below compares the strategies employed by the Fire and Fusion in the previous Expansion Draft.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3500078&postcount=76

Bob Bradley was extremely successful by focussing his attention on players who were just coming into their prime and hadn't played a lot. That's where the bargains are likely to be found. If he had it to do over again, he'd be taking a long, hard look at players like David Testo and Jamil Walker.

Also, it might be helpful to mention that Chris Ronér is a Mormon.

 

The expansion draft is really, really stupid!

What?

Later,
COZ <-- follows directions well

 

I believe that both players are currently out of contract. For 2005, Ring will be in much stronger negotiating position than Countess.

I took a quick glance back at Marc Connolly's mock draft from July (link below). He came up with 33 players (not sure how), and nearly half of them (15) weren't even exposed. Others, like Daryl Powell and Sergio Galvan Rey, are very unlikely to be selected. That's almost as bad as Knave's draft grades .

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20040714&content_id=8208&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

 

I believe that Countess does make around $100K but is not out of contract, and will make that this coming year. Ring is out of contract and, although he was making less before, he'll command a bigger salary this year, I should think. That said, I'd still take Ring, but I hope they take Countess first.

 

Here I go just the selctions it hard enough without trying to figure out who each team protects:

ROUND 1
CD Chivas USA---Johnny Walker
Real Salt Lake---Andy Williams

ROUND 2
CD Chivas USA---Antonio Dela Torre
Real Salt Lake---Igor Simutinkov

ROUND 3
CD Chivas USA---Pablo Brenes
Real Salt Lake---Nelson Awakari

ROUND 4
CD Chivas USA---Aturo Torres
Real Salt Lake---Jeff Agoos

ROUND 5
CD Chivas USA---Oscar Pereja
Real Salt Lake---Seth Trembly

ROUND 6
CD Chivas USA---Orlando Perez
Real Salt Lake---David Testo

ROUND 7
CD Chivas USA---Eliseo Quintanilla
Real Salt Lake---D.J Countess

ROUND 8
CD Chivas USA---Sergio Galvan Rey
Real Salt Lake---Rusty Pierce

ROUND 9
CD Chivas USA---Francisco Gomez
Real Salt Lake---Chris Roner

ROUND 10
CD Chivas USA---Carlos Llamosa
Real Salt Lake---Paul Broome

I'll be happy if i get 33% right regardless of the round

 

Preki will more then likely retire before he leaves KC. I would say hances are very very low that he gets taken in the expansion draft.

 

I'll start out by grouping players:

Interesting to Chivas

Defenders
Antonio de la Torre (COL)--Has the right lineage, Chivas knowingly wants him.
Orlando Perez (CHI)--ditto

Midfielders
Arturo Torres (LA)--Nice name.
Marcelo Saragosa (LA)TI --Ditto
Pablo Brenes (NJ)TI --Ditto
Joselito Vaca (NJ)TI --Ditto
Eliseo Quintanilla (DC)TI --Showed something a few years back, injuries might scare any interest away.
Oscar Pareja (DAL)--I don't see it, but some claim there will be interest. Green card is a big plus.

Forwards
Erick Scott (CLB) TI--has shown things for CR that would make him worth a pick, and is still very young.


Interesting to RSL

GK
D.J. Countess (CHI)--Young but expensive, and distinctly American, sounds more RSL than Chivas

Defenders
Paul Broome (LA)--a consistent, performing player. The type a building team needs I'd think.
Tim Regan (NJ)--Versitile and cheap, perhaps a late round pickup.
Joey Franchino (NE)--A tough enforcer type, important to possess for a younger team, injury issues.
Chris Roner (SJ)--Still fairly young, has shown ability in past, injury issues.
Nelson Akwari (CLB)--Must have you'd imagine. Young with tons of potential, also an old Ellinger player from US youth stage.
Eric Denton (CLB)--Have been linked.
Phil Salyer (DAL)--Young and American. Some think he has some potential.

Midfielders
Matt Taylor (KC)--A couple years removed from being a high draft pick, perhaps still the potential for a pick.
Scott Buete (CHI)--A year removed from being a first round selection, showed enough to warrant a pick I'd think.
David Testo (CLB)--Still young, I think his youth national history could work for him. Depends how much buy option is for.

Forwards
Jamil Walker (SJ)--Young American striker who has shown potential, ding, ding ding.


Interesting to Both

GK
Jonny Walker (NJ)--Seasoned MLS vet, still moderatley inexpensive in comparison to Meola
Henry Ring (CHI)--Proven in MLS, needs new contract, presumably cheaper then most with practically no bargaining power
Matt Jordan (CLB)--Has a history of success in MLS, price is right I'd imagine
Troy Perkins (DC)--Young and has seen significant action while performing fairly well

Defenders
Alex Zotinca (KC)--played fairly well for KC, but certainly not a building block, a role player.

Midfielders
Andy Williams (CHI)--Expensive, yes, but in a draft devoid of central midfielders his pedigree and experience makes him valuable. Also just got green card.


No Thanks

GKs
Dan Popik (LA)--plenty of backup keepers, many better
Zack Wells (NJ)--ditto
Scott Vallow (COL)--third the motion
Jon Conway (SJ)--and a fourth indifferent backup
Adin Brown (NE)--too injury prone/expensive with so many other good options in the draft
Tony Meola (KC)--old, expensive, injured, and out of contract
Scott Garlick (DAL)--old, expensive, regressing

Defenders
Craig Zaidie (NJ)--Bad, fairly expensive, and has international duties with Jamaica.
Rusty Pierce (NE)--Only possible reason he would be unprotected is if there were serious chances of overseas.
Jeff Stewart (COL)--Quite undistingushed.
Steve Howey (NE) SI--Not worth the SI spot, certainly not to Chivas.
Evan Whitfield (CHI)--Bad.
Jeff Agoos (SJ)--Old.
Wes Hart (SJ)--Bad.
Steven Herdsman (CLB)--Bad and Injury Prone. A horrific combo.
Ezra Hendrickson (DC)--Too old to really be worth a pick, there was a reason he was cut earlier this year.
Ryan Nelsen (DC) SI--Adios MLS.
Carlos Llamosa (NE)--Old, expensive, and injury prone.

Midfielders
Brian Kamler (NE)--Too old, might retire if forced West.
Preki (KC)--Probably retiring, if not too injured.
Francisco Gomez (KC)--I know he has the name, but he's just that bad.
Joey DiGiamarino (COL)--Not very good, and quasi-expensive I believe.
Darryl Powell (COL) SI--Not worth the SI spot, and incredibly expensive.
Seth Trembly (COL)--Neither young nor particularly effective.
Alex Boucicaut (CHI) TI--Too much of a gamble for a player who has shown nothing and will eat a TI spot.
Ronnie Ekelund (SJ) SI--Not worth the SI spot, have to wonder about his age and how long he'll be staying.
Manny Lagos (CLB)--Bad, old, and injury prone.
Brian Maisonneuve (CLB)--Ditto.
Earnie Stewart (DC)--Retiring/back to Europe?
Kevin Ara (DC)--DCU needs their cult hero back.
Tim Lawson (DC)--Who?
Ty Maurin (DAL)--Who?
Matt Behncke (DAL)--Another Dallas youngster who might be quitting to go back to school. Sorry Dallas.

Forwards
Sergio Galvan Rey (NJ) SI--Another in the long list of Metro expensive foriegn busts.
Joe-Max Moore (NE)--Can't imagine Chivas wanting a former USMNT fixture and RSL already got Kreis to fill their "aging striker" role.
Igor Simutenkov (KC) SI--Might never be anything but a 45 minute player again. Has contract issues and age issues.
Dipsy Selowane (CHI) SI--Just not MLS caliber, and the SI hurts his chances.
Chris Brown (SJ)--Bad, I'd imagine he'll be avaliable on the waiver wire at some point again this year.
Dante Washington (CLB)--Back to A-League. Again, RSL has their aging American striker, sorry.
Thiago Martins (DC)--Still think he is A-League fodder.
Tony Nhleko (DAL) SI--hasn't shown enough to justify picking up the SI.

Just my $.02

 

this looks pretty good, but who knows...

 

I almost forgot my prediction. I won't do rounds, here are the 10 players I see the teams ending up with at the end of the day:

Chivas
Jonny Walker
Antonio de la Torre
Orlando Perez
Arturo Torres
Oscar Pareja
Erick Scott
Andy Williams
Marcelo Saragosa TI
Pablo Brenes TI
Eliseo Quintanilla TI

RSL
D.J. Countess
Nelson Akwari
Phil Salyer
Scott Buete
Jamil Walker
Matt Taylor
Alex Zotinca
Joey Franchino
Tim Regan
Troy Perkins

 

I find it interesting that both mocks have RSL taking no hispanic players. Chivas made it known they preferred Latin players, but Utah didn't say they were gringo-only.

It makes sense in every way for them to grab some hispanic players in the early rounds. They need to market to hispanic fans too, and they would be smart to take players that will have an inflated trade value with Chivas, and they need talent - so studiously avoiding some of the good talent available would be counterproductive.

Also remember that these teams have a number of SI and TI spots available to them. I wouldn't be surprised if almost the entire draft is low-salary, lesser-known players.

My stab.
Chivas - Jonny Walker, Joselito Vaca, Arturo Torres, Eliseo Quintanilla, Erick Scott, Scott Buete, Francisco Gomez, Kevin Ara, Matt Jordan, Ty Maurin
RSL - D.J. Countess, Phil Salyer (traded back to Dallas), Jamil Walker, Antonio De La Torre, Joey Franchino, Matt Taylor, David Testo, Marcelo Saragosa, Seth Trembly, Brian Kamler

 

Round 1
Chivas-- De La Torre
RSL- Perkins

Round 2
Chivas--Walker
RSL--Williams

Round 3
Chivas--Francisco Gomez
RSL--Simuntekov

Round 4
Chivas--Galvan Rey
RSL--Franchino

Round 5
Chivas--Jamil Walker
RSL-- Garlick

Round 6
Chivas--Brenes
RSL--Chris Brown

Round 7
Chivas--Erick Scott
RSL--Salyer

Round 8
Chivas--Orlando Perez
RSL--Vaca

Round 9
Chivas--Torres
RSL--Matt Taylor

Round 10
Chivas--Saragosa
RSL-- Jeff Stewart

So Chivas:

Goalies--Walker

Defender--De La Torre, Perez

Midfielder-- Saragosa, Torres, Brenes, Jamil Walker, Gomez

Forwards--Galvan Rey, Scott

RSL--

Goalies-- Garlick, Perkins

Defenders-- Franchino, Salyer, Stewart

Midfielders--Williams, Brown (can play there), Vaca

Forwards-- Taylor, Simuntekov

 

Great thread you guys!!

Lee

 

Chivas: Marcelo Saragosa
RSL: Henry Ring

Chivas: Antonio de la Torre
RSL: Toni Nhleko

Chivas: Ezra Hendrickson
RSL: Alexandre Boucicaut

Chivas: Orlando Perez
RSL: Dante Washington

Chivas: Jonny Walker
RSL: Alex Zotinca

Chivas: Eliseo Quintanilla
RSL: Igor Simutenkov

Chivas: Erick Scott
RSL: Steve Howey

Chivas: Joselito Vaca
RSL: Matt Jordan

Chivas: Arturo Torres
RSL: Matt Taylor

Chivas: Pablo Brenes
RSL: Brain Kamler

 

It's really hard making one of these up, there's so much going on I'm sure I'd miss a lot, so I'm going to try to criticize Onionsack's, and build from there.

ROUND 1
CD Chivas USA---Jonny Walker
Real Salt Lake---Andy Williams

ROUND 2
CD Chivas USA---Antonio de la Torre
Real Salt Lake---Matt Taylor

I don't think Igor goes 4th to RSL; they've already got an experienced forward, if they choose a forward from KC, it'd probably be promising Amercian Matt Taylor (this is like getting a free 1st round draft pick).

ROUND 3
CD Chivas USA---Marcelo Saragosa
Real Salt Lake---Nelson Akwari

O's got Pablo Brenes at #3 for Chivas. I think if they're picking a TI at this point, they pick the far more distinguished Erick Scott. I'm gonna drop him a slot, though, since he is a TI, and so I don't have to adjust the RSL pick (Crew would very likely protect Akwari, not so much Scott).

I originally had Torres, but I say that Chivas takes Saragosa, then ransoms him for Torres plus Memo (or something like that); bad move Sampson.

ROUND 4
CD Chivas USA---Erick Scott
Real Salt Lake---Jeff Agoos

ROUND 5
CD Chivas USA---Pablo Brenes
Real Salt Lake---Seth Trembly

Oscar Pareja is just a terrible pick at #5; he's old, he's not that good, and I suspect Chivas will be importing a central midfielder. Since only one Metro has been picked, either Vaca or Brenes is still available; I say it's Brenes.


ROUND 6
CD Chivas USA---Scott Buete
Real Salt Lake---David Testo

At 6, Orlando Perez just sucks. They take Scott Buete. Spanish be damned, Vergara's smart enough to 1. know it's not good PR to only take Latins and 2. realize that he can trade players after the draft.

ROUND 7
CD Chivas USA---Eliseo Quintanilla
Real Salt Lake---D.J Countess

ROUND 8
CD Chivas USA---Carlos Llamosa
Real Salt Lake---Brian Kamler

Galvan Rey, ditto Pareja. Gimme Llamosa here.

Pierce wouldn't be exposed if there weren't something wrong, I'm taking Kamler instead.

ROUND 9
CD Chivas USA---Francisco Gomez
Real Salt Lake---Chris Roner

ROUND 10
CD Chivas USA---Philip Salyer
Real Salt Lake---Paul Broome

Give Chivas Salyer at #10.

 

My cut at draft. Rationale for 3 DCU guys to Chivas is Rongen connection. Order listed is round picked.

Chivas

Jonny Walker GK
Antonio de la Torre DF
Eliseo Quintanilla FW
Pablo Brenes MF
Orlando Perez MF
Arturo Torres FW
Erick Scott FW
Kevin Ara DF
Carlos Llamosa DF
Tim Lawson DF


RSL
D.J. Countess GK
Brian Kamler M/D
David Testo FW
Matt Behncke DF
Eric Denton M/D
Chris Roner MF
Matt Taylor FW
Scott Buete MF
Paul Broome DF
Tim Regan DF

 

I can tell you this - Akwari will almost certainly be the first player pulled back by the Crew if any other player is chosen before him. I'm actually kind of stunned that about half of the mock drafts here have him going undrafted.

 

Round 1
CUSA--Johnny Walker(Metros protect Brenes)
RSL---Andy Williams(CHI protects Boucicaut)

Round 2
CUSA--Arturo Torres(LA protects Saragosa)
RSL---Nelson Akwari(CLB protects Testo)

Round 3
CUSA--Antonio de la Torre(COL protects Stewart)
RSL---Seth Trembly(COL protects Vallow)

Round 4
CUSA--Igor Simutenkov(KC protects Zotinca)
RSL---DJ Countess(CHI protects Buete)

Round 5
CUSA--Craig Zaide(Metros protect Vaca)
RSL---Jamil Walker(SJ protects Hart)

Round 6
CUSA--Orlando Perez(CHI at 3 players)
RSL---Phil Salyer(FCD protects Behncke)

Round 7
CUSA--Eric Scott(CLB protects Herdsman)
RSL---Eliseo Quintanilla(DC protects Martins)

Round 8
CUSA--Brian Kamler(NE protects Franchino)
RSL---Joey DiGiamarino(COL at 3 players)

Round 9
CUSA--Sergio Galvan Rey(Metro at 3 players)
RSL--Matt Taylor(KC protects Meola)

Round 10
CUSA--Francisco Gomez(KC at 3 players)
RSL---Chris Brown

 

I'll be absolutley stunned given Ellinger's history with him, his youth, and his potential if he is not RSL's first pick.

 

Just to clarify, Marcelo Saragosa of the LA Galaxy is unprotected because he is on a special loan from LA Galaxy's Sister team, Sao Paulo.
He is basically in the same boat Ernie Stewart, and Ryan Nelson are in, Stewart and Nelson have stated they are leaving, and are hence unprotected.
Saragosa already has a team in Sao Paulo.