Multiple postings from various pundits, but all seemed to qualify his best talent as vision. Seems like having someone with that skill is most important for the position. Round 3, a big, local guy from Katy.
This might just speak to the fact that the players on our first team are so good -- that it's difficult for a rookie to crack the first 11. I've also read that Kinnear is known for not starting rookies much, if at all. I expect maybe we'll see some of last years draft picks (and maybe this years?) more this year because we'll have potentially 5 of our starters out quite a bit for US National team duties in the Gold Cup and Copa America. Maybe that is Dom's thinking with these draft picks, other than just grabbing the best players available.
From what I've read, Sambursky played outside back at the combine and impressed people. So, he could be someone who could play a wide variety of positions - I wonder where Dom is thinking he wants him to play?
What an odd draft; it's almost in reverse. Sambursky was touted as a leading middie prospect, Ashe barely made the top ten at his position, and then the Indiana kid was totally absent from lists I saw. So you draft them Indiana kid, Ashe, Sambursky, that order. Strange. Maybe they're trying to surpress contract value or something. Three middies, including two top ten prospects, is responsive to our needs. I'll take back my conspiracy theory that we were "ditching".
Yeah, Sambursky is the only one that I read much of anything about before the draft. I wonder if Dom/Oliver were trying to keep it so that they don't really have to offer a senior contract to anyone.....I like the Ashe and Sambursky picks, not so sure about Hayden. If Hayden is a project to work on at defensive mid, do you really want to /need to use a first round pick on him? Will be interesting to see what happens with contracts for these guys, and how they fit into Dom's expectations. I'm still amazed at how quickly Dom cut 2 of the draft picks last year (Schmid and someone else), during the preseason. And that he didn't even use his last pick in last year's supplemental draft. He is very picky about player's attitudes and approach to the game, which tends to build a very strong team-orientation with the players.
Good to see Houston pick Sambursky, but having fallen like that it seems he'll really have to work to make the team.
I like the scarfs! But did you see the new jerseys? I think they are going to have to grow on me, or see them in person.
Check the Dynamo website. Cycle past the Becks madness and find the draft headline. Kid is wearing it.
I'm pleased that we took Ashe. I believe that while playing with some youth team on a visit to Brazil, he really impressed and some local clubs even asked about his availability. I haven't followed his career closely at UNC, but I hope he still has the creativity that got people's attention in the past.
The way the ESPN pundits were writing of him, he's fast and creative, and only suffers from the coach-fed malady of lacking size. Barrett's not that big....
Not really, there are likely to be a lot of open Developmental roster spots. Here is the current players that are "owned" by Houston: Senior Roster: 1. Wade Barrett 2. Brian Ching 3. Ricardo Clark 4. Ryan Cochrane (promoted from Gen Adidas) 5. Paul Dalglish 6. Brad Davis 7. Dwayne Derosario 8. Kevin Goldthwaite 9. Kelly Gray 10. Stuart Holden 11. Alejandro Moreno 12. Brian Mullan 13. Pat Onstad 14. Eddie Robinson 15. Craig Waibel 16. Zach Wells 17. Chris Wondolowski Developmental Roster 1. Mike Chabala 2. Martin Hutton 3. Pat Ianni (Gen Adidas) 4. Aaron Lanes 5. Mpho Moloi 6. Julian Nash 7. Marcus Storey (although he's not eligible for Dev contract in 2007) (There's only 7 because Dom never signed his full allotment of 10 Dev players last year) Draftees: 1. John MIchael Hayden 2. Corey Ashe 3. Mike Sambursky 4. Eric Ebert THere will be 3 more supplemental draft picks (I think, I'm pretty sure Houston traded one of their supplemental draft picks to KC for the rights to Martin Hutton last year). So that addes up to 31 guys fighting for 28 roster spots. But you have to assume Marcus Storey is probably gone, as he is highly unlikely to get a sennior roster contract. Also, it's likely one or two of the other Dev players may be gone (that tends to happen each year). Also, Hutton is not eligible for a Dev contract next year, so expect one of the supplemental picks to be a keeper as they need a #3 keeper on the roster. So, right there if Storey and Hutton are gone, then there will be 29 guys fighting for 28 spots. That, of course ignores any non-drafted invitees or other pickups. And ignores any of the other Dev players not returning.
Yeah, you're right. Since he's from the area that makes him more likely to decide to sign a development deal.
Apparently that is the adidas version of the team scarf. Note that Toronto's picks were wearing ones with the same font:
as 4th Round, Ebert is not very good... Needs too much time on the ball. he plays DM. ploddingly is the best way to describe him...
Actually I have heard from a good source (although have not seen any rules or anouncement - what else is new with MLS rules....) that MLS has extended the age limit for Developmental contracts. So Story and Hutton may still be elligible. Also, I'm not sure that Gen Adidas players count against the Developmental limit?
I dont expect this to change at all. A roster spot will be held open if we are indeed looking for a player from abroad. Storey you have to think is gone. I dont see him being offered a full roster spot. Nash and Lanes I think are guys who may be on the outside looking in. THey arent really progressing how youd expect. If Hutton cant go Dev again, its likely youll see him leave. So, to me thats 4 more open dev spots right there. Add in the 3 supplemental picks, I think the only thing the draftees will be worried about is beating out the non-draftee invites and frankly justifying that they have enough to be worth keeping around. That said, if no signing materializes, then that full roster spot is up for grabs, and it would be quite a competition for it I think. The big thing looking at the roster is that there is no clear backup for Clark. We might see Gray, Barrett, Iani, Cochrane or even Moloi get time there. As for the draftees: John Michael Hayden - Holding mid? Outside mid? Hes a hard one to figure out what the plan with him is. There definately is a plan though, since you dont use your first round pick on a guy you dont know what to do with. Corey Ashe - Definately a left sided player, but a back too? I think he will be played in midfield. Could turn out to be a great value. Mike Sambursky - I think he will be developed as a Right sided player, in both defense and midfield. Based on what Ive seen, he seems like he may grab the opportunity and run with it. Eric Ebert - Was a holding mid in college, but seems to have the size to play defense. Could be a player who is moved in the center of defense perhaps? Anyways, heres what I think the First and Reserve XIs will look like going into training camp. Subject to camp battles of course. First XI ====== Fowards: Ching Dalglish Midfielders: AM - De Rosario DM - Clark RM - Mullan LM - Davis Defenders: LB - Barrett RB - Waibel RCD - Cochrane LCD - Robinson Keeper: Onstad Reserve XI ========= Forwards: Moreno Wondolowski Midfielders: RM - Chabala LM - Ashe AM - Holden DM - Moloi Defenders: RB - Sambursky (?) LB - Goldthwaite RCB - Gray (?) LCB - Ianni Keeper: Wells Outside looking in at this time: Hayden - Could replace Moloi or Chabala (who in turn could go on the left in place of Ashe) Ebert - Holding mid? Id guess in the supplemental rounds we take a keeper, a defender and a forward.