D.C.: 1 Eye on Draft, Other on the Future Apparently Dallas had considered offering Joselito Vaca for the top draft pick, as well as some other teams. Ray thinks two guys in the draft could start immediately: 1. Alecko and 2. Mysteriously refused to name... Thank you again Steven Goff, for all the great articles.
Mystery man must be who he would like to take at #5. If he trades #1, he may be hoping to get Jacqua. This is getting crazy.
I like the idea of taking Eskie and then dishing all but one of the other picks to the Scum for their second pick; then taking Clark; then using a late round pick for a keeper. Obviously time will tell which players pan out but that would seem to be a great way to go.
I don't know what to think of all this. I just want Clark on our team. Kevin hit me up with a PM about WOF.
I really hope Hudson is just blowing smoke about Eskandarian being good enough to start. I can deal with drafting him but starting him? Over Quaranta? If Dallas did really offer Vaca, I'm guessing Hudson turned it down because he won't fit in our formation. He's not going to displace Ben Olsen on the right and we wouldn't be able to have Etcheverry on the bench for max salary. If we got an offer of, say, Richard Mulrooney, I would say take that immediately.
I'd take Esky and Clark also at 1 and 2 and trade 5 and 11 and 14. If we do get Clark than it really seems like we have too many defenders: Nellie, Petke, Prideaux, Reyes, and Ivanov are all starters. It just looks like a trade is in the offing.
Not necessarily. IF that move was made, and those 2 players were drafted, I'd expect this kind of lineup: Rimando Petke Nelson Ivanov Clark Etcheverry Reyes Convey Olsen Stewart Quaranta Prideaux is a heckuva player to have on the bench, but if last season taught MLS teams anything, it's that you can never have enough good defenders on your roster. Also, with the tempers of some of your defenders, a good backup is a must. Between Petke, Clark and Reyes, I don't see any MLS attackers going down your right side willingly. IF that trade went through.
Jacen- I like that lineup a lot. Thanks for seeing it. Oh- and you guys should have gotten an allocation for Tab.
Thanks. I've calmed down about it since it happened, but that week that Colorado got one for cutting Pibe, I was on a pissed off crusade! As for the lineup, the starting group is strong. The striker pool is VERY deep (Eskandarian, Stoichkov and Curtis off the bench) and the defense is reasonably deep (Prideaux). The midfield could use some work. Namoff and the Peruvian (blanking on the name) are A-League. Kovalenko should also have been put next to Etch with Clark starting on the bench (forgot about Dema). DC desperately needs another quality left footed midfield player to round out their bench though.
Hmmm, perhaps a defender for Brian West or Eric Quill? If all that went down... Dark Helmet: "I see your schwartz is as big as mine Hudsper."
Eric Quill? OK, Valderrama makes all his wingers look pretty good. Chung and Henderson are the real deal - they were good without him. Quill wasn't. He's terrible and has a major attitude problem to match. DCU, I hope this is idle speculation on your part and not based on any specific information!
No way, Jose! Neither has the heart of a warrior, which is a prerequisite (thank God) for the 2003 DC United. What does Dallas want for Martinez? GM
#s 5 & 11 for #2 is a good trade (for both teams IMHO) if there's a player we want. Keep 14 for a backup GK.
Au Contrarie! Assume that Nelsen, Kovalenko and Clark and 3 guys fighting (and splitting) 2 positions--holding mid and D-mid. Then look at Petke, Reyes, Ivanov and Prideaux on the backline. Remember that Ivanov will likely miss some games for Euro qualifications, Nelsen misses a chunck for Confed Cup, Clark may may some games b/c of U-20 duties. I actually think we're a bit thin on the back line.
You've gotta love Hudson's ability to overstate things: "But even if the MetroStars came along and offered us [star forward] Clint Mathis, I don't know if we would do it." Although he hasn't been in the squad for their first three qualifiers, so maybe not.
United also picks #31,41,51,59 These seem to be a place to pick up a backup keeper. Package the three non-#1's for a shot at the second player that they feel can play now. And take flyers with the remaining late round picks.
I would do it if the standard starting lineup then looked like: ---------Rimando Petke-----Nelsen---Ivanov ------------Clark Reyes--Etch/Dema---Olsen ----------Convey --Stewart----Quaranta/Escandarian We could then have the flexibility to make due when guys leave: -Prideaux can step in when Nelsen's gone- just move Ivanov to the middle. -When Ivanov is gone, Prideaux just slides into his spot. -When Clark's gone, move Nelsen into his spot, slide Ivanov to the middle and start Prideaux again on the left. -The Etch/dema combo can cover for Convey when he's gone. -Likewise, Alecko starts when Q1 is gone. To me this is a slam dunk. Thus it won't happen.
with the bulgarian guy could we move petke for a pick to get clark or get another dmid? also, what does petke make? is clark good enough to play a lot right away? are there any keepers in the draft good enough to play if nicky got hurt?
I'd be inclined not to draft a keeper, and pick a more experienced one up afterwards. There are a number of them in the A-League. Because of our national depth at the position, they don't command that much money for their experience. Unless we're deliberately grooming a young guy for the future (i.e., a DJ Countess), I'd rather have experience coming off the bench if Nick gets hurt.
But don't you need to draft A-League keepers? Unless you want to burn a discovery pick on one, I think that's the only way to get one other than finding one on waivers.
You've got me there. Maybe my idea isn't such a bright one after all, but I'd stick with my other point: an experienced back-up is better than a rookie, unless the rookie is a potential future star that you anticipate keeping around for awhile.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-soccer17jan17,0,6139586.column?coll=la-headlines-sports (registration required) Grahame L. Jones repeates the "#5 pick for Stoitchkov" rumor: "and there was also talk of the club's trading its No. 5 pick to the Chicago Fire for Bulgarian playmaker Hristo Stoitchkov, which, if nothing else, would give Ivanov someone to talk to."