Houston should be adding 3 more players to their pool tomorrow in the Supplemental Draft. They traded the 4th pick in the round last year to KC for the rights to Martin Hutton, so they only have 3 picks (unless they traded to acquire a pick somewhere, but I can't find any record of that). As posted last week, it seems like a good guess that they'll draft a keeper as they don't have anyone who is young enough to be on the developmental roster as the 3rd keeper. Beyond that, who knows. From last year's supplemental draft, only Moloi stuck with the team. Hector Guzman never joined the team, and Fender and Donatelli were both cut early in the preseason. From the 2005 supplemental draft, only Chris Wondolowski is still with the team. Two others (Bret Rodriguez and Robby Fulton) played with the San Jose team in 2005 but didn't move to Houston. Hard to tell if those guys would have stayed with the team if the team hadn't moved...but it certainly seems that it's a long shot to get someone in the supplemental draft who is going to be able to stick with the team. But it's not impossible. A few names from the 2005 and 2006 supplemental drafts that have made a mark in the league: 2005: Abe Thompson and Aaron Pitchkolan for Dallas, Jeff Larentowicz for NE, Bill Gaudette for CBus 2006: Drew Helm and Lawson Vaughn for Chivas, Willis Forko for RSL, Dasan Robinson for Chicago, and Devon McTavish for DCU Prior to this year, these were the only two years that there were four rounds of a supplemental draft. Anyway, it will be interesting to see if Dom uses his picks this year and who he gets.
Nick Hatzke A midfielder from San Jose. And in a somewhat Houston related note, it looks like Dallas got Chris Gbandi's brother. Or at least somebody with the same last name that is also from Houston.
Justin Douglass From Spring, TX. I couldn't find a player bio for him, that's an article about him being invited to the combine.
Here's the MLS supplemental draft tracker: http://www.mlsnet.com/mls/events/supplementaldraft/2007/search.jsp Two picks had been traded away by Houston -- the second round went to Columbus for Marcus Storey's rights and the fourth round went to Kansas City for Martin Hutton's rights. According to the tracker, Houston also received KC's fourth round pick (number 42 in the supplemental draft). Anybody know how that was acquired? Perhaps while the team was still in San Jose? Can't find anything.
Nope - can't find anything either. Interesting picks - no 3rd goalkeeper, which they do need. Of course, they can just trial keepers and find one locally without drafting. Also, combining all of the superdraft and supplemental draft players, only one draftee (Douglass, the last pick today) was a defender in college. Does this mean Dom is really happy with the defensive players he has, or that he expects to beef that up by a trade or international signing? (Or that he plans to convert some of the midfielders or Sambursky to a defender)? Anyone have any knowledge of any of the guys just drafted (other than what's on the links already posted here?) I guess I have to weigh in with some of the other posts that I've seen, and so far it's been a singularly disappointing offseason. None of the draft picks seems to be guys who are ready to make a big impact (although you can never tell), and no other movement. Will be interesting to see if they have anyone else on trial once they start practicing in preseason. I guess the good news is that there's no word on DeRo moving anywhere, and it's starting to get awfully late for that to happen. When does the transfer window in Europe close?
January 31st. With the Dynamo camp starting up on January 23 (Tuesday), that makes for an interesting nine day period-- seeing who shows up on time for camp, who shows up late, who doesn't show up at all. Many transfers do get finalized in the last week of the transfer period. (Although DeRo seems to be the only 2006 Dynamo player who might transfer to Europe.)
I've seen both Nick Hatzke and Erik Ustruck play, as CAL and SCU always play each other once a year as bay area rivals, then often again, as luck would have it, in 1st or 2nd round of NCAAs. A lot of similarities with the two from my perspective. Very good athletes with good soccer skills. Neither one is the least bit timid about getting stuck in, handling a ball in traffic, or taking a man on. Aggressive players, but smart too. They know when and how to pass. Both have moves that beat defenders, but finesse is not why Kinnear chose them. And DK is surely familiar with both of them, Quakes scrimmaging with them in college spring seasons. Hatzke has the better shot of the two, and got the majority of free kick opportunities from his Cal coach, Kevin Grimes. Ustruck took the majority of corner kicks for Cam Rast's Broncos. Both give their absolute all in a match. Having seen lots more of Ustruck, I can tell you the only time his match style and energy level is not inspiring, is if he's playing sick or injured. Quality individuals and quality players. Best of luck to them both and to Houston.