Yeah, as a matter of fact you got the best soccer player in the entire draft, Superdraft included, Xavier Balc. Wait til you see this kid. And he's already the best free and corner kick man in the league. Mo was so stunned to end up with him that he passed your next pick. Balc has the sweetest left foot in the pool. He’s blessed with terrific vision and is a great passer. A touch slow but so was Preki. He’s a real game changer for the right system. The Buckeyes standout senior striker and Big Ten Player of the Year is both a dangerous goal scorer and playmaker. Both in body and game he cuts a striking resemblance to MLS great Preki. Not the quickest player out there, Blac is blessed with a beautiful left foot, fantastic technique, and fabulous vision. He’s also big and strong with great soccer smarts and will power which makes him dominate in possession. Balc usually plays withdrawn striker behind the lead target man, but could also be a very dangerous #10 in the right system. Balc holds State’s records for assists in a season with 14 and over a career with 35, the latter more than double the previous record career high. Balc’s also a high impact player as 11 of his 23 career goals being game winners. MLS Combine. Had some injuries, which made him have a sub-par combine, which scared teams off. Basically, you stole this guy. Bastards.
Changing the URL from the 2007 draft to 2008, this is what I found. Only first 2 rounds though. http://www.mlsnet.com/mls/events/supplementaldraft/2008/search.jsp
Lets not get carried away. Balc is a good player, but he is not great. For a Supplemental Draft pick though, he is a good value.
Just wondering is there rules regarding young players in the U.S? If someone is really good whats stopping the world's clubs offering him a contract?
Exactly. Obviously a reason why he didn't go in the Superdraft and that Toronto picked other players ahead of him...but whats the downside? He has lots of talent some apparent flaws.....sounds like a lot of players. No risk move.
We could have taken him in front of that blonde freak we took in the last round of the SuperDraft. Of course, if that guy ends up excellent, my words will be tasty.
I got a hell of a deal for you: Xavier Balc for Steve Lenhart. Straight up. Lenhart is obviously worlds better, because Columbus passed on Balc to draft Lenhart in the 4th round of the Superdraft. Even thought Lenhart might not have even been the best player on Asuza Pacific of the NAIA, while Balc won Big-Ten honors, broke OSU and Big Ten scoring records, and helped his team to the National Championship game. Sadly, TFC getting this pick is literally casting the pearls before the swine (no offense). Or is that "offence"? I always forget if you all spell it the wrong way. You obviously can't spell "throw" right.
Another good pick by Mo. I think he's a better draft scout than coach but why did we pass on other picks in this draft? Especially, with Lapira wanting to play in Europe.
He passed on the other picks because he figured that with the limited number of US/International players we can have on the roster the players chosen with the last three picks would just end up getting cut from the team prior to the start of the season. It sounds from the interview he gave on the soccer show that he'll need a few international spots for the positions he is trying to fill.
I think you have to assume that Lapira's gone to Europe. That's why he was a 3rd round pick instead of the top 5 he probably would have been had he signed with MLS before the draft. Anything that TFC may get out of Lapira has to be considered a bonus.
Seen him play a couple times, probably too heavy and slow for the highest level of MLS soccer but he has some skill to work with.