http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news/mlsdraft.html On Wednesday, D.C. acquired U.S. National team standout Earnest Stewart on a free transfer from Dutch side NAC Breda in a move that all but assures United will trade their top pick. Team sources have indicated it will go to a Western Conference team for a midfield player. Which western conference team has the deepest midfield? Colorado. Who needs a forward? Colorado What do you think?
Who would we trade? Pablo? Chung? Henderson? None of these are worth giving up for the first pick, given the history of first picks (Moore, Shak, etc.). Would D.C. be willing to trade the first pick for somebody like Hart or Kingsley?
Going from 28th to first would be strange. Good, but strange. I'd take Alecko for Sleeth, Shak, or Trembly....Even all of them.
DC is going to send the #1 to LA for Simon Elliott. Galaxy will then take Eskandarian to partner up front with Ruiz.
Leave it to a Galaxy fan to try and swerve us. No way that DC is trading the #1 to LA for Simon freakin' Elliot. Geez, why not for Sasha, straight up. Not sure how the Galaxy are under the cap but that's alright, I'm anxious to see if Ruiz can have as good a second season as his first. I wouldn't count on the Rapids getting the pick either. Hanki wants a proven goal scorer with the allocation. But you never know, Eskandarian might be too good to pass up and an allocation and a couple young midfielders/defenders is way more enticing than Simon freakin' Elliot. Christ, Galaxy fans.
First off, the "article" is written by Trecker the Younger who is one of the worst soccer writers out there. He gets by on his dad's name. This article has numerous incorrect "facts" that Trecker could have gotten right just by checking mlsnet.com. There is a thread on the DC board where somebody said they would trade the #1 pick to the Rapids for Pablo. Maybe Trecker has been reading BS.
No way is this going to happen. I don't think LA would trade Elliot either (they are under the cap). Now San Jose is a different story. So if I had to gues/speculate (just to kill some time - beats working) I would say that since SJ is in cap problems and have asked Ekelund to take a paycut, maybe he would be the guy on the move??? for the 1st pick? That doesn't even seem probable. There is going to be a lot of talks tomorrow during the draft though amongst all the coaches and GM to see who can move up etc. It'll be interesting to see what the final draft order turns out to be after some "maneuvering". BTW, sligthly off topic the hot kid of the draft according to the coaches is Stokes (central d.) he apparently showed really well at the combine and will be one of the top picks. We'll see tomorrow.
The question is spawned by a question. Let us ask the first question first: Why does acquiring Earnie Stewie neccessarily require DC to trade the top draft pick? Possible answers: 1) All of DC's needs are now met: ES plays both mid and forward. If you have him pegged as a starting forward, then you have pushed a potential starter (or draft pick) to the bench. How many #1 draft picks start? Seriously, the most effective rookies the last few years are high-round defenders. In almost any good scenario, your #1 draft pick forward is a part-timer. And if your intent is to have ES in midfield, then DC remains very weak at forward and why trade for another middie? 2) There is no roster space: Well there will be no roster space for the "traded midfielder", and no roster space for all DC's other numerous draft picks. Maybe there just isn't enough space? So you put your bets on protecting roster spot of the #80 overall draft pick by dumping your #1 draft spot? 3) There is no cap space: Well, does a #1 draft pick (somewhat over league minimum) make more money than an MLS vet (even from the bench) with at least one year of pay raises, possibly more? Whatever happens tomorrow, I don't think DC trades their #1 pick because they have to.
if the cap is an issue, they would more likely trade down in the first round and take a P40 players. I agree that getting Stewart doesn't really dictate anything. Something about the way Ray keeps saying they will take Eskandarian, makes me think they won't..... I could see Colorado trading for the #5 pick, but not sure what you could give. I don't think they'd deem Beckerman worth it.
Anyone notice that there have been no hints or rumors whatsoever with regards to who the Rapids might pick up with their allocation? Granted, MLS isn't exactly front page news... but I think the league has reached the point where eventual signings at least come out as rumors well in advance of the final deal. As Rapids fans, we all had heard initial rumblings about with Grimandi, Amokachi, and Spencer a good couple of months before things actually happened (as well as players that never made it to the Rapids, like Simutenkov). The only thing we've heard with regards to this allocation is that Hankinson is "looking to get an international striker" or something to that effect. Either the Rapids and MLS have kept an unusually tight lid on their possible acquisition, or the Rapids have not made a lot of groundwork in this direction. That said, one area that has continued to be a big surprise for MLS fans is what happens at the SuperDraft. Certainly there are rumblings and rumors, but there also continue to be a large number of maneuvers that take everyone by surprise. Last year, I think only the most in-the-know fans from NY and Colorado had an inkling than Chung and Balboa would be moving. Thus I'm beginning to wonder if indeed the Rapids don't have anyone major lined up with this allocation and may very much be looking to make a big trade this afternoon -- perhaps a multi-player deal that brings a veteran league striker to the Rapids. I'm just thinking that we will indeed see the Rapids make some kind of big move this afternoon. And if they don't... then I've got even bigger expectations for how they fill their available allocation.
I think it is in Hanki's and the Rapids' best interest to keep their options open. If Hanki can get something for the allocation on Draft Day, then he should use it that way. If nothing comes up that is appealing, then he can proceed with whoever he has lined up on the international front. I bet if he doesn't deal it today, then we'll so hear who they will use it on. There is only a week or so until the Rapids are all to report for their physicals.
CO is in the process of attempting to use their allocation (it's been tight lid) on a strong, big, young, talented forward that is not in MLS (nor has he ever been). They are waiting for a clearance letter from his previous club. It they get the letter, they will try to sign this kid. Should know by next week if the letter gets done. If they can't get this kid then they look to use the allocation elsewhere. BTW, did you see that Matt Jordan has had some talks with the team??? Now he would be a great backup for Scotty. (this was reported by Crish Bergin at his site - sorry don't know how to link???)
Matt Jordan is now out of contract with MLS, but if he re-signs the Burn would still have his rights. So for the Rapids to acquire him they would either have to trade for him or the Burn would put him on waivers and the Rapids would have to take him off of that if no teams above them choose him.