As the combine drew to a close today, the play was pretty tight, with a lot of adequate performances and not a tonne of standouts. This was definitely reflected in the lack of goal scoring chances in both games. Nonetheless, here are my 5 Up, 5 Down for today.

5 Up

1.    Brian Perk – The combine has been pretty low key for the keepers, save for Sean Johnson having difficulties. That changed today, though, as Perk was challenged a few times and he came up big. Perk made a few acrobatic saves and was strong in challenging loose balls.  His ability to communicate and organize his defenders has been another plus.  Perk should be the first keeper taken on draft day. He may lack size, but makes up for it with every other aspect of his game.

Just a quick update from the combine, I was sitting with a few people in the know and caught wind that Toronto FC was bringing in Ross Smith a centreback who has been around the block.  The 29 year old has spent time in the English lower divisions aswell as Colorado Rapids and Rochester Rhinos in america.

It is not sure if its just to fill out numbers or to address a backup need but its something to add to the rumor wire.

In other news around the combine it looks like Colorado has some interest in Sean Johnson and could use the 22/23 spot to pick him as Johnson has struggled so far at the combine.

5 Up

Blair Gavin – Today Blair Gavin rose up into my top 5. He looked a class apart from the rest of the midfielders in the draft.  Tchani may have size and strength on his side, but Gavin is an extremely smart player who will be able to make the jump right away, and should have his eyes set on Europe in the next few years.  Once again, I am wowed by this kid; Gavin has been the best performer in this combine.

Kyle Nakazawa – Nakazawa had a much better day two then day one. He was a key part of the green attack on Saturday, as he was running at defenders and trying to help out a poor Jason Yiesley who was essentially a lone striker for the first half.  The UCLA product showed his class today and should be a top twenty pick come Thursday.

The sun was out, but it still was not real Florida weather. The media room today was being used as some kind of children’s camp, so reporter types were told to sit in the stands.  I prefer the stands to the media room anyways, so it did not affect me at all.  Both games today were surprisingly worse then day one, with a lot of midfield ping-pong where strikers never really got any good service and neither team’s defenders were really tested. 

The first day of the combine is a bit of a crapshoot. You are getting players who have not played in competitive matches in over a month; so day one is full of rust and nerves.  Still though, it is a tryout and these games do matter.  In a rainy near with freezing conditions, a crowd of about 100 cold fans sat and watched college’s best play.  In the first game we saw the blue team dominate the white team in the first half, scoring three early goals. While the net was filled, none of these were really keeper Sean Johnson’s fault.  In the second half there were some changes in the white lineup and their back line started to play respectable, only conceding through a magical 30-yard bomb from Louisville star Othaniel Yanez.  The final score was 4-1, as the white team scored on a penalty converted by Drew Yates.  The second match was a scoreless affair, with only one real chance in the match.  That chance saw the play of the game though, as “Everyman” Brooks Haggarty made a major diving save on Gen Adidas product Jack McInerney.  Other notes from the day: It was cold, it was really cold.  Oh and the combine is at a Cricket Stadium, converted into a soccer stadium.

 Here is day one’s five up five down.

Creighton defender Seth Sinovic prepared for the MLS Combine by participating in the Pro Pace Soccer Combine in Omaha, Nebraska on January 4, 2010. Sinovic's Pro Pace Soccer Combine coach, Burke Slusher, interviewed Sinovic for MLSDraft.net .