General News
MLSDraft.net Live at the Draft From Philly!
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Live Blog & Pick Dissection From Draft
Hey guys, welcome to the Live Blog
To follow along live and with more up to date picks and such check out the chat @ http://www.mlsdraft.net/?q=tribune
This will be more official and full of praise and crisitsm for each pick. Expect a fun filled today on this blog, I will try to be official, but a bit more free with words then most blogs.
1:30: Ive heard Jeff Lorentiwitz name mentioned in trade talks with a move to Colorado.
Toronto is in talks and I have heard that there is a deal done, but no one knows if how far hes moving up and which team it is. New York had been shopping the pick, but I just dont see what the Red Bull want from TFC.
Did not happen here guys, sorry I knew it was a little to quiet for a TFC trade
DC Trades 7th Overall & Fred for 1st Allocation spot (Troy Perkins)
Philadelphia Union announced today that the Major League Soccer expansion club have acquired allocation money, D.C. United’s 2010 MLS SuperDraft first round pick (#7 overall) and Brazilian midfielder Fred. In exchange, Philadelphia Union sent their #1 allocation ranking to D.C., which United used to obtain 2006 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Troy Perkins. Philadelphia now hold the #6 spot in the allocation rankings.
“This deal enables us to continue to shape our team to compete both now and in the future,” said Team Manager Peter Nowak. “But we still have a lot of work to do.”
Now, with two of the first seven picks in the draft, Philadelphia Union approach their first SuperDraft with growing anticipation.
Top 5 Late Round Gems
At this point everyone knows who the big shots are in this year’s draft, but every year there seems to be a Darrius Barnes or Jonathan Bornstein who comes out of nowhere to have an excellent rookie season. Here are a few of the players I think may be the diamonds in the rough at this year’s MLS draft.
1. Andrew Hoxie
Hoxie had an excellent combine and had to turn a few heads. Aside from his obvious size, he has a good head for the game, a decent first touch and is faster than you’d expect. He is probably a project, but could be a useful player somewhere down the line. He’s definitely a later pick, but in a few years you may look back at the 2010 draft and wonder how he dropped so far.
Final MLSDraft Mock Draft
With the MLS Combine complete, MLSDraft has completed its final mock draft for this year. The combine shook things up, with a few previous unknowns vaulting into the top two rounds and saw players with big reputations slip.
To see our two round mock draft, click here.
MLS Combine Player Grades
The three days at the combine were really enlightening, as to the quality of the draft class. In these days I have seen the players who were in my top ten like Nakazawa, Akpan and Wiedeman fall dramatically, as well as the rise of players like Gavin, Stephens and Justin Morrow. In the six matches we saw a mere eleven goals, five in the first match and a real lack of creativity in attack. Players being heralded for there creative ability seemed rather pedestrian.
The one major plus this week was seeing a lot of smart possession soccer, a sign of the increasing quality of soccer in North America. Very rarely did you see someone in a panic, and just kick the ball blindly into the air. The NCAA may not be the best system for grooming players to become professionals but the kids are getting better and the draft is deeper and deeper each year.
Tuesday's 5 Up, 5 Down
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.
Canadian Centre Back on TFC Trial
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.
Monday's 5 Up, 5 Down
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.
Monday's Combine Report
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.
