Here is some transfer news involving Americans.

Sacha Kljestan’s move to Celtic is not going to happen.  Celtic could not afford Kljestan’s $3.5 million, plus sell-on clause, price tag.  The young central midfielders is coming off a hat-trick performance with the national team and should see his stock rise in the coming months.  It isn’t likely that he will complete a transfer before the transfer window closes, even though there are plenty of teams interested.  Personally, I’m glad the deal did not go through, I do not think the Scottish game suits him.

Jozy Altidore has just completed a loan deal to Xerez in the Spanish second division.  Altidore could not get regular minutes in Villarreal’s stacked forward line.  Xerez sits first in the second division and that should take some pressure off Altidore needing to come in and make a difference.  Why is this move better than a loan deal to Everton?  I think the rigours of Spanish Second division are much less than the Premier League.  Young players are prone to injuries if not brought along slowly.  It will also give him more time to settle into the Spanish game instead of having to adapt to the English game.  Playing time is probably the biggest factor. Altidore is likely to see more minutes with Xerez than Everton.

Bobby Convey is on his way back to MLS.  The Reading and ex-DC United midfielder is in talks with MLS for a return to the league.  Convey’s time at Reading was filled with ups and downs but current lack of playing has sealed his desire to return to the US.  Convey has been plagued with injuries the last few seasons but states that he is 100% healthy now.  LA Galaxy and San Jose are his two possible destinations if he returns.  LA want him but San Jose are first in the allocation order.  San Jose does not need Convey and LA might strike a deal with San Jose to move up the allocation order.

Duke University standout, Mike Grella, is set to sign with English League One side Leeds.  Grella was a forward at Duke this last season and was considered one of the top strikers coming out college this year.  He was drafted by Toronto FC in this years Superdraft, but he had already set his sights on a move to Europe.  Grella impressed on his two week trial with Leeds, scoring a hat trick in their reserve match versus Barnsley.  Leeds was once a Premier League powerhouse, but finacial issues has seen them struggle in the last 5 years.  I’m a little dissappointed he is playing in League One.  I don’t see how that is much better, besides the pay, than playing in MLS.

The Rapids preseason camp starts today. The Rapids will be in Colorado for two weeks, then the team leaves for a 7 day camp in Ft. Lauderdale. I’m a little dissappointed that the Rapids aren’t going overseas to hold their training camp this year. The Rapids will take the pitch today for the first time and will start 2 a day training on Thursday. The Rapids training sessions will be closed to the public . . . bummer. Maybe the Green Army can get a press pass.

Who showed up?

Goalies: Preston Burpo, Steward Ceus, Mike Graczyk, Justin Hughes, Matt Pickens, Chris Sharpe

Defenders: Ty Harden, Jordan Harvey, Mike Holody, Ugo Ihemelu, Henry Kalungi, Stephen Keel, Kosuke Kimura, Cory Gibbs, Kwame Sarkodie, Cesar Zambrano

Midfielders: Colin Clark, Nico Colaluca, Terry Cooke, Greg Dalby, John DiRaimondo, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, Ciaran O’Brien, Jacob Peterson, Mehdi Ballouchy, Christian Gomez, Brian Grazier

Forwards: Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Kevin Forrest, Ross Schunk, Jordan Seabrook

These guys won’t be back:

Bouna Coundoul (GK) and Jose Burciaga, Jr. (DEF): Out of contract

Tom McManus (FWD) and Facundo Erpen (DEF): Rapids declined to pick up their contract options, McManus is on trial in Scotland.

Mike Petke (DEF) and Tim Ward (DEF): Waived, Petke has recently signed with the NYRB

I think these players not returning is a smart move. Bouna’s departure would have hurt more if Pickens was not in the picture. Burciaga, Erpen, and Ward never made an impact with the Rapids and their departure will not be felt. McManus had the potential to be a great striker in MLS but the team has decided to move in another direction.

Salary cap space:

Facundo Erpen never lived up to his $125,000 salary and his departure will give the Rapids salary space to play with. Similarly, Tom McManus leaves behind a $140,000 salary that was slightly more warranted, but ultimately too much for his production. Petke’s departure gives the Rapids another $133,000. Burciaga’s $80,000, Ward’s $54,000, and Bouna’s $33,000 give the Rapids a grand total of $565,000 in salary cap space. If they could offload at least some of Gomez’s $430,000 they would be a great position to start dealing for new players. I’m sure some of the money will be redistributed among existing players and some of the players already on trial, but $150,000 South American striker wouldn’t be such a bad move.

Christian Gomez?

Gomez was big question mark coming into this preseason. The interest in the player expressed by New England and Dallas never materialized. Goff at the Soccer Insider is predicting a move back to DC for the Argentinian playmaker. Dallas hasn’t completely taken their eye off Gomez, but Gomez’s salary demands make a move unlikely. I hope there is a way to get Gomez into the Rapids lineup because he is a talented player that still has a few years of soccer left in him.

Tryout Players:

No word on any potential tryout players yet. Smith has stated that there will be several joining the camp soon.

Seattle Sounders FC just kicked off their preseason camp this week. There is a buzz surrounding the new club and I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what is going on in Seattle.

Not a bad start:

Seattle is starting off on the right foot. On the field, the club has already signed a number of quality players. Their first, and probably most significant signing was for arguably the best goalkeeper in US history, Kasey Keller. In the expansion draft they secured the services of MLS veterans James Riley and Jeff Parke to anchor the backline. In the midfield they acquired eight year MLS veteran and former LA Galaxy captain, Peter Vagenas. Brad Evans is coming off a championship winning season with Columbus and should provide an offensive punch through the middle of the pitch. Their crop of available play-makers and goal scorers is enviable. The club signed former Arsenal winger and Swedish International, Freddie Ljunberg. Ljunberg has played at the highest level and has won many trophies at every level of the game. The club also signed Colombian goal scoring ace Fredy Montero. Montero, 21 year old Deportivo Cali forward, was the leading goal scorer in Colombia this past season and has already been capped by the national team. Throw into the mix the 6′4 former Houston Dynamo striker Nate Jaqua; and USL and Seattle Sounders standout Sebastian Le Toux and you have the ingredients for a deadly offense. To top it all off, the Sounders lured 2008 MLS Coach of the Year, Sigi Schmid, from the Columbus Crew, the 2008 MLS Cup and Supporters Shield winners.

Off the field, the club has also made a host of great moves. They were able to secure a $20 million, 5 year sponsorship with Microsoft and Xbox. The Sounders have sold 19,000 season tickets since they became available and are leading MLS with most season ticket holders. Maintaining the USL franchise name “Seattle Sounders” was a smart move by the organization. The name was originally not considered because the club wanted a “fresh start”, but the fans rallied in masses to preserve the long soccer tradition that comes with the name “Sounders.” The most interesting development is the creation of their supporters group “Seattle FC Alliance.” Minortiy owner, Drew Carey (comedian), created this group and modeled it after a similar supporters group for FC Barcelona. The Alliance members have the ability to vote for the General Manager of the club and other soccer related issues.

The Coach:

Sigi Schmid brings with him a long tradition of coaching excellence. He led UCLA to 3 College Cup championships, won the MLS Cup with the Galaxy and last year with the Columbus Crew, and led our U20’s to the second round of the World Cup on two occasions. Although he hasn’t specifically stated what his plans are for the Sounders, we can look back at his MLS record to figure out what he might be thinking.

Formations:

He typically uses some type of 4-4-1-1 formation. With Columbus he lined the team up as a 4-1-3-1-1. Brian Carroll was the the lone player in front of the back 4, with Rogers and Gaven providing width. He used Schelotto as a roaming forward and Moreno as the target striker.

In LA he used a more traditional 4-4-2 that could look like a 4-1-3-2, and in his last few years as coach in LA he used a 4-1-3-1-1. Schimd relied on Danny Pena in his first couple of years with the Galaxy to cover the back four and then Peter Vagenas to provide that cover for his final years with the club. He had players such as Cobi Jones and Herzog manning the flanks. Mauricio Cienfuegas had the freedom to create for the team. He would usually deploy Carlos Ruiz or Moreno alone up top with Kirovski roaming behind them.

With the U20’s he used a 4-2-2-2, playing Eddie Gaven and Adu centrally in front of two holding center mids, Feilhaber and Dalby. Adu and Gaven had the freedom to play centrally or attack from the wings.

In his most recent scrimmage with the Sounders, Sigi lined the team up in a 3-4-3. It is likely that he is testing out formations and probably doesn’t have all the players he needs to play his favored 4-4-1-1. It isn’t the first time he’s used 3 in the back, so we will take into consideration as we discuss the Sounder’s options.

Goalkeeper:

Kasey Keller . . . . moving along.

Defense:

On the defensive side of the ball it is very clear that he prefers to play with four in the back. Defensive strength has always been a key trait for a Sigi Schmid team. His early Galaxy teams, led by the likes of Robin Fraser an Paul Caligiuri, had the stingiest defense in the league. Last year the Columbus Crew finished with the 3rd best defensive record (36 goals against), only 3 more goals than league leaders Houston. At Columbus he partnered the large and imposing Chad Marshall (MLS Defensive Player of the Year), with the faster and more workman like Danny O’Rourke. Sigi Schmid has always relied heavily on his defensive mids to provide cover for his backline. Last year Carroll was a key to their success, just as Danny Pena and Peter Vagenas were for the Galaxy. Similarly, Benny Feilhaber was the glue that kept the U20’s together, providing exceptional defensive cover (responsible for marking Lionel Messi) and distributing after recuperation. Schmid also likes his outside backs to join the attack. Frankie Hejduk is a prime example, as is Marvel Wynne.

Currently the Sounders have Tyson Wahl, Taylor Graham, Jeff Parke, and James Riley as their defensive options. Sounders have the size and experience they need in the middle of the defense with Parke and Wahl. There have been rumbling, though, that Parke might be on his way to Europe. Riley is likely to be deployed as an outside back because of his speed, but would be comfortable in 3 man backline as well. Graham was a USL defensive player of the year finalist last season and should be battling for a spot along the back line. This is Graham’s third stint in the MLS after two unsuccessful attempts with the KC Wizards and the NY Red Bulls. If the Sounders go with a 3 man backline he has the calibur to step into one of those positions. Sigi is likely to to be auditioning some outside backs for the upcoming season. The holding mid spot is also up for grabs.

Here are his options for outside back: Quavas Kirk, previously with DC United and Galaxy, is on trial with the Sounders. Kirk was a forward with our youth national team system, but was moved to right back after he was drafted by the Galaxy in 2005. Kirk is young, 20, and is very physically gifted. He can also be used as an outside mid. The Sounders also drafted the offensive minded right back Evan Brown. Brown provided 14 assists as a right back in his final two seasons with Wake Forest, and has drawn comparisons to Frankie Hejduk. Left back Jared Karkas, out of Azusa Pacific University, brings similar qualities as Brown.

The battle for the holding mid spot: Right now the two front runners for the spot are Peter Vagenas and Nathan Sturgis. Vagenas was coached by Schmid at UCLA and the Galaxy. Vagenas (30) is a conservative but hardworking center mid. He rarely has any offensive bite, but does his job well. Nathan Sturgis (21) is a young and upcoming midfielder/defender. He was drafted out of Clemson in 2006 by the Galaxy and quickly became a key player for them as a defensive center mid. His passing ability is well beyond his years and his defensive bite and timing also make him a viable option in the backline. Schimd coached Sturgis during his time with the U20’s. The dark horse in the race to win this spot is Stephen King. King is an excellent player who didn’t have much of chance to shine on the stacked Chicago Fire roster. He is still young with a ton of upside. Schmid should be pleased with his options here.

Midfield:

It is no mystery that Sigi loves to play with fast and attack minded outside mids. Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven manned the flanks for Columbus last season. Schmid also likes to have a two way offensive minded center mid in the mold of Cienfuegos or most recently Brad Evans.

On the outside: The discussion about the outside mids begins with Freddie Ljunberg. It isn’t clear if Schmid wishes to play the Swedish international closer to the middle of the park or in his traditional role as a winger. One thing that is for sure, is that Sigi will need to find someone to replace Freddie when he is injured. The Sounders can do a lot worse than Khano Smith on the left wing. He is a tall and speedy winger that most recently had a starting role with the New England Revolution. Another option with New England connections is Sanna Nyassi, Revs winger Sainey Nyassi’s twin brother. Sanna is a fast and skillful player and if he is as good as his brother he should step into a starting role right away. The Sounders first round and #1 overall pick in the 2009 Superdraft, Steve Zakuani, might also be an option out wide. His speed and ability to go at players would be make him an excellent option on the wings. He might not be ready to get the nod up top in his more familiar role as a striker, but could fight for a starting spot right away as an outside mid. Another option on the left wing is left footed midfielder Michael Fucito. Fucito scored 32 goals and provided 24 assists during his career at Harvard. The Sounders drafted him the 4th round of the 2009 Superdraft.

To way mid: Schmid knows Brad Evans very well and there is little reason to doubt that Evans will be starting in this position for the Sounders. Evans was a key member of the Crew’s championship winning season last year. With most of the other midfielders being wingers or defensive center mids, Sigi will need to scout some depth in this position. There is also the option of converting Sebastian LeToux into a center mid or pushing Ljunberg into the middle.

Forwards:

Schmid likes to play with one big striker and a roaming forward. In LA, Schmid played Jovan Kirovski behind Ruiz. At Columbus, Schmid played Schelotto behind Alejandro Moreno. With the U20’s Schmid opted for a more traditional two striker system, but it is clear that he prefers to have a target forward. Recent scrimmages suggest that Sigi might opt for 3 up top, and with his current crop of players it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Typical Schmid teams like to spread the scoring around the field. The 1999 Galaxy team, Western Conference Champs, spread the scoring around and its two leading goal scorers, Cobi Jones and Carlos Hermosillo, only had 8 goals a piece. In 2001, the Galaxy had the second best offense in the league scoring 52 goals, but the club’s leading goal scorer, Cobi Jones, only scored 6 goals that year. With the exception of Carlos Ruiz (24 goals in ‘02 and 15 in ‘03), who joined the club in 2002, the Galaxy saw goals from all over the field. Similarly, the Columbus Crew spread out he scoring this past season. Alejandro Moreno was their leading goal scorer with 9 goals, Schelotto was second with 7 goals, Robbie Rogers 6, Brad Evans had 5, and Chad Marshall and Steven Lenhart both had 4. Fourteen Columbus players hit the back of the net last year for 50 goals and the second best offense in the league.

The forward pairing: The Sounders have some great offensive talent already signed up. They were able to acquire the services of Nate Jaqua in the expansion draft. Jaqua stands 6′4, and will likely play the role of a target striker. He has excellent ball skill and is a smart player, but he probably won’t get the Sounders more than 8 goals a season. The big question is, who will play with Jaqua? If Sigi stays with only two up top, the candidates are Fredy Montero, Freddie Ljunberg (when healthy), and Sebastian LeToux. Zakuani could throw his hat into that ring, but recent developments suggest that he will play outwide.

The forward trio: If Sigi decides to play with three up top, he could have the opportunity to play most of his attacking talent at once. Nate Jaqua and Sebestian LeToux will probably battle it out for the target striker role. On the wings we could see Sanna Nyassi, Fredy Montero, Ljunberg, and Steve Zakuani. A strong combination would be Montero on the left wing, Jaqua in the middle, and Ljunberg on the right. The speedy Zakuani and Nyassi could step in to spark the attack late in the match.

Final Thoughts:

The Sounders still have some holes to fill but they are on the right track. Sigi has a tough road ahead of him trying to cut down his roster to 24 players and build chemistry. As it stands right now, Seattle has six solid starters and probably 2 or 3 guys that will perform adequately in their position. There is a significant drop off after that and Schmid needs to find players who will provide depth. Schmid is currently auditioning 16 USL players to try and fill those gaps, but I’m sure he has his eye on a few trades. Here is my guess at the starting lineup if the season started tomorrow:

Keller

Wahl Graham/Parke Riley

Sturgis/Vagenas

Nyassi/King Evans Smith

Zakuani/Ljunberg Jaqua/LeToux Montero

If you actually read through all this, let me know what you think about the Sounder’s so far? What do you think the lineup will look like?

The Green Army and the entire FC Denver organization is very proud of our indoor team that just finished their current season.  They played in the championship game this past Monday night.  The team played hard and with a lot of passion.  They walked off the pitch as champions, even if the scoreboard did not reflect that.  Here are some of the highlights from that match, enjoy.

Great work guys! A new season is just around the corner and I’m sure you will have even more success.

The draft is over and preseason training is just around the corner.  This would be a good time to take a look at the Rapids roster situation.  Coach Smith has only been with the Rapids since February 2008, and has only been the head coach since July 2008. Although we don’t know too much about Smith right now, he has given us some clues as to the team he hopes to build.

Formation and Direction:

It is obvious that he prefers the 4-4-2 and is willing to go with a more defensive posture.  Smith believes in attacking football even though he implemented a defensive approach when he took over for Clavijo. His lineup choices and draft picks show a preference for fast workmanlike players.  He also has faith in youth, starting players such as Harvey, Kimura, and LaBrocca regularly.  Smith has conceded though, that the roster restrictions will make it difficult for young players this year.  He sees the elimination of the Reserve League as the first step backwards MLS has taken.

Goalkeepers: Preston Burpo, Matt Pickens, Justin Hughes, Steward Ceus, Mike Gracyzk

Smith only wants to keep two goalkeepers on the roster. With Bouna out of the picture the top two candidates are Burpo and Pickens.  Because of Burpo’s age (37) Smith might have to keep a 3^rd keeper or sacrifice Burpo for youth. Ceus, Hughs, and Gracyzk should be competing for the backup spot.

Defenders: Jordan Harvey, Jose Burciaga, Facundo Erpen, Kosuke Kimura, Ugu Ihemelu, Cory Gibbs, Stephen Keel, Ty Harden, Michael Holody, Henry Kalungi

Smith is also looking for full backs to push Harvey and Kimura.  Jose Burciaga, Jr. won’t be one of those players.  Injuries and a lack of confidence have pushed him out of the lineup and possibly out of Denver.  Draftee Henry Kalungi out of Winthrop will be one of the players challenging for a full back spot

Ugo and Gibbs are his first choice in the middle of the defense.  Facundo Erpen looks to have gotten a lifeline with Petke’s departure and should be a backup for those two.  Stephen Keel also looks like a capable option in the back.  If Ty Harden actually shows up, Draftee Michael Holody might not to make it out of training camp.  Holody will likely need to convert to fullback, but his lack of pace will make that difficult.

Midfield: Colin Clarke, Terry Cooke, Pablo Mastroeni, Nick De Labrocca, Christian Gomez, Mehdi Ballouchy, Ciaran O’brien, Nico Colaluca, John DiRaimondo, Greg Dalby, Cesar Zambrano, Kwame Sarkodie, Brian Grazer

The midfield doesn’t need too much tinkering.  Colin Clarke is a sure starter on the left but the right side is still questionable.  Cooke was benched later in the season for the preferred Ballouchy, who is more comfortable playing centrally.

The middle of the pitch isn’t as big of a mystery. Resigning Mastroeni will provide a veteran presence in the middle.  Ballouchy and LaBrocca will probably battle it out to start next to him.  Christian Gomez is the questionable player in the middle.  At his best, the former MLS MVP is a sure starter.  He was benched by Smith during the last 3^rd of the season and isn’t happy about it.  If Gomez stays, Smith has stated that he wants to integrate him into the system.

Forwards: Omar Cummings, Conor Casey, Jacob Peterson, Tom McManus, Jordan Seabrook, Schunk, Pomboe

Smith wants 4 forwards and there are 7 on the roster.  Conor Casey and Omar Cummings look to have a secured spot.  Tom McManus should be the third and that only leaves one spot.  Peterson seems to have found a home as a wide mid with the occasional minutes up top.  His versatility should save him from the cut. That leaves Schunk, Pomboe, and Seabrook fighting for that last spot.  Seabrook and Pomboe could be converted to wide mids and Schunk’s size will make him an ideal back up for Conor Casey.

Who will make the final roster?:

I’m not even going to take a shot at the final 24 because there are still a ton of moves to be made.  Here is a list of the players that are almost guaranteed to be back: Mastroeni, Perkins, Conor Casey, Colin Clark, Ugo Ihemelu, Cory Gibbs, and Nick LaBrocca.  I would be pretty surprised if they let any of these guys go.  Nico Colaluca and Ciaran O’brian are both Generation Adidas players and should be around due to their contracts.

Gomez wants out, but his salary and age make him a tough sell.  Burciaga is as good as gone.  Peterson, Harvey, Ballouchy, Kimura, Keel, and Dalby could be good trade bait.  Players such as McManus and Cooke take up a lot of salary space and might be offloaded to bring in other international signings. The odds of any of the draftees making the final roster are slim.  Pomboe looks like a good prospect and Seabrook has the speed to the play the pro game.  Ceus might lose out because of the numbers and Schunk, Kalungi, and Holody might not be good enough.

So the madness is finally over and we can all go back to our regular lives . . . well at least that is how I feel.  The draft is always fun because you get to see some kid’s dreams come true.  Some of these players I’ve been following since they were with the U17’s and it is nice to see them rise through the ranks.  You never really know what you are going to get with draft picks.  For most of these players the next few months will be a rude awakening and most will not make the cut, but that is the life of a pro athlete.  It should be exciting.

Here is how the Green Army did with its mockdraft guesses.  I only did the first 2 rounds.

On the money:

The Green Army got 10 out 15 first rounders correct, with 2 exactly right.  Nineteen of the first 30 picks were for players that played in the position that I thought the team would want. For example, I knew LA would take a defender third, but I predicted that defender to be Alston not Omar Gonzalez. Overall, 22 of the players I thought would go in the first 30 did get drafted in the first 30.

Just a little off:

I had Omar Gonzalez going #1, but Steve Zakuani took that honor. I only had 5 players end up with the team I predicted (Wallace to DC, White to Toronto, Gustomav to NE, Cronin to Toronto, and Graham Zusi to KC).  I missed Gerstenberg, Traynor, Shriver, Demartin, Kocic, and Even Brown in the top 30.  Here are the 8 players that I had in my mockdraft, but didn’t get drafted in the top 30: Cruz, Barnes, Amarikwa, and Boateng went in the 3rd round; Seabrook and Patterson went in the 4th round; Brito and Marshall went undrafted.

I was going to grade the draft but Ives has already done it and I pretty much agree with his assessment. Here is what he wrote:

ESPN Superdraft Report Card by Ives Galarcep

Some of my thoughts about the draft:

Toronto, DC, and LA were the clear winners in this years draft.  Toronto left with the best goalkeeper in Frei, the best midfielder in Sam Cronin, and maybe the best forward in the draft in O’brian White.  LA was able to draft the highly coveted Omar Gonzalez with its #3 pick.  The Galaxy was also able to pick up standouts Delagarza, Patterson, and Boateng in the later rounds.  DC passed up on Frei in the first round but was able to draft the next best keeper in Milos Kocic.  DC used its first round picks on probably the best forward in the draft Chris Pontious and defender Rodney Wallace.  They were also able to get highly rated defender Lyle Adams who, surprisingly, was still available at #26.

I think Ives was a little harsh on what the Rapids did in this draft.  In my opinion they are in the B or B+ category.  The Rapids had little to work with but they walked away with two highly rated speedy forwards (Seabrook and Pomboe), a veteran goalkeeper (Perkins), and 3 defenders (including Harden).  They also picked up a target forward in Schunk who will probably be back up for Casey and a long term prospect in goal (Steward Ceus).  For those of you wondering about the Bouna situation.  The front office at the Rapids didn’t ‘F” up again.  They actually offered Bouna a contract that would make him one of the top 5 payed goalkeepers in the league.  Bouna turned down the offer and is looking for work in Europe.

Seattle did Ok. They were able to land Zakuani with their #1 pick but didn’t really light up the day with some of their other choices.  San Jose were lucky to score Brad Ring in the second round, but Amarikwa is a long shot.  Houston and Columbus both have strong rosters so I’m not surprised they took some chances on players.  Houston will be a perfect environment for Danny Cruz to develop.  Chivas walked away with top prospect Lahoud, who is likely to fill in after Kljestan leaves. NY was able to get Jeremy Hall at #11, this is a guy who people projected to go top 3.  RSL was the flop of the day.  Granted they only had one pick in the first 3 rounds.  I think Alexandre was a good pick up and he wouldn’t have been around if they passed on him with their first pick.

Who will we see on the field come March 19:

I doubt many of these players will become starters but I can definitely see a lot of these guys making an impact off the bench.  The guys I think might get time right way: Omar Gonzalez, AJ Delagarza, Jeremy Hall, Michael Lahoud,  Rodney Wallace, Lyle Adams, Sam Cronin, Peri Marosevic, Seabrook, and Pomboe.  These guys aren’t necessarily the best players, but they might be in the best situation.  Draftees such as Alston, Pontious, Frei, and Zakuani might be ready to start but are facing a tough challenge replacing the veteran starter at their position.

Dane Richards has a hold on the right wing, but Hall could see time on the left. Word on the street is that Rojas is going to man the left wing for NYRB, but Jeremy Hall is more athletic than Rojas should make a case for himself.

Omar Gonzalez and Delagarza were drafted by a team that is rebuilding. There is ample opportunity with the Galaxy for these two to get a starting job.

Kljestan might not return to Chivas, Mendoza is gone, and Victorine is out injured.  That is good news for Michael Lahoud, who is an attack minded midfielder.

DC United needs to fill gaps in the back after letting Gonzalo Martinez and Gonzalo Peralta go. Rodney Wallace and Lyle Adams have a shot at landing a spot on the backline.

Most people are speculating that Sam Cronin will get traded.  Whether or not he starts this season will be up to where he goes. I think he can find a starting job with LA, San Jose, NY, Seattle, Dallas, and Real Salt Lake.  If he goes anywhere else he might have to spend time on the bench.

Peri Marosevic is lucky to get drafted by Dallas for two reasons.  First, FC Dallas needs forwards, and second, Schellas Hyndman is likely to give a young player a chance to prove himself.  Cooper is a lock, but Cunningham’s spot is up for grabs.

Colorado Rapids need a scoring threat and a right mid.  Coach Smith values speed, likely why he picked two of the fastest players in the draft.  Right now the Rapids have Cooke, who is too slow on the right, and Cummings, who’s production isn’t enough to lock up a starting position up top.  Seabrook and Pomboe are both fast and skillful and might be able to edge there way into the starting lineup at either position.

What did you guys think of the draft?  Who do you think will make the match day roster in March? Are you surprised that Zakuani went #1?

I came across this video on another website and I thought I would post it here.  Rivers Cuomo, lead singer and guitarist for Weezer, is a huge soccer fan and he talks about his love for the game in this video. I like this video because I, and I’m sure most of you, can relate to the feelings of wanting to be a pro soccer player or even just a really good soccer player.  There are always obstacles that frustrate those dreams, but we never stop playing because we love the game.  I’m also a Weezer fan, so this all works out.

I’ll have a recap of the draft, hopefully, later today.

Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft (2 p.m. ET; ESPN2).  Don’t miss it!!!!!  You can follow it on the MLS website: MLSnet.com

My Superdraft coverage kind of blew up from my 3 installment plan. It is just such an exciting time of year for me that I can’t really control myself.

Here are a few notes that might effect tomorrow’s draft:

Panchito Mendoza is officially gone from Chivas USA. He made the cut at the Guadalajara club and will be playing in Mexico next season. This means that Chivas USA has freed up $105,000 in salary cap space and a spot in the left mid/left back. Good news for Chivas is that Ante Razov is returning next season after flirting with a possible move to Mexican club Leon.

Christian Gomez is being shopped around by Colorado Rapids. Potential suitors include FC Dallas and New England Revolution.

According to Goff at the Soccerinsider teams are trying to trade away the top 4 spots. Toronto, LA, and Seattle could all use some veteran help and there are plenty of teams that would love to move up their picks. My guess, and this really just what my gut is telling me, is that New England, DC, or Colorado will be in the top 4 by the start of the draft.

Akron Forward and GA signee, Steve Zakuani, could be making in the range of $175,000 to $200,000 this season. Because he is a GA player his contract is guaranteed for 3 years and his salary will not count against the teams salary cap. Preston North End topped MLS’s offer to Zakuani, but Zakuani chose to stay with MLS.

There might be a lot of seniors shunning MLS for the USL after this draft. The USL is ready to offer guaranteed contracts to college seniors. Typically college seniors are low balled and not offered guaranteed contracts in MLS. I doubt this will include players like Cronin or Ring, but maybe other highly rated seniors will play in the USL for more money.

FC Dallas has signed centerback Steve Purdy. The 6 foot 4 ex-Cal product was drafted by the Galaxy in 2007 but opted to play in the German 2nd division instead. Galaxy must have let their claim lapse, because I am sure they could have used him if he was still available.  This could also suggest that FC Dallas is no longer chasing Omar Gonzalez in the draft.

LA has landed the services of Mike Magee from NYRB.  He will probably play the second forward role behind Buddle. Maybe this is a move in anticipation of Donovan’s permanent departure.   LA has also acquired the Colorado Rapids 3rd Round pick for the rights to Ty Harden.  Harden retired last year and a part of me feels like the Rapids might not know that.

Here is a quick list of some the most successful players picked in the 3rd or later rounds:

1. Jonathon Bornstein drafted in 4th round in 2006: Defender, Chivas USA, 2006 Rookie of the year, US National Team member

2. Michael Bradley drafted in 4th round in 2004: Midfielder, Borussia Monchengladbach, US National Team member

3. Gonzalo Segares drafted in 3rd round in 2005: Defender, Chicago Fire, Costa Rican National Team

4. Davy Arnaud drafted in 5th round in 2002: Midfield/Forward, Kansas City Wizards, US National Team

5. Chris Rolfe drafted in the 3rd round in 2005: Midfield/Forward, Chicago Fire, US National Team

Here is my final shot at the Mock Draft:

First Round:

1. Seattle Sounders: Omar Gonzalez, Central Defender, He is still one of the most highly coveted players in the draft. Coaches know better than to put too much stock in the combine.

2. Toronto FC: Sam Cronin, Midfielder, Here is a guys who actually really helped himself in the combine.  Everyone knew he was good and a likely first rounder, but I think the combine put him into the top 3.

3. Los Angeles Galaxy: Kevin Alston, Right Defender, Galaxy need a defender and Alston is one of the best in the draft.  The fact that he won’t count against the salary cap is a big bonus.

4. Toronto FC: Steve Zakuani, Forward, Another possible #1 pick, but he isn’t quite as ready as the first three to step in and make an immediate impact.

5. FC Dallas: Jeremy Hall, Left Mid, With Dave Van den Bergh on board Dallas is pretty much set on the left wing. Hall can play on both wings and is too good of a player to pass up if he is still available at this point.

6. DC United: Rodney Wallace, Defender, He is still pretty highly regarded, even after a poor combine. Shouldn’t fall more than this in the draft.

7. DC United: Stefan Frei, Goalkeeper, He could easily go 2nd or 3rd in the draft, but I think it is more realistic to see him get picked around this time.

8. Kansas City Wizards: Brad Ring, Center Midfielder, he is injured and hasn’t played this combine. Next to Cronin, he was the highest regarded senior midfielder. He could fill the gap left by Zavagnin.

9. Chivas USA: Peri Marosevic, Forward, He really helped himself in the combine. His play wasn’t flashy but very effective. Chivas need another attacking player.

10. New England: AJ Delagarza, Defender, Some people said he was the best defender at the combine. He is a small centerback, so it is likely that he will move to outside back in MLS.

11. NYRB from FC Dallas: Kyle Patterson, Outside Mid/Forward, Dangerous and active at the Combine. NYRB needs an outside mid after trading away Van Den Bergh.

12. Real Salt Lake: Baggio Husidic, Creative Center Mid, Still looks like a first rounder, but will need a good pre-season camp to get up to speed for the pro game.

13. Toronto FC: O’Brian White, Forward, they say Toronto want him so he stays for now.

14. FC Dallas from NYRB: Michael Lahoud, Midfielder, has had an excellent combine. Nothing extraordinary but is composed and looks ready for the pro game. He can play wide or centrally, which is a big plus.

15. New England: Chris Pontious, Forward, Looked ready to contribute right away. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went higher.

Second Round:

16. Seattle Sounders: Matt Besler, Center Defender, probably the third if not second best Center back in the draft.

17. San Jose: Ryan Maxwell, Wide Mid, played at Tampa. San Jose could use the depth on the wings. He might be a steal in the 3rd round if not taken in the second.

18. NYRB from FC Dallas: George John, He is a defensive center mid converted into a center back. He has excellent passing and understanding of the game. NY could use a holding mid and a center back so he would be a good little package for them.

19. Chivas USA: Danny Cruz, Forward/Outside Mid, He has a lot of energy, speed, and a powerful shot. He also doesn’t count against a teams salary cap space.

20. Colorado Rapids: Joshua Boateng, Midfield/Forward from Liberty, wasn’t on anyone’s list until Saturday. Great moves, was beating people with and without the ball. Also has an excellent work rate.

21. DC United: Adjeman-Pamboe , Forward, He was one of the top performers in the combine. He has tons of raw speed and great instincts. Still pretty raw, but a good prospect.

22. Kansas City: Graham Zusi, Attacking Center Mid, he has had a quiet Combine but should go in the second round.

23. Kansas City: Yohance Marshall, Center Back, Marshall has all the physical tools to play the pro game. I think if he is in a set system he can eliminate some of he errors that dropped his stock

24. New England: Qunicy Amarikwa, Forward, Has tons of speed and will probably end up as a winger in MLS.

25. New England: Anderi Gustamov, Creative Center Mid, He didn’t do enough on the first or second day to get into the first round. New England could another use center midfielder.

26. DC United: Jibe Ogunbiyi, Defender, Massive defender, will probably be taken as a project.

27. FC Dallas: Jordan Seabrook, Forward, Looked good at he combine, and is probably the best forward left at this point. Dallas needs someone to partner Cooper.

28. Chicago Fire: Graciano Brito, Forward

29. NYRB: Darius Barnes, Center Back, He rounds out the list of the top center defenders in the draft.

30. Columbus Crew: Jean Alexandre, Holding Mid, he is catching the eye of many scouts with his play and size.

This entire mock draft will probably get shot to hell before the draft even starts, but they are fun.  I’m excited to see what kind of trades unfold and who goes where.

The 2006 MLS MVP looks to be on his way out of Colorado after only one year with the Rapids.  Christian Gomez played 20 games for the Rapids before he was benched indefinitely after Coach Fernando Clavijo’s departure.  The Argentinian play maker scored 3 goals and provided 6 assists for the Rapids, not bad numbers for a Rapids player, but way below Gomez’s usual standards.  It is no secret that Gomez has become steadily less productive since his stellar 2006 season, when he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists to lead DC United to a Supports Shield and a deep run in the playoffs.

The Rapids brought in Gomez for the salary cap maximum without making him a DP.  This move was highly criticized because no one felt that Gomez was the player he used to be, and definitely not worth that kind of money.  DC United refused to pay Gomez what he felt he was worth so he made his way to the Rapids. Gomez was supposed to push the Rapids past the zone of mediocrity.  Unfortunately, the opposite happened as Gomez struggled to produce and the team failed to make the playoffs  . . . again.

There is no question that Gomez is an excellent player and still has more to give.  Although I doubt he will ever be as good as that 2006 season, used properly, he can be very helpful to any team in the league.  So who wants him???

Reports have stated that FC Dallas are the front runners to acquire Gomez’s services. New England has also expressed an interest in the play maker. The Rev’s interest is still more rumour than anything else, but it is still very plausible.  It is not surprising that teams would be interested in the play maker, even after a poor 2008 season, but what is he worth these days??

He can still score and create goals.  His legs are probably not what they used to be a few year ago, but the 34 year old will make up for that with experience. Maybe we’ll see a straight swap similar to the Van den Bergh and Oduro switch between Dallas and NYRB a few days ago, that consisted of a straight player and high draft pick swaps.  I think that would work best for the Rapids, but some teams might not feel that he is worth a high draft pick at this point.  The Rapids might have to part ways with their second round pick to sweeten the deal. Additionally, the Rapids will still have to pay a portion of Gomez’s $400,000 salary, which will make him more attractive to any suitor.

Dallas still has two first round picks and a stable full of young talented players.  We might see Dax or Avila on the way out of Pizza Hut Park to make way for the veteran.  New England also has two first round picks so one might be traded away for Gomez, along with a player.  I don’t know who the Rev’s would give up for Gomez. Maybe Castro??? or possibly Wells Thompson???

What do you guys think of these developments? Sad to see Gomez go after one season? Who would you want the Rapids to bring in to be our first choice play-maker?

The second day was much better than the first.  Overall, everyone stepped up their game.  A few players are still struggling and surprisingly it is some of the underclassmen.  Two guys that really helped themselves on the second day are Amarikwa and Gonzalez.  Amarikwa scored a brace after a poor showing on day one, and Omar Gonzalez showed he isn’t as slow as he looks. Peri Marosevic scored again and it looks like the draft has more defensive talent than was first anticipated.

A few notes before we get started: NYRB have traded Van Den Bergh and their 14th pick to FC Dallas for Oduro and their 11th and 18th pick.  Its a good trade all around.  Dallas gets the wide mid they needed without having to lose one of their higher picks.  NYRB relieves some cap space, gets a speedy forward, and another pick in this years stacked draft.

Here is how things changed after the second day of games.

First Round:

1. Seattle Sounders: Sam Cronin, Moves up from #2 after the second day, probably the most ready to be an immediate impact player.  Showed on day 2 that he is the real deal and is the best player in the draft.

2. Toronto FC: Omar Gonzalez, Central Defender, Moves up from #5, not as slow as he looks and he proved that on Sunday. He is good trade bait since Galaxy and FC Dallas are both very interested in him.

3. Los Angeles Galaxy: Kevin Alston, Right Defender, Up from #6, started at left back and looked terrible. Once moved to right back he looked really good. Was solid again on day 2. Galaxy aren’t likely to go for a center back not named Omar Gonzalez, and Alston is the best at right back in the draft. .

4. Toronto FC: Steve Zakuani, Forward, Down from #1, tons of potential, but there are a few guys who are ready to step in right away. I could see Toronto holding on to Zakuani.

5. FC Dallas: AJ Delagarza, Defender, Biggest Mover, wasn’t even in my top 30 before day one. Looked like the best defender in the draft. Played for Maryland. Still looks like the best defender after day 2, but he lacks the size to play center back. Will likely be converted into a fullback.

6. DC United: Jeremy Hall, Left Mid, Down a spot. He didn’t have a good day, but I doubt it will hurt his stock too much. He would be the best player available when this pick comes around for DC United.

7. DC United: Stefan Frei, Goalkeeper, looked really good again and might go higher.

8. Kansas City Wizards: Brad Ring, Center Midfielder, he is injured and hasn’t played this combine.  Next to Cronin, he was the highest regarded senior midfielder.  He could fill the gap left by Zavagnin.

9. Chivas USA: Chris Pontious, Forward, Big mover from #17. Looked ready to contribute right away. Great second day as well, should go in the first round.

10. New England: Rodney Wallace, Defender, another bad day doesn’t help Wallace’s stock seeing him drop to #10. There are still plenty of coaches who think highly of him though.

11. NYRB from FC Dallas: Kyle Patterson, Outside Mid/Forward, Moved up from #23, dangerous and active at the draft. NYRB needs an outside mid after trading away Van Den Bergh.

12. Real Salt Lake: Baggio Husidic, Creative Center Mid, Was #9, still looks like a first rounder, but will need a good pre-season camp to get up to speed for the pro game.

13. Toronto FC: O’Brian White, Forward, they say Toronto want him so he stays for now.

14. FC Dallas from NYRB: Yohance Marshall, Center Back, Moved up from #17, day two was better than day one.  FC Dallas needs a center back and Marshall has all the physical tools to play the pro game. I think if he is in a set system he can eliminate some of he errors that dropped his stock

15. New England: Peri Marosevic, Forward, Down from #12, Nicol might take a chance on this guy. Scored another goal today, and showed why he is so valuable.  He is a scrappy player and can find the back of the net.  It isn’t pretty, but he gets it done.

Second Round:

16. Seattle Sounders: Danny Cruz, Forward/Outside Mid, Up from #22.  Sunday went a little better for Cruz, but still not great. He has a lot of energy, speed, and a powerful shot.  He also doesn’t count against a teams salary cap space. Seattle is in need of another wide mid and you could do worse than Cruz.

17. San Jose: Michael Lahoud, Midfielder, has had an excellent combine up till now.  Nothing extraordinary but is composed and looks ready for the pro game.  He can play wide or centrally, which is a big plus.

18. NYRB from FC Dallas: George John, He is definitely raising his stock with this combine. He is a defensive center mid converted into a center back.  He has excellent passing and understanding of the game.  NY could use a holding mid and a center back so he would be a good little package for them.

19. Chivas USA: Jordan Seabrook, Forward, Up from #22, Looked good and should slowly move up the chart. Another solid day on Sunday.

20. Colorado Rapids: Joshua Boateng, Midfield/Forward from Liberty, wasn’t on anyone’s list until Saturday. Great moves, was beating people with and without the ball. Also has an excellent work rate.  Sunday he showed up again with the same hunger  and excitement.  Got the best of Alston a few times.

21. DC United: Adjeman-Pamboe , Forward, is one of the top performers in the combine so far.  He has tons of raw speed and great instincts.  Still pretty raw, but a good prospect.

22. Kansas City: Qunicy Amarikwa, Forward, I dropped him after the first day, but he came roaring back with a brace on Sunday.  Has tons of speed and will probably end up as a winger in MLS.

23. Kansas City: Anderi Gustamov, Creative Center Mid, down from #15, didn’t do enough on the first or second day to get into the first round.

24. New England: Graham Zusi, Attacking Center Mid, he has had a quiet Combine but should go in the second round.

25. New England: Graciano Brito, Forward

26. DC United: Jibe Ogunbiyi, Defender, Massive defender, will probably be taken as a project.

27. FC Dallas: Ryan Maxwell, Wide Mid, played at Tampa. He was beating Wallace all day with his speed. He might be a steal in the 3rd round if not taken in the second.

28. Chicago Fire: Matt Besler, Center Defender, probably the third if not second best Center back in the draft.

29. NYRB: Darius Barnes, Center Back, shuts down Zakuani on Sunday after a solid day on Saturday. He rounds out the list of the top center defenders in the draft.

30. Columbus Crew: Jean Alexandre, Holding Mid, he is catching the eye of many scouts with his play and size.