MLS Predictions

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As we are just a day or two away from the 2008 MLS draft, I decided doing a mock draft would be along the lines of a prediction, and I have never been scared of publicly humiliating myself. While I reserve the right to change this pending any trades prior to the draft, I am not sure it will matter much. I figure if I get 2 out of 14 right, I should do better than most mock drafts.

#1 Kansas City Wizards - (received from San Jose in exchange for Nick Garcia) - This is a tough choice, as there isn’t one stand out player, and having just lost Garcia, Burciaga and soon to lose Johnson, KC needs help along the back line and up front, with only Sealy as a proven option. They voluntarily traded both defenders, but lost Johnson to a transfer. Look for them to go with Patrick Nyarko to start up top with Sealy. He is super fast, and a great finisher. They saw something in the draft they really liked, and you don’t trade up to #1, especially with a coach who likes to score, to draft defense.

#2: FC Dallas - (received from Toronto FC in the Richard Mulrooney trade) - FC Dallas doesn’t have any pressing needs, though having just traded Ruiz, there is a hole up top. If Nyarko is available, they take him here. They need depth in both the midfield and defense, but do not need someone to step in this year and start 30 games. Look for Dallas to select Julius James, a beast of a central defender who could start now, but will be better learning for a year with the reserves. James is one of the most athletic central defenders to come along in year, and could be an all star for years with Dallas.

#3: Real Salt Lake - While everyone just assumes RSL will take a defender, I don’t see it, though if James is available, he may be an option, as he is MLS ready. RSL needs defensive help now, with the retirement of Eddie Pope, and the sad state of the defense when he was in there. The problem is that defenders almost never play their first year. In the 2007 draft, there were 6 defenders taken in the first 13 picks. One played defense (Boyens for Toronto), and two played in the midfield (Harrington for KC and Soumare for Chicago). The other three? Barely a minute of first team play. RSL has signed three experienced defenders from International clubs the last few weeks, and will look to bolster their midfield ranks. Look for Eric Avilla, a creative A-mid to be drafted here. As an RSL fan I would rather see Brek Shea, but I don’t think Kreis and company have the time to wait for him to develop. Chance Myers is another option here, a left back that can push up into the midfield if needed.

#4: LA Galaxy - Outside of forward, where LA has Ruiz, Donovan and Buddle, and wherever Beckham is playing, they need help. LA just traded away their starting keeper for basically nothing. LA needs the most help up the middle, and in the back 4. Albright should be back for 2008, but we have yet to see if he has any legs left. Look for LA to take Chance Myers, he can play on the left in both defense and midfield, and LA will need that kind of flexibility from a player. This might be the one pick that won’t be traded, as LA needs the depth, and needs a Generation Adidas player so they don’t take another cap hit.

#5: Colorado Rapids - The Rapids need help, everywhere. It is also very hard to figure out what Clavijo will do, he needs to win now, but there really isn’t anyone in the draft that will help him win in 2008. Look for Colorado to trade this pick, unless Avilla falls to #5. They have bolstered their back line with the addition of Burciaga jr, but need help up top, and at #5, they should be able to trade the pick for a decent goal scorer. If they stay, look for the Rapids to select Michael Videira to add depth to their midfield. Videira can play just about any position in the midfield, and should contribute his first year.

#6: Columbus Crew - again, a team that needs forwards like a fish needs water, there just aren’t many options in this draft that is heavy on defense. Look for Columbus to take the best defender left on the board, and hope to cure their forward ills later on in the day via trade or draft. Patrick Phelan will be their guy. He should be able to step in and contribute this year to the back line. This pick could also tell us a lot about the future of Schelotto in Columbus. If they go for a guy like Peter Lowry, he could be as good as gone.

#7: Chicago Fire - (received from NYRB in exchange for coach Juan Carlos Osorio) - Chicago was pretty solid in the back, but has lost Armas to retirement. They do need help up top though, but again, not many options to fill that need in this draft. Brek Shea is the guy that should go in this spot, but I don’t think it will be Chicago taking him. If he is available at #7, look for Chicago to entertain all sorts of offers for this pick. Houston seems to be the top contender, but I am sure Chicago would like to get a pick in addition to a player out of this, but their first pick is #42.

#8: FC Dallas - Having already chose a defender with their first pick (#2), look for Dallas to go another direction. I am sure they would love to pick up Shea here, but he won’t last past #7. Look for Xavier Balc in this spot. A week ago he could have done number one, but he looked pedestrian at the combine. He is still a lethal scorer that could learn a lot from Cooper, and split time with Thompson the first year.

#9: Toronto FC - (received from Chivas USA in the Paulo Nagamura trade) - Toronto needs help just about everywhere, and depth at more places than that. Peter Lowry will be Toronto’s first pick. He’s a great two way midfielder, and should fit in well with Edu and O’Brien.

#10: Toronto FC - (received from DC United in the Dyachenko trade) - Toronto is going to take a chance here, and take Andy Iro. Iro should go higher, and could be the best defender in the draft, but has already gone on record stating he may not sign with MLS, depending on which team picks him. If he pans out and plays for Toronto, a great pick, if not, no huge loss. Hopefully they will have some insight as to whether Iro will be willing to play for Toronto or not.

#11: Kansas City Wizards - We are at the point in the draft where there are guys you know will be pretty good MLS players, and guys who could be either All-Stars or playing in the USL in 2 years. Kansas City needs a guy that can step in and play now. Rob Valentino is the guy. While injured during 2007, he would have gone much higher had he not been injured. A tough center back, he could contribute early and often on a depleted back line.

#12: Chicago Fire - With the eventual departure of Matt Pickens, Chicago will look to the future with this pick and select 17 year old keeper Josh Lambo. Word on the street is Lambo, while only 17, is another great in the long line of US keepers. While we probably won’t see Lambo much during 2008, he could become the full time starter in 2009.

#13: New England Revolution - New England always seems to pull some guy out of thin air, a guy no one else sees going before the third round, and they almost always seem to pan out. Now, if they could pick the third round guy in the third round and have him pan out, that would be a good thing. NE needs help in the midfield, and Ciaran O’Brien is their guy. While O’Brien isn’t a stretch, he will fit in with the 2 D-Mid system the Revolution play, and will link the 2 D-Mids with the 2 forwards, and will do it well.

#14: Real Salt Lake - (received from Toronto FC in the Jeff Cunningham trade) -  This is an interesting pick, as RSL could use depth at defense, but the only one I see here is Sean Franklin, an outside back. He would be a great choice for RSL, and could step in and play a few games in 2008. While this would be the logical choice, RSL will take Alex Nimo, the diminutive midfielder. The kid is tough as anything, and the kind of kid Kries loves. Plus, he would be an immediate fan favorite. RSL also has the 17th pick, and will hope that Franklin or a big target forward like Yannick Reyering is available.

This is an interesting draft, as there isn’t that one guy everyone knows is going to be the #1. But, this draft is pretty deep for pretty good defenders and midfield players.

 In 5 years, who will be the guy everyone should have fought for? Well, I think there are two. Brek Shea and Alex Nimo.  Both of these kids have been dominating on the U17 stage, and have a chance at being the Altidore of 2008.

Which one player that will be drafted outside the first round would you want on your team? Joe Germanese. The guy has an incredible motor, and will find a place in the league, hopefully with RSL.

Will anyone select Joe Lapira? Yes, but it will be quite a bit later on had he signed with MLS. Lapira is the 2006 Hermann Trophy winner, and scored 43 goals while at Notre Dame.  He appears to be headed to Europe, but some team will take a flyer on him, just in case his trials don’t pan out.

Tags: MLS Draft

Filed under: MLSP Predictions