MLS Combine 2015: 8-13 Jan
MLS Superdraft 2015: 15 Jan (Round 1&2), 20 Jan (Round 3&4)
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MLS Combine 2015: 8-13 Jan
MLS Superdraft 2015: 15 Jan (Round 1&2), 20 Jan (Round 3&4)
I'd like to see us load up on Defenders in the draft.
Thomas (Can), Murrell(Can), Del Campo (USMNT U20) and Donovan (USMNT U20). 6ft7 Axel Sjoberg would be worth a punt if he is available in when we pick in the 2nd round.
Cyle larin supposedly came to a deal with mls
Larin won't be coming to TFC. We should go for Besler as well as Bono and build from the back. My two cents :P
Ives has us taking Bono GK, Alashe DM and Earle LB
http://www.sbisoccer.com/2015/01/201...t-version.html
Grooming Roberts and Bono at the same time when our current keeper is only 26 this season? Konopka will stay as the bench warmer/cup performer.
I'm not sure about platooning two youngsters in that position down on the farm.
I'm pretty sure if TFC drafted Bono, it wouldn't be to groom him, he'd be coming in to compete for the #1 spot.
http://www.oocities.org/u2_info/bono_ew.jpghttps://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploa...lease-stop.jpg
http://harvardpolitics.com/blog/wp-c...rica-Bono1.jpg
This Bono dude might just be our savior. Excellent banner ideas.
Keepers right out of NCAA do not start. The expectations in terms of distribution, communication and speed of decision making are much much higher.
I'm not sure I follow. Do strikers, midfielders and defenders coming out of NCAA start because there aren't expectations on them or their skill set? Why do those positions routinely see starters right out of NCAA then?
Keepers have started right out of NCAA - we drafted one in 2009. McMath was starting games in his rookie year and was #1 in his second season.
I would suggest one of the main reasons you don't see it often isn't because they aren't good enough or skills aren't there, but keepers are fighting for one position only, where in the case of F/M/D there are ten outfield positions with the potential to convert to a different role.
IMO if we drafted Bono, at worst we'd get the same level of keeping, and one who would be earning less money.
Yes, keepers are different in terms of coming out of NCAA. Keepers are grown. Bono would have to be exceptional to beat out Bendik. I don't have an issue taking the guy. I just don't expect him to compete right away.
Perhaps but I don't see Bendik in as positive a light as others do. He is an average (at best) MLS keeper. I wouldn't expect Bono to beat him out in year one but it's not like we haven't seen that happen here before (Frei). Regardless, Konopka looks terrible so if we can upgrade the back up spot with someone groom-able into the starters role then why not.
What picks do we have?
Found a couple of mock drafts. This one is interesting: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/colle...-v-10_aid35627
It has TFC taking Midfielder Leo Stolz, GK Bono, and LB Andy Thoma. Not sure we need a LB more than a CB - maybe a conversion project? Didn't realize Bono is on a GA contract. Might be worthwhile to pick up then use as trade bait to get another needed starting piece.
Stolz is a senior, not GA eligible, and is draftable.
Bono signed a GA deal
He apparently got those assurances. Also: New England, Montreal, Seattle, and Portland are, according a source, very high on Bono, who will now be in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for MLS’ annual scouting combine, which begins Friday, though Bono isn't expect until after Friday's Hermann ceremony. ASN will be covering the combine and will be posting updates beginning Thursday evening.
http://americansoccernow.com/articles/alex-bono-signs-as-fourth-generation-adidas-player
Slightly off topic but I notice every year there are TFc Academy or Sigma players in the draft but hardly any from whitecaps or Montreal. Do the other teams discourage college participation?
College teams scout Ontario more?
Are they streaming it this time around?
Part of that could be that with so much turnaround at TFCA, players either leave or at let go more frequently than with VWFC or IMFC, who I think (correct me if this is debatable) have had more stable academies over the last 5+ years.
VWFC have two players in NCAA who could be top picks in Brody Huitema and Ben McKendry (and probably more if I looked into it). Montreal on the other hand, from what it looks like seem to be trying to streamline their academy into USL Pro then up to the senior team.
One of the trends right now with all the academies is if/when a player is ready to graduate, if they're not ready to make the jump, allow them to go to a top NCAA program for one or two years then bring them back. While many are applauding the USL Pro relationships, most of those clubs and to be honest even some MLS teams don't even come close to the resources the likes of North Carolina, Notre Dame, Louisville, Duke, etc … who have crazy money and top notch athletics programs.
Regarding Sigma - that is actually part of their mandate that considering they don't have a pro team at the top of their pyramid if/when a kid graduates from their program if they're not ready to turn pro yet then they go to the NCAA (for reasons above). The age group that is Cyle Larin is the first that did a full 'cycle' of academy development, in that they all started at 12 and finished at 17. That graduating class has many players who might turn pro, and there are a couple guys who didn't go to NCAA because of grades that were probably good enough that were on the L1O team. NCAA programs are scouting them like crazy because their philosophy and practices have been set from day 1 and everyone knows what they are going to get with a Sigma player. UCLA scouted them, leaving California for the first time ever. Sorry for the promo, but they are the real deal and probably should be talked about much more in terms of player development.
Latest mock draft from Matt Doyle and the MLS guys http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...ombine-edition
They are dying to see Stolz with Osorio and Bradley so our picks may be biased :lol:
Stolz is 24 and an international. I don't think there's much upside to getting him unless he's going to be a starter from the beginning.
I can see us going after Fatai Alashe for that young center back / defensive midfielder because of the need but also because he's a teammate of Jay Chapman.
Brooke Tunstall @YesThatBrooke 2m2 minutes ago
Closest thing resembling news coming out of #MLSCombine so far is that @UCLAMSoccer MF Leo Stolz a @HermannTrophy finalist, is a no-show
And another mock draft with 2 round included
http://topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2015-mls-superdraft-mock-draft-v-20_aid35688
http://www.rednationonline.ca/Articl...rtheDraft.aspx
Great podcast on the draft from a TFC perspective. The guy thinks we will go with Bono too and likely has scouted Syracuse extensively, given the Canadians on that squad (Skylar Thomas and Jordan Murrell).
http://m.torontofc.ca/news/2015/01/c...res-superdraft
Tfc site puts up a story on Skylar Thomas. Why...
Also Thomas is a local kid likely to be drafted by a Canadian team. Big guy, has a good head on his shoulders by all accounts, and some wheels. Not sure he's worth a 1st rounder but we'll see.
From a Philly perspective...
Quote:
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...RRw_normal.pngKevin Kinkead@KevinKCBS3 · 3h3 hours ago
Realistically, the best Union fans should hope for Thursday is for the team to trade up into Toronto's 9th or 11th spot,
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...RRw_normal.pngKevin Kinkead@KevinKCBS3 · 3h3 hours ago Maybe you can swing allocation for one of KC's spots as well. You need to get into the top 12 in this draft
Quote:
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...RRw_normal.pngKevin Kinkead@KevinKCBS3 · 14m14 minutes ago My feeling is that the Union will try to trade for one of TFC's spots, but only if they see one of their targets fall to the 9-12 range
SB Nation just released their mock draft...
This one is a bit unique, since they actually run it like a real draft, with bloggers from each team making the selections as they go.
(Waking The Red made the selections for TFC)
TFC end up with the following:
1st Round:
6. Toronto FC - Leo Stolz, M, UCLA
9. TFC - Alex Bono, GK, Syracuse
11. TFC - Romario Williams, F, Central Florida
Stolz and Bono seem to appear as TFC selection in most mock drafts I've seen, but this is the first place I've seen them taking Williams.
2nd Round:
29. TFC - Adam Montague, F, Michigan State
37. TFC - Dennis Castillo, D, Virginia Commonwealth
Full article can be found here:
http://www.sbnation.com/mls/2015/1/1...ock-draft-2015
Bono has been unanimous with all the mock drafts I've read.
All the mock drafts assume people don't trade picks.
Enjoyable fun but reality is going to be a bit different.