MLS Combine/Superdraft 2014

[Sullivan]

thanks for this.

do you have any comments on 2 Canadians that called up to the Combine, Akindele and Zadro? Seems rather out of blue invites, more to fill in spots or something, and not worth anything more than a 4th rd pick

Out of the blue sums it up.
Good to see NAIA and D2s making the list, but not so sure if these are the right NAIA & D2 invitees.
Big difference between D1 and D2/NAIA level of play.

Nothing back on Akindele, he's a western conference D2 guy so not a lot of people in my network have anything to offer.
On Zadro, I remember the 89 Dixie team, but not any individual player.
Zadro, according to my son (D1 ass't coach) heard TFC asked for him to be invited, but that source not always reliable. -- 4th rounder?
Another bit on Zadro, he's been described as a bit chippy, he doesn't shy away from the heavy going.

As I get more info, I'll share it.


Here's something else, unrelated but related to GenA.

According to Ives Galarcep, UCLA M Leo Stolz turned his GenA offer down. Too bad, he'd be fun to watch if he plays MLS. The concern is
he'll head back to Germany when his education is finished. Stolz is a Hermann award finalist and PAC12 Player of the Year.

The 3 MAC Hermann finalists are:
2012 MAC Hermann winner, Maryland senior forward Patrick Mullins, Notre Dame senior forward Harrison Shipp, and Stolz.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is the NCAA version of Player Of The Year.
It will be awarded January 10, 2014.

[Detroit_TFC]

Univ of Michigan MF Fabio Villas Pereira. Played for Detroit City FC last summer, exciting player. Brazilian, not sure of his US citizenship status. Wasn't part of the initial combine announcement but just recently added. Could see him getting picked by somebody in 2nd round probably.

[Sullivan]

In talking with the usual cast of characters, I asked them to provide 2 players that could be available at 15, and why they
should be selected. Here’s our summary of Five Players we envision on TFC's short list for consideration with 15th pick.

Grant Van De Casteele, Notre Dame, Centreback
Pedigree - he's been under the guidance of Bobby Clarke for 4 years.
Notre Dame has a good program for preparing MLS players. Nelsen has a lot of respect for Clarke and his program.
Would blossom under the tutelage of Caldwell & Nelsen. Has size, skill, very smart player.
Downside, every other club came away impressed by his play in college cup final.

If Michigan State CB, Kevin Cope is available, and I doubt it, excellent value for a 15th pick.
He's MLS ready. Described as a born leader, captain of every team he's ever played on. Natural athlete, shuts everyone down.
Heart of the back line, almost like having a coach out there. Good teammate. Hard nosed player, on the ground, and in the air.
Big Ten Tournament Defensive MVP, in which he played with cracked ribs.

Jared Watts, Wake Forest, Defensive Midfielder
Captain of US u17 Nigeria world Cup team.
Same program Sam Cronin came from; Wake has a reputation for developing MLS players. Good size, nice touch, likes to get
stuck in. All ACC team, 3 times - best conference in NCAA. Would add depth. Don't see him available at 15, but if he is, good value.

Kyle Venter, New Mexico, Centreback
Remember Andrew Boyens? - same school.
He's 6'3", solid and durable. He's not ready to step in, but here's another kid that would could add depth and benefit
greatly from the influence of Caldwell & Nelsen. Football wise, he's got more to offer than say Pat Phelan or Julius James.

Joey Dillon, Georgetown, Defensive Midfielder
Big reason for Georgetown's success, 1 of their captains. He's a leader. Offers versatility, can play D or M, natural position is defensive midfielder.
Good football IQ, gets into position early. Never quits. He reminds me of bigger version of Sam Cronin, but more defensive minded and
more physical.

[AdamAM]

Toronto FC are going to package their 15th pick and a bunch of allocation for a top 3 pick.... reverse Draft 2013...... I can feel it.

[jloome]

Toronto FC are going to package their 15th pick and a bunch of allocation for a top 3 pick.... reverse Draft 2013...... I can feel it.

I dunno... the best player as far as I can tell is probably Cyle Larin and he isn't even going to sign with MLS. I look at the various boards, the stats for the associated players and the level of scouting excitement, and I don't think we should trade jack.

Take what we get at 15. In this draft it's a crapshoot as to whether any team gets immediate help.

[AdamAM]

I dunno... the best player as far as I can tell is probably Cyle Larin and he isn't even going to sign with MLS. I look at the various boards, the stats for the associated players and the level of scouting excitement, and I don't think we should trade jack.

Take what we get at 15. In this draft it's a crapshoot as to whether any team gets immediate help.

I've been hearing about a lot of quality defenders in this draft, and we don't really have a 4th CB yet. I know it'd be better to look in MLS for a 3rd/4th CB but if we can find a guy with maturity and leadership qualities who can play CB or a standout RB who'd be better than Bloom/Richter why not trade up and take one of them?

[jloome]

I've been hearing about a lot of quality defenders in this draft, and we don't really have a 4th CB yet. I know it'd be better to look in MLS for a 3rd/4th CB but if we can find a guy with maturity and leadership qualities who can play CB or a standout RB who'd be better than Bloom/Richter why not trade up and take one of them?

I don't see anyone in this draft who's going to unseat Doneil, who may still not be ready for prime time but has several years of pro experience now and is doing well for his age. With Morrow signed now (he can play centrally even though he's smaller) maybe we could afford to offload Boss for a fullback; again though, there's not many in this draft who are day-in and out starters.

[Yohan]

http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/conten...n-adidas-class

More info on GA, late combine invites

[jloome]

http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/conten...n-adidas-class

More info on GA, late combine invites

Well, that probably determines the first three picks then, as GAs almost always go top and Dean, Miller and Blake are all pretty close to being pro ready by a lot of accounts. There's some suggestion that D.C. sees Mullin as a Pontius type who'll surprise when he steps up to the next level but if you can get a player without a cap hit who can start even semi-regularly, you've gotta figure...

Still can't believe we didn't take Manneh last year.

[spark]

ENBSports released his Top 25 PROSPECTS heading into the combine/superdraft

Note this is not a mock draft, which will come after the combine.

[Chinatownchef]

Toronto FC are going to package their 15th pick and a bunch of allocation for a top 3 pick.... reverse Draft 2013...... I can feel it.

How about Laba, the 15th pick and allocation for one of the top three? Clears the DP problem, knocks 200k off the books and gets us a player we can use rightaway. Btw it's probably a Defender or Midfielder.

[notthesun]

How about Laba, the 15th pick and allocation for one of the top three? Clears the DP problem, knocks 200k off the books and gets us a player we can use rightaway. Btw it's probably a Defender or Midfielder.

That would be absolute highway robbery for any team we made that deal with. High 1st round SuperDraft picks are valuable, but they're not solid gold like in, say, the NHL. Laba is worth a high pick and an MLS starter alone, to start.

[Chinatownchef]

That would be absolute highway robbery for any team we made that deal with. High 1st round SuperDraft picks are valuable, but they're not solid gold like in, say, the NHL. Laba is worth a high pick and an MLS starter alone, to start.

That's true Laba is bona fide MLS starter. I'm sure the BEZ will figure out a way to keep him, talented as he is. I wonder how much of the coaching staff are still in Toronto for the Press conference, if any? Most of them have to be down in Fort Lauderdale to do combine interviews. Will Nelsen be in T.O. to greet Defoe and Bradley, or will he be down there? Is he going to just leave Greg, Fran, Jason and Jimmy to handle things? Personally, I would blame them if the entire press-conference took place in Fort Lauderdale. For Defoe and Bradley.

[mcolvy]

To be honest, this Laba thing is pretty debatable. Is it worth taking up cap room that we probably could fill more team needs with in order to buy him down? Is Laba worth that or can we do something else with that money. Do we even care or is it okay to over spend a little to keep a known commodity that will only get better?

Personally, I would rather get him than to add another Morrow or Jackson, along with another CM replacement (at what ill presume to be around 200k). I think starting at tomorrows event we need to band together in support of keeping Laba.
They will be listening. He is one of the only good things about last year and we need to keep him going. Whos in?

[Chinatownchef]

Always respect your NCAA knowledge. What do you think of Mac Pridham, the Cal Poly kid born in Ontario? He's big, played target

Top 10 player, offensive player of the year wicked shot and fast feet. He's Canadian, if he's around by 15 you can be sure TFC will take him. There are others though that TFC might be interested. Personally Pedro Ribeiro Midfielder, he's a hulking player with an extremely dangerous shot. I'm also like Mamadou Diouf, but I think that's kind of what the Whitecaps would most likely draft.

[mcolvy]

Top 10 player, offensive player of the year wicked shot and fast feet. He's Canadian, if he's around by 15 you can be sure TFC will take him. There are others though that TFC might be interested. Personally Pedro Ribeiro Midfielder, he's a hulking player with an extremely dangerous shot. I'm also like Mamadou Diouf, but I think that's kind of what the Whitecaps would most likely draft.

This draft has too many attacking midfielders and attackers who don't have a primary position. I don't like those selections, like with Silva years back. They aren't that gifted technically. Moreover, these psuedo-strikers piss me off because they haven't even refined their craft by age 22. Those positions are dangerous because some of these kids will never fully develop into specialists in specific areas of the game and just get left on the bench as useless utility. Look at Wenger. Unless the kid is especially dynamic, its just sort of what you get. The Bekker style.

Defensive options are the way to go. Less risk. More reward. These guys are use to playing against athletes and need only to develop the soccer IQ, which can come with being introduced to a professional soccer environment. They tend to have trouble with the fancier, talented guys in the league, but generally can be useful as they develop.

This draft has a ton of CB, RB options and I am pretty sure we will be exploring them. Imagine if we picked up Farrell last year. Absolutely ridiculous.

[spark]

Aaron Nielsen had his top 25 prospects, but also runs through the draft position by position 2014 MLS SuperDraft breakdown by position

Pridham is mentioned, but there are quite a few attacking options ahead of him.

[Yohan]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...player-combine

This kid might be worth a 2nd rd pick, if he's still available

[RealG-TFC]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...player-combine

This kid might be worth a 2nd rd pick, if he's still available

He must have some brains if was studying electrical engineering.

[Alonso]

^^^^

Another article on him here: http://www.westerlynews.ca/world-spo...orida-1.783943

[jloome]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...player-combine

This kid might be worth a 2nd rd pick, if he's still available

He wasn't so great in his final game but he made several allegedly blue-chip prospects look dumb during the first two, including alleged first pick overall Christian Dean.

If he can beat guys on the dribble and finishes "clinically", as his college coach claims, maybe we should take a flyer on him with 15. For all those defensive prospects, probably only Birnbaum and Eric Miller could start right away or regularly in MLS. But we could use a good winger with a scoring nose.

[flamehawk]

He wasn't so great in his final game but he made several allegedly blue-chip prospects look dumb during the first two, including alleged first pick overall Christian Dean.

If he can beat guys on the dribble and finishes "clinically", as his college coach claims, maybe we should take a flyer on him with 15. For all those defensive prospects, probably only Birnbaum and Eric Miller could start right away or regularly in MLS. But we could use a good winger with a scoring nose.

Any clue how Zadro did? Curious considering apparently TFC asked him to be invited.

[Yohan]

Any clue how Zadro did? Curious considering apparently TFC asked him to be invited.

scored a goal in day 3, but Ives doesn't think he'll get drafted

[Canary10]

I have two names for eveyone: Eric Miller and Joey Dillon. Miller would be first choice, but either will do a job for us.

[reggie]

I think they want a gen adidas player,or they will trade the pick..

[Chinatownchef]

scored a goal in day 3, but Ives doesn't think he'll get drafted

Zadro, good technical ability in that kid. There a highlight of him scoring a last minute goal in Wisconsin. Might develop one day into MLS-sub, goal poacher if given a chance. I wonder if TFC will be convinced to spend the 2nd round supplemental pick. Tesho, the Calgary kid has a nose for the goal when given a chance. Both would be pretty decent choices in the late rounds.

[Chinatownchef]

This draft has too many attacking midfielders and attackers who don't have a primary position. I don't like those selections, like with Silva years back. They aren't that gifted technically. Moreover, these psuedo-strikers piss me off because they haven't even refined their craft by age 22. Those positions are dangerous because some of these kids will never fully develop into specialists in specific areas of the game and just get left on the bench as useless utility. Look at Wenger. Unless the kid is especially dynamic, its just sort of what you get. The Bekker style.

Defensive options are the way to go. Less risk. More reward. These guys are use to playing against athletes and need only to develop the soccer IQ, which can come with being introduced to a professional soccer environment. They tend to have trouble with the fancier, talented guys in the league, but generally can be useful as they develop.

This draft has a ton of CB, RB options and I am pretty sure we will be exploring them. Imagine if we picked up Farrell last year. Absolutely ridiculous.

Yeah, totally agree with you on that ridiculous part. Kevin Payne really botched the draft last year for the sake of obtaining allocation money, no offense to Kyle Bekker and Welshman, Andrew Farrell was a given selection. For the 15th selection, they should do like the Nonis and the Leafs, hold pat and take your pick unless something good comes along that makes you move up.

[OgtheDim]

All depends on what that allocation did. If not getting Farrell is the price you pay to get enough stuff to rid us of Hassli's DP status, then you pull that deal.

[Initial B]

What about getting Kyle Venter? I thought we were more worried about the lack of CB depth than right back.

[gracos]

Looking at our Roster makeup; can we find a RM in this draft this year, so we can free up an international roster spot; both of our RMs are internationals in Lambe, and Rey. We also have no natural LMs on our team, and our RB position is in need of improvement as players are bench depth at best (excluding Eckersley who is more than likely going to be bought out as his contract is too big). CB needs a few depth players to be adequate. Just some of my thoughts looking at the TFC Superdraft preview

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/...next-superclub