|
01/16/2008 4:20 PM ET
MLS SuperDraft 2008: Mock Draft
MLSnet.com offers a possible draft outcome
 UCLA's Chance Myers would stay out west if he is taken fourth overall by Galaxy. (Andy Mead/MLS)
|
In advance of Friday's SuperDraft at the Baltimore Convention Center, pundits all around the MLS soccer world will take their opportunity to select their own mock draft ... and why should we at MLSnet.com be any different? What follows our view of who will go with what selection.
Remember: this is NOT official and is presented for entertainment value, only.
For the actual selections in this year's SuperDraft, don't forget to check back at MLSnet.com, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Friday.
1. Kansas City Wizards: Patrick Nyarko (FW, Virginia Tech)
Kansas City traded away a veteran defender for the top pick overall. Nyarko is clearly a selection to reinforce their attack as Eddie Johnson appears on the brink of moving to Fulham of the English Premiership. (  Highlights)
2. FC Dallas: Eric Avila (MF, California-Santa Barbara)
FC Dallas doesn't have many urgent needs with the signing of Mexican international defender Duilio Davino, so taking a chance on a small but very creative midfielder with plenty of upside in Avila seems like a logical choice. ( Highlights)
3. Real Salt Lake: Julius James (DF, Connecticut)
With their choice of defenders on the board, RSL will probably tab James to fill in the hole left when Eddie Pope retired. James was considered the most MLS-ready player in the draft pool by many at the adidas MLS Player Combine. ( Highlights)
4. LA Galaxy: Chance Myers (DF, UCLA)
One of the most promising young prospects in the draft, Myers will add depth and some speed to a backline that was lacking both at times last season. ( Highlights)
5. Colorado Rapids: Jonathan Leathers (DF, Furman)
Colorado needs to add depth and youth to their defense and Leathers seems like he'd be a good fit. He might not be that big in a physical sense, but has a great work-rate and is able to play any position on the back line. ( Highlights)
6. Columbus Crew: Michael Videira (MF, Duke)
Although he missed the combine with an injury, Videira is thought of as another MLS-ready player who will add some midfield depth and insurance.
7. Chicago Fire: Josh Lambo (GK, U.S. U-17 national team)
Although he could slip to 12, Chicago should not risk Kansas City potentially nabbing the Generation adidas prospect at No. 11. Probably a year away from starting, Lambo will fit in between the posts for the Fire soon enough. ( Highlights)
8. FC Dallas: Rob Valentino (DF, South Florida)
FCD would still like to reinforce their backline and add depth and Valentino fits right in, especially considering his Generation adidas status.
9. Toronto FC: Andy Iro (DF, California-Santa Barbara)
TFC has many holes to fill, but the biggest are on the back line. Iro is physically gifted, a leader in the back and a seasoned collegian who can step in right away. ( Highlights)
10. Toronto FC: Andrew Jacobson (MF, California)
Jacobson, a versatile player, will add some depth to a midfield that could have used it last season. ( Highlights)
11. Kansas City Wizards: Dominic Cervi (GK, Tulsa)
After trading for the No. 1 pick to address a need at the offensive end, the Wizards could use this pick to take Cervi, whose stock shot up at the combine and who can become Hartman's successor in the K.C. net. ( Highlights)
12. Chicago Fire: Pat Phelan (MF, Wake Forest)
Phelan might be a bit of a reach in this spot, but the Fire could like his versatility and soccer brain. His speed is a question, but he makes up for it by thinking a step ahead, similar to another holding midfielder who suited up for the Fire. ( Highlights)
13. New England Revolution: Peter Lowry (MF, Santa Clara)
New England is known for spotting talent in the draft that others sometimes overlook. Lowry's talent is apparent to all, but circumstance has him dropping to the Revolution at No. 13 and they will not let him drop any further. ( Highlights)
14. Real Salt Lake: Brek Shea (MF, U.S. U-17 national team)
If Shea does slip this far in the draft, RSL head coach Jason Kreis will jump all over the left winger with plenty of upside. RSL can address more immediate defensive concerns with the 17th overall selection. ( Highlights)
ROUND 2
15. San Jose Earthquakes: Eric Brunner (DF, Ohio State)
Brunner is too good to leave on the board at this point. He can sure up the backline for the Earthquakes with Garcia, Cochrane and the others selected in the expansion draft. ( Highlights)
16. New York Red Bulls: Julian Valentin (DF, Wake Forest)
Jeff Agoos, the Red Bulls technical director, knows you don't have to be the fastest defender if you have a head for the game, and Valentin -- a savvy colelge star -- definitely does. ( Highlights)
17. Real Salt Lake: Sean Franklin (DF, Cal State-Northridge)
RSL can address the need to add depth to its defense with a prospect in Franklin who has all the tools to succeed in MLS. ( Highlights)
18. New England Revolution: David Horst (DF, Old Dominion)
Horst adds some depth to the backline behind reigning MLS Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst. A different type of player, he could give the Revs some extra options from time to time. ( Highlights)
19. FC Dallas: Tony Beltran (DF, UCLA)
FCD will continue to add depth to the backline with an undersized, but capable outside back in Beltran who is a member of this year's Generation adidas class.
20. Columbus Crew: Alex Nimo (FW, U.S. U-17 national team)
Sigi Schmid won't pass up a young talent with Nimo's potential if he's still available here. It doesn't hurt that the Crew could use a little spark on the attacking end. ( Highlights)
21. LA Galaxy: Ciaran O'Brien (MF, California-Santa Barbara)
LA would love to see Cervi drop to this pick, but assuming he's already off the board, they will go O'Brien, a Generation adidas player who doesn't count against the salary cap. ( Highlights)
22. FC Dallas: Stephen King (MF, Maryland)
FCD at this point has few needs and can take a chance on a player that has some questions surrounding him. King has upside potential and can turn into a valuable utility player for the Hoops. ( Highlights)
23. Kansas City Wizards: Scott Campbell (MF, North Carolina)
A highly touted college player who might drop due to his non-Generation adidas status, Campbell is a fiesty player who will add depth and energy to the K.C. midfield. ( Highlights)
24. D.C. United: David Roth (MF, Northwestern)
Another solid midfielder who might be the best player left in the draft at this point. D.C. needs to add some depth in a few areas, and David "Lee?" Roth is a good start. ( Highlights)
25. Kansas City Wizards: Xavier Balc (FW, Ohio State)
A solid collegiate player who didn't help his cause at the Combine is someone K.C. could take a shot at. With faster forwards like Sealy, Nyarko and Arnaud, Balc could be the smart set-up man who can add depth to the K.C. attack. ( Highlights)
26. Chicago Fire: Cesar Zambrano (MF, Illinois-Chicago)
If the local prospect drops to the Fire here, they should jump at the chance to find an insurance policy for Blanco. ( Highlights)
27. New England Revolution: Ryan Miller (DF, Notre Dame)
Miller had a slightly sprained ankle at the Combine, but even with that didn't look out of place. He is a versatile player who can play outside back or midfield. ( Highlights)
28. LA Galaxy: Shea Salinas (MF, Furman)
Salinas got up and down the right side pretty well at the Combine and could add some depth to the Galaxy midfield. ( Highlights)
This list is not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
|
