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SBI 2010 MLS Mock Draft (Version 1.0)-UPDATED

Teal Bunbury 1 (ISIphotos.com)

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The 2010 MLS Draft is just three weeks away and after all the success of the 2010 MLS Draft class, fans across the country are more anxious than ever to see just what treats this year's draft might have for their team.

The 2010 draft might not boast as many pro-ready standouts as last year's draft, but the upcoming draft might actually boast more depth at multiple positions. MLS looks poised to land most, if not all, of its top Generation adidas targets (though we decide to exlude Oregon State striker Danny Mwanga from the first Mock Draft since he's the draft pool standout looking least likely to sign with MLS).

So who is the top pick? It look like it would be Wake Forest standout defender Ike Opara, but with Philadelphia Union loading up on defensive players, we see Peter Nowak going for an attacking player.

Now, here is our first 2010 MLS Mock Draft:

SBI 2010 MLS Mock Draft

FIRST ROUND

1. Philadelphia Union- TEAL BUNBURY, F, Akron

Ike Opara is regarded by many as the top prospect, but with Philly already boasting Danny Califf and Shavar Thomas (and the club linked to a Colombian defender), the Union will go with Bunbury, the top forward in the draft. Philadelphia could also deal the pick to the teams that covet Opara.

2. New York Red Bulls- IKE OPARA, D, Wake Forest

The Red Bulls' defense was awful at times in 2009 and doesn't boast a single shutdown defender. Enter Opara, who some regarded as good enough to be a Top Three pick in 2009. He had shaky moments in the Under-20 World Cup, but Opara is a top-notch defender who should be able to step in and start from year one.

3. San Jose Earthquakes-  TONY TCHANI, M, Virginia

The Earthquakes under Frank Yallop are notorious for not being big fans of the draft, but if they keep this pick it will be a tough call between Tchani and Corben Bone. Having lost Darren Huckerby (and Shea Salinas), Bone might be the better pick, but Tchani is a central midfield beast who could probably step in and start for San Jose.

4. Kansas City Wizards- CORBEN BONE, M, Wake Forest

The Wizards' most pressing need is help at forward, and Danny Mwanga would be an ideal pick here if he signed with MLS, but with a talent like Bone still on the board Kansas City will pounce on the dangerous playmaker.

5. FC Dallas- TONI STAHL, M, UConn

The word around MLS circles is that FC Dallas is looking to package these two picks to move up (with Opara making sense as a target). Dallas has enough young players, and Generation adidas players at that, so look for Schellas Hyndman to take the most MLS-ready players available. Stahl is a solid defensive midfielder who is as mature as any player in the draft.

6. FC Dallas- ANDRE AKPAN, F, Harvard

Dallas-area fans will be happy to see the hometown product returning to Texas, but Akpan is more than just a homer pick. He's arguably the best forward in the pool, and could be this draft's Chris Pontius.

7. D.C. United- ANDREW WIEDEMAN, F, California

D.C. United would love to land Tchani or Stahl here, and could be tempted to grab UCLA freshman Amobi Okugo to help address the losses of Ben Olsen and Andrew Jacobson, but will instead look to strike gold at forward again with a West Coast forward just as it did with Pontius last year. Wiedeman is a polished forward who could step in and earn minutes on a D.C. team expected to lose Luciano Emilio.

8. Columbus Crew- AMOBI OKUGO, M, UCLA

The Crew boast enough talent to take a chance on some younger players and perhaps no teenager in the draft is drawing as many raves as Okugo, a central midfielder mature beyond his 18 years.

9. New England Revolution- ZACH LOYD, M, North Carolina

The Revs always do well in the draft because they take proven and mature players. Enter Loyd, a player who could step in and replace Jeff Larentowicz if he leaves this winter as expected. Loyd can play defensive midfielder, but also proved this year that he can slide into a central defense role if needed.

10. Chivas USA- LUIS GIL, M, U.S. Under-17

The Goats don't have any glaring needs, though Jonathan Bornstein's potential departure could hurth Chivas USA in the back. Martin Vasquez can take a chance on a long-term prospect in Gil, who has the ability to potentially be the best player this draft produces. Only 16, he's technically gifted and someone who could develop into a franchise player under the right guidance.

11. Seattle Sounders- DILLY DUKA, M, U.S. Under-20

The Sounders are another team that doesn't have any glaringly obvious needs, so Sigi Schmid can go with the best available player here. Duka is a player who could step in and provide some depth at multiple spots in midfield, though he might need a year on the pro level to mature before he makes a real impact.

12. Columbus Crew- BLAIR GAVIN, M, Akron

Gavin might not seem like the right pick for the Crew after having landed Okugo, but Columbus will be hard-pressed to pass on another talented young midfielder who could provide depth (or trade bait). Columbus could go for Jack McInerney here as well.

13. Chicago Fire- OFORI SARKODIE, D, Indiana

The Fire enter the draft with several needs as a load of departures have depleted a once-deep roster. With Gonzalo Segares leaving and Brandon Prideaux retired, fullback is a need position and Sarkodie is regarded by many as the best fullback in the draft.

14.  New York Red Bulls- AUSTIN DA LUZ, M, Wake Forest

Red Bulls fans won't be happy to see Duka go to Seattle, but Da Luz offers a nice consolation prize. He showed in the College Cup semifinals that he can play left wing very well and his creativity there could lead to good minutes right away. Now, if New York can succeed in bringing back Dave Van Den Bergh, you could see the Red Bulls take a player like Jack McInerney here.

15. Los Angeles Galaxy- ZACH SCHILAWSKI, F, Wake Forest

The Galaxy's recent infusion of Brazilians is expected to provide a boost of depth, but it didn't address potential needs up top. Schilawski was a standout for Wake Forest and is the type of dynamic player who could benefit greatly from playing alongside Landon Donovan and David Beckham.

16. Real Salt Lake-JACK McINERNEY, F, U.S. Under-17

The champions head into 2010 with all its key players set to return so there's not much on the need list. Adding a 17-year-old prospect as highly-regarded as McInerney makes the most sense, assuming McInerney slides this far. RSL could use a goalkeeper, but taking one here would be a reach.

SECOND ROUND

17. Philadelphia Union- KYLE NAKAZAWA, M, UCLA

The Union look for more attacking talent and find one in Nakazawa, who was a standout on the 2005 U.S. Under-17 World Cup team coached by Philly assistant John Hackworth.

18. New York Red Bulls-KWAME WATSON-SIRIBOE, D, UConn

Red Bulls already landed Opara, but you can't have too many central defender prospects and Watson-Siriboe gives New York the two best in the draft.

19. San Jose Earthquakes- PHIL EDGINGTON, D, Louisville

San Jose's defense was a mess in 2009, and while Frank Yallop will be counting the days until Jason Hernandez returns, he will do well to grab Edgington, a 6-foot-3 centerback from New Zealand.

20. Kansas City Wizards-SEAN JOHNSON, GK, Central Florida

The Wizards grab the best talent on the board in Johnson, the most highly-rated goalkeeper in the pool and a potential replacement for Kevin Hartman.

21. FC Dallas-ROSS LaBAUEX, M, Virginia

Yes, Dallas already scored Stahl in the first round, but LaBauex is actually a prospect at multiple positions, including right back, where his impressive athleticism could help him be an impact player.

22. Colorado Rapids-MICHAEL STEPHENS, M, UCLA

The Rapids won't mind landing Stephens here. A year ago Stephens was nearly a Generation adidas signing and someone who was considered a first-round talent. This year, Stephens has been lost in the shadow of all the underclassmen and could wind up slipping this far.

23. Colorado Rapids-RYAN PETERMAN, D, San Diego

After losing starting left back Jordan Harvey in the expansion draft, the Rapids grab the best left back on the board in Peterman (though hometown boy Nick Cardenas might be hard to pass up).

24. Toronto FC-NICK CARDENAS, D, San Diego State

Anyone who watched TFC late in the year knows they need help in the back, and 6-foot-5 Nick Cardenas is the best defender on the board.

25. New England Revolution-JOVAN BUBONJA, GK, Illinois-Chicago

The Revs always find a way to make out on draft day, don't they? After losing back-up goalkeeper Brad Knighton in the expansion draft, New England enters this draft needing to find a new one. How do they? They only land a goalkeeper who some scouts thought might be a first-round pick if he left school a year ago.

26. Chivas USA-CARLOS VILLA, F, Hartford

The Goats have plenty of forwards on the roster, but should unload some of them this winter. Villa is a Gutamalan youth national team player who could be a second-round steal.

27. Seattle Sounders-COLLEN WARNER, M, Portland

If the Sounders are hoping to find some attacking talent late, it could do worse than Warner, a dynamic midfielder who has the speed to move up top as well. The question is whether he will play himself into a higher position on draft boards at the Combine.

28. San Jose Earthquakes-CHRIS SCHULER, D, Creighton

The Earthquakes continue their defensive makeover by grabbing Schuler, a tough defender who some consider better than Edgington.

29. Chicago Fire-DREW YATES, F/M, Maryland

While Sarkodie helps offset the fullback losses, Yates could become Chicago's answer for the loss of Chris Rolfe. Though not as fast as Rolfe, Yates is a quick and versatile attacker who can play up top as well as on the wing.

30. San Jose Earthquakes-RONNIE BOUEMBOUE, F, North Carolina State

The Earthquakes could use some speed up to as well as depth on the wing. Enter Bouemboue, a fast forward who might project better as an MLS winger.

31.New York Red Bulls-SETH SINOVIC, D, Creighton

The Red Bulls will look to help address their left back needs by grabbing Sinovic, a highly-regarded prospect who nearly came out in the 2009 draft.

32.Real Salt Lake- BRIAN PERK, GK, UCLA

The champs traded back-up goalkeeper Chris Seitz to Philly, but land a quality prospect in Perk, who is cut from the Nick Rimando mold as a quick and aggressive shot-stopper (who also happens to come from goalkeeper factory UCLA).

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We will post our next Mock Draft next week, and Version 3.0 the day before the MLS Combine. The final Mock Draft will post the day before the 2010 MLS Draft.

What do you think of these picks? Like the players your team ended up with? Any pick you particularly love or hate?

Share your thoughts below.
 

Comments

  1. dukas definitely a lock for “that European national mens team for the 2012 euro cup” hahaha please enlighten me on any sort of european options he has besides of course his guaranteed spot on this “euro team.” saw duka play when he played for parsippany and a game at rutgers, skillful played with a great first touch, played for the red bulls academy and at the u20 level for them. cant really see them passing on him at #2 but thats more for the fact that the red bulls are more of a circus then a futbol club. cant wait to see them kick open their new stadium on the 27th of march with duka wearing the captains armband and the crowd ALL hailing i love duka

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  2. hype is that what u said really mmmm i recall on a player that was not born in america and had so much hype that he made the usa national and they said that he was the next pele and that was freddy adu he not even playin one game in europe i can even find the kid, from the age he started out there u would think he would learn alot on how they play and move up on to a starter but he likes the fame on tweeter so keep on hyping him, so no i dont think Duka is pele, hes his own person showing us his talent for the game and plus if u haven’t heard he played for another country before playing for the usa look that up, america can’t lose good talent

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  3. Ives

    Did you watch any Sounders matches after July 1st? We have glaring needs up top. This is compounded by the potential loss of Montero to Europe, and to a lesser degree by the loss of LeToux, who did not score much this season but was always capable of doing so. We need forwards who do not lack the killer instinct.

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  4. all this nonsense is laughable. after the u20s its duka for number 1 or 2, and then after the college playoffs he’s now somewhere between 9 and 15? this leads me to 1 of 5 conclusions…

    1. you were wrong initially.

    2. you were right, but now you are wrong.

    3. duka’s skills have dropped significantly in the past month.

    4. 10 players have really developed significantly in the past month

    5. (most probable of all the conclusions) you have no idea what you are talking about.

    it seems like we are all suffering from something they call “out of sight, out of mind.” duka dropped out of rutgers, so he didn’t get to play in the college playoffs. if he did, rest assured he would magically be back up there at # 1 or 2. i followed dilly at rutgers, and this kid tore it up as a freshman and sophomore, surrounded by a bunch of guys who couldn’t string a pass together. i can’t even imagine how much he would’ve ripped it up this year.

    then he gets called up to u20s, is handed the #10 shirt. scores in his first game ever in a wc qualifier against jamaica. scores in his first start in the wc, and sets up the other two goals. and if you watched him play, you’ll notice his vision, awareness, movement with the ball, movement off the ball, composure, technical ability, first touch, ability to play equally well with both feet, 1 v 1 skills, unselfish play, decision-making, and most importantly, the kid knows how to make the dangerous pass without losing the ball.

    and the best part is, he has the most potential of anyone in college soccer. the more he plays with better talent, the more he will develop, and i don’t see him hitting a Freddy Adu plateau anytime soon. he was only scouted a few months ago. he hasnt been in the media’s eye all that long, so he is not just a product of hype or professional pr departments the way opara and some of the others are. all he has to go by is what you see on the field. and if you’ve been watching, you’d be mad to think you can scoop him up with the 14th or 15th pick.

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  5. Most teams have no natural LB, it’s something of a luxury in this league. (Or to put a finer point on it, it’s a luxury to have naturals at both wide back positions, most teams have somebody playing out of their best spot).

    On the center-mid issue, there are a ton that have been good in the league, what there haven’t been are those Latin-style #10s. And that’s where Bone is a lot different than a Gil. Bone’s MLS role models are the Brian Caroll or Brad Evans or Stu Holden types. All three of those guys are center mids in MLS, all three play more O than D and play with a pure ballwinner behind them, but all three go both ways.

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  6. Hahahahahahaha. Oh man, that was a funny comment. “that European national mens team”. Love it. You’re Dilly’s 10 year old little brother, aren’t you? You’re the only person on earth (besides you and Dilly’s parents) who think he’s the top player in this draft.

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  7. I’ll preface these comments by saying that I haven’t seen most of these guys play and thus can only base my ideas on who the Revs should take based the descriptions I’ve read of them and the team’s needs. The Revs need attacking talent, a backup keeper, and possibly a holding mid if Big Red leaves. I’m pretty sure Bone and Bunbury will not be there by the time they pick, so hopefully maybe Wiedeman or Akpan. They should have a pretty good read on if Akpan can play or not since he’s local. Maybe they’ll get da Luz, they could use a consistent winger.

    I would guess, like Ives must have, that Chivas’ renewed emphasis on the Hispanicity may lead them to take a Latino player like Gil.

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  8. If he were the superstar you proclaim him to be he would have been snatched up after the WC by some European team. I think the problem is that there is way too much hype about one or two games. When they played Korea he was practically invisible so i think before you could proclaim him to be the next Pele, there needs to be more consistent stats. Coaches need to see consistency and seriously how much of Duka has anyone seen.

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  9. Would have to agree. I seriously do not understand the hype about this guy. I saw him play against Maryland and he was either offsides or ineffective. He came across as a lazy player who did not put any effort into his play.

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  10. RedBull had the opportunity to sign Duka, and didn’t. Should he be forced to wait for them to make up their minds?

    The problem here isn’t the draft, it is the lack of a Reserve League that forces a gap between age 18 and age 23 when players need to be playing, but aren’t ready to play in League matches.

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  11. The Revs have no natural left back.

    Chivas USA won’t have one if Bornstein leaves.

    I can’t see both teams passing on Sarkodie.

    Filling a need with a guy from the draft who can probably step in and start is going to be too tempting.

    And on this topic, I doubt guys like Bone/Gil will have much impact in MLS the next couple years, if ever. I can’t even think of a creative mid who has been drafted and developed in MLS in the last five years.

    Ballouchy has had to totally change his game to play Rapids-ball. He’s been misdeveloped. Anyone else?

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  12. Ives – Have you seen Duka play? Is he actually any good or is Duka-mania just my fellow Metro fans getting worked up for the sheer joy of it?

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  13. Two thoughts:

    1) The Union would be dumb not to take the best player available. They need everything, including central defense (a team will never be sorry for having three good ones, if that’s what it comes to, and frankly I don’t see Shavar Thomas ever making the Best XI anyway).

    2) If the Red Bulls want Duka, they have two picks in the top 15 to get him. If he comes between them they can easily trade up or trade down. Quick note, when comparing Bone and Duka, remember Bone is a year older than Duka (almost exactly a year, one’s born Sep 15 and the other Sep 16).

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  14. Actually, he was a double digit scorer this year, and every year of his career. He’s actually a very solid MLS forward, just a good bit overpaid. The guess is that he won’t want to come down to what he would need to in order to be desired, so he’ll probably leave the league.

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  15. Corben Bone will be twice the player Duka will. That is not a knock on Duka but rather how good Corben is. NY would be crazy to draft an offensive player and not have it be Corben. He should be the top pick in the draft but I would rather have one of Americas brightest young offensive talents stay away from Nowak.

    Once again I am not trying to talk bad about Duka. I hope he is very successful, as with all of the players drafted. Nothing is better for MLS and American soccer than having exciting, young, attacking players on the field and flourishing (and if they are American all the better). But for my money Corben Bone is head and shoulders above the rest of this draft class.

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  16. Celtic are notorious for being cheap. Especially towards American players. The year before, they refused to get Guzan under similar terms.
    Im just saying.

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  17. As a Chivas USA STH, I can tell you that Sacha can be one of the best on a given night. However, I feel he is a mental case. Immature, as well.

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  18. So what about the guys who don’t have a home town team? They just get screwed? The whole point to the draft is to make sure areas that are rich with soccer players and areas that aren’t get an equal chance at signing players. The draft will always serve a purpose because there are like 300+ college soccer programs and 16 teams, thats a lot of people to scout, and the draft is an easy way to get guys out of their comfort zone and see how they play in less ideal circumstances. Plus what about guys who don’t want to play for their hometown team? They should just be stuck there? The logic of it just doesn’t make sense,

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  19. Maybe this doesn’t make a difference but I hope you guys do understand this whole transfer was going down after Sacha’s hat trick against Sweden. Celtic clearly had a price that they were willing to pay and MLS tried to up it. It’s as simple as that. If that Sweden game isn’t a good indicator of young prospects, then I geuss all the folks willing to start Jozy Altidore after the 2008 Sweden game, not to mention good MLS performances, were wrong. I felt that MLS really screwed Sacha over on this one.

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  20. SBI’s where do you get ur facts from cuz there all backwards, i was there at u20 national camp and i saw you there takin notes, ives you saw with ur own two eyes who was the most stand out player on that team and half of the coaches from mls could not believe that there was a player like duka, from what i know duka is the most valued player in this draft, teams that are interested in dilly are Philly, NY Redbulls, DC united, LA Galaxy, and a few more teams but he will be picked #1 or #2 you can try and hide the true with lies but the true comes out one way or another lol and what i meant for value he can be a player that can play for the usa mens world cup team if they give him the chance to tryout or he can go play for that European national mens team for the 2012 euro cup, so that means any team would want this kid hands down, pls ives reply??

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