Good afternoon folks. If you are wondering where I have been I’m busy tying up some loose ends before heading to Baltimore for tomorrow’s MLS Draft. Apologies for the lack of posts today but I had some meetings to attend to and I spent all last night cranking out some ESPN.com pieces and preparing the player rankings.
If you haven’t seen them yet, here are two draft-related stories on ESPN.com. The main story is my final Mock Draft. I’m feeling pretty good about it, although I do expect some trades and I also think Tony Beltran will find his way into the first round the more I think about it.
The second story should get many of you talking. I re-do the 2007 MLS Draft, with teams getting a chance to go back and make picks based on what we’ve learned since then about the available players. I think it’s a fun piece that should give you all something to think about leading up to tomorrow.
That’s all for now. I’m heading down I-95 (writing this from the side of the road) and Steve Goff tells me there’s snow in Baltimore. GREAT. What I wouldn’t give for some more of that Florida sun at the Combine.
Share your thoughts on my ESPN.com pieces below.
Another random post….
Here it is, the WPS….
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/
Check out the logo, it’s much better than MLS’. Actually, the MLS logo is sad in comparison.
And will Mia Hamm Garciaparra be known as “Ms. Logo”? i.e. Jerry West?
Apparently theres interest for Feilhaber in the US and Derby is ready to sell or summat to that affect… Feilhaber to Quakes?
Feilhaber not going to Israel.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/soccer/01/17/bc.soc.derby.feilhaber.ap/index.html
Thanks for the 2007 draft redo
What’s your take on Fulham’s signing of Watford’s King and the potential impact on Johnson going to Fulham?
Dont think we will be taking Jazic as he’s out for 4-6 months, if we did, it would be at a lowcost (on our end) trade… We are looking for some serious depth (hopefully get one or two good players in this draft)
Couldn’t you throw me a bone and include the first pick of the second round so I could have gotten some Earthquakes specualation? dang….I hate that trade.
With the way MLS rosters are limited, a 4-4-2 team is best served with a guy who can play both fullback and winger.
The Galaxy are blessed to have that on both sides with Chris Albright and Mike Randolph.
If the Galaxy are going to trade away a left back after drafting Myers, my guess would be Ante Jazic to Toronto.
Ives,
Thanks for all the mock draft info, been a good help. But you left out the direct link for you 2007 Draft Re-Do… here it is anyway.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=499161&root=mls&cc=5901
The only complaint I have about your final mock draft is the speculation that if LA picks up Chance Myers, they’ll be dealing Mike Randolph. I can’t see that happening. Maybe if we draft Iro, LA will make some moves, but Myers is essentially free, and with both him and Randolph being able to play left Mid, I can see that keeping them would be wise. Instead, LA might consider waiting for Jazic to get healthy and dumping him along with his +$100k salary and Senior International roster spot.
My only problem with the draft redo is that if they went back NOW to 2007 the league would award the first five picks to L.A., making the redo moot. 😉