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A closer look at Philadelphia’s expansion draft

Alejandro Moreno (ISIphotos.com) 

Photo by ISIphotos.com

There were no superstars taken, no former league MVPs. No players with U.S. national team caps, or players with multiple all-star appearances, or even players with ties to the Philadelphia area. When the final list of players chosen by the Philadelphia Union was announced, we were treated to a group of MLS players who could make up the type of tough and tenacious team that Nowak likes, and Philadelphia fans will want to root for.

The Union still sit several impact players away from being able to compete in MLS, but Nowak now has some tools to start building a team capable of not only competing, but capable of making a first-year impact like the Sounders. That may be a high bar to aim for, but considering Nowak has already won an MLS Cup before (in his first year as a head coach no less) it's tough to write him and the Union off just yet.

So who did the Union wind up with in the Expansion Draft? Here is a closer look at the selections:

BRAD KNIGHTON

Talented young netminder who looked solid playing six matches in place of an injured Matt Reis earlier in the season. His goals-against average might seem awful (and 2.33 certainly is), but it should be remembered that six of those goals came in a 6-0 drubbing by Real Salt Lake. Will battle Chris Seitz for starting job.

DAVID MYRIE

A young and athletic defender who can play fullback while providing cover at centerback. Didn't play a minute for the Fire, but could wind up being a good long-term project for Peter Nowak.

SHAVAR THOMAS

A tower of a centerback who lost his starting job late in the year for Chivas USA, but who still boasts great size and a mean streak. He boasts 142 career starts and should be penciled in as a starter from day one.

JORDAN HARVEY

Nowak needed to get a left back and selected one who enjoyed a strong season as a starter. Harvey was solid for Colorado in 2009 and should also be considered a good bet to start on opening day.

SHEA SALINAS

A young winger with potential but who can certainly use some coaching and sharpening of his skills, Salinas provided glimpses of being an exciting prospect during his time with San Jose, which made his exposure in this draft surprising.

STEFANI MIGLIORANZI

A bit of a forgotten man in the LA Galaxy's late season playoff run due to injury, Miglioranzi was actually a key force in the Galaxy's early success, starting 20 games for the Western Conference champions. He's 32, but looks to still have something left in the tank.

ANDREW JACOBSEN

After a brief spell in France, Jacobsen returned to MLS and failed to make the impact expected of him despite showing some good early promise. He's got good size-skill combination in central midfield and is still relatively young at 24.

NICK ZIMMERMAN

One of the more exciting prospects on this list, Zimmerman is a fast and determined midfielder with an underrated shot and the drive to potentially develop into an impact player. He showed great promise in the middle of a terrible season for New York, but eventually fell out of favor later in the year. He's definitely one to watch.

SEBASTIEN LETOUX

Could be the steal of the draft after struggling to live up to expectations in 2009. He made just 15 starts for the Sounders as he battled a deep crop of attackers in Seattle, but LeToux's tenacity and skill could make him a fan favorite in Philadelphia the way he was one in Seattle.

ALEJANDRO MORENO

Yes, he may dive a little (or a lot) but Moreno is a handful up top and can finish chances as well as set them up. He's just a year removed from scoring a goal and playing well in an MLS Cup Final and could be a double-digit goal-scorer (he tallied nine in 2008).

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Some other thoughts:

How did Philadelphia pass on:

Anthony Wallace– A very talented young left back. Philly went with a more experienced option in Jordan Harvey, but Wallace could wind up an all-star. Ultimately, concerns about his ability to stay healthy could have been an issue.

Matt Besler– A left back/centerback with good feet, Besler had his share of struggles at centerback, but could prove to be a much better option than Myrie.

Amado Guevara– He's expensive and he has a reputation as a locker-room problem, but he's still one of the league's most talented midfielders and would certainly have garnered something in a trade.

Eddie Robinson- Concerns about Robinson's surgically-repaired knee have to be the reason why Philly would pass on a player who was one of the better defenders in MLS in 2008.

Bobby Convey– His strained relationship with Peter Nowak is well documented, so maybe it was a reach to believe they would kiss and make up. Convey's still only 26 though, so there's still time for him to join the Philly down the road (like when Nowak leaves).

Frankie Hejduk– You would have figured that Nowak would want Hejduk's leadership on his expansion team, but Nowak had to notice the number of injuries and dips in form Hejduk endured in 2008. That said, Nowak's chance to grab a starter-caliber forward in Moreno probably proved too difficult to pass on. 

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What do you think of Philly's expansion list? Who do you see being the biggest impact player among the ten chosen? Which player would you replace on the list, and who would you replace them with?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I agree. When Seattle made their picks there were only two or three I disagreed with, Vagenas for example was one. Here I have know idea where Nowak is heading.

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  2. Philly – thank you so so much for taking Moreno off our hands in Columbus! I was going to personally start an effort to “pass the hat” to combo a Moreno deal to secure him never playing for the Crew again…

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  3. Austin, “Le Toux showed he couldnt finish very well last year”
    Exactly right. Le 2 could run up down and sideways all day then not hit goal for his life.

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  4. Open your eyes. Moreno cheats, dives, and whines like a baby. His thing is to lean on defenders, and then when the defender moves out of the way, he falls like he’s been hit. Then he looks up at the ref in dismay.

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  5. Guevara wouldn’t fit into the Philly style but Moreno will? Since when did Philly fans like diving, whiny cheats? Moreno does it at least once a game.

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  6. Pretty upset United let Jacobson go. I thought he was VERY promising when on the pitch and certainly had more technical ability than Simms and Berklage. Just doesn’t make any sense…

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  7. I would’ve preferred he took Horst, or Campos, or Cox from RSL rather then take Seitz. I knew one day soon RSL would trade Seitz to someone, we just better get something really get for him. No picks, and draft picks arent worth him. But, if the trade does truly happen, good for Chris. He deserves to get playing time. As an RSL fan, I just wish we could keep him as the best back up keeper in the league.

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  8. Must be a TFC fan. Because that’s just a crazy statement. The dude week in and week out does the dirty work for others. He gets punched, kicked, and pushed all game long. His game doesn’t always show up in the stat book. He does milk a few fouls here and there which is annoying but saying he ain’t tough is laughable.

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  9. Le Toux was a forward in USL. He got played at mid a lot this past season more because Schmidt tried to find a way to work him into the line up than that’s his natural position (it’s not).

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  10. I like Nowak and think he is an excellent coach, but this is one of the worst examples of player selection I have ever seen. Is he trying to assemble a B team first? Yes, he has a lot more players coming, but this is a major part of his team. Based on this group Philadelphia would be a laughing stock.

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  11. i guarantee you Le Toux and Moreno wont be your starting strikers….

    what we know is that Nowak likes 3-5-2

    Le Toux is a left mid anyways and is better serving the ball, he is comparable to craig bellamy of city when you talk about styles, bellamy is a striker for some teams but is a wing for city because of his crossing and speed abilities, however Le Toux showed he couldnt finish very well last year in MLS as i remember a few times so if he starts at all he will be at left mid and i dont think he will start anyways b/c they will have salinas and may even bring in other wings and strikers

    Moreno however will start

    one thing is also for certain is that A LOT of things are going to happen to this squad b4 next season, you might not even see some of these names on Philly

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  12. Convey would have been to much of a hit on the cap with no guaranteed return. Nowak could spend that kind of cash for a midfielder south of the border and get more bang for his buck.

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  13. I see a youthful team forming but not in a bad way. There are a lot of prospects on this team I like, Harvey, Zimmerman, Jacobsen, Seitz (via trade), and Salinas. Myrie from my perspective is the only ‘project’ of a player and he’s consistently on the Costa Rican radar. Thomas, Moreno, Miglioranzi, and LeToux need to get in shape and stay healthy for this team to succeed.

    I agree with the move to be a team to be reckoned with 2-3 years down the line, I just hope through some signings that we will have a competitive team to put on the field this Spring.

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  14. I am thinking he is well below the cap with this picks also. Maybe Moreno is making some decent money but other than that everyone is pretty economical.

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  15. I just hope that they do actually sign Roger Torres….. and that MLS as a whole continues the signing of columbian players… as well as other south americans… they are what is going to drive the MLS to great heights…. they are cheap and skilled…

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  16. He passed on Amado Guevara because he would have not fit in for a team in Phili. No whiny punks with highlights in their hair in the midfield in South Phili.

    Le Toux and Moreno is a pretty respectable starting forward tandem for an expansion side. Maybe pickup a young attacking prospect or two in the draft.

    I am thinking he will look to bring in some imports in the midfield and a defender and that should get him a decent 1st year team. I think he got maybe 4 or 5 starters out of this expansion draft.

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  17. I know that Our best formation would have dempsey and donovan in the midfield but with davies injured id rather have dempsey up top…. the man has five goals in the premier league… with more to come…. ideally he and donovan would be able to roam…..

    I would love to see the us play a 4321

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  18. I predicted one right…Zimmerman lol. So many talented players who arent worth much money not selected,Im pretty shocked to be honest. Riley?Chabala?Josh Saunders?Grabavoy?

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  19. yo… dempsey had an amazing game, but he is not a striker. He provided a sweet pass that set up his first goal. Before his input the match was ping-pong with nobody settling the ball and playing it to players.

    No, the best formation is Donovan and Dempsey in midfield. Keep Cunningham up top with Dempsey.

    btw…to keep with current article… Good luck, Philly. You’ll need it after these picks.

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  20. I hope Ives does a little Tuesday rewind today. Dempsey scored 2, and it sounds like Jozy had a pretty solid game against Tim Howard’s Everton.

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  21. 2 Goals for Demps……

    If he is not starting next to jozy next game my head will explode

    Jozy started again today…..

    He isnt scoring but you know what he is getting minutes and occupying the centerbacks enough for his teammates to score, I’m sorry but that is what bob has wanted Ching to do and jozy is doing in the premier league

    Jozy Demps up top….

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  22. I am disappointed to see Le Toux go but you are wrong Ives on commending his level of skill at this level. In fact, his technique is about the only thing missing from his game and if he develops that he will be a star.

    Granted, he was learning a new position this year on the wing and if he comes into form he will be a great pick, but right now he is more of an effort guy who can run all day. A great player to have and I am sure he will be a fan favorite in Philly as he was in Seattle.

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  23. somebody said on the other expansion piece Ives wrote that salinas stayed with SJ…..whats up with that?

    i cant see Nowak still signin g Colombian Roger Torres since this expansion draft is full of youth and he needs experience….its possible, but boy this team needs to get the international signings crankin

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  24. Good luck. Not impressed at all with the list of guys Nowak picked. Maybe he has a few tricks up his sleeve. For PU’s sake I sure hope so.

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  25. The only pick I would have changed was Wallace. Nowak has some good pieces, but will have to look outside USA for the players that will make a difference.

    Any word on DP for Union?

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