Major League Soccer has released the lists of players protected from Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft, which the expansion Philadelphia Union will use to select ten players from the remaining unprotected players on the league's 15 team rosters.
MLS Cup Final hero Robbie Russell, U.S. national team midfielder Ricardo Clark and former MLS MVP Amado Guevara are among the more high-profile players left off lists who will be available for the Union to select in Wednesday's draft.
Here is a rundown of the protected lists, the lists of available players, the list of Generation adidas graduates, along with some thoughts on the lists:
COMPLETE LIST OF PROTECTED PLAYERS FOR WEDNESDAY’S DRAFT
Chivas USA
Jonathan Bornstein, Justin Braun, Jorge Flores, Padilla, Jesus, Galindo, Maykel, Lahoud, Michael, Kljestan, Sacha, Nagamura, Paulo, Thornton, Zach, Cuesta, Yamith, Santos, Maicon
Chicago Fire
Busch, Jon, Conde, Wilman, Brown, C.J., Mapp, Justin, McBride, Brian, Nyarko, Patrick, Pappa, Marco, Pause, Logan, Thorrington, John, Robinson, Dasan, Ward, Tim
Colorado Rapids
Baudet, Julien, Casey, Conor, Clark, Colin, Cummings, Omar, Gibbs, Cory, Kimura, Kosuke, LaBrocca, Nick, Mastroeni, Pablo, Moor, Drew, Pickens, Matt, Smith, Jamie
Columbus Crew
Brunner, Eric, Carroll, Brian, Ekpo, Emmanuel, Gaven, Eddie, Hesmer, Will (GK), Lenhart, Steven, Marshall, Chad, Moffat, Adam, O'Rourke, Danny, Rogers, Robbie, Schelotto, Guillermo
FC Dallas
Benitez, Jair, Chavez, Marvin, Cunningham, Jeff, Davies, Kyle, Ferreira, David, Harris, Atiba, Hernandez, Daniel, Ihemelu, Ugo, John, George, McCarty, Dax, Pearce, Heath
D.C. United
Burch, Marc, Fred, Jakovic, Dejan, James, Julius, Moreno, Jaime, Namoff, Bryan, Pontius, Chris, Quaranta, Santino, Simms, Clyde, Szetela, Danny, Wallace, Rodney
Houston Dynamo
Ashe, Corey , Boswell, Bobby, Cameron, Geoff, Ching, Brian, Davis, Brad, Hall, Tally, Hainault, Andrew , Holden, Stuart, Mullan, Brian, Oduro, Dominic, Weaver, Cameron
Kansas City Wizards
Arnaud, Davy, Conrad, Jimmy, Harrington, Michael, Hercegfalvi, Zoltan, Jewsbury, Jack, Kamara, Kei, Leathers, Jonathan, Lopez, Claudio, Souter, Kevin, Wolff, Josh, Zusi, Graham
Los Angeles Galaxy
Beckham, David, Berhalter, Gregg, Birchall, Chris, Buddle, Edson, DeLagarza, AJ, Donovan, Landon, Franklin, Sean, Gonzalez, Omar, Kovalenko, Dema, Magee, Mike, Ricketts, Donovan
New England Revolution
Alston, Kevin, Barnes, Darrius, Dube, Kheli, Joseph, Shalrie, Larentowicz, Jeff, Mansally, Kenny, Nyassi, Sainey, Osei, Emmanuel, Ralston, Steve, Reis, Matt, Twellman, Taylor
New York Red Bulls
Angel, Juan Pablo, Borman, Danleigh, Coundoul, Bouna, Goldthwaite, Kevin, Hall, Jeremy, Johnson, Carlos, Kandji, Macoumba, Mendes, Carlos, Obster, Ernst, Richards, Dane, Stammler, Seth
Real Salt Lake
Beckerman, Kyle, Beltran, Tony, Borchers, Nat, Espindola, Fabian, Findley, Robbie, Johnson, Will, Morales, Javier, Olave, Jamison, Rimando, Nick, Seitz, Chris, Wingert, Chris
San Jose Earthquakes
Alvarez, Arturo, Burling, Bobby, Cannon, Joe, Corrales, Ramiro, Glenn, Cornell, Hernandez, Jason, Johnson, Ryan, Leitch, Chris, Moreira, Andre Luiz, Sanchez, Ramon, McDonald, Brandon
Seattle Sounders FC
Alonso, Osvaldo, Evans, Brad, Gonzalez, Leo, Hurtado, Jhon Kennedy, Ianni, Patrick, Jaqua, Nate, Keller, Kasey, Ljungberg, Freddie, Marshall, Tyrone, Montero, Fredy, Zakuani, Steve
Toronto FC
Attakora-Gyan, Nana, Barrett, Chad, Brennan, Jim, Cronin, Sam, de Guzman, Julian, DeRosario, Dwayne, Gomez, Emmanuel, Sanyang, Amadou, Serioux, Adrian, White, O'Brian, Wynne, Marvell
COMPLETE LIST OF PLAYERS AVAILABLE IN EXPANSION DRAFT
Chivas USA
Conway, Jon, Curtin, Jim, Harmse, Kevin, Jazic, Ante, Kennedy, Dan, Lillingston, Eduardo, Marsch, Jesse, Razov, Ante, Saragosa, Marcelo, Stepanovic, Bojan, Suarez, Claudio, Talley, Carey, Thomas, Shavar, Trujillo, Mariano, Victorine, Sasha, Chijindu, Chukwudi, Mayen, Gerson, Parker, Lance
Chicago Fire
Banner, Michael, Blanco, Cuauhtémoc, Carr, Calen, Dimitrov, Stefan, Dykstra, Andrew, Myrie, Dave, Rolfe, Chris, Segares, Gonzalo, Woolard, Daniel, Lowry, Peter, Washington, Austin
Columbus Crew
Garey, Jason, Gruenebaum, Andy, Hejduk, Frankie, Iro, Andy, Moreno, Alejandro, Nyazamba, Stanley, Oughton, Duncan, Padula, Gino, Renteria, Emilio, Schoeni, Kenny, Burns, Kevin, Elenio, Cory, Grendi, Alex
Colorado Rapids
Ballouchy, Mehdi, Burpo, Preston, Dalby, Greg, Diz, Facundo, Harden, Ty, Harvey, Jordan, Noonan, Pat, Palguta, Scott, Peterson, Jacob, Ceus, Steward, Holody, Mike, Schunk, Ross
FC Dallas
Burse, Ray, Purdy, Steve, Ricchetti, Pablo, Rocha, Andre, Sala, Dario, Torres, Daniel, Van Den Bergh, Dave, Wagner, Blake, Wallace, Anthony
D.C. United
Emilio, Luciano, Gomez, Christian, Habarugira, David, Jacobson, Andrew, Janicki, Greg, John, Avery, Khumalo, Thabiso, McTavish, Devon, N'Silu, Ange, Olsen, Ben, Vaughn, Lawson, Wicks, Josh, Allen, Ely, Barklage, Brandon, DiRaimondo, John, Kocic, Milos, Shipalane, Tiyiselani
Houston Dynamo
Barrett, Wade, Chabala, Michael, Clark, Ricardo, Cochrane, Ryan, Landin, Luis, Mulrooney, Richard, Onstad, Pat, Robinson, Eddie, Thompson, Abe, Waibel, Craig, Deric, Tyler, Hayden, John Michael, Ustruck, Erik
Kansas City Wizards
Besler, Matthew, Cristman, Adam, Gomez, Herculez, Hartman, Kevin, Hirsig, Santiago, Hohlbein, Aaron, Kraus, Michael, Kronberg, Eric, McKenzie, Rauwshan, Morsink, Kurt, Watson, Lance, Marquess, Matt, Pardo, Boris
New England Revolution
Albright, Chris, Badilla, Gabriel, Heaps, Jay, Igwe, Amaechi, Jankauskas, Edgaras, Knighton, Brad, Matamoros Castro, Mauricio, Ombiogno, Stephane, Phelan, Pat, Thompson, Wells, Tierney, Chris, Videira, Michael, Shuttleworth, Robert
LA Galaxy
Dunivant, Todd, Eskandarian, Alecko, Gordon, Alan, Griffin, Leonard, Jordan, Bryan, Kirovski, Jovan, Klein, Chris, Lewis, Eddie, Miglioranzi, Stefani, Sanneh, Tony, Saunders, Josh, Valentin, Julian, Marshall, Yohance, Patterson, Kyle
New York Red Bulls
Boyens, Andrew, Cepero, Daniel, Garcia, Walter, Krupnik, Leonid, Patterson, Caleb, Petke, Mike, Rojas, Jorge, Sassano, Luke, Ubiparipovic, Sinisa, Wolyniec, John, Mbuta, Andongcho, Zimmerman, Nick
Real Salt Lake
Alexandre, Jean, Campos, Pablo, El Khalifi, Rachid, Gonzalez, Nelson, Grabavoy, Ned, Horst, David, Mathis, Clint, Movsisyan, Yura, Reynish, Kyle, Russell, Robbie, Williams, Andy, Cox, Raphael, Nunez, Tino
San Jose Earthquakes
Amarikwa, Quincy, Convey, Bobby, Elliott, Simon, Pitchkolan, Aaron, Ribeiro, Antonio, Salinas, Shea, Weber, Andrew, Wondolowski, Chris, Graczyk, Mike, Roberts, Jamil, Zaher, Michael
Seattle Sounders FC
Boss, Terry, Eylander, Chris, Graham, Taylor, King, Stephen, LeToux, Sebastien, Levesque, Roger, Riley, James, Scott, Zacharias, Sturgis, Nathan, Vagenas, Peter, Wahl, Tyson, Brown, Evan, Fucito, Michael, Neagle, Lamar, Nyassi, Sanna
Toronto FC
Edwards, Brian, Fellinga, Lesly, Garcia, Nick, Gerba, Ali, Guevara, Amado, Robinson, Carl, Vitti, Pablo, Gala, Gabe
Generation adidas Graduates (Corrected List)
Alston, Kevin, Beltran, Tony, Gonzalez, Omar, Hall, Jeremy, Igwe, Amaechi, Nyarko, Patrick, Seitz, Chris, Wallace, Anthony, Wallace, Rodney, Zakuani, Steve
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Keep in mind that players who are still eligible for Generation adidas did not need to be protected. Also, several of the more high-profile players left exposed for the draft, such as Ricardo Clark and Gonzalo Segares, are at the end of their MLS contracts and expected to sign abroad.
Here are some more thoughts:
I'm sticking with my theory that some teams may have handshake deals in place with Philadelphia where they have already agreed on who the Union will take. What would be the benefit of doing that if you're Philly? Teams with too many protectable players could have threatened to deal their surplus away ahead of today's protection list deadline.
It might seem cruel for RSL to leave Robbie Russell unprotected, but Tony Beltran is the better long-term prospect at right back.
It might seem odd for Pat Onstad to be left unprotected, but at his age he's pretty much a (don't pick me or I'll retire) guy.
Another player who is somewhat surprising of an inclusion is Dave Van Den Bergh. As good as he has been the past two years, he's an older player who is set to make more than $200K next season, not exactly the type of player Philadelphia will be looking to build a new team around. Dallas could also be banking on Philadelphia fielding Bobby Convey on the left wing in 2010.
So why did RSL protect Chris Seitz when Nick Rimando is firmly entrenched as the team's starter? Don't be surprised to see Seitz either traded or sold this winter.
According to multiple sources, TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei has not graduated. How is this the case, when he started 26 matches this season? Your guess is as good as mine.
You can officially call James Riley the king of the expansion draft. This will mark the third straight expansion draft he's been exposed in. The Seattle right back has been selected in the past two mock drafts, first by San Jose in 2008, then by Seattle last season.
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What do you think of these lists? What's the most surprising omission? Who would be your first expansion pick (notice I said first, so please save the mock expansion drafts for tomorrow)?
Share your thoughts below.
it looks like the 2008 expansion draft for Seattle netted them 3 solid starters: Brad Evans, Nate Jaqua, James Riley; 4 back-ups: Nathan Sturgis, Peter Vagenas, Tyson Wahl, Stephen King; and 3 rejects not in the league anymore: Jeff Parke, Jarrod Smith, Khanno Smith.
So by this logic I guess the Union should be looking for 3 solid starters: Bobby Convey (I don’t see how you cannot take the big home town attraction who is still just 26); James Riley (it is apparently tradition); and Mehid Ballouchy (???) … I honestly don’t know the rest of the rosters well enough to guess the 4 back-ups but I would be interested to see each teams “exposed” list parred down by “those who know” to just those players who aren’t old as dirt, crappy, overpaid, etc … It would be interesting and helpful to see any/all of the team exposed lists without the obvious chafe and just the ‘wheat’ that Philly might select …. so to speak.
Or Zimmerman. Or… well, I just think Dane definitely should have been unprotected. I’d be glad to be rid of him.
I think Gino’s subtly put out word that if he doesn’t stay in Columbus – where his family is settled and likes it – that he’ll head back home. That’s the only reason I could see for putting him here.
I was pretty close on my guess at who would be protected. Columbus kept Gaven and Ekpo over Padula and Hejduk. Not 100% sure I agree with that, but we’ll see.
wicks is still 4-5 months away, he just had another surgery, so just like Barklage, you figure nowak won’t use a pick on an injured player.
Agreed, the kid is solid. Of course Onstad is just getting better with age, which is scary.
Only if the DP has a no trade clause, which I guess Landin doesn’t.
Le Toux is garbage. The sooner he leaves the better.
Saw Talley Hall play in the USOC semifinal, and while that’s just one game, but if that game represents his normal play Houston has nothing to fear in losing Onstad.
I’l take a stab at it.
Alejandro Moreno is the best player in the draft, but I’m guessing there’s an understnding no to take him…
Jankauskas (or Igwe), King, Ballouchy, Salinas or Alvarez, Dunivant, Garey or Grunebaum, Segares (guessing he’s not going to Europe), Hohlbein, McTavish and Sassano.
wow fischy, you’re like a bad guy on SBI…
I will laugh so hard if Riley goes to Philly, wonder if the SOB’s would whine about opposing team’s baiting Jimmy James into “getting Red Carded out of games”….
Probably not. Riley sucks. Hope he stays in Seattle and continues to eff shet up for the Flounderz..:)
Now that was uncalled for. If you couldnt come up with a more respectful comment, id assume you are a pathetic loser in life who has nothing better to do but to use your spare time hating on others
If you were Nowak, you’d be smart enough to make better picks.
why is houston protecting holden??
The only rumors I’m aware of is that he will be traded. If so, they would want to protect him now.
I thought you had to protect your DP, i.e. Luis Landin?
Defiantly help him out? What about stubbornly or obstreperously?
Wow, leaving that hothead keeper Wicks unprotected, maybe Nowak will take him…
Nobody wants Jay Heaps, why take a risk on so many games playing down a man? What a dirty player, that Heaps. Heaps of s**te is more like it…
eh, Szetela is such a worthless piece of crap.. he will show his true colors to you guys soon enough. Always seems like one with a great potential, but being cool etc always seems to get in the way.
well every team needs that experienced gritty veteran granted Hejduk had a bad season this year
Rumor has that Vanegas is going to LA Galaxy to coach because he never recovered from his knee injury…and he loves LA
Hejduk? Really?
Shevchenco!!! for your dp..
not picking Olsen, Convey, or Escandarian?
some good options at keeper.. Cepero, Saunders, Sala…
look forward to the selection
Nowak LOVES Mapp’s speed, he’s said it publicly. Let;s get something for Mapp.
Conde protected because he has a year left on his contract and made best 11. Don’t you think that’s a good reason?
Only get 10, I believe.
Thanks, I didn’t know that about the GA players.
The first question was just me still being ticked off about last night, it’s obvious why Saunders wasn’t protected.
If I were Nowak id pick:
1)M.Saragosa
2)F.Hejduk
3)M.Ballouchy
4)D.Van Den Berg
5)T.Khumalo
6)M.Chabala
7)S.Hirsig
8)J.Saunders
9)R.Russell
10)B.Convey
11)C.Robinson
That’s a tough choice because we need another man up top with Movsisyan going to Denmark. I really like Grabavoy, I just wish he got more playing time. He did awesome in the final against LA. I like the idea of Beltran more than Russell.
Like Ives said, he will most likely be traded or sold during the winter. Might as well get some money out of the guy.
I’m really hoping an offseason with a personal trainer does him a load of good. He shows some great skill at times, there could be some potential in there.
(yes, I’m being optimistic.)
depth?!?! u dirty boy!
I’d guess Philly hasn’t seen enough of him to really make a decision, all depends what their needs are and who else they’re looking at. I’m more worried about them taking Chabala.
Landin is too big and an unprotected dp, waste.
Riley got the shaft because at the 11th hour Zakuani and Ljungberg had to be protected even though on Saturday the GM believed Ljungberg was locked in. Sigi loves players he has years experience with…Marshall is a Red card waiting to happen, Ianni is he future replacement, Vagenes is a liabiltiy.
It will be nice, though, that first game of 2010, Philly can’t play Riley against Seattle due to his Red card in the playoffs.
Agreed unfortuntely, I was hoping and am glad we protected Ashe but that’s tough at the expense of Chabala. Given ERob’s injury history and age I’d make a long term investment in Chabala were I Philly. Philly, please don’t listen to me.
probably a matter of depth, more defensive options than offensive
Here’s an early guess for you to comment on Ives:
M Amado Guevara — TFC
M Shea Salinas — SJ
M Mike Banner — CHI
M Mehdi Ballouchy — COL
M Pat Phelan — NE
D Mike Chabala — HOU
D Mike Petke — NY
D Andy Iro — CLB
D James Riley — SEA
G Josh Saunders — LA
Of course you would need a nice DP striker to make this work.
Any chance you wanna do an article on who you think will get picked?
I really hope they take Campos, and not Ned or Russell.
If Nowak, here would be my picks, Seagares would replace Castro if staying.
Padula, Besler, Russell, Nyassi, Emilio, Guevara, Marsch, Castro, Mulrooney, Noonan.
No-one knows. We should ask Klopas.
I doubt Houston wants a DP like Landin, either.
At his salary level no-one is going to take him anyway, why waste the spot when the team has several young players who could improve and permanently relegate him to the bench. If the rationale for leaving Sega unprotected is that he’s probably going, why on earth is Conde also protected? He seems *much* more likely to move on.
It will be Ben Olsen in an attempt to sell tickets. Bring the hometown boy back to Philadelphia. Every team – even an expansion one – needs a veteran leader type.
Why is Chicago protecting mapp?
Guess even De La Hoya was disappointed with Landin, eh?
Van Den Bergh moved to Dallas just to be with family. He’d probably retire if taken and that’s probably out there.
Riley is a terrible 1 vs. 1 defender and a card machine. I’d take Lance Watson or Jed Zayner over him right now.
If I were Philly and looking for balance, I’d take:
Ale Moreno
Roger Levesque
Amado Guevara
Ned Grabavoy
Shea Salinas
Pablo Ricchetti
Jordan Harvey (Barrett’s too old for an outside back)
Mike Petke
Shavar Thomas
Lance Watson
Yes. Beckham and JPA have no-trade contracts, and have to be protected.
There are a number of unprotected players with Philly connections (having grown up in the area, and/or having played for FC DELCO or other prominent Philly youth clubs). A quick scan reveals:
Jeff Parke (SEA), Jon Conway (Chivas), Bobby Convey (Quakes), Ben Olsen (DC), Alecko Eskandarian and Julian Valentin (LA), Chris Albright (NE). There might be a few others. I don’t think the Union will pull more than one or two of these guys, maybe none of them. I’m guessing they will want at least one ‘local’ player they can tout, but it might be someone who’s in USL or just coming out of college …
Jeff Parke might be an interesting ‘local’ selection, as he grew up in suburban Philadelphia, played at Downingtown HS, and also played for the renowned youth club, FC DELCO. His FC DELCO U19 team (which also featured MLS Champion RSL’s Chris Wingert and NE Rev’s Jeff Lawrentowicz) won the USYSA U19 national title in 2001.