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The Philadelphia Union will select its first set of players on Wednesday in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft and while there is no guarantee that the ten players chosen will make Peter Nowak's team, it is a safe bet that several members of the group will make up a good nucleus for Major League Soccer's 16th team.
There is plenty of big names for Nowak to choose from, but he's fully aware that many of the better available players are heading to Europe this winter. Nowak also knows how important it will be to start building the team with a solid defensive nucleus.
Defense will be one of the three keys for the Union's draft, along with veteran leadership and finding players with strong local ties. That combination of characteristics should help the Union come up with a good group for Philly fans to embrace.
So who will Nowak select on Wednesday? Here is our best guess:
AMADO GUEVARA, Toronto FC
Preki's arrival at Toronto FC, coupled with the team's surplus of central midfielders made Guevara expendable and Philadelphia would be crazy not to grab him. His creativity, toughness and personality makes him a fan favorite wherever he goes, even if his temper and reputation as a prima donna has left some former fans glad to see him go. Guevara has matured in recent years, and with a World Cup to play in next year, something tells me he will be stepping up his game in 2010.
Even if Guevara isn't in Nowak's plans, he would be wise to select him as trade bait, with several teams (Houston and Chivas USA among them) likely to need a creative midfielder for next season.
BOBBY CONVEY, San Jose
The prodigal returns and Philadelphia adds the homegrown talent it hopes will help serve as a poster boy for the community. Convey has had his struggles through the years, with injuries and most recently with form, but he's still talented and relatively young and you would like to think that playing back home in a new stadium for his hometown fans will help bring the best out of the former U.S. national team midfielder.
FRANKIE HEJDUK, Columbus
Who better to join a team called the Union than the fearless and hard-working Hejduk, who seems tailor-made to be a Philly fan favorite. He struggled late in the year for Columbus, and his recent showing for the U.S. national team left a lot to be desired, but Hejduk is still an above average right back in MLS and his presence in the locker room is invaluable.
JESSE MARSCH, Chivas USA
It has been more than a decade since Marsch and Nowak were teammates on the 1998 MLS Cup-winning Chicago Fire, but Marsch has remained one of the most respected midfielders in MLS.
The problem with Marsch is that he is dealing with concussion issues that could force him to retire. If he is still uncertain about playing in 2010, then look for Philadelphia to grab someone else from CHivas USA, be it defenders Carey Talley or Jim Curtin (A Philly native), or Jon Conway (A Chester native).
EDDIE ROBINSON, Houston
Nowak will be looking for tough, talented and experienced defenders and Robinson fits that bill. Before this past season, which he missed almost all of due to knee surgery, Robinson had been a rock in the back for the Dynamo, serving as a starter on two MLS Cup-winning teams. The emergence of Geoff Cameron made him expendable by the Dynamo, but he could step right in and anchor the Union's back-line.
STEPHEN KING, Seattle
A product of last year's expansion draft, King got lost in the mix in a loaded Seattle Sounders midfielder, but he's still a talented young central midfielder who happens to be a product of the powerhouse Philadelphia-area youth club FC Delco. Now 23, King played in 20 games as a rookie with the Chicago Fire in 2008 and impressed there. Nowak can never have too many good central midfielders. This one just happens to have local ties, making him a safe bet to be selected.
CHRIS ALBRIGHT, New England
Another one of the more high-profile players to come out of the Philadelphia area, Albright is also coming off a year lost to knee surgery. There are concerns about his health with him having missed most of two of the past three seasons. His versatility as a defender makes him a valuable asset though so if the Union is confident of his health, it would be tough to see Philly passing on Albright.
ANTHONY WALLACE, FC Dallas
Nowak isn't going to just select a bunch of veteran players. He will need to take a few younger prospects and few are as intriguing as Wallace, a standout left back prospect who was starting to flourish for FC Dallas before being sidelined by injury.
AARON HOHLBEIN, Kansas City
With Eddie Robinson already in the fold, Nowak grabs another starting centerback in Hohlbein, who really came into his own in 2009, his third year in MLS. Hohlbein is just 23 but has already started 40 MLS matches and even has a pair of goals to his credit. If Nowak wants to go even younger, he could go with KC's Matt Besler, a rookie standout for the Wizards last season.
NICK ZIMMERMAN, New York
This one might be a bit of a long shot, but if Nowak caught a glimpse of Zimmerman during the middle of the 2009 season, when he was still playing regularly for the Red Bulls, Nowak will have seen a tough, tireless and skilled midfielder capable of playing on the right wing or centrally. If Nowak isn't ready to add that much youth to his team, he could go with striker John Wolyniec or defender Mike Petke, who started on Nowak's MLS Cup-winning D.C. United team in 2003.
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Some other players who could wind up being selected on Wednesday include: Alejandro Moreno, Andy Iro, Quincy Amarikwa, Shea Salinas, Matt Besler, Herculez Gomez, John Wolyniec, Mike Petke, Nathan Sturgis, Pat Phelan, Devon McTavish, Ryan Cochrane, Robbie Russell and Sanna Nyassi to name a few.
Wondering where big names like Ricardo Clark, Chris Rolfe and Gonzalo Segares are? Since they are all safe bets to sign in Europe I don't see Philly wasting expansion draft picks on their rights.
What do you think of this list? Who are you hoping Philadelphia selects? WHo are you hoping the Union stays away from?
Share your thoughts below.
1. Amado Guevara (TFC)
2. Andy Iro (CLB)
3. Eddie Robinson (HOU)
4. Anthony Wallace (FCD)
5. Bobby Convey (SJE)
6. Stephen King (SEA)
7. Matt Besler (KCW)
8. Danny Cerpero (NYR)
9. Jessie Marsh (CHU)
10.Pat Noonan (COL)
thanks. if that’s the case, anyone think there’s a ‘handshake’ that philly doesn’t select a player that seattle couldn’t protect (nyassi, wahl) but wants to hold onto, then a post draft trade of parke’s rights for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick?
There is no such thing as a free agency in MLS. You would have to trade for his rights.
1. Jesse Marsch (CHV)
2. Frankie Hejduk (CLB)
3. Luciano Emilio (DC)
4. Anthony Wallace (DAL)
5. Matt Besler (KC)
6. Josh Saunders (LA)
7. Chris Albright (NE)
8. Bobby Convey (SJ)
9. Sanna Nyassi (SEA)
10. Amado Guevara (TOR)
potentially dumb question – if jeff parke is on neither seattle’s protected list nor available list (according to mls website), is he really still seattle’s? i thought he was flat out released and basically just waiting for the drug stuff to be old news. i think philly might be able to just sign him as a free agent.
Sum of you guys are retarded…
Guevara’s value around the league would be monstrous. Even if you dont keep him just trade him. You could even get a max allocation for him.
Bang! You can spend 300k above the cap!!!
“DF – Mike Chabala (HOU) – most people want Robinson taken here. But if they converted Cameron to a CB doesn’t it tell you something?”
Yes that Robinson got injured and thats why we had to convert Cameron. Having both ERob and Cochrane makes Camerons move to the midfield next year almost inevitable.
You can’t take both King and Nyassi from Seattle
Le toux is overvalued for the salary hes getting.
And how do you know that Nowak won’t pick King. He’s cheap for depth.
Seattle took Jaqua in the expansion draft. Ianni came over in a preseason trade.
Saunders LA
Obvious choice there. In LA he will always be the other guy. Union could offer him as a condition behind the doors half of what he is making with the guarantee of being their starting keeper barring injury.
He did well at the Cup. No goals allowed. Did well in penalties. Had not Donovan’s penalty attempt, which I just heard finally hit the ground in Mongolia, who knows what could have been.
Nowak is not going to be picking guys because they are “local”, and your list seems to be focused on local products. I will eat my shoes if Nowak takes Stephen King.
” I know that the only reason the DC deal fell through last season was because of a shoulder injury.”
How do you know that? First I’ve heard of that…
What are the rules here? Can we call out other posters? This moronic slamming of Nowak deserves it.
So tell us — what have you achieved in your exceptional existence? Win any professional championships, as a coach or player? No? Still, I’m sure you have a long list of impressive accomplishments….
I think you’re closer — or, at least more realistic. I’m expecting a number of different picks, but yours are a lot sounder than Ives’ list.
Ives seems awfully enamored of the over-the-hill and the injured. I rather doubt that Nowak will share that fascination since he has to build a squad that can last this season and next, at least.
Ives, no way do Albright, Marsch or Guevara get picked. First, Albright’s and Marsch’s playing days are numbered. Second, Guevara is not Nowak’s type of player. Hejduk probably is but Iro is a tough player who can be far more useful to a new team seeking respect. As a Californian, I ask you not to be surprised if Bryan Jordan or Josh Saunders get picked from the Galaxy, or Shavar Thomas or Jon Conway from Chivas USA. Jordan has excellent pace and work rate, and better touch than any Galaxy forward other than Donovan or Eskandarian. Thomas is a rugged, physical defender that any team would need.
My Picks : Pat Noonan (Col), Nick Zimmerman (NYRB),Bobby Convey (SJ),Amado Guevara (TFC),Jesse Marsch (CHV),Frankie Hejduk (Col),Mike Chabala (Hou),Aaron Holbein (KC),James Riley (SEA) and Josh Saunders (LAG)
Ives, Do you think Nic Platter of the Minnesota Thunder has any chance getting picked up? I know that the only reason the DC deal fell through last season was because of a shoulder injury. Any chance?
Here’s the 10 I came up with. Really unsure whether Nowak takes Convey, but I think he should. If not I’d replace Convey with Salinas (SJ) or Phelan (NE). Columbus was a very tough decision, so was Seattle, LA and Chivas. Heavily considered Padula, Moreno, Renteria, Hejduk, Alecko, Dunivant, Chijindu, Mayen, Igwe, Sturgis, King, Riley, Jacobson, McTavish
Mike Chabala (HOU)
Matt Besler (KC)
Robbie Russell (RSL)
Anthony Wallace (FCD)
Jason Garey (CBUS)
Josh Saunders (LA)
Shavar Thomas (CUSA)
Sebastien Le Toux (SEA)
Jordan Harvey (COL)
Bobby Convey (SJ)
i thought marsch was protected…..guess not
Hohlbein….really? Talley!
Martek wrote: I hope Nowak shows the quality he has always shown as a loser in …DC United…
Huh? He was coach for three years, and in that time won an MLS Cup and a Supporters’ Shield. If that’s losing, I think a lotta teams would like to lose like that. I certainly think current DCU would prefer to lose like that.
My Picks:
Josh Wicks(DC)
Frankie Hejduk(Crew)
Amado Guevara(TFC)
Nick Zimmerman(NYRB)
Chukwudi Chijindu(Chivas)
Eddie Robinson(Houston)
Andy Williams(RSL)
Bobby Convey(SJ)
Zach Scott(SSFC)
dont count out Wallace of FCD, Gomez,Khumalo, and Emilio of DC, Albright of NE, Stepanovich, Talley, and Lillingston of Chivas, and Gonzalo Segares who i dont think will find much luck in Europe
Chase Hilgenbrinck was the Revs player that did that. I’d imagine Stevie plans for Wells to be on his bench for a while. He’s not a starter but he’s one of the best conditioned players in MLS and Nicol always talks about his work ethic.
That Zimmerman on the Red Bulls would be a great pick up. I saw him play up here in Toronto in June and he was the best player on the pitch.
Julian Valentine from Galaxy. He’s young, defender and from Philadelphia.
This just in….
Wells Thompson mentioned he is retiring and heading into a religious missionary.
Well said, I went across coasts to watch San Jose and…..errrr….not good….
And what’s up with the exterior beer gardens!
This is interesting….but…I’ll speak to these few:
Albright should be playing local Over-30.
Convey barely shows signs of having spent time in Europe.
For those who mentioned Heaps…..should mention him retiring.
Thanks, in that case, Devon McTavish – $53K
Ya, I am going to say that maybe 2 of these 10 are picked Ives. Salary considerations, plus there is better talent available leads me to believe these picks just aren’t gonna happen. I think Guevara is a good pick, but I also think he isn’t Nowak’s kind of player, so it may not work. We shall see tomorrow.
I agree Preki’s no dummyu but TFC doesn’t get to pick any players in this draft, Philly does 🙂
I am a philly fan and am excited about the union but hejduk and convey are the two players i most despise. i would/will be utterly disappointed if/when they select those players.
“Convey has had his struggles through the years, with injuries and most recently with form, but he’s still talented and relatively young and you would like to think that playing back home in a new stadium for his hometown fans will help bring the best out of the former U.S. national team midfielder.”
Bahahahahaha. Convey sucks. His poor form plus huckerby’s injury were the two main reasons the quakes were so disappointing this season.
You can’t take Nyassi and King both — they’re both Seattle players, and each club can only lose one player.
Mixture of Philly boys, trade bait, and modestly-priced experience:
Convey, Guevara, Jacobson, Grabavoy, Zimmerman, King
Banner, Wallace, Robinson, Holbein, Iro
Oops, meant to say Gerba, not Moreno. Don’t know his salary, but he has Canadian trade value over the next two years.
Seattle still owns Parke’s rights, even though he’s not under contract. He can’t be selected in the expansion draft, but the Sounders could trade him (his rights) to Philly.
He is out of contract at Vancouver, and was apparently looking for trials last summer (per the Whitecaps website), but I didn’t hear of him signing anywhere.
The Sounders could use Parke to intice Philly not to pick any of their players, or work a deal. But that would also require Parke to want to sign with Philly, and who knows if he does (or if he’s still seeking a club in Europe).
Ives – any recent info on Parke’s whereabouts?
Ives’ picks (2009 Guaranteed Compensation)
RB – Hejduk – $175K
RB – Albright – $176K
CB – Hohlbein – $35K
CB – Robinson – $138K
LB – Wallace – $108K
RM – Zimmerman – $35K
CM – Guevara – $324K
CM – Marsch – $175K
CM – King – $34K
LM – Convey – $245K
Total: $1.445M
My picks
GK – Saunders – $44K
RB – Hejduk – $175K
CB – Opara – $0K
CB – Hohlbein – 35K
LB – Chabala – $34K
RM – Zimmerman – $35K
RM – Nyassi – $20K
CM – Phelan – $35K
CM – King – $34K
LM – Convey – $245K
F – Moreno – $137K
Total: $794K
I can’t believe you don’t think Mr. Nowak would choose Jorge Rojas. He is an excellent central midfielder.
Any team would be a fool to take Moreno. I got so tired of him trusting his diving ability over his shooting ability. I’m afraid Padula will get taken because the idiots that manage the Crew didn’t protect him. A leftback of his quality is hard to find in MLS.
Haha that’s exactly what I thought, if I was Phily I would no doubt pick up eskadarian, he’s probably one of the best left exposed..
great list Ives, though I personally think Conway is more likely than Marsch. Preki’s no dummy and he will want to start with as good a defense as he can get, with Robinson, Albright, Conway, Hejduk, Dunivant, etc available he’s got plenty to choose from.
Please take him, I’d rather keep Hejduk, Padulla and Renteria.
rolfe is playing in denmark. why draft him?
Agreed…Philly would be insane to pass on Josh Saunders. He’s just entering the prime age of a goalie’s career and I think he proved pretty emphatically during the season and in his minutes during cup that he’s capable of being a #1. Heck, the dude saved as many penalties as MVP Rimando in the shootout.
Id go younger with my picks.
mayen
rolfe
iro
hohlbein
igwe
dunivant
mbuta
grabavoy
convey
nyassi
ALEJANDRO MORENO taken and traded to LA GALAXY in exchange for ALAN GORDON and a couple of draft picks??
With there current base salaries…
RSL – F – Campos – 65,000
CLB – F – Garey – 52,937
DCU – M – Jacobson – 34,000
KC – M – Hirsig – 75,000
SJ – M – Salinas – 36,300
HOU – M – Chabala – 34,000
CHV – D – S Thomas – 104,500
COL – D – Harvey – 50,000
FCD – D – Wagner – 50,930
SEA – D – Riley – 69,000
Other choices:
RSL – M – Mathis – 115,000
CLB – D – Iro – 45,100
KC – M – Kraus – 34,000
HOU – D – Waibel – 77,008
CHV – M – Mayen – 20,100
Then hope Opara comes out and take him with 1st pick.