Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
Plenty of big names are available in Wednesday's Major League Soccer Re-Entry Draft, and D.C. United coach Ben Olsen has come forth and said that United plans to use its first overall selection in the draft.
While some teams may not use the re-entry draft to bolster their rosters because of the financial implications involved, it appears that United, coming off an historically bad season, will take advantage of the opportunity to add an impact player.
The team's immediate needs include an impact striker and a stable defender, and with veteran players like Juan Pablo Angel, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Jimmy Conrad up for grabs, D.C. could plug one of its holes in a big way.
Who should D.C. United take with its Stage 1 pick? Cast your vote after the jump:
Who did you vote for? Do you think teams should use the Re-Entry Draft, or does the cost outweigh the benefit? Who would you like to see fall to your team?
Share your thoughts below.
Not sure if that’s meant to be sarcasm, but if not, that is exactly my point. He was always hurt from Giants Stadium, and than when he played at RBA, he was much happier and healthier. So why would he want to go back to playing on a crappy field again?
that alone would almost be worth the signing… 🙂
I seem to remember Ben and Jimmy making some pretty hysterical vids for US Soccer during Germany ’06. I’m betting on Mr. Conrad playing in DC next year.
Remember when you didn’t even know anything about MLS before the Flounders cam up in the cut? Even funnier now genius.
Yeah, that turf he played on at Giants’ Stadium for 3 years was something special…
Let Angel go to anyone else aside from DC. I don’t think I could handle seeing him in a dc kit when he comes back to red bull arena. That’s just sacrilegious.
DC should select Mario Gori for old time’s sake.
Your correct on the LA comment! No DP’s until LA wanted Beckham, then more DP slots as soon as Donovan reworked his deal. I also think they expanded the DP’s for the NYDP’s. What ever LA and NY want they seem to get!
Not true at all. DCU was one of the first teams in the league to sign a DP–Marcelo Gallardo and also went on a South American signing spree 2 years ago. When that didn’t work out, they reacquired Christian Gomez and upped Luciano Emilio to a DP level. Last year they had Pena (who played with Real Madrid) and Jaime Moreno (not exactly an unknown) and signed Perkins to what I think was the second highest salary of any GK in MLS. I think the larger issue with DCU is not that they’ve tried to do it on the cheap or with unknowns. It’s that they over-relied on older players (which is why while I’ve argued they should go for JPA and Conrad, I completely understand if the organization is gunshy) and made some bad decisions–often going with players who were past their sell date (like Christian Gomez part-II).
Also, I doubt JP has 3-4 years left in MLS. He probably has 2–if his back holds up.
DCU has tried to do it on the cheap and use of unknowns….how’s that been workin’…exactly.
Go get Conrad and JPA. They both have 3-4 years left in this league and United would have leaders for the youth and a PO contender even if no other significant moves are made. The FO needs to show thier fans they give a shite about thier base.
No one over $150k is worth drafting in the first round.
Lots are worth drafting in the second round if their contract can be renegotiated down.
I don’t expect to see more than 3-5 picks tomorrow, but lots of picks for the second round.
1. Can’t see DCU taking JPA in the first round. And I don’t see any other team taking him. LAG is talking to Ronaldinho and would probably go for another big name. They’ve got a couple of retirements and holes to fill–another finish to go with Buddle really isn’t a priority–it would be like them going for Brad Friedel.
I see DCU going for Conrad in round 1. Even at $260k (which I believe is his current salary), that’s a wash with Danny Allsop (who was just let go). Olsen has been very specific saying that the team needs an organizer and leader and cool head on the back line. Out of this group, it’s Conrad first followed by Gibbs.
2. In the second round I think they’ll go for JPA. I can’t see any team trying to sign Angel at his current salary. Yes, he’s old, not so fast and he’s had a bad back for 2 years now. I don’t think anyone can expect him to start 30-32 matches in an MLS season.
But Olsen also said that what DCU needs next to a defensive organizer and cool head is a clinical finisher. The team creates chances. But it can’t finish worth squat and there is no-one on the roster (even if you project Pontius to be healthy and improve on his rookie season) who will score in double figures. But if they could get 20-25 games out of Angel and 10-12 goals, that would be a huge asset and fill a major hole. DCU doesn’t need him to be a breakaway threat, just a clinical finisher who is dangerous in the box and finishes the chances he gets on the ground.
For the post that talked about Angel getting injured on the RFK field, that’s laughable. RFK is a dump as a stadium. But the field is very nice to play on. It’s dirt and grass, rarely has other use (like football or concerts or moto-cross). Artificial turf like Seattle and especially like the Meadowlands was, are what is much harder on someone’s back.
And the poster who said that DCU could have a great offense next year–put down the crack pipe! If Quaranta returns to form, McCarty continues to grow, Boskovic adjusts more to the league, Pontius comes back healthy, Najar continues to improve–that’s some nice talent. But none of those guys are true goal scorers. And the days when Angel would be the best forward in the league are gone. He may not even be the best goal scorer. But he’s a fine finisher and fills a huge need for DCU who have a bunch of skillful assist players but no-one you’d really call a forward or especially a goal scorer.
And while I think Schelotto still has game, DCU is a terrible fit for him. For starters, Boskovic is a central mid, the team’s DP and has guaranteed money. For another point, if they play Boskovic out wide, they really can’t play Schelotto as an A-mid b/c he’s not going to cover a lot of ground, win balls or defend so our outside mids need to do a lot of that (and that’s not Boskovic). So DCU would really need to play Schelotto as a withdrawn forward. Which puts them back in the same dilemma–who’s the goal scorer/finisher/target man? It’s not Chris Pontius. Najar is talented but that’s not a role he can play. Adam Christman anyone? Schelotto is a fine player who–if managed right–can still start in this league and be a force. But DCU is a bad fit for him scheme-wise.
I really would not like it if JPA — the face of the Red Bulls for years — became a member of DCU. Hopefully, they are too cheap to sign him.
The most obvious pick would be Conrad, if DC is willing to swallow 2/3 of DP money for a central defender. If they’re willing to take a chance on catching him in the second round or simply pass on him, Cochrane is a possibility. More likely, though, is Corey Gibbs. He’s my best bet here. Josh Wolff is a possibility, but I’d guess Gibbs.
i thought JPA is leaving the mls, no?
Reports say that Schelotto is willing to take a 50% pay cut, which would put him just below DP level. This would open up a DP slot for any team that took him, but only if they wait for the second phase to grab him. DC United has quite a collection of midfielders already, but if Varela isn’t coming back and the team is willing to move Najar up top and send Boskovic to the wing, then there’s a place for Schelotto. He could be a nice fit with McCarty, but that leaves the question of what to do with Clyde Simms. Either the team goes to a 4-3-2-1, or there would be no good place for Simms.
As much as I’d love to see Schelotto and McCarty working the central midfield for DC, I think the team is likely to focus on getting forwards and defenders, where their options are very limited and aren’t very good right now.
Most of JPA’s goals this year came from penalty kicks. I’m not sure what the breakdown was, but it seemed that 1/2 to 2/3 of his scoring was from the spot. Go with Jimmy or Guillermo.
Why would JPA go to DC? So he can play on that crappy field, and be hurt most of the season? Sounds like a great idea to me.
the spine of the team, they need to have a steady leader in the back.
As a Metro fan it would be really hard to stomach JPA in a DC Uniform. I bet they do it just to piss off NY.
Tino showed himself last year – I have very little confidence in him as a starter on a team looking to hit the playoffs.
Angel doesn’t have the legs to partner Pontius who still can’t seem to hit them on target enough to justify a starting place.
Start at the back and bring in some world talent up top (and by world talent for our striker I mean the usual has-been sitting in a South American bar waiting for his last big pay check)…
Agree – we need to build from the back. Last year’s backline signings were not inspired, I’d take an aging Conrad as our veteran leader back there.
First thing is settling the ship, then we have time to go out and attack but the ship won’t last long next season if we’re leaking from the start.
As a KC fan, I will vomit if Conrad goes to DC.
Absolutely. And people forget how badly they got clobbered with injuries last year. If everybody comes back healthy they could have one of the best offenses in the league, with Pontius and Angel in front of Najar, McCarty, Boskovic, and Quaranta.
Knwing DC they’ll go for Tyrone Marshall
why can’t people believe that DC can turn it around in two years?
with JPA and a few new players, it’s definitely possible. Look what the red bulls did this year!
I think DCU will take on Cory Gibbs, and then wait
for the 2nd draft next week to get JPA/Schelotto at a fraction of their current pay. DCU are probably hoping no teams will take him at $1.8M. What team can afford his $1.8M salary right now? Don’t say LA because we know then MLS always rewrites the rules for them.
yeah i like Angel up top with Buddle, but i can’t see the galaxy using him as the 3rd DP spot.
I agree. I like the idea of Conrad holding down the backline and giving Perkins and/or Hamid a chance to get in good form. He’d probably be good for another 2-3 years, but then again I’m not basing this on much.
Isn’t Gibbs an option too?
DCU has to take JPA. They need a goal scorer very, very, very badly.
I would like Galaxy to take Juan Pablo Angel, I think he will be a good addition with Buddle at top.
don’t touch Cunningham.. he’s a flake. And he’s expensive. And he’s old. He should be put out to pasture.
Ives if Angel is taken in Stage 1, he would have be signed as a DP Correct?
All the players taken from this draft would be paid what they made last season… from what is on this list?
http://www.mlsplayers.org/files/august_12_2010_salary_information__by_club.pdf
+1!
It’s gotta be Juan Pablo Angel. DC can afford him for the last year of his contract and hope to resign him for a little less $$ as he continues to age. He’s a stand-up guy and a good veteran player, and a JPA signing only adds fuel to a growing rivalry (if only both teams could be good in the same year).
They need to focus on bringing in a player who will mentor the younger players. Those who point out that whoever they draft won’t be around long are correct…so bring in a guy who helps the younger guys grow and learn the game, so his influence lasts much longer. Espeically with a young, new coach it is important to have key veterans on the field. I think Conrad could be that type of player in the back, or Schelotto in the attack. Angel is a great player, but I don’t see him filling that type of role.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/15/gbs2_Schelotto.html
i personally will be rooting for JPA to get a brace against his old team. hahaha. of course he may just end up with a knee brace at his age.
Angel and Conrad would be good and exciting acquisitions in spots there DCU seriously needs help. Could DC afford them?
like
Remember DC’s “We win trophies” campaign in 2009? That is even funnier now.
The only players available won’t win them a trophy next year, and are too old to assume they’ll be around in 2012.
DC would be better served by overpaying a younger player rather than one who is a season away from retirement.
Is Schelotto’s salary around the ~200K mark MLS says it is or is it much higher off the books. Might make a difference for United. If it is lower he is cheaper than Conrad and a nice quick fix for a year or two. Maybe while United goes for the youth movement and he helps teach Najar, McCarty, Hernandez, Pontius, Carreiro, Shanonsky and some more draft picks.
LOLDCU
most of those choices are too old.
Keep picking until all teams have passed.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/2010-re-entry-process
does anyone know if each team gets only 1 selection or do they keep picking until all teams have passed, thus giving teams multiple selections?
I dont think there is much of a future with Angel or Schelotto maybe two years. I think United has at least a two year rebuilding job ahead of themselves.
With the lowest goals for and the fourth highest goals against in MLS last year, it’s hard to say. I think they should start in the back, so I’d go with Jimmy Conrad.
Interesting. I thought more Schelotto votes would be in evidence b/c their loss of their previous elderly playmaker.