It's been a long time since I last wrote to you all from my outpost here in the wastelands. So naturally I thought I'd kick things off in 2003 with something some consider a waste of time. By the way, the happiest of New Years to you all. So, who'd like to chat a bit about the MLS Draft and what it might mean to the A-League and its teams?
Well, this year's MLS draft commenced with a lot of highly touted players being picked up in what I consider to be one of the deeper drafts for the top division in quite some time. It definitely shows when the clubs are still choosing quality players 40 or so picks into the draft. We also can be sure that many of these players won't be wearing MLS jerseys come April. So what does that mean for interested A-League parties?
For one thing we know there will be some teams in MLS that will try to get their picks landed with A-League "affiliates" despite there currently being no actual signed piece of paper aligning A-League teams with their MLS counterparts at least not publicly. Witness New England choosing Pat Noonan who was coincidentally chosen in the A-League Draft by the Charleston Battery.
Here's a quick run through of some picks I see falling the A-League's way and where I think they might wind up:
DC United
Brian Carroll - Richmond (11th pick)
Hayden Woodworth - Charlotte (31st pick)
MetroStars
Tim Glowienka - Pittsburgh (30th pick)
Chicago
Rob Friend - Charlotte? (35th pick)
Chad Dombrowski - Seattle? (44th pick)
San Jose
Josh Saunders - ???? (36th pick)
Jamil Walker - Portland? (39th pick)
Columbus
Michael Ritch - Indiana? (37th pick)
Guy Abrahamson - ???? (47th pick)
Los Angeles
Hamid Mehreioskouei - Milwaukee*? (40th pick)
Dallas
David Comfort - ???? (21st pick)
Kansas City
Taylor Graham - ???? (33rd pick)
Colorado
Jason Cole - ???? (27th pick)
Casey Schmidt - ???? (48th pick)
New England
Dimelon Westfield - Atlanta (22nd pick)
Pat Noonan - Charleston (9th pick)
The "logic" behind these thoughts: Well, I am by no means certain that these are going to be the destinations for these players but I have an inkling or just a good, old-fashioned gut feeling that these players fulfill certain criteria to wind up in these places.
Dimelon Westfield would be a nice attempt to replace Iggy Moleka in Atlanta and with John Barry Nusum ahead of him on the depth-chart he'd have a chance to come along slowly. New England doesn't really appear to need Westfield and allowing him to develop in the A-League or try his luck elsewhere might be on the minds of the Revolution.
Pat Noonan also is in an "odd man out" kind of situation, despite his talent level, in New England and if he doesn't impress Steve Nicol enough in preseason camps I think the Battery will pick him up. We'll have to wait and see what happens in his case.
Bob Bradley and the Metrostars decided to choose Tim Glowienka who played solidly at the MLS combine and throughout his career at the University of South Carolina. Trouble is will he be able to crack an MLS lineup? Maybe not this year and that's why I see him making a short trip to Pittsburgh for a year or two before emerging in MLS.
Bradley is a shrewd evaluator of talent, though, so it may not be surprising if Glowienka does stick with the MLS club and fellow Gamecock alum, Clint Mathis.
Speaking of the Metrostars, another one of their draft picks might make their way down the road to the A-League and for some reason my gut feeling is Richmond. Jacob Leblanc could be one of those solid A-League players if given the chance especially with the Kickers who could use a little extra youth and depth in their midfield with Josh Henderson gone. Once again though, Bradley, much like Bruce Arena gets as much as possible out of his players so Leblanc may stick.
Casey Schmidt is a tenacious forward and deserves a shot with any club in the U.S. Somehow I think he'll get lost in the numbers game in Colorado though Tim Hankinson usually gives each and every guy he looks at a more than fair shot.
Schmidt heads up a group of players that could land just about anywhere. As you can see in the above list there are many guys whom I think will wind up in the A-League. I just couldn't give you an honest clue as to where they would wind up. I have a hunch that Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Atlanta, Richmond, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse will be among those who will be very active in the coming weeks to see which players they might have fall into their laps from this draft. Then there are the free agents that A-League clubs will now get to openly pursue.
Oh, and I can't forget to mention Hayden Woodworth. I've been bombarded with info on this youngster ever since my gaff while analyzing the Eagles draft back in December. He impressed many, many people at the MLS combine including Ray Hudson and appears to be ready for the big time. From his comments, though, he seems to be a thoughtful young man who will follow his heart. I think this will lead him to Charlotte in the not too distant future.
MLS will be in his future if he so chooses after getting a little more seasoning and Charlotte will provide the place for him to do that. I can already say without a shadow of a doubt that he already has caring fans with the Eagles. Hopefully many more of these young men will be able to enjoy the support this young man appears on the brink of receiving.
With that, I can now say welcome to 2003. Let the games begin, after all, April isn't all that far away.
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