MLS Expansion Draft

This thing is live and streamable at mlssoccer.com or directly at http://ht.ly/3f2Me.

We'll be updating this post as the draft progresses with some thoughts and surprises on who will be joining the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers for their inaugural 2011 seasons (or as trade bait).

For the entire unprotected list: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-releases-unprotected-list-expansion-draft

The New York Red Bulls have left some quality players up for grabs after trading away right back/midfielder Jeremy Hall for a third round draft pick.  Juan Pablo Angel could go but it's not evident whether he's more valuable on the field or in a future trade to an Eastern Conference team like New England, DC, or Philadelphia.

• Angel, Juan Pablo
• Boyens, Andrew
• Chinn, Conor
• da Luz, Austin
• Garcia, Irving
• Nielsen, Brian
• Robinson, Carl
• Salou, Ibrahim
• Sassano, Luke
• Sutton, Greg
• Talley, Carey
• Ubiparipovic, Sinisa

Unlikely to go: Conor Chinn, Austin da Luz, Irving Garcia, Brian Nielsen, Carl Robinson, Luke Sassano, Greg Sutton, Carey Talley.

More likely to go: Andrew Boyens, Ibrahim Salou, Sinisa Ubiparipovic.  

The only people who know who will likely be changing teams today have quite a task today... some other big names that could move teams on the draft board today:

Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)

Pat Onstad (Houston)

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus) 

Frankie Hejduk (Columbus)

Freddie Ljunberg (Chicago)

Tim Ward (San Jose)

Julian de Guzman (Toronto)

Blaise Nkufo (Seattle)

Sanna Nyassi (Seattle)

Also a familiar face to Red Bull fans is Nick Zimmerman - many were disappointed when he was left unprotected in last year's expansion draft and was lost to Philadelphia.  For the second consecutive year, Zimmerman finds himself unprotected and could find himself moving West.  

Just about to get started, updates coming soon.  

UPDATE 1 (2:08 PM): Dax McCarty goes to Portland #1 and Vancouver take Nyassi from Seattle.  Great picks to start the afternoon.  Dallas has protected Daniel Hernandez and Seattle has pulled back Patrick Ianni.

UPDATE 2 (2:15):  Eric Brunner, Columbus Defender goes to Portland,  Attiba Harris (FC Dallas) to Vancouver.    Columbus pulls back Kevin Burns.  Columbus not completely revamping roster but definitely will be making some more roster adjustments.  FC Dallas thrilled not to lose Eric Avila but two big hits with McCarty and Harris.  Dallas now can't lose any more players to Portland or Vancouver.

UPDATE 3 (2:19): Adam Moffat to Portland, Nate Sturgis to Vancouver.  Columbus and Seattle players are now all pulled back from the pool.

UPDATE 4 (2:24):  Anthony Wallace, Colorado Rapids defender goes to Portland.  This comes after the Rapids traded away two defenders on Monday for Seattle midfielder Peter Vagenas.  Shea Salinas (Philly) goes to Vancouver.    Colorado pulls back Wells Thompson and Philly protects GK Chris Seitz.

UPDATE 5 (2:30):  David Horst (RSL) will be heading to Portland and veteran Alan Gordan goes to Vancouver.  Salt Lake pulls back Collen Warner and Chivas pulls back Trujillo.  With a break in the action between rounds the only big surprise, and surprises are hard to pull off in expansion drafts, is Alan Gordon to Vancouver.

UPDATE 6 (2:33): ROBBIE FINDLEY GOES TO PORTLAND.  So much for no big surprises.

UPDATE 7 (2:41): Real Salt Lake off the board with that Findley pick.  Lots of speculation that Findley would be moving to Europe, so there was either some early signaling or this is a real dice roll.
Vancouver picks O'Brian White from Toronto who subsequently protect Julian de Guzman.

UPDATE 8 (2:45): Peter Lowry from Chicago to Portland, Alejandro Moreno from Philly to Vancouver.  Jonathan Bornstein to Portland???? Why is Portland stocking up on players leaving MLS? (Oh, because USMNT players don't go into a reallocation draft if (when) they return to MLS.  Portland retains their rights.  Savvy.

UPDATE 9 (2:53):  Joe Canon (San Jose) to Vancouer, Tim Ward pulled back.  Also need to mention Dasan Robinson pulled back by the Fire from the Lowry pick, Chivas players off the board with the Bornstein pick.  Jordan Graye (DC United) to Portland and DC pulls back Morsink.  Vancouver takes Sporting Kansas City back Leathers.  Kansas City for some reason pulls back a goalkeeper despite Portland and Vancouver being set between the sticks.

UPDATE 10 ( 2:55): To Portland: Arturo Alvarez from San Jose and the Earthquakes are off the board.

UPDATE 11 (2:57)  Last but not least, with the final pick of the draft, Vancouver picks John Thorrington from the Chicago Fire.  Seattle, Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, Philly hit hard.  Los Angeles and NYRB untouched....    

Tim Ream Robbed

Most of the buzz around MLS' 2010 Rookie of the Year centered around Tim Ream and Danny Mwanga.  A surprise announcement today that the award went to 17-year old DC United rising star Andy Najar.  Najar is undoubtedly an emerging talent in Major League Soccer and possibly even for the Honduran or US National Team (depending on which country he decides to play for).  He has huge upside, but my take on rookie of the year is to give it to the player who in his first year made the biggest impact for his club.  And that player, without a doubt, is Tim Ream.

Ream started every game for the team that finished 1st place in the Eastern Conference.  And he didn't enter an established back line - the Red Bulls were terrible in 2009 and switched Ream's counterpart at Centerback halfway through the season (an aging Mike Petke was replaced by Carlos Mendes).  Chris Albright took some time getting back into form and Roy Miller loves to play up the left wing.  Tim Ream was the one consistent piece of the defense and impressed even USMNT coach Bob Bradley with his vision and skill on the ball (a call-up during the January camp for Ream is likely).

Andy Najar could in the next season or two break out into a legitimate star and command a sizable transfer fee to a European club.  But he was not the best 1st year player this season.

Angel’s Expected Departure Caps a Year of Change for New York Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls finished the 2009 season in last place with a miserable 21 points, a 5-19-6 record, and a -20 goal differential.  What a difference one offseason can make though, as only seven players on the roster at the end of last year remain on the roster and have not indicated an inclination to leave or retire.

Seth Stammler has announced he will be leaving the club to attend business school, Mike Petke plans to retire, John Wolyniec already retired following his release from the club, Mac Kandji was traded, and during halftime of the USA v. Colombia friendly on October 12, Juan Pablo Angel told a somewhat startled Alexi Lalas that he probably would not return to the club next year live on ESPN2 (Lalas commended Angel for his enexpected candor via tweet the next morning). 

That leaves Carlos Mendes, Danleigh Borman, Jeremy Hall, Bouna Coundoul, Dane Richards, Luke Sassano, and Andrew Boyens as the only players leftover from 2009.  With two expansion clubs joining MLS next season, it would not be surprising if Borman, Hall, Sassano, or Boyens were with another club to start next season as well.

While Hans Backe has generated a lot of attention and praise (and even Manager of the Year buzz) for his consistent approach and ability to turn a struggling team around on the field, a lot of credit has to go Sporting Director Eric Soler who, along with Backe, manages the roster and has brought in new players that compliment each other well even before the major signings of Henry and Marquez. 

The backline has had three new faces in Chris Albright, Roy Miller, and rookie of the year candidate Tim Ream.  Joel Lindpere and rookie Tony Tchani have been huge difference makers in the midfield.  And more recently and much more publicized, the signings of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez have brought skill and international attention to the club that is commonly absent from even the most competitive MLS sides. 

Another recent arrival is attacking midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy who was traded from Colorado in return from Mac Kandji.  The Red Bulls were almost able to secure the services of Notts County forward Luke Rodgers before the transfer window closed, but Visa issues (the passport stamp, not the credit card) kept him in England for the time being.  A January signing is now expected.  The club has also showed interest in Swedish winger/midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli.  With the expected departure of Angel, the Red Bulls will also open up their third designated player spot and would most likely bring in an attacking playmaker or striker. 

While it’s fun and interesting to speculate on next season, one thing is for sure: Backe and Soler have completed one of the most impressive team turnarounds in MLS history. We’ll be watching closely over the next few weeks to see not only how the Red Bulls close out the season and make a run for the MLS cup, but also for clues on how the team might change and adjust for a successful follow-up 2011.    

Red Bulls/Real Salt Lake Preview

In a potential preview of this year's MLS Cup final, the New York Red Bulls host Real Salt Lake at 4:00 pm EST. While the LA Galaxy are still in position to take the Supporter's Shield, RSL and NYRB can stay in te hunt and also maintain their playoff positions with FC Dallas and Columbus close behind. The Red Bulls in particular can create some distance between Eastern conference foe Columbus, who after a tough loss Tuesday night in the U.S. Open Cup final vs. Seattle, lost 2-0 last night a Chicago Fire side fighting to stay alive and catch Colorado for the final playoff spot.

New York will be missing Bouna Condoul (Senegal) and Dane Richards (Jamaica) for international team play. So while there won't be any "Bouna time" tonight, backup keeper Greg Sutton has proved he is a more than competent fill-in option. So what will decide tonight's game? It will all come down to the midfield and how well Tony Tchani, Rafa Marquez, Joel Lindpere, and Mehdi Ballouchy can contain and counter against a formidable Salt Lake attack. If they can put pressure on Kyle Beckerman and support New York's back four to neutralize Saborio, Findley, and Espindola, the Red Bulls should come away with the win.

Prediction: NYRB win 2-1 with goals by Angel and Lindpere. And if the Red
Bulls take the match, look for youngsters Austin Da Luz, Connor Chinn, and Juan Agudelo to see some time as manager Hans Backe rests more veteran players down the stretch.

The most eventful week for NYRB since...

After a recent announcement that Mike Petke, who started the season paired with rookie standout Tim Ream at centerback, would be retiring at the end of this season, Seth Stammler, only 29 years old and contender for sweetest shot from distance this year (Rafa Marquez would also be a nominee as would Dane Richard if you include exhibitions/friendlies), announced today that he will be leaving the Red Bulls to pursue an advanced degree at the University of Chicago.  Stammler has earned respect on and off the field for his play and his commitment to humanitarian work through the Sporting Chance Foundation.  He will be a missed presence for the Red Bulls for sure.

To fill the void and address a possible lack of depth in the midfield, the Red Bulls also announced today they would be trading forward Mac Kandji, who recently announced that he would not be pursuing U.S. citizenship and therefore would not be eligible to play for the US Men's National Team (I know Bob Bradley is desperate for another striker but can't believe that Kandji was on his radar).  In return, the Red Bulls will receive midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy from the Colorado Rapids.  Once upon a time, Colorado traded away Kyle Beckerman to obtain Ballouchy, so he was a bit of a disappointment to many Rapids fans.  But a fresh start with a new coach who has shown he can bring out the best in his players (i.e. drastic improvements in Dane Richards and Bouna Condoul) and being surrounded by one of the most dynamic mix of attacking players in MLS could be just what Ballouchy needs to flourish.  Look for him to be a regular coming off the bench to replace a striker if the Red Bulls are ahead or add an additional attacking option if they are playing from behind.

Some have expressed concern that without Kandji, a major void will be left at forward next season if Juan Pablo Angel is not offered a contract renewal as a Designated Player, which at this point is widely expected.  That doesn't mean, however, that he won't resign with the team as a non-DP, very much like Guillermo Barros Schelotto did with Columbus despite being one of the top contributors to the team.  The Red Bulls have promising young forwards in Connor Chin who played well during US Open Cup qualifiers as well as Juan Agudelo, who features for the United States U-20 national team.  Salou Ibrahim also remains on the roster, but if you've ever been within 1000 feet of me during a Red Bull games you'll know my thoughts on his lacking pace and first touch.

If Angel does indeed leave, look for the Red Bulls to use their third Designated Player spot for another threat up top to pair with Henry.  A slew of options at midfield also could lead to a formation shift from the typical 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 with Marquez and Tchani playing behind Richards, Lindpere, and Ballouchy.  The Red Bulls organization has shown it is willing to invest the money necessary to build a competitive club team that will be a real threat in US and international club tournaments for at least the next couple of years.      

EPL/MLS Soccer Saturday

I'm really looking forward to watching Bolton visit Arsenal this morning (loving the new arrival of Fox Soccer HD on my cable box).  Stuart Holden is playing some of the best soccer of his young career and arguably of any of the usual suspects on the USMNT.  Many supporters of USA Soccer have been calling for a formation change away from the outdated 4-4-2, at least while the team is without a second dominant forward.  A formation change to a 4-2-3-1 would allow Altidore to play up top with Donovan, Holden, and Dempsey in an attacking midfield role.  Michael Bradley and Maurice Edu/Jermaine Jones as defensive/holding midfielders, and a back four that no one, including USA soccer, knows exactly how will evolve.  If Holden continues to impress in the EPL, he may force Bob Bradley to utilize the depth of the American midfield (relative to the forward position).

Two of Major League Soccer's best face-off tonight late as the Columbus Crew visit the LA Galaxy.  David Beckham may make his 2010 MLS debut after tearing his achilles while trying to secure a spot playing for England in the World Cup on loan to AC Milan.  The LA Galaxy were able to win games while Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle were in South Africa, but they have dropped off their incredible form to start the season (fatigue?).

This could be a preview of MLS Cup 2010 and both teams are in a good position to compete for the Supporters Shield.  Columbus has one of the deepest rosters in Major League Soccer despite not employing a single Designated Player.  They'll need lots of legs as the MLS season wears on and Columbus competes for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which will be decided vs. Seattle on October 5th, and the CONCACAF Champions league, currently in the group play stage.

After missing last week's game due to a Labor Day trip to Boston, it will be great to catch the Red Bulls host the Colorado Rapids.  The NYRB are coming off a tough 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake, a result that reflected the handful of key contributors missing for international duty (starters Rafa Marquez,  Bouna Condoul, Dane Richards, and Roy Miller).  This afternoon's match comes down to New York's back four, particularly rookie standout Tim Ream, containing Colorado's Omar Cummings and Conor Casey - one of the more complimentary striker pairs in MLS.

I'll be keeping an eye on how Lindpere, Marquez and Tchani go after Mastroeni and if speedy Colorado defender Marvell Wynne sees the field despite a nagging hamstring injury.  Speedy actually doesn't come close to describing how fast Wynne is and how quickly he can make up space, as Irving Garcia discovered during a US Open Cup qualifier earlier this summer.  Only 24, Wynne is actually a player who could still work his way back into the national team picture if he can stay healthy and show he is a threat getting forward.  

More to come - enjoy a great weekend of soccer and football!    
   

Welcome to New York

With millions of soccer fans in North America recovering from World Cup withdrawal, Thierry Henry is a recognizable international star who is a great addition for the New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer as he can generate increased attention and interest both with television audiences and at Red Bulls games around the country. While the arrival of Thierry Henry has not created as much hype as when David Beckham signed his “total value” $250 million contact with the L.A. Galaxy, Henry’s overall impact on the league may be much more significant in the long-term.

ESPN may not feature Red Bull games just because of Henry (and for better or worse, the use of the “Beckham cam” that followed David around as he sat on the bench, warmed up, and ultimately entered the game instead of covering the action on the field), but that’s okay because a one-time event television audience isn’t what’s going to help the league develop. For the record, David Beckham brought an enormous amount of talent to the L.A. Galaxy, but his rollout and first few years were overshadowed by a forced and manipulated rollout/PR strategy that felt similar to the recent Lebronathon debacle.
Fortunately, the Henry announcement has been long anticipated yet modest. MLS is hoping that Henry and other big name signings encourage other players to accept one of each team’s three designated player slots. Immediately, Ronaldinho comes to mind as a recognizable soccer icon whose rumored move to the L.A. Galaxy would improve one of the better MLS teams and attract both national and international attention. At the same time, this would put the pressure on more conservative owners using one or even zero of their designated player slots to spend a bit more to keep up.

While MLS players were able to negotiate marginally better wages and standard contracts back in March, owners are kept from spending more than $2.5 million on their entire roster aside from the designated players whose salaries do not count against the cap.
However, it’s good to see MLS team owners not just spending limited resources to sign designated players for the sake of doing so. If a player doesn’t fit in a system or a more talented/recognizable player might become available next season, it’s worth it to wait. Major League Soccer is not the N.B.A. where Darko Milicic receives a multi-year, $20 million contract. The owner of the Philadelphia Union got it right, saying that spending big bucks on low-impact, low-revenue generating designated players is wasteful and will not grow soccer in the United States like directing more resources to the club’s youth academy systems.

All in all, while he’s not promoted as being the “ambassador of soccer” to the United States as Beckham was, Henry will look to make a huge impact for the Red Bulls and be part of a growing movement toward soccer in the United States. Stay tuned for a NYRB midseason report and predictions for the 2nd half of the season.

Theirry Henry will debut for the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Thursday, July 22nd vs English Premiere League club Tottenham Hotspur.  Kick-off is at 8 pm with live coverage on Fox Soccer Channel.