As most know, TFC does not have a first round pick in this draft. The Adrian Serioux trade from Dallas gave the Hoops TFC's first rounder. This can't be good news for Mo Johnston, who holds his draft record up as his crowning achievement in MLS management.
Famously, he selected Marvel Wynne and Mo Edu in back-to-back years (he also picked Julius James, but we don't tend to hear much about that).
Currently there are lots of rumblings around the team that they are actively trying to get a first round pick. Everyone knows that Amado Guevara is likely available, but what many TFC fans may find surprising is that the Reds have also been shopping 2009 Rookie of the Year candidate Stefan Frei. Although TFC likes Frei, they feel that he is easily replaceable and that he is bound for Europe sooner rather than later. Therefore they feel that it's best to get full value for him now.
The Frei rumours were red hot last week prior to the expansion draft. However, MLS' bizarre decision to not graduate him from Generation Adidas (which is being explained by more than one person to be MLS’ way of “helping” TFC, which it considers a vital market) cooled them off significantly. As a GA player, Frei doesn't cost TFC anything and his value goes up accordingly.
Still, if a trade or trades could be swung that allowed TFC to grab a top half pick from the first round along with a lower first round pick, the possibility still exists.
Why, you ask?
Because TFC is high on UCLA and USA youth keeper Brian Perk, who they believe can step in and duplicate what Frei accomplished. Perk looks to be set to go in the late first round or early second. He might slip all the way down to TFC's natural second round selection, but chances are he will be gone by then.
But what TFC really wants is one of the stud defenders in this year's draft, particularly Ike Opara or Ofori Sarkodie. To get either they will likely need a top six pick. That's why they may be willing to roll the dice on moving Frei, especially if they are convinced that Perk could be available to them.
One player that is not generating much interest in TFC circles is Teal Bunbury, the son of former Canadian international Alex Bunbury. Even if he were to somehow slip into the second round it doesn't seem likely that the Reds will select him. One close observer of northern North American soccer described Bunbury as "a poor man's O'Brian White" to me.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Much more famously, he chose Jozy Altidore in the same draft as Wynne.
Yeah, but he has a girl's name
Perhaps we don't hear much of Mo's blunder on Julius James because he was then able to trade him for Dwayne De Rosario...
Somehow I don't think James was the key to that trade. More of a throw away...
Duane
Could you explain how generation Adidas works;
-do they recruit high school students?
-do they pay for university tuition?
-do GA players salary count under MLS team player caps?
-when a player is eventually sold to a European club, what proportion of the transfer fee goes to GA and does it come out of the total Transfer fee or does it come out of the teams portion of the proceeds?
The purpose is to encourage early entry into MLS by American players. Most are underclassman when they sign.
They don't count against the senior roster or cap and typically make much more money than a non GA young player.
Joining the GA program causes the player to lose his college eligibility. The program offers scholarships for players that don't work out professionally.
It would be rare for a GA player to be sold to Europe while still a GA player.
Thank-you
Rudi is right.
Mo will bring up Altidore-Wynne-Edu every chance he gets to anyone willing to listen. That's why I'll be shocked if he trades Wynne. But trade him.... he must.
Julius James really isn't a fair assessment as that really wasn't a good year for drafting period.
Duane Rollins,
DC did it with Bryan Arguez.
Post a Comment