By Ridge Mahoney
in Indianapolis
The hysteria over David Beckham‘s move to America hasn’t subsided, yet MLS coaches and executives were busily preparing for today’s SuperDraft (ESPN2, noon ET) into the wee hours. It will consist of four rounds and last between three and four hours; ESPN2 will televise the entire first round, time permitting.
Rumors were rife, of course, of trades and swaps and allocations. Several clubs were in pursuit of Real Salt Lake midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, in the belief he’d be available perhaps since Freddy Adu wants to play that position, but RSL was not in serious discussions.
RSL does have a dilemma in goal, however. It has apparently not been able to come to terms with Nick Rimando, which has increased the likelihood that Real will take Maryland goalkeeper Chris Seitz with the No. 4 pick. Yet Seitz will miss some of the season if the U.S. qualifies for the U-20 World Cup, and so the scuttlebutt is Real may pick Seitz and look elsewhere for another keeper if Rimando isn’t signed.
Maurice Edu is apparently bound for Toronto as the No. 1 pick. The draft isn’t deemed to be deep at any position, but Seitz’s Maryland teammate is the best of a decent midfield crop. Coach Mo Johnston is offering allocation money and he has a lot to play with. Originally awarded three allocations as an expansion team, he’s still holding all of that money except a partial allocation he traded to FC Dallas for Ronnie O’Brien.
With the second pick, Columbus is supposedly going for a defender. Coach Sigi Schmid, according to a source, has talked with Jay Needham (SMU). Another source said he’s also considering Michael Harrington (North Carolina). A third source said it might be Bakary Soumare of Virginia. Schmid was seen talking with several coaches, including Dave Sarachan of Chicago.
The Crew is going for defensive help because Chilean defender Marco Gonzalez is supposedly having trouble returning to the league. It is also thin at forward, but is apparently ready to use a Designated Player slot to bring Brian McBride back to Ohio despite McBride’s preference to settle closer to his hometown near Chicago. Fire general manager John Guppy was noncommittal about how or when he might use a DP slot.
Picking ahead of Real Salt Lake at No. 3 is Kansas City, which is weighing Anthony Wallace and Soumare. Greg Dalby of Notre Dame, who played defensive mid in college but could wind up playing defender in MLS according to several coaches, could be taken in lieu of some of the defenders listed.
Los Angeles, which has five of the first 23 selections, has the No. 5 pick. Coach Frank Yallop has been talking about playing Beckham in the middle instead of right midfield; regardless he’s expected to get some help at forward or left mid.
In either case, a good pick would be Englishman John Cunliffe of D2 power Fort Lewis. One college coach called him “the best player in the draft, no question.” Yallop needs help up front; he could lose both Landon Donovan and Nate Jaqua to national team duty and he’s already traded away Herculez Gomez. Cunliffe played left mid at the combine and was very impressive.
At No. 6 is Colorado, with one source saying if Cunliffe isn’t taken the Rapids would pick him. They could also go with Oregon State striker Robbie Findlay.
The greatest enigma in the draft is Chivas USA. Interim head coach Preki, hired after Bob Bradley left to rejoin U.S. Soccer, is working the draft while the club supposedly decides between Fernando Quirarte and Francisco Ramirez. The possible retirement of midfielder Jesse Marsch further clouds the situation although defensive help is needed.
After that, sources said, teams would probably pick Generation adidas players if they anticipated salary cap problems. Chicago, at No. 8, might also go for defensive help, since Tony Sanneh might not return. If he drops this far, he could be headed to the Fire.
Dallas, at No. 9, in discussions with Tottenham’s Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids, whom Coach Steve Morrow could use to buttress the central defensive pairing of Adrian Serioux and Drew Moor, which triggers the obvious question, What about Greg Vanney? Well, he’s on the block.
Davids, at 33, can’t cover the ground he used to and has missed a lot of time at Spurs with injuries, yet if healthy and able to stand the summer Texas heat, would mesh nicely with Richard Mulrooney.
Los Angeles picks again at No. 10 and was listening to offers for this pick with allocation money from Toronto supposedly on the table. Not much buzz was circulating about No. 11 D.C. United, No. 12 New England, and No. 13 Houston. Red Bull New York, with no first round pick and no selection until no. 19, is negotiating with Chicago for goalkeeper Zach Thornton, a former backup to Tony Meola during the MetroStars days.