The MLS SuperDraft produced a flurry of activity with three-time champion D.C. United unloading seven players. MLS also allocated two A-League players – Ugandan Tenywa Bonseu to Columbus and Canadian Dwayne DeRosario to San Jose – but it was noticeably quiet on the international front. There were no foreign signings as of the opening of preseason training. The MetroStars continued their housecleaning by waiving Roy Myers and Francis Okaroh. The Fremont, Calif., boys both retired: John Doyle (San Jose) and Dominic Kinnear (Tampa Bay).
After playing in his third game in as many days at the Umbro Select scouting combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Chris Carrieri emerged from the locker room shaking his head.
“I think that was the worst performance I’ve ever put forth on a soccer field,” he said, glaring at the ground. “I didn’t score a goal this entire weekend – I’ll be lucky to get drafted at all.”
The book on Carrieri, 20, says he is cocky, but there are other sides to the forward from Stafford, Va., who led NCAA Division I in scoring last fall at North Carolina. One is the self-critical side, governed by the overwhelming pressure he puts on himself to score. Another came out the next day in his initial remarks after being selected first overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.
“Good luck to the rest of the guys – hopefully, you can have your dreams come true like mine,” Carrieri said.
New Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop surprised some draft-day observers by taking Carrieri over two highly regarded prospects with local connections – Stanford midfielder Ryan Nelsen and San Jose State defender Ryan Suarez.
‘HE’S GOT FLAIR.’ Nelsen was unanimously considered ready to contribute immediately by MLS coaches and general managers while Suarez seemed a safe bet, given the success of college defenders taken in recent drafts. But by acquiring Jeff Agoos, San Jose upgraded its defense before the draft and Yallop felt that forward was a more pressing need than midfield.
“I saw Chris for two weeks in D.C. when I was there, and I really like his energy,” Yallop said. “He’s a character, he’s got flair, so he’s the type of guy we’d love to have. He’s positive, he’s tough – everything I like in a forward. He’s exciting.”
The MetroStars’ Steve Shak was a surprise No. 1 pick last year, and Octavio Zambrano based that decision on familiarity, too.
COMPACT AND EXPLOSIVE. But that is where the similarities between Shak and Carrieri end. While Shak is clean-cut, mild-mannered and humble, Carrieri sports braided hair, earrings, a short temper and a saucy swagger.
On the field, Carrieri is a compact, explosive gunner who harasses defenses constantly. He does not have silky dribbling moves but has a nose for the goal and the tenacity to get there. He always wants the ball and will complain when he doesn’t get it.
“At times you need to be selfish, at times you need to give the ball up, but over the past three years I’ve learned to be a better team player, and when I get to San Jose, that’s what I’ll be,” Carrieri said. He recently told the The Washington Post that he would “take care of business” against any team that passed over him in the draft. He grinned when asked what he would do now that no teams passed over him:
“That was said in a joking way, but I guess I’ll just go after all the teams now.”
by Soccer America associate editor Will Kuhns in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.