The MLS Draft demise has been greatly exaggerated
by Steve Davis on Jan 10, 2011 10:52 AM EST
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I wrote three years ago that the MLS draft was in danger of becoming irrelevant.
The Designated Player option was new, and there was already chatter that clubs might soon be able to stockpile even more of these A-list stars (which has indeed happened).
Teams at the time were on the front end of establishing their academies. We can still debate about the true value of these so-called academies versus the old club system some other time. For now we can agree that teams are, in fact, promoting players off these young rosters onto the senior team, so there’s some value for sure. I expected regional rights and these academies to gradually encroach on the draft’s relevance.
So I believed that the draft would be less important as a player acquisition method going forward.
So far, that prediction isn’t working out so well.
I’m working today on a mock MLS draft for SI.com. The process unfolds Thursday from Baltimore.
And the consensus about this draft class: full of blue ribbon talent and deep as a country well. Vancouver will almost certainly find a top-shelf player with the No. 1 selection – probably Darlington Nagbe, the promising Akron striker and Hermann Trophy winner who just led his team to an NCAA Championship.
In the big picture, the expanding MLS field (18 teams this year) has helped keep the draft front and center as a method for roster reinforcement.
This part, too, is interesting regarding this year’s draft: Not so long ago the proceedings went six rounds. Then it was cut to four. This year it’s just three.
That’s also a product of an expanding league. Not so long ago Major League Soccer was a 10-team operation. So the number has nearly doubled – and soon will double.
The key point here is that a reduction in draft-day selections means teams need be darn sure they don’t swing and miss here. Take the Philadelphia Union. Peter Nowak’s side picks at No. 5. At that spot they can probably get a strong player – but they aren’t in the no-brainer zone. That is, the picks won’t be obvious.
So Nowak et al must choose wise. Because they won’t be on the clock again until the 23rd overall pick. Friends from the NFL or NBA may tell them “that’s how it’s always been in our league,” and fair enough. But in the MLS world, teams have generally had a little more margin for error. Those days are as done as the 10-team league.
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this is probably good for fringe players
I would think that players that are on the fringe of being drafted, but don’t quite make it would then have the freedom to try out with a team that might have specific needs? So instead of being locked in to one team, they can try out with several?
Well there's still the Supplemental Draft
And the “Discovery” system.
So the chance of a kid being a free agent is still pretty low
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Nevertheless, there are still "discovery" claims
Some people do slip through the cracks of the many, many drafts and end up trialling and making the roster. Barry Rice for DC last year, e.g.
Even the lower first round picks
teams should be trying to get someone who can contribute in 2011. Look how low guys like Michael Stephens and Tim Ream went in the 2010 superdraft.
Win or lose, we will always be here for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Jan 10, 2011 1:47 PM EST reply actions
It is a commitment from the team
There are some players who make an immediate impact, this is more clearly seen on teams that lack depth or need major improvements in specific areas, but the majority of players drafted will take a commitment from the team before they make a major impact.
I have heard it more than once around RSL that it takes 3 years before players coming into MLS hit their full potential, and that means that both the club and the player must commit to each other. I believe that is why so many times that potential is never reached. For clubs there is not only the financial commitment (not much if the player signs to a developmental contract), but also a coaching commitment. Teams are playing to win, so young guys may not get as much attention in practices but clubs must realize that the adjustment to the size, speed and physical requirements of MLS are different than what players had in college and working to help players adapt is huge.
This also requires that players understand that they might not be in the starting 11 every week, heck they may not even make the 18, so they must commit to working hard to become better, they must remain motivated and focused, and very often they have to do that for not much money.
I think of Yura Movsisyan when I think of what it takes, he got frustrated at his situation in KC and when he was traded he had to fight for playing time, but he worked hard, he asked Jason Kreis for help and extra training. Yura remained committed to working hard to become better, the team remained committed to Yura and in the end it worked out well, yes Yura has moved on but it is because he spent time doing what was needed to excel and create opportunities for himself. RSL may have seemed to get the short end of the stick, but I think in the end it speaks volume about the team that even after Yura had signed with Randers that after a rough spot between him and the team, he continued to work hard, train and deliver. That has let others know about the level of commitment at RSL.
