2018 SuperDraft - NYCFC Thread

It really depends who we're targeting at this SuperDraft class. Mo Adams isn't a top 5 pick, let alone top 10 from all the mock drafts I've seen. We're not going to get him at 19, but I don't think it's worth trading up 5 picks for him.

Francis Atuahene is a top 3 pick and we've historically gone after forwards/attackers in the SuperDraft.

Tomas Hilliard-Arce is likely the best player and most MLS ready in the class. But I don't see us going after a CB.

Joao Moutinho is the player with the highest ceiling in the draft. He's a LB and we've got Matarrita who signed an extension and Ben Sweat. Moutinho wouldn't get minutes.

I see us trading the 2nd overall pick with the LA Galaxy who've spent a lot of GAM/TAM with trades to rebuild their roster and want some back. And we select Francis Atuahene.
 
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LionNYC said:
It really depends who we're targeting at this SuperDraft class. Mo Adams isn't a top 5 pick, let alone top 10 from all the mock drafts I've seen. We're not going to get him at 19, but I don't think it's worth trading up 5 picks for him.

Francis Atuahene is a top 3 pick and we've historically gone after forwards/attackers in the SuperDraft.

Tomas Hilliard-Arce is likely the best player and most MLS ready in the class. But I don't see us going after a CB.

Joao Moutinho is the player with the highest ceiling in the draft. He's a LB and we've got Matarrita who signed an extension and Ben Sweat. Moutinho wouldn't get minutes.

I see us trading the 2nd overall pick with the LA Galaxy who've spent a lot of GAM/TAM with trades to rebuild their roster and want some back. And we select Francis Atuahene.
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How is it not worth trading up 5 picks to get a player compared to trading up into the top 5/10, if that's the player we want? There are some like TopDrawer that has Mo Adams in the top 10 big board.

There's some debate about whether Atuahene is a wing or a forward. LAFC definitely needs a wing or forward. I think that the biggest factor for LAG is how real these Ola Kamara trade rumors are. Columbus reportedly wants a million in allocation. If they aren't true, they need a forward badly or they are going to be starting Jamison or Zardes.

The biggest question for Tomas Hilliard-Arce is how good is he with his feet? If he is not great, he's not a fit for this team.

I would love to see Joao Moutinho as our target. I think you have him incorrectly pegged as just a left back. This is the scouting report from SoccerAmerica and tell me this doesn't describe the type of defenders and midfielders that PV looks for to a T:

3. DF/MF Joao Moutinho (Akron, Portugal) FR-GA The most technically and tactically gifted player in the class. His left foot is so smooth and was a master at starting the attack in Akron's "beautiful game" scheme as a center back. When called upon to challenge for aerial duels and make plays defensively, he was always up to task. Can play anywhere on the field -- literally -- and be very effective. Will fit in well for teams that thrive in possession and switching the point of attack as his ability make creative plays against the grain with pin point pass or savvy dribble is extraordinary.
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Mason Toye is also a local product and if we are looking to target a forward, he seems like more of an interesting long-term prospect.
 
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Those of you expecting us to draft a player that's any better than Ethan White or Sean Okoli are going to be disappointed.

The draft has become more diluted every year as more homegrown kids sign on and you get guys to abroad. There are probably 20 kids every year that don't even get to the draft. That's the entire first round. So while you may find a kid like Lewis, may grab a Harrison because of his unique background and may stumble into a Right to Dream kid, the draft becomes more useless every year.
 
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Kjbert said:
Those of you expecting us to draft a player that's any better than Ethan White or Sean Okoli are going to be disappointed.

The draft has become more diluted every year as more homegrown kids sign on and you get guys to abroad. There are probably 20 kids every year that don't even get to the draft. That's the entire first round. So while you may find a kid like Lewis, may grab a Harrison because of his unique background and may stumble into a Right to Dream kid, the draft becomes more useless every year.
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You are underselling the draft. You are right that we shouldn't expect to get much with our natural first round pick, but the draft does create some great economic opportunities. Trading up to get a GA player that we like represents a tremendous value. We got Lewis for 250k of allocation money which will nearly pay for its self by the end of next year, and that's not factoring in any on-field production that we get from him. There are also many teams that don't give two fucks about the draft which lowers demand for teams trading up.

I would be ok if we didn't trade up to get someone if we didn't like anyone, but I don't think that will be true this year.
 
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derek_villa said:
You are underselling the draft. You are right that we shouldn't expect to get much with our natural first round pick, but the draft does create some great economic opportunities. Trading up to get a GA player that we like represents a tremendous value. We got Lewis for 250k of allocation money which will nearly pay for its self by the end of next year, and that's not factoring in any on-field production that we get from him. There are also many teams that don't give two fucks about the draft which lowers demand for teams trading up.

I would be ok if we didn't trade up to get someone if we didn't like anyone, but I don't think that will be true this year.
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I understand the economic argument but instead of paying $250k of GAM for a GA player, why not just find someone you really want and use the $250k of GAM?
 
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Kjbert said:
I understand the economic argument but instead of paying $250k of GAM for a GA player, why not just find someone you really want and use the $250k of GAM?
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All depends upon how much you want a guy in the draft vs. the alternative. I don’t think people are complaining about our moves the last two years. Plus, in the draft you are likely to get a young, domestic player you can lock down.
 
Combine interview with Claudio Reyna - Jump to 58:20

He says we're likely not going to add any more adding pieces in top, we're looking more midfield and behind. Who knows if this is even true but it realigns our thinking more to a Tomas Hilliard-Arce rather than a Francis Atuahene.

 
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Kjbert said:
I understand the economic argument but instead of paying $250k of GAM for a GA player, why not just find someone you really want and use the $250k of GAM?
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Over three years, the GA player would cost 250k and the other player would cost 500-600k because you have to pay salary.
 
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I want to go back to a stat I mentioned earlier in the thread. Something like 11 of last year's first round draftees had their options declined by their Club this winter.

There is absolutely no value in drafting outside of the top few picks anymore. Maybe they will trade up but I have no expectations anymore that a player we draft will ever see the field.
 
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derek_villa said:
I saw on reddit that you were watching the games. What position was he playing?
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He was playing as a distributing centreback but with the way he made his way up the pitch you can tell why many analysts say he projects as a left back. In my opinion with his energy and distribution he has the most potentials a 6/8. The best way to explain him is Kwame Awuah x10.
 
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Fake Jew said:
He was playing as a distributing centreback but with the way he made his way up the pitch you can tell why many analysts say he projects as a left back. In my opinion with his energy and distribution he has the most potentials a 6/8. The best way to explain him is Kwame Awuah x10.
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I've read Moutinho is a project and maybe not a day one starter. We're going to be selling Matarrita at some point, so having him learn the City system and get some minutes while Matarrita is on international leave won't be a terrible idea.

But we have Ben Sweat who had one of the best offensive seasons for a defender last season. And he's a domestic player and cheap on the budget.
 
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LionNYC said:
Matt Doyle's Mock Draft 1.0: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/10/armchair-analyst-2018-mock-superdraft-v1-0

Doyle has us drafting the following at the 19th pick...

Wyatt Omsberg, CB - DARTMOUTH
A strong Combine could see him rocket up the draft boards, given his physical profile (6-foot-4 left-footed CB who can pass the ball) and the leaguewide need for center backs. Teams want to see if he can be a commanding, physical presence and bury his tendency to be a little too passive at times

Arthur Bosua is not listed going in the first round.
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More talk about Omsberg...
https://twitter.com/x/status/952700556191055872
 
 
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LionNYC said:
With the SuperDraft this Friday, just providing you more literature on the prospects...

Pre-Combine Analysis: https://www.socceramerica.com/publi...superdraft-ranking-the-top-23-pre-combin.html

Mock Draft: http://draftutopia.com/2018mlsmockdraftround1.html

Bleacher Report Mock Draft: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...st-round-predictions-and-full-selection-order

College Soccer News Mock Draft: https://www.collegesoccernews.com/index.php/articles/1140-2018-mock-draft

Another Mock Draft: http://isnsoccer.com/news/2018/01/07/2018-mls-mock-draft/
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I’d be surprised if any of these sites got more that 5% of their picks right any year they mocked a draft. The NFL and NBA are far more straightforward with what each team needs, and there are full-time analysts working it, but the MLS draft is a crapshoot every year with teams revamping 40% of their roster. It’s impossible to gauge a draft pick when foreign free agents are also being looked at.
 
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