2016 Mls College Superdraft

[FootyLovin]

Kjbert 413Blue Ulrich I think we have no idea how good these players are and whether or not we want to trade them. I, for one, do not want to trade any of them until we know what they are under a coach with a cohesive game plan.

Here's some food for thought. Here are the minutes played/goal scored for a few of our players (including the trade bait mentioned above):

• Villa - 140
• Mullins - 173
• Lampard - 244
• Poku - 245
• TMac - 264
• Ballouchy - 420
• Shelton - 824

As we've discussed in other places, goals aren't everything. But I wouldn't eagerly trade anyone in that top 5 for a draft pick. BTW, take away PKs and the numbers look like this:

• Villa - 209
• Mullins - 208

Things that make you go hmm.

 

[413Blue]

Kjbert 413Blue Ulrich I think we have no idea how good these players are and whether or not we want to trade them. I, for one, do not want to trade any of them until we know what they are under a coach with a cohesive game plan.

Here's some food for thought. Here are the minutes played/goal scored for a few of our players (including the trade bait mentioned above):

• Villa - 140
• Mullins - 173
• Lampard - 244
• Poku - 245
• TMac - 264
• Ballouchy - 420
• Shelton - 824

As we've discussed in other places, goals aren't everything. But I wouldn't eagerly trade anyone in that top 5 for a draft pick. BTW, take away PKs and the numbers look like this:

• Villa - 209
• Mullins - 208

Things that make you go hmm.

Great numbers! Unless you have some type of issue with a player (contract, locker room etc.) and want or need to get rid of him, I would never trade away a solid starter for any super draft pick. It's pretty much a lottery.

 

[CCMore]

Kjbert 413Blue Ulrich I think we have no idea how good these players are and whether or not we want to trade them. I, for one, do not want to trade any of them until we know what they are under a coach with a cohesive game plan.

Here's some food for thought. Here are the minutes played/goal scored for a few of our players (including the trade bait mentioned above):

• Villa - 140
• Mullins - 173
• Lampard - 244
• Poku - 245
• TMac - 264
• Ballouchy - 420
• Shelton - 824

As we've discussed in other places, goals aren't everything. But I wouldn't eagerly trade anyone in that top 5 for a draft pick. BTW, take away PKs and the numbers look like this:

• Villa - 209
• Mullins - 208

Things that make you go hmm.

This makes me want to go on a rant about how much I want to see Patrick Mullins on the field next season. If we played a 4-3-3 with him in the middle that would be awesome. I just think about his headed goal from Pirlos corner kick and imagine how many of those he would have sitting in the middle of the opponents box. Glorious. But I've been thinking, what about Tony Taylor? Where does he fit and would he be getting more minutes than Shelton and Mullins? What's his role and how does he compare to our other strikers. I rank our strikers first to last
Villa
Mullins
Taylor
Shelton

Thoughts?

 

[Kjbert]

I don't rate TMac. I think there are probably 100 players in the league that could do his job at his salary. My two cents. I like the guy. Great hustle and attitude. I just think he is replacement level.

Now, I really like Mullins. I think Mullins can score goals in this league. I don't know his best formation and he's not good enough to build a team around him, but he can (and will) score goals in this league.

The reason I would NOT do that trade is because this draft is generally considered a 2 or 3 player draft. Very top heavy. While not everyone is sold on Yaro, the consensus is that he has the tools to be an MLS All-Star. The consensus is the same on Harrison.

After that, some people like Vincent and Campbell. But if you are a GM and you hold a Top 2 pick in a draft with 2 surefire players, that #2 pick is worth a lot more than the #4 pick. The gap in talent seems to be that big.

 

[Tom in Fairfield CT]

I don't rate TMac. I think there are probably 100 players in the league that could do his job at his salary. My two cents. I like the guy. Great hustle and attitude. I just think he is replacement level.

Now, I really like Mullins. I think Mullins can score goals in this league. I don't know his best formation and he's not good enough to build a team around him, but he can (and will) score goals in this league.

The reason I would NOT do that trade is because this draft is generally considered a 2 or 3 player draft. Very top heavy. While not everyone is sold on Yaro, the consensus is that he has the tools to be an MLS All-Star. The consensus is the same on Harrison.

After that, some people like Vincent and Campbell. But if you are a GM and you hold a Top 2 pick in a draft with 2 surefire players, that #2 pick is worth a lot more than the #4 pick. The gap in talent seems to be that big.

We only saw Tmac played out of position. He's a CAM not a LW. This roster is poorly constructed and the lineups were poorly chosen last year.

 

[Gotham Gator]

MacNamara is only 24. Mullins is 23, and Shelton is 22. Tony Taylor is 26.

Point being that there is time for a lot of these guys to get better. I think Shelton and, to some extent, Mullins, have the highest upside, but MacNamara works incredibly hard and will be a better player in coming seasons.

 

[Kjbert]

We only saw Tmac played out of position. He's a CAM not a LW. This roster is poorly constructed and the lineups were poorly chosen last year.

Maybe. He's never going to play CAM here. But maybe you are right. I just don't think he's that good to be honest.

 

[FootyLovin]

This makes me want to go on a rant about how much I want to see Patrick Mullins on the field next season. If we played a 4-3-3 with him in the middle that would be awesome. I just think about his headed goal from Pirlos corner kick and imagine how many of those he would have sitting in the middle of the opponents box. Glorious. But I've been thinking, what about Tony Taylor? Where does he fit and would he be getting more minutes than Shelton and Mullins? What's his role and how does he compare to our other strikers. I rank our strikers first to last
Villa
Mullins
Taylor
Shelton

Thoughts?

Strictly rating forwards that's fine.

But we need to put our best players on the field. That means our front 6 are Pirlo Villa Lamps Poku Mix Mullins. In a 4-3-3 maybe that puts Poku on the right wing or maybe Lamps. Fine. But just because it says on the player cards that Shelton is a forward and Poku is a midfielder doesn't mean Shelton gets the start.

Villa - Mullins - Poku
Lamps - Pirlo - Mix

Short of a trade where we get great value for any of those 6 I'll be fairly disappointed if this isn't our opening day lineup.

 

[SoupInNYC]

MacNamara is only 24. Mullins is 23, and Shelton is 22. Tony Taylor is 26.

Point being that there is time for a lot of these guys to get better. I think Shelton and, to some extent, Mullins, have the highest upside, but MacNamara works incredibly hard and will be a better player in coming seasons.

I don't think TMac outworks Mullins. I think Mullins is one of the hardest workers on the team. It just looks like TMac is because he doesn't know how to run properly and flails his arms around.

 

[cardinal511]

Here's my updated draft preference board with the Generation Adidas signings clearer. I'm not close to an expert, so take this with many grains of salt.

1. Yaro- he's the BPA for most, but if he gets to us at 4 there's probably a convincing reason not to draft him e.g. health.
2. Harrison- His connection to NYC, his potential, and the possibility he can play on the wing has made him grow on me, I hope we can get him.
3. Vincent- A solid player at a position of need. If we sign Matarrita or another starting LB he falls to #5
4. Campbell- The best CB prospect. If we sign enough CBs surely we can find two that are at least mediocre, right?
5. Holness- He's supposed to be really fast and speed is a wonderful thing. I also enjoy having players who have played for their national teams on our roster. I considered putting him at 4.

 

[Kjbert]

I have a feeling we will have a long term solution at CB and LB by the time March rolls around. With what Mena and Hernandez make, you need to hope one of them pans out this year. Campbell is going to count against your cap hit so it's tough to justify paying him 100k next season.

I think they end up taking the best GA player available - maybe even a GK...

 

[gbservis]

The superdraft is just a gimmick to make the MLS seem more like other american professional sports to help attract fans that dont understand soccer. If you want to know the odds of getting a big time player in the superdraft take a look at the MLS list of top 24 players under 24. Only 6 of the player came from the super draft and 2 of the 6, Kitchen and Plata were late round fliers. No team ever considers tanking for this crap and I wouldn't trade TMAC or any young play that plays real min for us straight up for the #1 pick let alone even talking about Mullins.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/series/24-under-24/2015

Fabian Castillo - Transfer
Kekuta Manneh - Transfer
Sebastian Lletget -Signed
Wil Trapp - Homegrown
Matt Miazga - Homegrown
Harry Shipp - Homegrown
Kwadwo Poku - Transfer
Perry Kitchen - 3rd round 2011 superdraft
Joao Plata - #49 pick 2011 superdraft
Cyle Larin - #1 pick 2015 superdraft
Erick "Cubo" Torres - signed DP
Matias Laba - signed DP
Juan Agudelo - Homegrown
Kellyn Acosta - Homegrown
Kemar Lawrence -Signed
Andrew Farrell - #1 pick 2013 superdraft
Diego Fagundez -Homegrown
Octavio Rivero - signed DP
Lucas Melano - Signed
Kelyn Rowe - #3 2012 superdraft
Matt Polster - #7 2015 superdraft
Alvas Powell - Signed
Tommy Thompson - Homegrown
Erik Palmer-Brown -Homegrown

 

[Ulrich]

The superdraft is just a gimmick to make the MLS seem more like other american professional sports to help attract fans that dont understand soccer. If you want to know the odds of getting a big time player in the superdraft take a look at the MLS list of top 24 players under 24. Only 6 of the player came from the super draft and 2 of the 6, Kitchen and Plata were late round fliers. No team ever considers tanking for this crap and I wouldn't trade TMAC or any young play that plays real min for us straight up for the #1 pick let alone even talking about Mullins.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/series/24-under-24/2015

Fabian Castillo - Transfer
Kekuta Manneh - Transfer
Sebastian Lletget -Signed
Wil Trapp - Homegrown
Matt Miazga - Homegrown
Harry Shipp - Homegrown
Kwadwo Poku - Transfer
Perry Kitchen - 3rd round 2011 superdraft
Joao Plata - #49 pick 2011 superdraft
Cyle Larin - #1 pick 2015 superdraft
Erick "Cubo" Torres - signed DP
Matias Laba - signed DP
Juan Agudelo - Homegrown
Kellyn Acosta - Homegrown
Kemar Lawrence -Signed
Andrew Farrell - #1 pick 2013 superdraft
Diego Fagundez -Homegrown
Octavio Rivero - signed DP
Lucas Melano - Signed
Kelyn Rowe - #3 2012 superdraft
Matt Polster - #7 2015 superdraft
Alvas Powell - Signed
Tommy Thompson - Homegrown
Erik Palmer-Brown -Homegrown

33% of those players are Homegrown and MLS has concluded that we have no current method of producing Homegrown talent for the foreseeable future (unless we want to promote kids that can't even legally drive yet). For NYCFC, the draft unfortunately still matters since it's a method to get a GA player that doesn't count against the Cap.....

 

[Kjbert]

Regarding Ulrich 's post here, I was listening to the LAFC GM and it sounds like they will have an academy before they have a team. Interesting. I know it isn't easy to set one up and we had a smaller timeline, but it is conceivable that they could have homegrowns within a couple years of playing in the league if they too start with a U-13 setup.

 

[Ulrich]

Regarding Ulrich 's post here, I was listening to the LAFC GM and it sounds like they will have an academy before they have a team. Interesting. I know it isn't easy to set one up and we had a smaller timeline, but it is conceivable that they could have homegrowns within a couple years of playing in the league if they too start with a U-13 setup.

I once read that LAFC was *not* going to take over the very successful ChivasUSA Academy, but perhaps they have absorbed parts or all of it? Considering how badly run the Senior Team was, it's amazing that the ChivasUSA Academy was held in such high regard.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Kjbert 413Blue Ulrich I think we have no idea how good these players are and whether or not we want to trade them. I, for one, do not want to trade any of them until we know what they are under a coach with a cohesive game plan.

Here's some food for thought. Here are the minutes played/goal scored for a few of our players (including the trade bait mentioned above):

• Villa - 140
• Mullins - 173
• Lampard - 244
• Poku - 245
• TMac - 264
• Ballouchy - 420
• Shelton - 824

As we've discussed in other places, goals aren't everything. But I wouldn't eagerly trade anyone in that top 5 for a draft pick. BTW, take away PKs and the numbers look like this:

• Villa - 209
• Mullins - 208

Things that make you go hmm.

If you put in assist numbers, Poku has to be ahead of Mullins.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Regarding Ulrich 's post here, I was listening to the LAFC GM and it sounds like they will have an academy before they have a team. Interesting. I know it isn't easy to set one up and we had a smaller timeline, but it is conceivable that they could have homegrowns within a couple years of playing in the league if they too start with a U-13 setup.

Atlanta is going to come in with academy teams at every age level.

 

[Ulrich]

Atlanta is going to come in with academy teams at every age level.

I love the Concept of NYCFC's Academy starting with one team and adding another each year so that the players grow up with the same system the entire time, but from a practical standpoint it is a conscious decision to limit the team's pipeline of youth for the near-term seasons. Starting with a full structure of teams up to U-19 would definitely have players accustomed to multiple tactical ideas, but that's what ANY team in the world deals with when they poach youth from other clubs - guys that aren't familiar with the system but have the innate abilities the coaches are looking for. NYC is a hotbed of talent that I'm sure would love to be affiliate with the club, even if coming in as a 16, 17, 18 y.o.

Yes our feeder clubs will not be happy if we pilfer so many players this year, but it's a small price to pay for the increased sponsorship Reyna would send their way..... It's really a no-brainer to get a full set of teams now so we don't lose out on the next Jack Harrison..... plus it be better for our coaches to be evaluating the players everyday rather than taking the word of somebody else.

 

[Fantazma]

is patrick vieira at the combine? isint he technically supposed to be there?

 

[mgarbowski]

I love the Concept of NYCFC's Academy starting with one team and adding another each year so that the players grow up with the same system the entire time, but from a practical standpoint it is a conscious decision to limit the team's pipeline of youth for the near-term seasons. Starting with a full structure of teams up to U-19 would definitely have players accustomed to multiple tactical ideas, but that's what ANY team in the world deals with when they poach youth from other clubs - guys that aren't familiar with the system but have the innate abilities the coaches are looking for. NYC is a hotbed of talent that I'm sure would love to be affiliate with the club, even if coming in as a 16, 17, 18 y.o.

Yes our feeder clubs will not be happy if we pilfer so many players this year, but it's a small price to pay for the increased sponsorship Reyna would send their way..... It's really a no-brainer to get a full set of teams now so we don't lose out on the next Jack Harrison..... plus it be better for our coaches to be evaluating the players everyday rather than taking the word of somebody else.

It does seem we have unnecessarily handicapped ourselves with this approach.