and only one -- player from 10 of the 13 teams that took part in Year 12, from those left over after each club submitted its list of 11 protected players.
Like most garage sales, you have to do a lot of sifting in order to find a few gems. But they are out there, even if many have a "Buyer Beware" sign attached. That means that the Quakes braintrust of general manager John Doyle and head coach Frank Yallop will be carefully inspecting the merchandise for nicks and scratches before allocating their precious salary cap space.
A guy like New England midfielder Andy Dorman looks interesting, until you realize he's out of contract. Colorado's Conor Casey also is tempting, except he just had surgery for a torn ACL in his knee.
Other issues like salary and age also figure into the decisions, as well as the possibility of going the Toronto FC route and trading the player as soon as they've been selected. Yet despite this Gordian knot of factors, here is one view of who the Earthquakes will choose on Wednesday:
1. Greg Vanney (D.C. United). Yes, he could be a little expensive, but when Yallop was fashioning his first Quakes side in 2001, he also brought in a pricey but experienced hand in the name of Jeff Agoos, and that turned out pretty well. Vanney provides many of the same attributes, and his steady play will be a godsend for a team navigating the expansion year waters.
2. Ivan Guerrero (Chicago Fire). Guerrero is also bit on the expensive side, but Yallop loves versatile players, and with the left-footed Honduran able to play either in the back or in midfield, he's too good a player to pass up. The fact that he's a green card holder doesn't hurt either.
3. Ryan Cochrane (Houston Dynamo). Cochrane was slow to move into a starting role in MLS, but he has evolved into a steady central defender. With the Quakes playing the next two years at Cochrane's alma mater, Santa Clara University, the two-time MLS Cup champion will welcome the chance to return to the Bay Area, and his modest salary makes his acquisition a good bit of business.
4. Alex Zotinca (Chivas USA). Zotinca is another utility man who can play in the back or in midfield, but in his case he can fill in on the right side. Zotinca also has a green card, so Yallop can use one of his precious foreign slots on some else.
5. Ned Grabavoy (Columbus Crew). Chances are that Yallop will look to a higher profile player to quarterback San Jose's attack, but Grabavoy is crafty on the ball, and can fit in anywhere in midfield. He was enjoying a solid season in Columbus until a certain Guillermo Barros Schelotto showed up.
6. Dominic Oduro (FC Dallas). Oduro is a speedy forward who has struggled with his finishing, but whose youth makes him a player with a lot of upside. Given Yallop's love of target forwards, he could opt for Oduro's bulkier teammate, Abe Thompson.
7. Joe Vide (New York Red Bulls). A feisty competitor in the center of midfield, Vide would bring plenty of attitude to a team that will rely heavily on that trait. A developmental player at present, he'll have to be moved to the senior roster, but Yallop will relish the chance to get a proven MLS performer on the cheap.
8. James Riley (New England Revolution). Perhaps the most versatile player in the draft, Riley has played everywhere in defense, as well in the wide midfield spots for New England. If Yallop can convince Dorman to stay in MLS, he might be worth selecting instead. Otherwise, Riley is the player to take.
9. Gavin Glinton (Los Angeles Galaxy). Simply put, he's one of Yallop's guys who delivered several clutch goals down the stretch during LA's late-season run. The fact that Glinton can fill in up top or in midfield makes him even more attractive.
10. Jose Burciaga, Jr. (Kansas City Wizards). A left back who fell out of favor with Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo towards the end of the season, Burciaga has excellent attacking instincts, although his defending has come under question from some parts. But Burciaga's selection, when combined with those of Cochrane, Vanney, and Zotinca would give Yallop a relatively solid back line.
