The short assessment on last week's MLS SuperDraft: One big home run, followed by a bunch of nice, effective singles through the middle.
The home run wasn't actually a part of the SuperDraft, although it was easily the move that generated the most buzz in Indianapolis, site of the league's 12th annual draft. That haymaker bit of news, of course, came out of Spain and Los Angeles, a few hours before MLS coaches began mining the college talent.
The David Beckham revelation dominated during a draft that was thin on big-name difference-makers to begin with. So, a draft without many truly sexy picks became a process where teams studied hard to address some precise, positional needs.
New England's first-round choices provide the best example. Few teams rated Wells Thompson, an unheralded midfielder out of Wake Forest, as a high first-round choice. But New England took him with the No. 5 overall pick, even moving up in the draft to do that. They traded away a partial allocation to Los Angeles to obtain the Galaxy's first-round selection.
Then Revs manager Steve Nicol followed his somewhat surprising initial pick by selecting Santa Clara midfielder Amaechi Igwe at No. 12 overall. Either one of his first-round picks can play on the left side of midfield. That spot was something of a problem last year for the Revs as Joe Franchino, James Riley and Khano Smith took turns trying to replace the injured Marshall Leonard.
Perhaps no other team would have picked those two within the first 12 selections, but that's what Nicol felt his team, specifically, needed.
"They had a clear idea of what they wanted, and they went out and got it," D.C. United president Kevin Payne said. "That's what you have to do at the draft."
Yes, Nicol raised some eyebrows by taking Thompson that early. Then again, if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, it's Nicol, who has a nifty reputation for plucking difference-makers that other teams have already taken a pass on.
Pat Noonan was a No. 9 selection overall. Clint Dempsey was a No. 8, which means plenty of teams passed on both of them. And current starters Andy Dorman (58th overall) and James Riley (21st) were plucked well after others with more handsome resumes. (Shalrie Joseph was a second-round New England gem, but he was selected by former Revs coach Fernando Clavijo, who is now at Colorado.)
With Tony Sanneh's return looking unlikely, Chicago coach Dave Sarachan had a big hole to fill in the back. So, with perhaps the most significant draft-day trade, Fire officials parted with club MVP Andy Herron to move up in the draft and grab the defender they liked.
It was Bakary Soumare from Virginia, who still has some developing ahead but certainly owns the physical tools to deal with MLS forwards.
Columbus didn't make an early pick but still filled one of its pressing draft-day needs by prying Herron from the Fire. Herron scored nine goals in 20 appearances for Chicago last year. By comparison, the Crew scored just 30 goals all season.
The Crew, already well-situated with vibrant flank players, could suddenly be a dangerous attacking team if the 28-year-old from Costa Rica is paired up front with Brian McBride. Columbus coach Sigi Schmid said efforts to bring back McBride were moving along, but admitted that it's far from a sure thing.
"That's why you've got to try 10 different things, because you don't know which one will work out," he said.
What Schmid didn't fill was his hole at left back. Kansas City, with its No. 3 pick, may have taken the player who could have helped Schmid.
Instead, North Carolina defender Michael Harrington helped Kansas City fill its most pressing need. Harrington is comfortable playing either side along the back line. With Nick Garcia and Jimmy Conrad still entrenched and effective in the middle, and with Jose Burciaga Jr. in place as the league's top left back going forward, new coach Curt Onalfo needed balance. So Harrington will play on the right, most likely.
Onalfo also wants to create a more attack-minded team, divesting from the defend-and-counter style favored by former coach Bob Gansler. So Onalfo and technical director Peter Vermes looked for speed with their remaining picks, and hope they got some in Old Dominion attacker Edson Elcock and James Madison midfielder Kurt Morsink.
Defense ruled the draft until Chivas USA picked at No. 7. Preki, running the show as the highest ranking assistant (and would-be head coach) took the first forward of the day. That was John Cunliffe out of NCAA Division II Fort Lewis College in Colorado.
Cunliffe had been impressive at the adidas MLS Player Combine in Florida a week earlier, displaying a balanced package of attacking skills. He has the shot to go along with dribbling and crossing ability.
Even Houston Dynamo addressed a "need," such as it is. What "needs" can the reigning MLS champs claim? Well, the roster still looks potent, but it won't be that way forever. So when a certain versatile midfielder out of Indiana kept grabbing Dominic Kinnear's attention at the combine, Dynamo had their man. In John Michael Hayden, Houston had identified a player who could fill in here and there in 2007 while hopefully developing into an eventual midfield replacement.
So, who was the biggest winner at the draft? Toronto took advantage of its position, getting Maurice Edu with the top overall pick and later trading allocation money to Los Angeles for a selection that garnered New Mexico standout defender Andrew Boyens. Now, manager Mo Johnston must convince the 6-foot-4 New Zealand under-23 international that MLS is the place he wants to be; Boyens is toying with the idea of playing in Australia.
Dallas scored well in quality and quantity. Steve Morrow and his crew were thrilled that Anthony Wallace fell to No. 9, for they were convinced that Columbus would take him at No. 2. Columbus, of course, traded out of the spot to get Herron.
And speaking of Columbus, Schmid made dandy use of his limited picks.
Houston assistant John Spencer admitted, though, that drafting any player is only a start to the process. Coaches then must develop the talent, or leave it to wither if it can't reach another level. Even then, none of this is an exact science, he said.
"You never really know what you have," Spencer said, "until you get them into camp and have a better look."
Steve Davis is a freelance writer who has covered Major League Soccer since its inception. Steve can be reached at BigTexSoccer@yahoo.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
