and the league's place in the international landscape -- throws up some complications. The draft is by no means the only source of acquiring new players. Both the domestic and international markets are fertile grounds for finding talent. Then there is the ability to upgrade a lineup by trading within MLS. The fact that underclassmen signed to the league's Generation adidas program don't count against the salary cap adds an additional wrinkle.
These factors help explain why a team like reigning MLS Cup holders Real Salt Lake are decidedly in the "best available" camp.
"I've long maintained that if you're looking to the draft to fill a specific hole in your lineup, that's not the best policy," said RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey. "When you're picking 16th like we are, it's pretty unlikely you're going to find someone to help right away."
But that hasn't stopped some teams from taking precisely that approach. When Paul Bravo was serving as the director of soccer in Los Angeles in 2008, the Galaxy had Patrick Nyarko and Julius James as the two top-rated players in the entire draft. And when their turn came up at the No. 4 spot, both players were still available. Straightforward, right? Not quite.
"We knew Chris Albright [had been traded], and we needed a right back to replace him," said Bravo. "We had Sean Franklin rated third, so we took him instead."
While little went right for L.A. that year, Franklin did enjoy a Rookie of the Year season, and despite an injury-plagued 2009, has turned out to be a solid selection for the Galaxy.
Bravo is now in Colorado, and with the Rapids holding the 22nd, 23rd, 40th and 56th overall picks in 2010, will he change his ways? He insists he won't.
"You're always able to find guys, even in the lower rounds," he said.
True, as evidenced by New England's 2009 selection of Darrius Barnes with the 40th overall pick. But Bravo would appear to be in the minority when it relates to using late round picks to draft for a specific position. Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear struck draft gold in 2008 when he nabbed Best XI defender Geoff Cameron with the 42nd overall pick, although in general he sees benefits in both the "positional" and "best available" approaches.
"You're taking a chance anyway, so you go for the best available in the later rounds," said Kinnear. "But every team has different priorities. Teams with higher spots can address need."
Vasquez hits the ground running: When Martin Vasquez was hired by Chivas USA back on Dec. 4, one might have thought he would take things easy over the holidays. Uh, no. It might be the MLS offseason, but that doesn't mean there aren't issues to be addressed.
First on Vasquez's to-do list is to figure out what to do with a roster that became bloated when several players sustained long-term injuries.
"We have a challenge that we have to solve, and that's having 29 players on the roster, and we have to get it MLS-compliant," said Vasquez. "That has been the biggest challenge. But I think looking at our roster, knowing that we have a very good base and a core of players that has been consistent the last three to four years, we feel like we can make the right decisions and build around that base and be ready for 2010."
Another situation that must be sorted out is the status of Jesse Marsch. The veteran midfielder finished the season on the shelf due to a concussion, an ailment that had him thinking of retirement. He then threw his hat into the ring for the Chicago Fire's head coaching job, one that various reports indicate is going to former El Salvador national team coach Carlos De Los Cobos.
Vasquez indicated that the two had met and had a positive discussion about Marsch's future, but that at the moment, the next move lies with the Chivas midfielder.
"I told [Marsch], 'I think you have to make the decision of what you want to do first. Once you make that decision, whether it's to coach or to play, then we can have the next conversation.' That's where we're at."
As for Vasquez's draft plans, those are coming more into focus.
"It's no secret what our needs are," said Vasquez. "After losing Shavar [Thomas] in the expansion draft, we want to strengthen the backline and find a replacement for him. That's our priority.
"But there will also be some interesting players at the combine who have already been signed by the league, especially a few Generation adidas players, and we all know what the plus is there, so we'll have to consider those aspects when it's our turn to make a decision to pick."
The Red-and-White have picks in each of the four rounds, including two in the third round.
Dynamo moving on: After agreeing to a trial with English Premier League side Burnley, only to see manager Owen Coyle pursue a move to Bolton, Stuart Holden must be wondering what he has gotten himself into. But back in Houston, Kinnear appears resigned to the fact that the U.S. international won't be donning Dynamo orange next season.
"It's one of those things where as Holden explores his options, you have to assume he won't be coming back," said Kinnear. "If you sit around and wait until it's obvious he's not coming back, then you're in scramble mode. We're under the assumption that he's not going to play for us."
Even in the best of times, the draft is a highly unlikely source for finding the kind of quality cover for players like Brad Davis and Cameron, who are the presumed replacements for Holden and fellow midfielder Ricardo Clark. With Houston's first pick not occurring until the third round, that leaves discovery players and trades as the two most likely avenues.
"We'll go into the draft with an open mind," said Kinnear. "We got pretty lucky [in 2008] with Cameron, but to expect that to happen again is being very hopeful."
Rapids looking for more than just wings: Bravo is on record as saying that the Rapids will be looking to bolster their corps of wide midfielders, especially in light of last year's injury glut. But the center of midfield is another area the team will be looking to shore up.
"Pablo Mastroeni is 33 going on 34 this year," noted Bravo about the Rapids captain and midfield linchpin. "So we're looking to add a center midfielder who can really go box-to-box."
Jeff Carlisle is a regular contributor to ESPN Soccernet, and covers the San Jose Earthquakes for Center Line Soccer and MLSnet.com. Jeff can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
