The Revolution now have first dibs.
Following the Philadelphia Union's signing of Bakary Soumare via allocation on Tuesday, the New England Revolution find themselves at the No. 1 spot in the updated 2012 MLS allocation rankings.
This gives Revolution manager Jay Heaps the first choice at signing US national team players based abroad or former MLS players who return to the league after being transferred to an overseas club.
The Revolution can choose to pass on players who become available via allocation and still hold on to their No. 1 ranking. They can also swap their No. 1 spot with another club via trade.
But Heaps only has until the end of the 2012 season to leverage this position. That's because the allocation order is reset at the conclusion of each season based on reverse order of finish with postseason results factored into the final list.
By swapping places in the allocation order with Philadelphia, Vancouver moved into the No. 12 spot. After the Union used their newly acquired position to acquire Soumare, the 'Caps – like every other club – shifted up a spot as Philadelphia moved to the bottom of the list.
The allocation ranking system is just one of several mechanisms available to MLS clubs to acquire players. Others include: the annual SuperDraft, Supplemental Draft and Re-Entry Draft, Designated Player signings, Homegrown Player signings, Discovery signings, injury replacements, lottery players, waiver selections and trades.
UPDATED 2012 MLS ALLOCATION RANKINGS (as of Tues., June 26, 2012)
(1) New England Revolution (28pts in 2011)
(2) Toronto FC (33pts in 2011)
(3) Chivas USA (36pts in 2011)
(4) San Jose Earthquakes (38pts in 2011)
(5) D.C. United (39pts in 2011)
(6) Portland Timbers (42pts in 2011)
(7) Chicago Fire (43pts in 2011)
(8) Columbus Crew (47pts in 2011)
(9) FC Dallas (52pts in 2011)
(10) New York Red Bulls (2011 Conference semifinalist / 46pts)
(11) Vancouver Whitecaps (28pts in 2011 / Dropped from No. 1 to No. 12 after trade with PHI on June 26, 2012)
(12) Seattle Sounders (2011 Conference semifinalist / 63pts)
(13) Sporting Kansas City (2011 Conference finalist / 51pts)
(14) Real Salt Lake (2011 Conference finalist / 53pts)
(15) Houston Dynamo (2011 MLS Cup finalist / 49pts)
(16) LA Galaxy (2011 MLS Cup finalist / 67pts)
(17) Montreal Impact (2012 Expansion Team / Signed Eddie Johnson from No. 1 spot on Feb. 17, 2012)
(18) Colorado Rapids (2011 Conference semifinalist / Signed Kamani Hill from No. 11 spot on March 28, 2012)
(19) Philadelphia Union (Moved from No. 12 to No. 1 via trade with VAN / Signed Bakary Soumare June 26, 2012)
