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2012 MLS Mock Draft Update

Published: 19th Aug 11 6:34 pm
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by Chris Ransom
New England Patriots and Dallas Stars Featured Columnist
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Not all the players I mention will go in round 1 come January at this early stage.  This is just a better idea of who might go where along with some potential Generation Adidas Players at certain schools who are underclassmen.

1. Montreal Impact Darren Mattocks F Akron Sophomore Teams usually draft strikers #1 overall with their expansion franchises.  The Seattle Sounders took Steve Zakuani #1 overall in 2009.  The Philadelphia Union took Danny Mwanga #1 overall in 2010.  In 2011 the Vancouver Whitecaps took Omar Salgado #1 overall.  Ironically the other expansion team who joined the MLS in 2011 the Portland Timbers also took a striker at the forward spot with their first pick by taking Darlington Nagbe #2 overall.

Mattocks scored 18 goals as a freshman which means he should be a Generation Adidas player this season if he makes Generation Adidas in 2012.  I still believe Austin Berry is the best player in the 2012 MLS Super Draft draft.  I just get the feeling that Mattocks may go #1 overall due to the tendency of expansion teams drafting strikers at the forward position with the #1 overall pick.

2. Vancouver Whitecaps Austin Berry D Louisville Senior Redshirt The Whitecaps could use a long term center back.  The Whitecaps will not hesitate to draft Berry if he slides past Montreal with the top pick.  Austin Berry is my top prospect for the 2012 MLS Super Draft.  Berry looks like a top 5 pick at this point in the early process of evaluating potential prospects for the 2012 MLS Super Draft.

3. Chicago Fire Ryan Finley F Notre Dame Junior The Chicago Fire will get a striker with this selection.  Ryan Finley was 5th in goals scoring 17 goals as a sophomore at Duke.  Finley transferred to Notre Dame so now the Fighting Irish have a legit striker.  Chicago’s defense is good against MLS teams, but they lack a true striker who can score enough goals to help them close out games.

Finley can be used as a striker forward or an attacking midfielder.  He has a better chance to score from short distance, but has the ability to convert medium distance goals as an attacking midfielder.

Since Finley is an underclassmen he might be another potential Generation Adidas player this upcoming season.

4. New England Revolution Colin Rolfe F Louisville Senior New England has scored fewer goals than any MLS team in the league.  In 20 of the games New England has played in they have been shut out 9 times.

Rolfe finished 3rd in the Herman Trophy Finalist poll behind Will Bruin of Indiana and Darlington Nagbe of Akron.

Rolfe was a 2010 Herman Trophy Finalist scoring 9 goals and 25 points last season.  In 2009 he had 10 goals while scoring 14 goals as a freshman.  You cannot question Rolfe’s consistency or dedication.

Colin Rolfe can be used as center forward, secondary striker, winger, or attacking midfielder when it comes to the forward position.  Rolfe can play defense too when he’s not on the attack.  You could move Rolfe to midfield and possibly convert him to a wing back role over time with his defensive skill set.  Rolfe is best suited as a forward or attacking midfielder up front on offense creating scoring chances for his team.

Casey Townsend may be a pure striker, but Rolfe is the more complete soccer player.  I’d rather have the more complete player than the pure striker that’s just me though.

Colin Rolfe plans on majoring in Communications so he’s going to impress a lot of scouts during the interview process.  It really would not shock me if Rolfe jumped his Louisville teammate Austin Berry on MLS Draft boards and ultimately ended up going #1 overall.

Louisville is going to be the #1 overall team in the preseason polls simply because they have a lot of talent returning.  Austin Berry and Colin Rolfe are two top 5 talents in this MLS Super Draft at this point.

Right now the 2011 projected Herman Trophy Finalists look like Colin Rolfe F Louisville, Austin Berry D Louisville, and Andrew Wenger D Duke.

5. Toronto FC Andrew Wenger D Duke Junior Wenger is a top 5 prospect if he leaves after his junior season.  Wenger started all 20 games for Duke at center back last season.  Toronto FC needs a center back really badly so their defense allows fewer goals.

The Toronto FC have allowed a league high 46 goals, but Frei leads the MLS in total saves.  FC fans believe that goalie Stef Frei is their best player.  If that is the case the Toronto FC must build their defense around Frei by adding a center back like Andrew Wenger of Duke.

6. San Jose Earthquakes Casey Townsend F Maryland Senior Townsend is a pure striker.  San Jose has only scored 26 goals this season despite allowing 32 this year.  The Earthquakes have the talent to make the playoffs, but they need a pure striker.  Casey Townsend was a Generation Adidas Candidate prior to returning to Maryland for his senior season.

7. Portland Timbers Sebastian Ibeagha D Duke Sophomore Next to Toronto FC Portland has surrendered the most goals in the league despite scoring 30 goals.  Sebastian Ibeagha played for the Houston Dynamo Academy.  John Spencer was an assistant coach for a Houston Dynamo team that won back to back MLS Cups.  Spencer used year one to focus on boosting the play of the forwards considering the fact that Spencer is a former forward as a pro soccer player.

In year 2 Portland will shift their focus to defense.  Like Andrew Wenger Ibeagha can be used as a center back or a defensive midfielder.  Finding two way defenders who can contain the strikers or the midfielder is key.  Ibeagha missed 4 games due to injuries, but has the talent and skill set to be the Portland Timbers defensive anchor at center back.  John Spencer got a glimpse of Sebastian Ibeagha at a Houston Dynamo soccer Academy so he has better insight on him than any other team in the league.

If the Houston Dynamo and  Dynamo Academy owns Ibeagha’s rights making Sebastian a future Dynamo prospect then I will change this pick.  Until then Ibeagha stays in my 2012 MLS Super Draft.

Sebastian Ibeagha is the younger brother of Duke center back Christian Ibeagha.  I don’t know if Christian will get a medical redshirt because he only played 5 games before getting injured in 2010.  If Christian does get that medical redshirt than this Duke Blue Devils defense will be very scary to face if both Ibeagha brothers and Andrew Wenger are healthy.

I have no doubt that Sebastian Ibeagha will be a Generation Adidas player in 2012 as long as he can declare for the draft.  The only way Ibeagha doesn’t get a Generation Adidas spot is if Dynamo Academy maintains his rights in 2012 or if Ibeagha performs poorly.

8. Chivas USA Victor Chavez F UCLA Sophomore Victor Chavez had 10 goals as a freshman and plays on the USA Under 20 team.  I get the feeling that Chavez will emerge as an unknown player who establishes himself as a Generation Adidas player at some point in the near future.

9. DC United Kelyn Rowe M UCLA Sophomore Rowe is a playmaker attacking midfielder.  Rowe posted 7 goals and 10 assists which added up to 24 points.  A goal is worth 1 point in college soccer, but its worth 2 points on your stat sheet.

Rowe is likely going to be another Generation Adidas Player in 2012 since UCLA is #2 overall in the preseason polls.

10. Toronto FC from New York Red Bulls Dillon Powers D Notre Dame Junior Dillon Powers is a defensive midfielder.  Toronto FC needs all the defensive help they can get right now at this point.

Dillon Powers has the talent and skill set to become a Generation Adidas Player in 2012 if he stays healthy.

11. Houston Dynamo Enzo Martinez M North Carolina Junior Enzo Martinez scored 10 goals as a sophomore.  Enzo is one of two Tar Heel players with a chance to crack the Generation Adidas team.

12. Sporting Kansas City Matt Lampson G Ohio State Junior Redshirt Lampson had a 0.72 Goals Against Average, a .852 save percentage, and recorded 10 shutouts in 2010 for Ohio State.

The last time a goalie failed to make Generation Adidas was 2006.  Lampson has the best chance among current goalies to make Generation Adidas at this point.

Sporting Kansas City has a goalie who is starting to decline.  Last year Sporting Kansas City’s goalie recorded 10 shutouts.  Their goalie has only recorded 3 shutouts this season and turned 34 in July.

Sporting Kansas City would be wise to get Lampson now since the team is stacked with forwards.  Lampson does not have to start now, but he would be a nice goalie to groom for the future.

13. Philadelphia Union Bradlee Baladez M South Carolina Sophomore Baladez scored 5 game winning goals as a freshman.  Do not be shocked if Baladez ends up on the Generation Adidas team at seasons end.

14. Real Salt Lake Ben Speas F North Carolina Junior Speas can be used as a forward or an attacking midfielder.  With Enzo Martinez at midfield Speas will likely get more scoring chances at the forward position.  Speas may end up making the Generation Adidas team this season.

15. Columbus Crew Andrew Wiedabach M Wisconsin Junior Wiedbach is a attacking midfielder who can create plays.  Wiedbach is the last player with a chance to crack the Generation Adidas roster at this point in the early draft process.

16. Colorado Rapids Aaron Maund D Notre Dame Senior Aaron Maund is a quality center back at defense for Notre Dame.  Colorado could use a defensive upgrade.  The team has surrendered 32 goals so far at this point in the season plus Maund is arguably the best player available.

17. Seattle Sounders Tony Cascio F Connecticut Senior Cascio scored 10 goals as a junior last season.  He should be able to retain his success in 2011.

18. FC Dallas Ethan Finlay F Creighton Senior Finlay is one of the top players in college soccer.  It would be shocking if he did not get selected in round 1.

19. Los Angeles Galaxy Brian Ownby F Virginia Senior The reality is Ownby may be the top pick in this draft if he could stay healthy.  Brian Ownby was a frontrunner to go #1 overall in 2011 before his injury at Virginia during his junior season.  Ownby got injured during his sophomore year too.  Scouts may take Ownby’s injury history into account because he usually gets injured.

If Ownby falls to #19 there is no way the Los Angeles Galaxy pass on him.

 

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