2012 MLS Super Draft Order Breaking Down The Top 9 Draft Order
19 teams will pick in the 2011 MLS Super Draft. Here is the official draft order for the first 9 teams picking. I will also break down my top 9 picks for Monday’s MLS Weekly Mock Draft that I will post.
The Montreal Impact pick first in 2012 because they are in an expansion team.
Vancouver picks ahead of New England because both teams got 28 points, had goal differentials of -20, and Vancouver scored fewer goals then New England.
Below is a list of the top 9 teams and who I project them to take at this point. Last year only 10 Generation Adidas Players were selected. 7 of those 10 players were taken in top 8 with every top 5 pick being a Generation Adidas Player Last Season. I will use this format for my new mock draft with only 10 Generation Adidas Players.
1. Montreal Impact Darren Mattocks Forward Akron Sophomore Darren Mattocks is playing like a franchise player in my opinion considering the fact that he lost a huge supporting cast of players to the 2011 MLS Super Draft along with some key transfers.
Montreal signed a big name midfielder, defender, and goalie. This leaves forward as the only key position to build around by process of elimination.
Most MLS expansion teams draft strikers first overall. I have no doubt that Montreal takes Mattocks who should be a Generation Adidas Player if he comes out in 2012.
Even if his numbers do not state it if you watch Mattocks game tape you will realize that he is a complete player. Mattocks was one of the main reasons why Akron won the 2010 NCAA Mens National Title last season.
2. Vancouver Whitecaps Andrew Wenger Defenseman Duke Junior Andrew Wenger leads the NCAA in points. What’s even better is that Wenger is a defender. Wenger is probably going to be the 2nd pick after Mattocks.
Thanks to Vancouver’s loss the Whitecaps end up with this pick selecting Mattocks. Vancouver uses this pick on a Generation Adidas Player like Wenger.
Wenger can be a two way defender using his abilities as an offensive or defensive defender. Wenger can play center back or defensive midfielder.
3. New England Revolution Austin Berry Defenseman Louisville Senior New England needs a center back really badly. Austin Berry can play center back or defensive midfielder. Berry would be a good addition to the New England Revolution.
4. Toronto FC Will Bates Forward Virginia Junior Will Bates has 14 goals, 4 assists, and 32 points in 14 games. Bates is a striker who is one of only a few strikers to exceed the 30 point mark.
I have to believe Toronto FC will add a striker for depth or take the best available player here. Toronto FC holds an additional selection from New York Red Bulls that they can use on a center back. Toronto FC will use this pick on the best player available to make an impact.
Toronto will pass on need here since they have two first round picks. They will use the first pick on the best player available and the 2nd pick on a need.
5. Chivas USA Matt Lodge Midfielder Kentucky Junior Chivas USA adds a need by taking a midfielder. Juan Pablo Angel is a 10 goal scorer. Chivas USA has invested heavily on a young defense that should get better and their goalie recorded 98 saves.
Matt Lodge has 7 goals, 10 assists, and 24 points for Kentucky. Matt Lodge, Kelyn Rowe, and Enzo Martinez are in a 3 way battle to be the top attacking midfielder selected in the 2012 MLS Super Draft.
6. San Jose Earthquakes Kelyn Rowe Midfielder UCLA Sophomore Kelyn Rowe had 7 goals, 10 assists, and 24 points as a true freshman. There were people who speculated the possibility of Rowe being the top pick in the 2012 MLS Super Draft.
UCLA got off to a sluggish start, but rebounded strong. Rowe has 5 goals, 6 assists, and 16 points this season. Rowe played for the USA Under 20 Soccer team so he should get representation from Generation Adidas in 2012.
I would rather have Enzo Martinez instead of Kelyn Rowe. The die hard Earthquake fans love the local midfielder Rowe and I get the feeling San Jose’s organization will feel the same way.
The Earthquakes will draft their player plus get a pick the fans like so attendance will soar in San Jose.
7. DC United Tyler Polak Defenseman Creighton Sophomore As Jason on our comments page pointed out DC United could use a left back. I feel like this team could add another back to anchor the wing.
Tyler Polak played left back at Creighton. Polak will go relatively early if he comes out as a sophomore. Many people think he will return like Casey Townsend did last season when Townsend could have came out.
8. Portland Timbers Dillon Powers Defenseman Notre Dame Senior Dillon Powers is a defensive midfielder. Some people are mocking him to the other expansion team that joined the MLS this season. The Timbers would jump the chance to draft a defensive midfielder like Powers if he slides to #8 overall.
9. Chicago Fire Enzo Martinez Midfielder North Carolina Junior Chicago has built an explosive offense. The missing piece is a playmaker at midfielder which is why this team will not make a Cup Run. Enzo Martinez has 8 goals, 7 assists, and 23 points this season for the #2 ranked North Carolina who could move up to #1 in the polls next week.
Dominic Oduro has 12 goals and is the teams main striker. Patrick Nyako is a forward/midfielder who can dish assists while being used as a secondary striker. Chicago drafted Corben Bone in 2010 as an attacking midfielder who uses his speed and playmaking ability.
Adding a playmaker midfielder who can generate mind boggling numbers and top notch scoring chances is the final piece to the Fire’s offensive puzzle.
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Will Bates is out for the year (torn ACL), so he’s not very likely to come out early. Still don’t see SJ or Chicago taking a college AM after each team drafting one in recent years, but stranger things have happened. Other than that, it seems like a solid first attempt, although the actual number of GAs that come out will likely skew any initial mock drafts.
As a DC fan, I’m totally on board with the Polak pick, as he seems like this year’s “lights-out” outside back, and DC could definitely use that. If he falls to #7, I think he’d be an absolute steal. The same is true of Dillon Powers, who could’ve been a top 5 pick a year ago. If things shake out, the top three of Mattocks, Barry, Wenger seems like a lock that will shift around like Salgado, Nagbe, Kitchen did in 2011.