Why the Revs’ Draft Baffled Me

I should start off by saying this: the Revolution drafted two pretty good players today in Zack Schilawski and Seth Sinovic.  And I start off that way because the fact that those two specific players were picked by this franchise has me shaking my head.

Let’s start with Schilawski.  Yes, the Revs needed scoring, and yes, Schilawski had a productive season with New England’s AAA squad after three seasons of being the  team’s “super sub”.  But a forward in the first round – not just Schilawski, but any forward – has me shaking my head.

It comes down to two questions:

1.  Can you rely on Taylor Twellman to play something close to a full season next year?

2.  Do you think Kheli Dube is a starting-caliber MLS forward?

Revs Deal Albright to Red Bulls

RevsNet has confirmed that the Revolution have traded defender Chris Albright to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for the 31st and 48th overall picks in this afternoon’s draft.

What should the Revs do today?

A little unsolicited advice for Steve Nicol heading into today’s draft:

1.  Avoid the forwards. Given the way this team struggled to score goals, it’s tempting to want to draft someone you think can score goals.  Forget it.  This team needs a proven, veteran goal-scorer that you can be reasonably sure will score 10 goals next year.  There isn’t one of those in this draft.  Kheli Dube is an ideal 3rd forward and can be a starter on a limited basis.  They need a better forward than they’ll likely be able to find at the draft.

RevsNet Top 20 Draft Eligible Players

I admit it – I’m not as up on the draft as I traditionally have been in years past.  Funny how having two girls under the age of three will do to the amount of time you have to spend driving all over New England to watch that kid from Dartmouth you heard about.

That’s not to say I still don’t talk to people.  People who’s opinions I trust.  Mostly, they’re former players or assistant coaches or just devoted followers of the college game, warts and all.

Note, this is not the order I think they’ll be drafted in.  This is how I’m ranking them based on who I think has the best chance to become a great MLS player.

RevsNet’s Top 20 Available Players

1.  Corben Bone, M, Wake Forest – LOVE this kid’s game.  IMO, one of the safest picks in the draft, and he still has significant upside.  If I were an Eastern Conference team with a glaring hole in central midfield, I’d give up an awful lot to get my hands on him.

Draft Pick Profile: Andrei Gotsmanov

Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Home: Eagan, MN
Born: May 6th, 1986
College: Creighton
Drafted: 2nd round, 24th overall

Honors:

• 2008 NSCAA First Team All-American
• 2008 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2008 MVC Player of the Year
• 2008 MVC Tournament MVP
• 2007 Second Team All-MVC
• 2004 Freshman All-American (College Soccer News)
• 2004 Third Team All-Big East

Miscellaneous:

• Creighton was 19-0-0 over the last two years when Gotsmanov tallied a goal or an assist
• Played his freshman year at St. John’s
• Father Sergey, played for the Soviet Union at the 1988 European Champships and professionally for such clubs as FC Dinamo Minsk (RUS) and Southampton (ENG)
• Older brother Sasha was a star forward at Rhode Island and played one season for the Colorado Rapids

Draft Pick Profile: Ryan Maxwell

Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Home: Clarendon, Jamaica
Born: September 1st, 1983
College: University of Tampa (Div II)
Drafted: 1st round, 15th overall

Honors:

• 2008 NSCAA/adidas Senior College Men’s Scholar All-American
• 2008 First Team All-SSC
• 2007 Second Team All-SSC
• 2007 Second-team NSCAA All-South Region

International:

• Former member of the Jamaican U-20 National Team

Miscellaneous:

• Played three seasons at the University of Tampa after transferring from San Jacinto Junior College after his freshman year.
• Totaled 16 goals and 14 assists in 55 career games for the Spartans
• Citizen of Jamaica who will apparently count as an International Player

Draft Pick Profile: Kevin Alston

Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Weight: 150
Home: Silver Spring, MD
Born: May 5th, 1988
College: Indiana University
Drafted: 1st round, 10th overall

Honors:

• 2008 First Team All-Big Ten
• 2008 Second Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region
• 2007 Second Team All-Big Ten
• 2005 PARADE Magazine High School All-American
• 2004 NSCAA High School All-American

International:

• 2007 Pan Am Games (Brazil)
• U.S. U-17 National Team

Miscellaneous:

• Broke his leg in the Quarterfinals of the 2005 U-17 World Championships against the Netherlands
• Injury history includes a broken leg, two sports hernias, multiple stress fractures, and four surgeries

MLS SuperDraft Running Diary

I was planning on using this really cool live blog/chat application that I’ve seen used by other web sites, but for some reason, I can’t get it to work with this template. That’ll teach me to wait until the last minute, huh?

So instead, it’s on to the MLS SuperDraft Running Diary.  Do I have to send royalties to Bill Simmons?  Bill, you’re welcome to half of all the money that this post generates for RevsNet.  Just don’t hold your breath waiting for that check.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to add a comment below, or e-mail them to me at revsnet@gmail.com

SuperDraft Thoughts: Part 2

My final thoughts on this year’s SuperDraft, now less than 24 hours away…

• He’s yet to play a game in the league, and Steve Zakuani might already be the most overpaid player in the league this side of Marcello Gallardo.  If Steven Goff’s report is accurate, he’ll make more in his first year than Brian McBride, Chris Rolfe, Pat Noonan, Kenny Cooper, Edson Buddle, Chad Barrett, and Daniel Dichio.

SuperDraft Thoughts: Part 1

Admittedly, I’m not as up on the college game as I used to be.  Funny how a 12-month old daughter cuts down on the amount of time you can spend driving all over New England to watch college soccer.  But that doesn’t mean I’m completely out of the loop.

A few random thoughts leading up to Thursday’s draft: