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As the 2014 MLS Draft is almost underway, 19 teams will be looking to make a splash and find that hidden gem that will be part of a MLS Cup winning season. MLS Mock Drafts have been released and updated as the MLS combine is coming to an end.
With the arrival of Frank Klopas, Matt Jordan will not be alone but it does not undermine all the hard work he has put in , since the last draft. But as the club is coming back with 21 players for 2014, getting ''cap-friendly players'' in the Draft will be key to the financial success of the club and continuity on the pitch.
It's important to consider the MLS Draft as a player acquisition tool for a team. Don't get fooled by the ''Super'' adjective or by the hype generated by mock drafts and such. It just means that the Draft is taken seriously enough to get the best players possible to help your team.
Sporting Kansas City has been claimed as the King of the Draft, after winning the 2013 MLS Cup with draftees like Graham Zusi and Matt Besler. It also means that Sporting is a damn good club, backed up by a damn good organization. Peter Vermes symbolizes the pragmatic no non-sense manager/coach who understands the league and what happens outside the league. ( international signings,young hidden gems such as Oriol Rosell, etc..)
Now you ask, when are you going to talk about the Montreal Impact? Permettez-moi monsieur
Frank Klopas' arrival is no coincidence when you look at his profile. Marco Schallibaum came without any knowledge of the MLS draft nor was the club interested in his input. Klopas will definitely have a much bigger input in the Draft and can actually help the club in making decisions for the future. But he still has the mission to win MLS games, make the playoffs and aim for the MLS Cup.
Most mock drafts are predicting that the Impact will draft a defender at the #10 position in the first round. As this draft is is described as having a deep pool of talented defenders, it would make sense to see Montreal strengthen its back-line.
After being left orphan by Alessandro Nesta's retirement, the back-line needs help and Klopas has a knack to find good MLS-ready defenders (Jalil Anibaba and Austin Berry). The fact remains that the club will need to pick the best available player and sign him to a cap-friendly contract.
Does this mean that the Impact are doomed or lucky enough to sign a Generation Adidas player?
Most probably but the fact remains, the Impact need to draft the right players that will fit the club's needs and its capacity to develop them.
The MLS Draft is a tool to get players to help your team. You might win the lottery and have one of those players in your starting eleven for the next 5 years. But until then, the Montreal Impact need to surround those players correctly, trust them and give them enough playing time to actual assess them correctly.
Isn't funny that you can have the same speech with Academy players? or for any other club?
Get players however you want but get good players. It seems obvious and simple to say but then you see what clubs have done and not done in MLS and elsewhere.
Bon Draft!!
