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Frank Klopas immediately identified gaps in the back-line and in the wide areas during his inaugural press conference in mid-december 2013. The ex-Chicago Fire head coach also holds the title of ''Director of Player Personnel'', which gives him final say on the first team.
His previous experience as technical director will weigh in a lot as Matt Jordan has been promoted to technical director of the club, which includes duties for the MLS SuperDraft.
Back to A.J Corrado, the young midfielder joined Indiana for the 2011 season and has been since an important player for the Hoosiers. He led them to the 2012 College Cup as as the Hoosiers took home their 8th NCAA title. Tagged as a playmaker, his defensive work has been praised lately while still filling out the important of distributing balls precisely.
You might say that Patrice Bernier can do that already but the Impact still needs to invest into the future. Even with Zakaria Messoudi (Academy Product) as an interesting option for the future, getting quality players from the draft that can contribute right now is a possibility.
Corrado is considered a a pure playmaker with a smart final pass which will give needed competition to Felipe Martins and better options for the team.
What the Impact will be looking for in the draft: Frank Klopas quickly identified the back-line as an area that needs to improve, especially since Alessandro Nesta retired. But the club is looking for some offensive help as the midfield options offensively are average at best. The Impact has been too predictable offensively and need a more mature system.
Who the experts say the Impact will pick: Either Ben Sweat or A.J. Cochrane as Zee Other Experts are mock-selecting central defenders for the Impact. With Karl W. Ouimette and Wandrille Lefevre looking for more MLS minutes, outside a real gem that becomes available at the draft, I do not see the Impact pick a defender in the 1st round.
Why I'm invariably wrong: The 2013 MLS SuperDraft is said to be one rich with quality central defenders. Klopas does have an eye to get quality young defenders as he took in Austin Berry and Jalil Anibaba , while he was with the Chicago Fire.
Why I'm smarter than the pundits: The Impact will take the best player available but Klopas' arrival might change that vision into picking all-around players that are ready physically and technically to play in the MLS. With 2 academy players pushing for to play at the back, Montreal will most likely get experience defenders if need be and Adrian Lopez will be back by March 2014 (knee surgery in August-September 2013).
Why not go for some offensive talent like A.J. Corrado?
Full Mock Draft results (click on player names to see the profiles)
First Round
Team | Blog | Pick |
1. D.C. United | Black and Red United | Patrick Mullins |
2. Philadelphia Union | Brotherly Game | Steve Neumann |
3. Vancouver Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Andre Blake |
4. Columbus Crew | Massive Report | Steve Birnbaum |
5. FC Dallas | Big D Soccer | Christian Dean |
6. Union | Brotherly Game | Marlon Hairston |
7. Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Damion Lowe |
8. Chicago Fire | Hot Time In Old Town | Grant Van De Casteele |
9. San Jose Earthquakes | Quake, Rattle and Goal | Eric Miller |
10. Montreal Impact | Mount Royal Soccer | A.J Corrado |
11. Colorado Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Schillo Tshuma |
12. New England Revolution | The Bent Musket | JJ Koval |
13. Seattle Sounders | Sounder at Heart | Aodhan Quinn |
14. LA Galaxy | LAG Confidential | Fifi Baiden |
15. Toronto FC | Waking the Red | AJ Cochran |
16. Houston Dynamo | Dynamo Theory | Mamadou Diouf |
17. Portland Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Reinaldo Brenes |
18. Real Salt Lake | RSL Soapbox | Ben Sweat |
19. Revolution | The Bent Musket | Marco Franco |
Second Round
Team | Blog | Pick |
20. Chivas USA | The Goat Parade | Enrique Cardenas |
21. Sounders | Sounder at Heart | Taylor Peay |
22. New York Red Bulls | Once a Metro | Pete Caringi |
23. Crew | Massive Report | Pedro Ribeiro |
24. Toronto FC | Waking the Red | Joey Dillon |
25. Union | Brotherly Game | Jared Watts |
26. Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Kevin Cope |
27. Union | Brotherly Game | Kyle Venter |
28. Earthquakes | Quake, Rattle and Goal | Mackenzie Pridham |
29. Impact | Mout Royal Soccer | Jimmy Ockford |
30. Whitecaps | 86 Forever | Nikita Kotlov |
31. Revolution | The Bent Musket | Victor Chavez |
32. Dynamo | Dynamo Theory | Kristopher Tyrpak |
33. Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Rafael Diaz |
34. Red bulls | Once a Metro | Alex Martinez |
35. Rapids | Burgundy Wave | Zach Bolden |
36. Timbers | Stumptown Footy | Mark Sherrod |
37. Impact | Mout Royal Soccer | Michael Calderon |
38. Sporting Kansas City | The Daily Wiz |
Romena Bowie |