MLS 2015 Mock Draft for Montreal Impact

If you asked me a couple of weeks ago who Frank Klopas should pick in this year draft, my answer would have been different. Since the biggest problem of the team was on defence, my choice would have been either Ramon Martin Del Campo or Skylar Thomas because they are big and solid defenders.

But with the recent signing of Bakary Soumare and Victor Cabrera along with defensive midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and Marco Donadel, I think it’s pretty fair to say that Montreal needs a forward. The best available forward, during SBNation's MLS Mock Draft, will be Khiry Shelton.

Shelton is the second best forward available to this year draft. I think Cyle Larin is #1 and it’s almost 100% guaranteed that he will be picked first. On almost every mock draft around the league, he is regarded a #1 pick.

So the question is: Why Khiry Shelton at #3?

Simple, because of the versatility he brings on the field.

First of all he is 6’3 and our main striker is only 5’10 in Jack McInerney so it’s something different. When Klopas played Marco Di Vaio and McInerney on the field at the same time, there was some chemistry problems because ,in my opinion , the two players had the same style and the same attributes.

I’m not saying that both were at the same level but the skills they bring to the field are on the same page. That’s why I think Shelton is a great fit for Montreal because with his height, he brings something different and that’s pretty important.

The head game is a problem for Montreal since their MLS debut so with a striker that tall, it gives another option to the midfielders or lateral defenders (fullbacks) who can cross the ball. This also makes the defense adjust to him and to the versatility he brings. Putting doubts in your opponent's mind usually helps in creating scoring chances.

That’s what versatility brings on the field and Shelton is that kind of player.

Also when we look closer at his stats from last year, it shows something pretty interesting. In 18 games, he scored 9 goals along with 12 assists. He can shoot and distribute the ball to someone else. He also put 30 shots on goal out of 54 shots taken. That's good for a percentage of 55.5%.

That's why the Impact and their management should take Shelton in this year draft like I've done for the SBNation MLS Mock Draft. They can't pass the chance to get a 6'3 striker even if they bring someone who can play the Violin from "Italia".