The not-so-Superdraft

The MLS Superdraft is tomorrow and I haven’t written anything about it. No mock drafts. No rundown of the top prospects. No trade scenarios. Why? Because it doesn’t really matter, that’s why.

As much as the MLS execs try to convince fans otherwise, with mock drafts, combine reports and scouting videos, the MLS Superdraft isn’t comparable to the NFL draft as much as it is comparable to (yuck) the MLB draft. Occasionally, you get undiscovered gems of sparkling talent, but more often than not, you get semi-serviceable guys ruined by college soccer coaches or pathetic practice fillers.

Need more convincing. Ok, let me put on my Mel Kiper hairdo hat and give you a rundown of Superdraft successes and failures in the past seven years:

2000
With the number one overall pick in the 2000 MLS Superdraft, the MetroStars select … Steve Shak. Shak played exactly 38 games in his MLS career. He was traded halfway through his second season with the MetroStars. He recorded only a single minute in 2002 for Colorado. Despite the obvious bust that was Shak-fu, 2000 also included four standouts: Nick Garcia (recently traded by Kansas City for the number one pick in this year’s draft), Adin Brown, Carlos Bocanegra and Bobby Convey (who was actually taken with the last pick of the first round). Glancing at rounds 2-6, I counted only seven guys who made any impact for their teams, the majority of the names never saw significant minutes, if they played at all. DC and Columbus actually passed in round six, rather than taking some mediocre collegiate.

2001
With the number one overall pick in the 2001 MLS Superdraft, San Jose select … Chris Carrieri. Huh? This UNC grad got a lot of press in the build up to the Superdraft, similar to what they have been doing with Patrick Nyarko this year. He was supposed to be the second coming of Eric Wynalda (yes, someone actually suggested this; I didn’t make it up). After vowing to lead San Jose to MLS Cup glory, Carrieri was traded five games into the season to Colorado (note: San Jose did win it, just not with him). After playing three unproductive seasons, he was dropped from MLS. He currently plays for the Carolina Railhawks in USL, where he continues to suck. The only standouts in this draft were defensive (which is actually the case in most Superdrafts): Ryan Nelsen (DC-pk.4), Ryan Suarez (Dal-pk.7), and Jose Burciaga, Jr. (KC-pk.12). Bryan Namoff and Craig Waibel also were selected in later rounds. There were a couple of offensive sparks added to MLS in Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson, although their value in terms of national team productivity is debatable. And, hey New York fans, remember Rodrigo Faria? He was selected at the top of round two, before both Ching and Johnson. Ouch!

2002
With the number one overall pick in the 2002 MLS Superdraft, Dallas select … Chris Gbandi. Defense, defense, defense. Teams had more success drafting defensively, in part, because defensive skill develops faster than goal scoring. Putting aside the occasional phenom (i.e. Jozy Altidore), most young strikers struggle in their first year, especially coming out of college where the defenses they face aren’t anywhere near the caliber of the pros in MLS (see Chris Carrieri or Ali Curtis). You may have scored 100 goals at Lehigh University, but that means squat at the next level. Of course, if you draft someone who has already played overseas in a professional environment that changes things, as it did in 2002 when New England selected Taylor Twellman with the second pick. Double-T wasn’t getting significant PT in Germany prior to joining MLS, but he was training with professionals and playing with reserves, which battle-tested him and allowed him to develop a lot more quickly. Subsequently, after getting Twellman and Shalrie Joseph (pk.14), New England, along with DC, passed in Round 6 and 7.

2003
With the number one overall pick in the 2003 MLS Superdraft, DC United select … Alecko Eskandarian. United violated the young striker maxim the very next year, hoping that pedigree would matter more than experience…it didn’t. Esky has been passed around more than herpes at a free clinic. The talent his father demonstrated in the NASL never materialized in the son (although he does have a great sense of humor). In the entire 2003 draft, only two players significantly impacted the league: Ricardo Clark (NY, pk.2) and Pat Noonan (NE, pk.9). Don’t talk to me about Todd Dunivant or Nate Jaqua. They are role players and trade bait, not stars. Again, New England and DC made their annual passes in Round 6.

2004
With the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLS Superdraft, DC United select … Freddy Adu. After drafting Esky in the previous draft, the selection of Adu was United’s do-over and there was absolutely no way they could screw it up, especially since the fix was in. Adu wanted to play in DC, and guess who magically gets the first pick? Pat Noonan was taken again by Chicago. It must be the first time a player was drafted in consecutive drafts. Oh wait, I’m being told that this Noonan was just Chicago’s way of trying to jinx the other teams (“NOO-nan”). Along with Adu, national team star and poor-man’s Eminem, Clint Dempsey was taken by the Revs with the eighth pick. Other than that, there were a few current starters taken, but none of note. Although I do find it funny that 2004’s Mr. Irrevelent, Jeff Parke (pk.60), started 26 games for the Red Bulls last season.

2005
With the number one overall pick in the 2005 MLS Superdraft, Real Stupid Names (Salt Lake) select … Freddy Adu-lite -- aka Nikolas Besagno. Besagno was 16 when he was selected, and has averaged just fewer than three games a season. The jury’s out on the kid, so I won’t dog RSL for making him their first-ever selection. Plus, it isn’t a bad idea to consider youth club additions through the draft, rather than looking at it as a place to improve the present state of your club. Other notable names in 2005 were Brad Guzan (Chv, pk.2), Chad Barrett (Chi, pk.3) and Michael Parkhurst (NE, pk.9). Chris Rolfe was taken in Round 3, but he’s terribly overrated so I wouldn’t exactly call him a steal.

2006
With the number one overall pick in the 2006 MLS Superdraft, the MetroStars select … Marvell Wynne. Wynne (a player whom Bruce Arena inexplicably traded away) is a solid defender, but he hasn’t materialized into the kind of player that deserved to be picked first. Only two notable names in the first round: Sasha Kljestan (Chv, pk.5) -- regular readers will know him as a fixture on TYH’s MLS Best 11 -- and Dax McCarty (Dal, pk.6). One of the biggest steals in draft history came in Round 2 of 2006, when the MetroStars selected Jozy Altidore with the 17th overall pick. Chivas got a steal as well in defender Jonathan Bornstein in Round 4 (Chv, pk.37). Other than that, it was bench warmers and terrible players galore.

2007
With the number one overall pick in the 2007 MLS Superdraft, Toronto FC select … Maurice Edu. It is tough to gauge last year’s draft after only a season, but Edu certainly seems like a smart pick so far, as does Michael Harrington (KC, pk.3). Dane Richards, Adam Cristman, Ty Harden and Corey Ashe all showed some sparks but only time will tell for this draft class.

So taking trip down Superdraft memory lane, I’ve hoped you’ve learned a few things. First, the Superdraft yields only a handful of talent for the league, so therefore most teams leave without any significant improvement. Second, when in doubt, draft for defense and/or experience. And finally, most of the players selected will soon fall off the face of the earth.