D.C. United Elects To Pass In MLS Re-Entry Draft Round 1
by Martin Shatzer on Dec 5, 2011 9:45 PM EST
Email
Print
In a surprise to me but perhaps no one else, the first round of the second annual MLS Re-Entry Draft saw only three players get selected to join new teams. D.C. United was one of the majority of teams that elected to pass in this round of the RED.
Leading up to the draft, we had identified three players that United may choose to target in this round. As the draft grew closer though, a suspicion set in that Ben Olsen would not be taking anyone at all. Why? Because every player on the list cut by his previous team. Every player on the list was already unwanted at his current salary. Taking on a castoff isn't what great teams do. That's not how you build a championship team.
No need to rearrange the deck chairs, so to speak.
For example, if a guy like Pat Phelan doesn't appear to be an upgrade over Stephen King, and if he appears to have reached near the top of his MLS potential, selecting him would be irrelevant to what this team is trying to accomplish.
United has only 18 players on the current roster. They have plenty of room on the roster and plenty of room under the cap to make more moves. What they don't have though is plenty of time to start making moves. Training camp isn't far away. If D.C. can duplicate its 2011 success in the draft, in which the team added four solid contributors, that will be a great start. The rest of the additions will come from abroad.
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Borman
I believe that we would have taken Borman, had he been available at #6. Instead he went first at #2 overall, and we sat on our hands…
Sounds about right
Borman would have made some sense, though I will note that he might not fit Olsen’s stated preference for players with a winning mentality (if NYRB casts you aside and TFC opts not to keep you around, mentality may be part of the problem).
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Dec 6, 2011 4:58 PM EST up reply actions
Knowing those two teams,
… being discarded by either (let alone both) may actually be an indication that a player has too much of a winning mentality. They don’t stand for that in Jersey or Ontario.
Vamos United; Boiler Up
Support your local club.
Black & Red United
Following the De Ro recipe
Tony Tchani is probably going to be brilliant for Columbus next year.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Dec 6, 2011 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Second round of RED will be more active
I think you’re right that why would people take other people’s castoff for full price? We did once, and I think United is a bit scarred by that experience. It will be interesting to see how the market resets itself for certain people. Clyde Simms obviously deserves a team, but nobody seems inclined to pay him the same or more than 120K. Next Monday should be more exciting.
by HobbesLionheart on Dec 5, 2011 11:20 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Black And Red United
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
