Young players flocking to D.C. & more: Freedom Kicks for 1/16/17

So, deep breath in, this first part has a lot in it.

MLS Draft 2017: D.C. United selects Maryland Terrapins defender Chris Odoi-Atsem (us): The team had a surprising amount of options in a crazy draft and got a good option. More on the rest of D.C. United’s day from us here. Along with that:

- Goff covers the pick and provides an Ian Harkes update (more on that in a second).

- The team interviews their first two picks here and here.

- Paul Tenorio gets Dave Kasper’s reaction on the good fortune of the first round.

- Friday’s Winners and Losers from Goal, MLS and Top Drawer Soccer.

- More on Eric Klenofsky (& how DK viewed him) from the Asbury Park Press.

Ian Harkes reportedly set to sign homegrown deal with D.C. United (us): So Ben Olsen got the # 3 (at worst) and # 10 prospects with the # 12 pick, but he hates young players.

Allocation money figures revealed for first time at 2017 SuperDraft (MLS): Kinda funny that they tout such brazen transparency, though I’ll note between this and the amounts revealed in the roster rules and CBA, if an enterprising member of the commentariat felt like doing some reverse engineering, have at it.

Sean Franklin gets engaged! (us): Mazel tov Sean!

Jose Guillermo Ortiz scores twice in Costa Rica debut (us): Based on this alone, we’re writing his name in for all the awards.

Paul Clement's Swansea City debut ends in disaster as Chelsea target Llorente fades at the Liberty (Wales Online): In sorta partner club news, with a new coach in Paul Clement (and a sword-falling/call to unity by Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan), Swansea City started fine, then things got disappointing, as they lost to Arsenal in a big way. Swans drop to last in the EPL table.

Inter Milan 3-1 Chievo Verona: Three Goal Second Half Secures the Win (Serpents of Madonnina): This one was closer than it had any right to be, as Ivan Perisic and Eder scored goals in the last five minutes for a nerazzuri win, their fifth in a row.

Seventeen coaches from U.S. WNT, MLS, USL, NASL and NWSL comprise second cohort of U.S. Soccer Pro Course (U.S. Soccer): Ben Olsen was the first, and another D.C. coach is the second.

Finally, congrats are in order to our own Caitlin Buckley:

Give her some kind words #online, or leave your praise below.