MLS Draft: Open Thread for 2012 Madness
by HotTimeInOldTown on Jan 12, 2012 9:54 AM CST
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The 2012 MLS SuperDraft will start today at 11:00 AM CST. There have been rumors of trades taking place but so far every team has stayed pat. If you have missed some of our pre-draft coverage, be sure to check out how teams have fared in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference between 2008-2011. Frank Klopas was kind enough to give James Coston and Tweed Thornton some time earlier this week and said the Fire are looking for the "best player available" as opposed to last year when they drafted for need.
Ryan Sealock gave a little draft history, a little draft preview, and asked readers what they would like to see the Chicago Fire do with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. The majority with 70% of the vote selected 'Best player available regardless of position' matching the Fire's reported draft strategy. Tweed Thornton participated in SB Nation's mock draft on Sunday and broke down the likely targets for the No. 9, No. 23, and No. 28 picks. Content after the break will be updated on a regular basis. Readers that log in will of course enjoy the 'live' feature that automatically updates comments without refreshing the page. Hot Time In Old Town writers James Coston and Gregg Mixdorf will be reporting live from the draft floor and hopping in the comments. Draft updates will also come out via Twitter at @JamesCoston and @merwin_6, and the main account @HotTimeOldTown. Let the games begin.
UPDATE
First Round
Second Round
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On site from press row
James and I are here. Should be an interesting day.
by Gregg Mixdorf on Jan 12, 2012 10:02 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Press room is packed
Big day for the league. Very exciting.
--
James Coston
December 2010 Graduate - Strategic Communication (Emphasis in Public Relations)
University of Missouri - School of Journalism
"And that hit me. I was like, I've got to do the right thing. I can't tell God to wait on me." - Chase Hilgenbrinck
Chicago Fire team writer Jeff Crandall's 'The Draft Series'
Highlighting Jalil Anibaba
Highlighting Sean Johnson
Highlighting Patrick Nyarko
Frank Klopas and the Chicago Fire have picked up a projected starter for 2012 in three of the last four drafts. Great series from Jeff Crandall this week.
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by HotTimeInOldTown on Jan 12, 2012 10:09 AM CST reply actions
What’s the weather like down in Kansas City? Chicago just got hit with that snow storm the weather forecasts were going crazy about.
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 10:33 AM CST reply actions
it’s cold and windy now. Last night was TERRIBLE driving in.
--
James Coston
December 2010 Graduate - Strategic Communication (Emphasis in Public Relations)
University of Missouri - School of Journalism
"And that hit me. I was like, I've got to do the right thing. I can't tell God to wait on me." - Chase Hilgenbrinck
by James Coston on Jan 12, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions
Snowing in Iowa too...
windy and cold. Wish I was at the draft…
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Wow, first big trade breaking...
Kenny Cooper to NYRB. Reported that NYRB sending 2013 1st rd. pick and large amount of allocation $ to the Timbers. WOW.
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As many are saying, tons of forwards in New York...
since Agudelo can’t do anything to get playing time, I wonder if a huge trade is in the works there too?
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 10:48 AM CST up reply actions
And James is saying head coach Hans Backe’s not even there? What a club.
Maybe he thinks this is a U.S. Open Cup game?
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
Wow, how does he still have a job??
Especially when he pretty much runs a talent like Agudelo out of town?
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 11:01 AM CST up reply actions
Wenger goes 1st...
thought it would have been Mattocks
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Wegner won the Hermann Trophy (college soccer’s version of the Heisman)
Thought it would be Mattocks too but defender Marsch taking a defender shouldn’t be too much of a surprise now that I think about it.
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions
True, but he has been used as a forward too...
guessing Marsch likes the versatility? Not everyday you try your defender up top and he turns into a goal scoring machine…
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 11:15 AM CST up reply actions
Mattocks goes #2
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Kelyn Rowe to the Revs at #3
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Thought the Revs might trade that pick...huh
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
Will TFC trade #4?
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And TFC keeps their pick...
Luis Silva goes #4
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So far so good. Let’s see more midfielders taken.
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 11:26 AM CST reply actions
Chivas pick Casey Townsend at 5...
damn, would have liked to see him go to the Fire.
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Guessing we go defender with our pick
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I'd like to see Estridge
If you don't have a card, you're not playing hard.
by Nick Fedora on Jan 12, 2012 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
I am thinking he is our pick now more and more
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 11:31 AM CST up reply actions
SJ goes with Sam Garza at #6
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And DC takes Nick DeLeon at #7
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He would have been a nice selection for Chicago. Left midfielder, lots of talent. Could have come in right away.
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 11:37 AM CST up reply actions
True...
ESPN guys questioning his durability tho
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
#8 up next, then us!
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Can hear Timber Army in the background right now..
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Can hear Timber Army in the background right now..
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Timbers take Andrew Jean-Baptiste
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Here we go Fire fans...
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Section 8 in full voice and sounding great
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We should get a great player here
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 11:43 AM CST reply actions
And we pick Austin Berry...
huh??
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Didn't expect that but instantly fortifies the back line
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I know nothing about him
On TV they only said he’s a defender — where has he played? I saw in the SBI draft he went 12, so I’m guessing he’s at least well rated. And Twellman said Berry went up in his eyes after the combine.
He is a CB...
big, physical, good in the air. I am guessing this means he will be battling Cory Gibbs for a starting spot? I don’t think we should move Jalil back to RB, he is better in the middle.
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks for the info
One thing that didn’t cross my mind came up in an MLS post-pick video with Berry: he’s apparently really strong in the air on both ends of the field. I don’t know the exact number of how many corners the Fire had without scoring a goal last year, but having somebody with some aerial attack could be great.
I am racking my brain trying to think of the last time we scored with a header off a corner kick...
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
I think there was maybe one...
….sometime. But I can’t remember when. Maybe Anibaba when he got that brace at the end of the season? And there was Gibbs’ header against Man U off a free kick. But I’m really reaching here.
Now let's concentrate on wing...
not sure there will be a forward left worth taking by the time we pick again.
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Will pop back on in a bit, gotta sign off for now
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Chicago Fire select Austin Berry with the No. 9 pick
Austin Berry is a 6’2, 180 pound center back from the University of Louisville. He played for the Chicago Fire’s PDL team in 2010. He was at Louisville at the same time current Fire Strength & Conditioning Coach Tony Jouaux was there.
The technical staff is very very familiar with this player. Frank Klopas wasn’t joking when he said he would take the best player available. This is a long-term move with an eye for making Berry and Jalil Anibaba a potential pairing in the future.
This makes sense because you have a historically fragile Cory Gibbs, Kwame Watson-Siriboe who hasn’t shown he can cut it yet (might never), and two center backs who are internationals in Josip Mikulic and Yamith Cuesta. Ideally it would be best to have two domestic pillars in defense that can be with the team for the next 4-5 years. This also makes it even more likely Kwame will be cut or traded. The same goes for Cuesta and Mikulic with Mikulic being the one who will likely stay and compete with Berry for the No. 3 central defender.
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 11:56 AM CST reply actions
Don't like the Berry pick
CB was literally the position we need help with the least.
Could have used a LB there...
I get the best player available strategy too. But sometimes you pass over holes to get that player. I think Berry will be very good with us and see him pairing with Jalil, as Tweed said. However, Austin is said to be MLS ready, but we still have Gibbs and Mikulic when healthy. There isn’t room for everyone.
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Fortunately,
Estridge is still on the board. We pick #23, right?
Yes, #23 and #28...
not sure we needed to take two defenders before but we still need a true LB I think. Then maybe a winger since we definitely wrote off strikers with our first pick.
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
Polack is still there too
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
It could be that Frank thinks he can learn to play LB. It also could be that they would like to unload one of our int’l CBs for a less expensive and more longterm backup/replacement.
That is a distinct possibility...
especially if we get rid of an international player, which would open up an int’l spot. In case we have another signing up our sleeve before the season begins.
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
Wouldn’t mind seeing that happen, especially if it were someone like Salpigidis. But there’s a lot that would have to go down before that is anything more than a wish.
Don't think Salpigidis is coming
He was interviewed and mentioned a couple leagues that were interested. That list didn’t include the MLS.
Chicago Fire’s #23 pick is Lucky Mkosana – just miss out on Chris Estridge who was selected #21 and Tyler Polak who was selected #22.
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As long as these guys are talented I could care less about who drafting for need. Our needs are strictly for depth and aren’t giant gaping holes like they were last year.
Good point...
but…. dang, some left back cover would be nice. Either that or give Pari more of a chance to contribute.
If you don't have a card, you're not playing hard.
depth can be acquired via trades at the end of camp.
We have a glut of CB’s. Most likely someone is going to dealt for some cover.
by Gregg Mixdorf on Jan 12, 2012 1:08 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Help me turn this green by ‘recing’ it
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by Tweed Thornton on Jan 12, 2012 1:23 PM CST up reply actions
Rec'd...
I have to agree with Gregg given how the draft shaped out. We have too many CB’s. I am afraid Jalil will be moved back to RB, which I don’t want to see happen. So someone has to go. I was a bit disappointed with our picks upon initial reaction, but looking at the whole picture, not too bad of a draft I don’t think. Would have like to snag a winger, but that can be a need for another day. If we keep Pappa all season then we can look at that with next year’s draft maybe.
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions
Chicago Fire’s #28 pick is Hunter Jumper. 6’2 LB from Plano, TX.
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Hope the injuries don't become a problem.
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by Brian J. Leung on Jan 12, 2012 1:31 PM CST up reply actions
Me too...
I really do like the pick, hope he can stay healthy.
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by Ryan Sealock on Jan 12, 2012 1:45 PM CST up reply actions
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