2012 MLS Player Combine: Day One Thread
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 6, 2012 2:19 PM PST
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PrintThe first games of the MLS Combine are being held today, the four-day showcase of potential MLS talent ahead of the MLS Superdraft. Notable participants in the first match included defender Matt Hedges, whom many Portland Timbers fans hope will be available for the eighth pick, as well as striker Darren Mattocks, who is widely considered one of the top three players in the Superdraft.
I watched a little of the first game during my lunch break today, and I have to say, Darren Mattocks did not disappoint. He made some good runs and did well to control the ball in dangerous areas. Defenders are more difficult to judge, since defense requires so much coordination and teamwork, both of which are obviously tough to bring together on day one. But Hedges did get up well for some timely headers on his end of the field.
One additional player I was impressed with was Eder Arreola of UCLA, whose touch on the ball was impeccable. He didn't show a ton of speed but easily got around defenders, putting himself in dangerous areas.
Game 2 is in progress as I write; I figured we could use a forum to discuss ongoing developments. Has anyone been watching the proceedings today? Care to share your observations?
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The First Game
I was really impressed with Aubrey Perry from South Florida. Had size and speed and really did well for the most part as a Right Back. He did have his bad moments.
No one is projecting him anywhere in the draft so we could possibly pick him up as a second rounder, he is not first round material.
Hedges looked good in the first game but did get burned once by a speedy player.
Rowe looked out of sorts and really didn’t impress me much.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
No goals in game 2
I didn’t get a chance to watch it, but it sounds like both keepers were impressive. Would the Timbers want to bring on another young keeper, though?
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
Honestly
No, I would say they should bring in a Veteran but not someone who is a #1.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
Can any of you tell me if Dwyer saw any action at all?
We over at Dynamo have been salivating at the possibility of a Bruin / Dwyer tandem up-front, and I’m curious if he happened to see any action.
-- "...I was sick, napping, and then woke up and came to the computer to read a note from the Gingered Angel of Doom..." Martek - Dynamo Theory Blog
He did
He’s on the “adiZero” side and he played, but he doesn’t show up much in the highlights posted on mlssoccer.com, overshadowed as he was by Enzo Martinez.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 7, 2012 10:41 AM PST up reply actions
MLS has a mock draft up.
Definitely not much consensus. The three experts have the Timbers taking Mallace, Silva and Berry. They have Hedges going 6th, 13th and 32nd.
volatilelyle.com
6th and 32nd???
at least NBA mock drafts are normally in the same ball park, lol
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Jan 7, 2012 6:51 PM PST up reply actions
"experts"
Borg and Saghini both have the Timbers taking a non-GA player while Andrew Jean-Baptiste is still available. To me that’s an unfathomable scenario on multiple levels. Neither of them seems to see much value in players outside of their goal scoring abilities.
When I write, I write for the Timbers. Contributing Editor of Stumptown Footy
by Andrew Wheeler on Jan 7, 2012 7:58 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, but...
It is much easier to predict how players will transition to the pro game in non-soccer sports as well as what a team will be looking for in terms of depth.
Plus, just because a player is GA does not mean that they are the best player available. Last season saw the last GA player taken by the Sounders with the 20th pick (which the timbers traded them).
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Jan 7, 2012 8:15 PM PST up reply actions
Not only that
A significant amount of GA’s don’t play a significant amount of minutes.
I believe the highest GA class to date is 2008 with the players in the class playing in 55 percent of the minutes they have played since being drafted. 55% is the high for these classes, imagine what some of the other classes look like. I don’t know the numbers but if someone told me 50% of the GA contracts leave the league after 5 years I would not be surprised.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
That said...
I am fairly certain that players with Project 40/Generation Adidas contracts have stuck around longer on average than other players brought into the league through the draft.
Contributing Editor for Stumptown Footy
by William Conwell on Jan 7, 2012 11:49 PM PST up reply actions
True
But just shows you how much of a gamblet it really is.
Contributing editor to Stumptown Footy the Portland Timbers SBN blog.
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