ISN Opinions: National Soccer Media at Fault … Not at Fault

2012 MLS SuperDraft exposes the stretched coverage of college soccer

By Rudy Roediger

It’s no wonder the national media was hard on Luke Holmes surrounding the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. They look at his stats from Notre Dame College and wonder how bad the competition must be … lets be serious he scored 24 goals as a junior and an NAIA best 29 as a sophomore. When you compare those stats to “only scoring” five goals in 16 games for the University of Akron as a senior one can understand why Holmes endured such criticism from national media leading up to the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Kansas City.

The sarcasm is deep is because if the media compares the stats as though he played out wide at Notre Dame they should be talking about him as though he is not an MLS caliber player … how could they imagine a player who scored 70 goals in three seasons at a small school in Ohio to be a world-class player, let alone an MLS player if the positions were the same? Simply they should not, nor would they have any reason to. But the position he played at Notre Dame was strikingly different than what he played at Akron.

After spending two weeks working on the Mock SuperDraft and then spending four days and nights at the NSCAA Convention and SuperDraft I have found the national media is just that … national. Their knowledge about the college players even at a national prominent Akron are more than lacking. The issue is at the regional and local levels that players are not getting the exposure with video or commentary about the players outside of school website game reports. There is a true lack of knowledge about individual players and what their strengths and weaknesses and how those will translate at the MLS level. I don’t knock the major networks for not having a show dedicated to college soccer, however there is no such show, and there are not nearly enough games broadcasted to allow broadcasters and media to understand players.

So regardless of each media member’s ability to evaluate talent, it’s not their fault they do not understand how a player will translate at the MLS level. This being said, they still do not understand and have little or perhaps no understanding that Holmes is not a winger. Ives Galarcep, one of the best in the soccer journalism business, listed the three-year standout at Notre Dame College and senior at Akron as a winger … not because that is the best position for Holmes at the MLS level but rather that is where he played his one season for the Zips as he supported and supplied the second overall pick forward Darren Mattocks with eight assists as the sophomore talisman scored 21 goals for the Zips before earning a Generation adidas contract with MLS.

In his three years under Head Coach Michael “Mac” McBride at Notre Dame Holmes scored a program best 70 goals playing in the middle of the pitch. He played up front as a striker for the first two seasons earning American Mideast Conference Freshman and Player of the Year and AMC Player of the Year. As a junior he moved to center mid where he scored 24 goals and led the Falcons to their first National Championship Final with a 23-1-0 record. Holmes was best when he was in front of goal. His goal total shows his ability to score at the NAIA level, but what does that mean to a national media that has probably never watched the level of the NAIA and many of them would have to Google the acronym to know what it is? To them it means nothing.

This was Holmes’s struggle before the MLS SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft with the national media who said he was not athletic enough, was too small, and always tried to cut-in from his wide position at the MLS Player Combine. Sadly for the Oldham, England, native he was forced to play out of position once again … did the scouts and technical staff with the combine even know his strengths as a forward and goal scorer?

Now Holmes played a season at Akron and had the exposure of playing in the MLS Player Combine, think about the lack of knowledge the media has about Dan Knight and Travis Wall, two other players who also went undrafted in the in the SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft. Wall, the Division III National Player of the Year, led Ohio Wesleyan to their second National Championship with 19 goals and 15 assists. His 2.12 points per game was good for 13th best in the nation. Wall also played four seasons for Dr. Jay Martin, whose 608-115-49 record make him the winningest college soccer coach in the history of the NCAA, regardless of division.

Knight, a center back and three-year captain for Notre Dame was a surprise inclusion to the official MLS Draft Eligible list provided to the media at the SuperDraft in Kansas City. It made people wonder how a player who didn’t know they were eligible for the draft would be just that. The morning before the Supplemental Draft, Susan Marschall the Coordinator for New Media for the MLS stated, “A player can be named to the draft eligible list by having an MLS team request that player to be added.”

So both players were on the radar of at least one club if not several and when looking at the players selected in the Supplemental Draft it strikes me as shocking that these players, along with the aforementioned Holmes, would go through 114 picks without being selected. It leaves plenty of room for questioning the MLS scouting departments, but also with the national media knowing nothing about their abilities and the level of competition that each player succeeded at makes one question how they are “experts”?

Knight led the Falcons to an outstanding 77-7-3 record over his four year career. That record also includes a program best 36 game regular-season unbeaten streak that began after dropping a 2-1 decision to Roberts Wesleyan on Oct. 27, 2009. As a junior in the program’s final season as a member of the NAIA he led them, along with Holmes to their first NAIA National Championship final appearance in 2010. Knight was instrumental in a program-best 32 shutouts in 84 matches while leading NDC to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. Prior to his arrival on College Road, Knight earned 26 caps with the Welsh U16, U17, and U19 national teams.

Did the media check to see that Holmes finished second in the PDL scoring in 2010 with 32 points (14 goals, 4 assists) while leading Forest City London to the Central Conference Semifinals? Why you might ask is the PDL relevant to comparing a player to his MLS readiness? Over the last three years the PDL has produced 111 alumni, equal to 70 percent of the draft selections from the MLS SuperDraft. This year 26 of the 38 players selected in the SuperDraft – more than two-thirds, with six of the top 10 including the first overall selection, having PDL experience. The Chicago Fire Premier had a record 11 alumni selected and Holmes’s 2011 PDL team, Michigan Bucks had a duo with Lucky Mkosana and Babayele Sodade were both taken in the second round, going to the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders respectively. T

he USL’s PDL continues to offer the opportunity for growth and development during the summer as players work toward their goals of turning professional. For those players coming from the 70 teams spread through nine divisions that cover North America the PDL paid dividends.

So why has the national media not discovered this connection to players like Holmes. Holmes’s ability and skills didn’t go unnoticed by everyone. One team media member who coved both the MLS and Premier Development League said Holmes’s performances in the PDL reminded him of another Ohio-based player, Chris Rolfe. Rolfe a Kettering, Ohio, native made 123 appearances for the Chicago Fire scoring 36 goals. If Holmes can go onto have a career similar to the two-time Chicago Fire Golden Boot winner then the team that picks him up at this juncture, after he was skipped on the 114 picks that made up the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and subsequent Supplemental Draft, will be getting a true steal.

That steal could be in line with Steven Lenhart who totaled 38 goals and 12 assists in 61 collegiate games at NAIA Azusa Pacific University (Calif.). Lenhart was named to the was honored as the NAIA National Tournament’s Outstanding Offensive Player in 2006 and 2007 helping lead Azusa Pacific to the 2007 NAIA national title. Lenhart has gone onto make 83 appearances in the MLS scoring 19 goals for Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes. Holmes was named the NAIA National Tournament’s Most Valuable Player in 2010 along with the NAIA National Player of the Year while leading the Falcons to National Runners-up.

The media is at fault even though it’s not their fault. People go to the news sources for just that, news. If the information provided by broadcasters and writers covering the coming presidential election, NFL draft or Super Bowl were inaccurate, they would certainly lose their jobs. The national soccer media should look to add measures of “credibility” to their reporters and add to the pool or people reporting on the college game. It is impossible for the media to know every player, but they should have a much better understanding than they displayed this year when they spoke about players as if they had watched countless hours of match tape or sat in the stand taking notes. It seems to me that the media went off the hype surrounding a player or the lack there of.

For Holmes, Knight, Walls, and countless others there was little to no hype surrounding them. Who do we blame their respective local media, their coaches, or the national media for the lack of hype that kept them from being players the media could speak intelligently about?

The truth of the matter is the soccer media in the U.S. is stretched. As much as it pains soccer fans to say it, the game while growing is not a heavy hitter with sponsorship and advertising money. Thomas O’Toole, wrote an article that appeared in USA Today on April 22, 2010 the NCAA reached an 14-year $11 billion contract with CBS and Turner Sports. Roger Pielke Jr. wrote a New York Times article on Nov. 24, 2011 that pointed out the NCAA’s sale of football television rights soared from $50 million to nearly $11 billion in 30 years when they signed with the most recent contract. Those staggering figures allow networks to hire individuals who focus on the college game.

For soccer it’s different. The soccer media in the U.S. are responsible for not only covering the MLS, but also the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, international tournaments, and then there is college soccer. So it’s not media’s fault for having a lack of expertise in the area where there is the least amount of sponsorship and advertising revenue … figures on Major League Soccer’s television contract are a reported $10 million. That’s over $10 billion less than the NCAA contracts for football and basketball respectively or over $21 billion less than the two contracts combined.

It’s not the fault of the media who passionately covers a game they love. Some of that passion needs to be turned over to some new knowledgeable reporters to assist the prominent national reporters and writers. It will be exciting to see Holmes, Knight, and Wall make the move to the professional game. There is no doubt they each have the ability on the field to do just that, regardless what the media writes or says. 

Samurai Sportswear Soccer Spotlight - January 2012

Central Ohio's Classics FC Lead the Way for the Future

By Gary L. Moody Jr.

The appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann to the head of the U.S. Men’s National Team has meant systematic changes to the youth game so that it can grow and develop from the bottom up.  Better youth players mean better national team players, which gives the American game a chance on the world stage. A new U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum, developed by Claudio Reyna, has put a premium on player development and training.

While some clubs cling to a “win at any cost” mentality, Classics FC in Central Ohio leads the charge in delivering this new curriculum using the best coaches at the earliest ages.

One of these coaches, Michael Furlong, has ties to Northeastern Ohio, having experienced great success at both the youth and high school level. 

As a player, Furlong was a top ODP player that went on to a successful career at Jackson HS and Mitchell College (CT). Later as a top high school coach, Furlong developed a great soccer program at Perry HS in Massillon, Ohio in addition to his responsibilities at Canton/Cleveland United.

Furlong’s success has continued at Classics FC, where his U-10 Girls squad has collected hardware and lots of it.  The Blue squad has won the Dublin Charity Cup twice along with the Cincinnati Fall Ball Tournament.  Furlong also led his team to 2nd place finishes in the MASC and MOSUL Tournaments.

But winning isn’t everything.  Furlong has turned his focus into developing players for the next level.  He values creative players with a high soccer IQ and great vision on the pitch. 

“It isn’t kick and chase and it’s not the Kentucky Derby,” Furlong stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “We want to outthink our opponents. An intelligent player is worth their weight in gold.”

An emphasis on foot skills prepares players to be comfortable on the ball.  He allows his players to make mistakes as individuals, but to learn from those mistakes as a team.  While the team is very competitive, they still value sportsmanship. 

“Win with class, lose with class, always act with class” is Furlong’s favorite quote. His players know it well, repeating it often to remind themselves of their real mission. That mission is to take pride in your club and community and at the same time to grow and develop as a player and person.

The team and the club as a whole is actually more like a family than anything else, a family that shares a love for the beautiful game.  Furlong tries to make his players aware of the global game and they have listened.  After a succession of quick passes turned into an opportunity on the attack, one of the players yelled to the sideline “Coach Mike, we looked like Barcelona.”

Barcelona’s Messi happens to be Mike’s favorite player along with Tottenham’s Luka Modric. 

However, Furlong’s knowledge is not limited to the sport in Europe.  He has an obvious fondness for the U.S. Men’s National Team and his favorite player growing up, the aforementioned Klinsmann.

“Klinsmann was efficient; there was no wasted movement on the field,” Furlong added.

Many in the soccer world are excited about the possibilities under the reign of Klinsmann. “He will produce a product that will open eyes and raise the awareness of the average sports fan,” Furlong continued.

Placing a premium on the technical development of players and building from the back were positives for Furlong when asked about the current national team program.

Furlong is well aware of the fact that Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, and Clint Dempsey won’t be around forever and we need to start thinking about the future now.  He sees Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury as leaders of the next generation of American superstars.  Both could step into a superstar role in the next few years. 

When asked about young Americans leaving college and going to Europe, Furlong called it a “quick fix for a long-term problem.” Simply put, he is in favor of getting the best talent coached by the best coaches and clubs. 
Some day because of Furlong and Classics FC, people will be talking about sending players to America to get the best the soccer world has to offer. 

The Samurai Sportswear Soccer Spotlight is a monthly feature that showcases the best of the best in the world of youth and high school soccer. This year-round coverage is made possible by the partnership between Samurai Sportswear USA and International Soccer Network, LLC.

The name Samurai has been part of sports industry since 1996. The globe-trotting Samurai International Sevens Rugby Union team was created by Terry Sands, the ex-England Sevens manager and current Samurai owner/director. We can boast that many famous names have played for the current team over the years and these players are responsible for spreading the word about the fresh, stylish kit they were wearing. Since those early days Samurai International Sportswear Limited has seen rapid growth and is now firmly established as one of the leading global multi-sport brands. We are proud of the fact that we have grown organically, are financially stable, profitable, and secure. As the brand developed, it started to climb the sporting ladder and this season Samurai is the “official kit supplier” to the Aviva Premiership Exeter Chiefs, Kent County Cricket Club, Glasmorgan CCC, the Loughbrough Lightning Super League Netball franchise, Tunisia Rugby Union, five of the clubs fighting it out in the English Rugby Union Championship, (Doncaster, Cornish Pirates, Plymouth Albion, Rotherham Titans, Birmingham & Solihull), the Welsh Rugby League, Accrington Stanley Football Club and a whole host of other professional and semi-professional clubs.

Samurai Sportswear USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of AthletiCorp Inc. and is the North American distributor for Samurai International. We have experienced an exciting year already with our recent two-year sponsorship renewal with Play Rugby USA and our sponsored rugby clinics presented by Breathe Rugby across the USA and internationally. Samurai Sportswear is devoted to aiding the growth of rugby in the USA and we are doing everything we can to support our youth players, assist the coaches and referees that help cultivate the game and are creating a large impact on the development of rugby in the USA at multiple levels. We supply many of the top clubs across the country including the Chicago Griffins, Penn State University Men’s and Women’s rugby clubs, Xavier High School (NY), the Olympic Club, New York Athletic Club, University of Wisconsin and many more. As we expand our efforts in the United States we continue to provide high quality sports apparel for more sports. This past summer Samurai Sportswear USA sponsored the Samurai Sportswear Soccer Combine for high school soccer players in Canton, Ohio. We expect to have several soccer teams kitted out in Samurai gear in 2012. Like Samurai on Facebook and follow Samurai on Twitter.  

The Pelé Sports Fan Ambassador Club - January 2012

By Gary L. Moody Jr.

A bond between father and son is strong. A bond that includes the beautiful game is even stronger. Whether you are talking about Slavko Kljestan placing a ball in the crib of sons Gordon and Sacha or a local father sharing his love of the game with his teenage son, the story is one that needs to be told.

North Canton’s Pete and Tyler Walters are a special pair, a father and son that give it their all in all things soccer. Tyler, a promising freshman goalkeeper at St.Vincent-St. Mary’s High School in Akron (OH), spends countless hours every week honing his skills on the pitch. At his side is his father, who does anything and everything to help his son get to the next level, collegiate soccer.

“He has always been there for me,” Tyler stated in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. “He supports me in everything I do. He says he’s my biggest fan.”

Pete started playing when he was 7. He stopped playing when he was 12 when his interest turned to baseball and hockey, two popular sports in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Pete returned to the beautiful game when his young son showed great talent at the sport at a young age.

“I was thrilled for him and supported him,” Pete added. “I told him that anything we do, we are going to do 110%.”

This rekindled Pete’s love for soccer and turned him into a student of the game: watching, reading, and focusing on all aspects of the sport. As an adult, he had a greater appreciation for the game and turned his focus to tactics and formations and the next obvious step, coaching. Within 3 years, Pete created his own premier youth club with 5 teams and 86 players.

He shared his love of Arsenal with his players and their parents. Arsenal was a great example of doing things right, possessing the ball and always playing forward. Pete and Tyler share a love for Thierry Henry with Tyler often wearing #14 in honor of the current NYRB striker.

Pete shared his support for Robin Van Persie, but was quick to point out his disappointment on Samir Nasri’s move to Manchester City.

“With him chasing the dollars, I watch him but no longer support him the way I did. His skill, talent, and vision are unbelievable.”

Living in NE Ohio makes Pete and Tyler natural fans of the University of Akron men’s soccer program and Caleb Porter. Porter plays an attractive style of attacking soccer, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

“He just oozes that level of commitment long-term,” Pete continued. ”It’s not just wanting to win this week or this season. He’s laying the foundation that will be in place for some time.”

It is clear that this father and son combination exemplify all that is good about the game: bringing people together, working hard, and sharing a common bond. It is our pleasure to have Pete and Tyler Walters as the first Pelé Sports Fan Ambassadors of 2012.

Pelé is unquestionably the world’s greatest soccer ambassador, spreading his love of the Beautiful Revolution wherever he goes. He has become the game’s strongest supporter and has been the source of inspiration for millions around the globe. From the streets of New York to the fields of South Africa, Pelé Sports is a name synonymous with passion, creativity and innovating the game the way it should be played. A world without Pelé would be a world without soccer with millions missing out on the joy and the Beautiful Revolution we all love in this game.

Today’s supporters carry on the prestigious legacy of Pelé, growing and promoting the game in their own communities and passing the torch to a new generation of footballers. Mainstream media outlets have failed to give a face to these fans, people who do extraordinary things everyday and have stories that deserve to be told.

Whether it is an Iraqi War veteran who is a passionate supporter of his favorite MLS side or a student making an impact on the college game, the concept of ambassadorship is alive and well here in North America. Today’s supporters are not hooligans or fanatics or even überfans, but rather gatekeepers to the true spirit of the beautiful game.

International Soccer Network, in conjunction with Pelé Sports, plans to celebrate the contributions of North American soccer fans every month with a new series of feature articles.

MLS SuperDraft Results and Analysis

ROUND 1

1. Montreal - DF Andrew Wenger (GA), Duke Univ.
ISN Analysis - Our own Rudy Roediger was certainly right on this one.  Wenger’s versatility makes him a starter somewhere on the pitch for the Impact on Day 1.  One of the MLS scouts we talked to months ago said Wenger was the best player in the draft and Montreal certainly agreed. 

2. Vancouver - FW Darren Mattocks (GA), Univ. of Akron
ISN Analysis - Speed kills in the pro game and Mattocks is dangerous in that department. He won’t contribute much defensively, but Mattocks is the best pure striker to come through the draft in years.  No wonder European clubs wanted to steal the Jamaican away from MLS. 

3. New England - MF Kelyn Rowe (GA), UCLA
ISN Analysis - We have some mixed feelings about this one and we weren’t the only ones.  Scouts we talked to placed Rowe anywhere from #2 overall to the 2nd round.  It is certainly attractive to have a GA prospect on the roster, but it may turn out to be a reach.   

4. Toronto - MF Luis Silva, Univ. California, Santa Barbara
ISN Analysis - TFC had needs and Silva certainly filled one of them. He will improve the midfield immediately and become the player Julian de Guzman never was.   

5. Chivas USA - FW Casey Townsend, Univ. of Maryland
ISN Analysis - Townsend was a nice pickup here. Chivas needed someone to put it in the back of the net and Townsend certainly can do that.  He is the future of the Chivas USA attack considering that Angel and Moreno are not getting any younger. 

6. San Jose - FW Sam Garza (GA), Univ. California, Santa Barbara
ISN Analysis - Garza will make Chris Wondolowski more dangerous.  Is it possible for Wondo to score more goals in 2012? Yeah probably.  Garza will help create opportunities and score a handful of goals in the process. 

7. D.C. - MF Nick DeLeon, Univ. of Louisville
ISN Analysis - DeLeon is dangerous, no doubt about that.  But pairing him with 2011 MVP Dwayne DeRosario may give opposing managers headaches.  Great selection by Ben Olsen and his team. 

8. Portland - DF Andrew Jean-Baptiste (GA), Univ. of Connecticut
ISN Analysis – Portland gets some help on the backline from a player with tons of potential.  UNC’s Matt Hedges looked to be the first defender selected a few weeks back, but he didn’t have the greatest showing at the combine. 

9. Chicago - DF Austin Berry, Univ. of Louisville
ISN Analysis - Louisville and Ken Jolla have a great reputation when it comes to producing MLS quality players.  Berry is a good value at #9 and should fill a need for the Fire.   

10. Columbus - FW Ethan Finlay, Creighton Univ.
ISN Analysis - The Crew needed a striker after sending Andres Mendoza and Jeff Cunningham packing.  Finlay had the best showing of any player at the combine and this helped him move up the draft.  He may be given an opportunity to start immediately as the Crew’s international signings get adjusted to MLS. 

11. FC Dallas - DF Matt Hedges, Univ. of North Carolina
ISN Analysis - The combine raised doubts about Hedges and his ability to mark faster attackers.  He went from the #1 defender overall to a risky pick even at #11. He could be a “boom or bust” player for FC Dallas.   

12. Toronto - DF Aaron Maund, Univ. of Notre Dame
ISN Analysis - Teams needed defenders and Maund was the next best choice for the TFC backline.  It will be interesting how TFC fares in 2012 and what changes to formation and personnel might still be headed their way. 

13. Philadelphia - FW Chandler Hoffman (GA), UCLA
ISN Analysis - One of the steals of the draft, Peter Nowak couldn’t look past Hoffman this late in the draft.  The Union’s attack gets even better with Adu, Mwanga, McInerney, and now Hoffman in the fold. 

14. Colorado - FW Tony Cascio, Univ. of Connecticut
ISN Analysis - Really thought Colorado would look for Conor Casey’s long-term replacement here, which they did in selecting Cascio.  The UConn product could be a star midfielder or forward for many years to come.  Getting to play with Casey and Cummings will certainly speed up his development.  

15. Seattle - DF Andrew Duran, Creighton Univ.
ISN Analysis - Not the selection we thought the Sounders would make, but the draft is certainly like that every year.  Seattle knows what they are doing and must have seen something special in Duran.  We honestly liked Polak better, but that is why we are journalists and not in someone’s front office. 

16. Kansas City - FW Dom Dwyer (GA), Univ. of South Florida
ISN Analysis - The only player faster than Mattocks falls into Sporting’s lap. Dwyer is lightning quick and can score in a number of ways.  SKC now has Dwyer, Bunbury, and Sapong. They are going to be scary good moving forward in the attack. 

17. Real Salt Lake - MF Enzo Martinez (GA), Univ. of North Carolina
ISN Analysis - We want to go on the record saying this is the steal of the draft.  Everyone was high on Martinez from ESPN’s Taylor Twellman to GolTV’s Phil Schoen to a handful on MLS clubs. We don’t know why he fell this far, but maybe his small size played a role.  We heard he was getting looks starting at #3. RSL had a great start to the draft with this pick.   

18. Houston - FW Colin Rolfe, Univ. of Louisville
ISN Analysis - Rolfe may have gone higher in other years, but this class was loaded with quality attackers.  Thought Mkosana might be the better long-term prospect here since not many people were overly excited about Rolfe, who could have been had in the second round. 

19. LA - DF Tommy Meyer, Indiana Univ.
ISN Analysis - You can’t be overly critical of the last pick in the round.  Meyer should at least provide depth for the Galaxy D and be a serviceable player for 5-10 years. 

ROUND 2

20. Montreal - MF Calum Mallace, Marquette Univ.
ISN Analysis - Another good pick by the Impact. A lot of teams were looking at the Marquette star in the first round.  Mallace is a good two-way player that could start right away. He has a no-nonsense approach to the game and should be a workhorse in the middle of the field for a long time. 

21. Vancouver - DF Chris Estridge, Indiana Univ.
ISN Analysis - Vancouver fills another need with Estridge. A solid draft by Vancouver, who could get even more help from the supplemental draft. 

22. New England - DF Tyler Polak (GA), Creighton Univ.
ISN Analysis - One of our favorite picks of the draft. Polak falls all the way to the Revs, who have a great history of working with defenders. 

23. Chicago - FW Lucky Mkosana, Dartmouth College
ISN Analysis - We think Mkosana will be this year’s C.J. Sapong.  Quality player who will get even better with experience. 

24. Real Salt Lake - DF Diogo de Almeida, Southern Methodist Univ.
ISN Analysis - It is certainly hard to get excited about a pick this pick.  RSL may know something we don’t. 

25. San Jose - MF Jacob Hustedt, Univ. of Washington
ISN Analysis - See #24

26. Columbus - DF Aubrey Perry, Univ. of South Florida
ISN Analysis - Perry had a good showing at the combine, especially on Day 1. The Crew noticed and got a good prospect that may turn into something special over time. 

27. Portland - MF Brendan King, Univ. of Notre Dame
ISN Analysis - The Timbers drafted strictly based on need and this fills one of many for Portland.  Notre Dame players adapt well to MLS and King could be just as successful as last year’s ND product Jeb Brovsky.

28. Chicago - DF Hunter Jumper, Univ. of Virginia
ISN Analysis - Great pick by the Fire.  We hear that Jumper has a huge upside and could have gone much higher.  Some had him among the top 3 defenders in the draft. 

29. Columbus - MF Kevan George, Univ. of Central Florida
ISN Analysis - The Crew may have come away with another sleeper, just like they did with Bernardo Anor last year.  George has a good shot at making the Crew’s roster and will be given time to develop. 

30. Kansas City - DF Cyprian Hedrick, Coastal Carolina Univ.
ISN Analysis - Kansas City’s defense is pretty solid so Hedrick may have to work the numbers to even stick with Sporting on Opening Day. 

31. New York - GK Ryan Meara, Fordham Univ.
ISN Analysis - The Red Bulls needed a goalkeeper desperately since Frank Rost is not more than a stopgap player.  Wouldn’t be surprised to see Meara between the posts for Week 1. 

32. Philadelphia - MF Greg Jordan, Creighton Univ.
ISN Analysis - A banner year for Creighton, which finished tied with Louisville with the most players selected (4).  Jordan might have gotten lost between the buzz about Finlay and Polak. The Union are solid and he will have his work cut out for him to make the squad.     

33. San Jose - GK Chris Blais, Univ. of South Florida
ISN Analysis - San Jose looks to the future, knowing that Jon Busch can’t play forever.  Blais is only the 2nd keeper off the board, providing a good value at #33.  He should be a solid backup in 2012 and could grow with some time with the Reserves. 

34. Seattle - FW Babayele Sodade, Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham
ISN Analysis - Seattle gets some depth in the attack, which should help the Sounders just in case Zakuani or White have any setbacks recovering from major injuries. 

35. Philadelphia - DF Raymon Gaddis, West Virginia Univ.
ISN Analysis - Gaddis is a great value here.  He has experience, talent, and should develop into a starter in 2-3 years. 

36. Real Salt Lake - MF Sebastian Velasquez, Spartanburg Methodist Coll.
ISN Analysis - Some may call this a risk, but RSL must have seen something in the Juco star, who finished with 35 goals and 16 assists in 2011. That is a lot of goals regardless of the level of play.  RSL may have found a diamond in the rough.    

37. Houston - MF Warren Creavalle, Univ. of Central Florida
ISN Analysis - UCF has their second player selected in the second round.  Houston adds some depth to their midfield, but it will be a challenge for Creavalle to stick with the team. 

38. LA - MF Kenney Walker, Univ. of Louisville
ISN Analysis - Yet another Cardinal was selected.  Even with the Galaxy’s recent roster changes, Walker will have to play like his career depended on it to stay with the defending champs.

Draft Analysis from GolTV’s Phil Schoen

1.  How important is the MLS SuperDraft to the success of a club?
First, I think the SuperDraft itself has lost significance when it comes to player acquisition. There is already a solid base of players, even with expansion and with academies and a wider range of international players being targeted the actual opportunity for a college player to come through the draft and make a major impact is very small.

Each draft has some very good players, though. However, the top pick has been somewhat cursed by mediocrity. Of all of the top picks in the history of the SuperDraft I believe only Maurice Edu has lived up to the billing. He was so good; he only spent two years in the league before moving to Europe.

2. What did you think about the first two picks of the draft?
I think the top two players this year did go 1-2. While Darren Mattocks might have been the most exciting player in the draft, Andrew Wenger has the talent and ability to shine at almost every position on the field. With Montreal just starting out I think they appreciated the versatility more than an established team might have.

I think Mattocks will get the best chance to shine in the first year. You can't coach speed, and he's got the skill to go with it. Plus he's on a team that is still relatively new - and one that did very poorly last season. The Jamaican will get a chance to prove himself early in the season. From that point, it's up to him. I would say he's the early favorite for Rookie of the Year.

3. What was the biggest reach of the draft?
Colin Rolfe could see time with Houston, but it was a bit of a surprise pick, unless they know they won't get Brian Ching back and they won't be able to sign Kris Boyd. How many big center forwards do you need?

4. What about a sleeper that could make an immediate impact on an MLS roster?
As far as a sleeper goes, I like Enzo Martinez. Not just because he dropped deeper into the draft, but because of where he landed. He will fit in fine with Salt Lake, even though it might take a season or two to see it.

5. How did the Columbus Crew fare in the draft?
For the Crew, I think their biggest moves of the off-season came before the draft. Short-term, Mirosevic and Vargas will be dangerous if someone gives them chances. A good long-term pick-up was getting Ben Speas on the squad. I think he might have to wait for an opening, but I would not be surprised to see him in the rotation by the end of the year.

Ethan Finlay was a solid pick for the Crew, Arguably the second best player in college soccer this season and he fell to the tenth pick.

I think Warzycha will shake the formation up a bit, especially without Ekpo so Finlay will get a chance to prove himself right off the bat, especially if Mirosevic struggles to adapt. Finlay's probably Mattock's biggest rival for Rookie of the Year, but he'll have more competition for playing time. He reminds me a bit of Landon Donovan, cutting in from the flanks.

Perry was a good pick, but will have to play a waiting game to see action behind Miranda - and that might mean he plays the numbers game to stay on the roster.

George plays a bit like Shalrie Joseph, calm on and off the ball, good vision and touch. However, I don't see him beating out O'Rourke or Tchani. Maybe with a bit of work and bulk he could drop into the backline as a sweeper.

6. A lot of quality players remain undrafted. Any names to be on the lookout for in the supplemental draft?
Among the guys to keep an eye on for the supplemental draft: UCLA DM Andy Rose and Japanese attacking mid Kohei Yamada. The situation at left back might make the Crew interested in UCSB's James Kiffe.

Phil Schoen is the lead play-by-play announcer at GolTV.  You can find out more about GolTV by visiting www.goltv.tv or by following Phil on Twitter @PhilSchoen.

ISN “Pick 5”

1.  What team had the best draft?
RSL had a great draft, landing a top 5 talent in Enzo Martinez all the way down at #17.  He could be a full-time starter by midseason.  The selection of Sebastian Velasquz from Spartanburg may be the pick of the day if the youngster realizes his full potential. 

2.  Who are the best players still available for the supplemental draft?
Let’s start with Akron’s Luke Holmes, who at one time was projected to be a late first round or early second round selection.  Holmes is a former NAIA National Player of the Year and had a strong finish to his senior season. Holmes can score goals, defend, and create opportunities for others.  Someone has to be willing to take a chance on one of the youth internationals, perhaps Jason Banton or Gienir Garcia. 

3.  What team had the worst draft?
We weren’t impressed with Houston, who reached for Rolfe in a year full of quality attackers. UCF’s Warren Creavalle probably won’t make it out of training camp.  It really could be a wasted year for the Dynamo, who really needed to find the next Brian Ching.    

4.  Why were no youth international players chosen?
The collegiate players available for the draft were particularly impressive this year. In other words, we had a very deep draft this year.  As many as 15 players could develop into starters by midseason or sooner.  

Keep in mind we only saw 1 non-Division I player selected and that teams are always leery of using their international roster slots on unproven players. I think the “John Rooney Effect” played a key role as well.  The hype surrounding the NYRB midfielder proved to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors in just 1 season in MLS. 

5.  Which is more important: the draft or Homegrown Players?
The draft is the key to many sports, but soccer is not one of them.  Drafting a franchise player is not something you hear about in MLS because it takes much more than one promising player to build a champion.  There is no Andrew Luck in the MLS SuperDraft.
Homegrown players are becoming more popular as the MLS academy system starts to bear fruit.  High end players are getting signed before they even think about the draft.  Think of Ben Speas from UNC.  He would have been a first round pick in the draft and could even have been headed to Europe with teammate Billy Schuler, but instead is headed back home to Ohio with the Crew. 

The academy system is more of a European mindset, which is where we should be headed in the long run.    

Crew Make Big Moves in Offseason

COLUMBUS, OH - January 6, 2012 - The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed Costa Rican forward Olman Vargas to a multi-year contract, pending receipt of his ITC and P-1 work visa. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed.

The 26-year-old striker joins the Crew from Club Sport Herediano of the Costa Rican First Division, where he scored 17 goals over the last two seasons and helped the team reach the final of the 2011 Apertura season.

“Olman is a tall, physical forward who promises to be a great addition to our club,” said Crew head coach Robert Warzycha. “He has good speed, a good touch and he works extremely hard.” The 6-2, 174-pound native of San Jose, Costa Rica, began his career in 2007 with Carmelita of the Costa Rican Second Division, where he appeared in 38 matches and scored 14 goals over two seasons. While at Carmelita, Vargas was noticed by storied First Division club Deportivo Saprissa which signed him for the 2009-10 season. While at Saprissa, he appeared in eight regular-season matches, scoring one goal. He also appeared in both CONCACAF Champions League matches against the Crew that year, including the Black & Gold’s historic 1-0 win at Saprissa’s famous stadium, known as the “Monster’s Cave,” on Sept. 16, 2009, which marked the first time an MLS club had ever won there.

Vargas was loaned to Brujas F.C. de Desamaparados for the end of the 2009-10 season. In 2010 he was loaned to Herediano, which he guided into the 2010 Apertura playoffs and the final of the 2011 Apertura where it lost to Alajuelense in a penalty shootout.

The signing of Vargas is the most recent series of transactions that could leave the Crew as the most improved team in all of MLS. The Crew also signed Chilean midfielder Milovan Mirosevic and made a contract offer to potential Homegrown Player Ben Speas.

The 31-year-old Mirosevic, who instantly draws comparisons to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, joins the Crew from Universidad Católica of the Chilean first division. The signing of Speas, who spent time at the University of Akron before transferring to the University of North Carolina, is likely to be announced next week. Officials at UNC said that Speas tweeted a picture of him signing a contract and added that he has withdrawn from classes for next semester. It sounds like a done deal to us! Speas is a first-round talent that will be an asset to the Crew for years to come.

MLS Dreams for Akron's Luke Holmes

Luke Holmes is a special talent who has made a name for himself at two levels of collegiate soccer. Holmes spent three seasons at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio. He became the program’s most prolific goalscorer, tallying an incredible 70 goals during his time with NDC Head Coach Michael McBride. Holmes added 25 assists for a total of 164 points in his time with the Falcons.

Holmes would then transfer to the University of Akron, a program fresh off a national championship and a record-setting MLS SuperDraft. The Oldham, England native stood out in the spring season, showing good pace and a knack for the goal. It certainly seemed that Holmes was heading for stardom as a Zip.The senior striker would go on to appear in 16 matches, netting 5 goals and 8 assists as the Zips claimed a 7th consecutive MAC regular season championship and a trip to the NCAA’s Round of 16. Holmes, who clinched game-winning goals at Buffalo and Florida Atlantic, always seemed to be there when his team needed him the most. He played his best in the postseason, where a “win or go home” mentality is ever present.

Holmes would then accept an invite to the prestigious MLS Combine, a pivotal moment in his young career. He certainly understands the importance of the occasion.

“I want to show what I can do,” Holmes declared in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. Several mock drafts have Holmes rated as high as #12 in the first round. A good combine performance could see his stock skyrocket even further, while a poor showing could leave him undrafted.

The senior was quick to praise both of his head coaches, Akron’s Caleb Porter and NDC’s McBride. Holmes clearly benefited from Porter’s professional environment and intense training sessions. This everyday preparation would help prepare him for MLS and beyond.

McBride started the project of turning Holmes into a pro player three years earlier, making him the face of the Notre Dame College men’s soccer program. Holmes excelled at the NAIA level, finishing as the NAIA National Player of the Year in 2010.

“Mac was great with me,” Holmes continued. “He understood my aspirations. I have nothing but good words to say.”

Coach McBride has plenty of compliments for Holmes as well. “Luke is the consummate student-athlete,” McBride stated. “He is the full package: a player like him doesn’t come along very often.”

McBride went on to say that Holmes was the best player in NDC history because of his competitiveness, superior fitness and technique, the ability to score goals at will, and a sense of humility despite being a star in waiting.

“Luke was a coach’s dream at the college level,” McBride continued. “He hasn’t even realized his full potential.”

Holmes can virtually play anywhere on the field, providing an attacking mindset to any position. He can play up top as a lone striker that stretches the defense, as a field general that creates opportunities for others, or as a winger or outside back that gets the team moving forward. In one word Luke Holmes is versatile. The only knock on Holmes is his lack of size, but his technical prowess more than makes up for that.

Holmes is currently training back home in England, preparing for the MLS Combine starting on January 6.

ISN will catch up with Luke Holmes at the combine and again at the MLS SuperDraft so our readers will get the full experience of a professional in the making.  

The Greatest Boot Ever

Pelé is a legend among legends, the greatest player to ever step on a pitch.  He was an impact player, a gamechanger that forced his opposition to rethink how the game was to be played.

The brand that bears his name is much of the same, making a splash in the football market from Day 1.  But nothing has been more exciting or more heralded than the release of the Trinity football boots from Pelé Sports.

What do you get when you combine hybrid polymers, Symbioskin™ materials, and Mucell Foam polymers? A boot that makes quicker contact with the ground for faster reaction, stability, and an accelerated release.  A traction and sole plate that enhances the muscles of the feet by training them to propel faster, enhance coordination, and be more powerful.  Simply put, the fastest and most innovative boot to ever hit the market.    

The Trinity boots are many things: trendy, durable, lightweight, and technologically advanced.  The boots are certain to turn heads no matter where you play.  Players will want them because of the look, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to an advanced boot that has undergone significant scientific testing. 

Lightweight football boots often have durability concerns as they can not stand up to everyday use at a premier level.  This is not the case with the Trinity boots as they are still durable despite their 5.9 ounce weight. 

They feel great on, almost like they were made just for your foot.  The Symbioskin™ material cradles your foot, allowing you to get a good touch on the ball and providing protection at the same time.  You won’t get that with the other ultra lightweight boots out there, products that are prone to damage during physical gameplay.

The light weight is not the only aspect that makes this boot super fast.  An innovative stud pattern allows for quicker cuts, making this boot a favorite for everyone on the pitch (especially attackers).

Most importantly, Pelé Sports have the data and research to back up our claim that this is the most advanced football boot on the market, maybe even the most advanced ever produced.  The stud size and configuration has been found to minimize ankle injuries.  A player tested with the boot "in a 10 second sprint arrived 1.5 meters further down the pitch." Again a gamechanging boot from a gamechanging brand.     

There have been many innovative ideas in the history of football boots: lightweight synthetic materials, Concave elements, fashionable designs, outrageous colors, and so on.  But the Trinity boots take technology and make it practical for the elite footballer.

The Trinity boots involved years of testing and research, but it has already made its mark as the competition scatters to find the next big thing.  Our guess is that Pelé Sports will continue to set the standard for future products and that the next big thing will be under the Pelé Sports umbrella. 

Simply put, all of you at Nike, adidas, Puma, Lotto, Umbro…….. better luck next time.  To purchase these amazing boots check out fine retailers like Chicago Soccer or Soccer.com. 

Akron Men's Soccer Defeated by Charlotte in NCAA's Round of 16

CHARLOTTE, NC - November 27, 2011 - A first-half goal by Charlotte proved to be the difference as The University of Akron men's soccer team suffered a 1-0 defeat to the 49ers at Transamerica Field Sunday night in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

The loss ends a remarkable season that saw the Zips return to the Round of 16 for the fourth consecutive year despite losing a Major League Soccer-record seven starters to the SuperDraft in January. UA, which was shut out for just the fourth time all season, finished with a record of 15-4-4. With the win, Charlotte (15-4-2), which improved to 9-0 at home in 2011, advances to the NCAA's Elite Eight where it will face the third-seeded UCONN Huskies, who defeated James Madison, 3-0, earlier in the day.

The 49ers scored the only goal of the match in the 25th minute when Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year Giuseppe Gentile buried a cross from Jennings Rex into the top right corner of the net. It was the first time the Zips had allowed a first-half goal all year. Akron, which out-shot Charlotte 11-6 for the match and 7-3 in the second half, had a number of chances to equalize but couldn't finish.

Its best opportunity came in the 63rd minute when DeAndre Yedlin crossed a ball into the box from the right flank. Darren Mattocks, who finished the season with 21 goals in 22 matches, put a head to it but Charlotte goalkeeper Klay Davis flicked it over the cross bar and out of play. UA appeared to pull even just minutes after the 49ers took the lead, but a foul negated the corner-kick goal. Scott Caldwell played the ball in to Wil Trapp, who volleyed it from the far post across the goal to the head of Matt Dagilis. The fifth-year senior banged the ball into the left corner of the net but was called for a push prior to the header. Akron goalkeeper David Meves had a tremendous second half, making a pair of key saves late to keep the Zips' comeback hopes alive. The first came in the 74th minute with a point-blank rejection of a shot from Evan James. The junior then turned away Gentile in the 81st minute on a breakaway. Conversely, Charlotte did a good job of containing Mattocks for much of the contest, limiting the nation's second-leading scorer to just three shots.

The match got off to a very slow start as a result of choppy play, which included three yellow cards – two by the 49ers – in the first 12 minutes. Charlotte was physical throughout the contest, drawing five cautions in total to UA's two.

ISN's University of Akron men's soccer coverage is proudly presented by Expedia® CruiseShipCenters®. Cruise? All-Inclusive? Vegas? Call Bob Hasinski at 440-724-3513 for a great deal on a vacation of a lifetime! Bob can also be reached at bhasinski@cruiseshipcenters.com. You won't be sorry if you book your next vacation with Bob Hasinski and Expedia® CruiseShipCenters®.