Analysis and evaluation of every player at the combine.
January 16th, 2008 . 9:34 am .
By: Buzz Carrick
Overall I think this combine was better than last year’s, most notably with a smaller amount of players that should not have been invited. The overall quality was solid with a large group of players that have a chance to make it. With six players missing with the U23s the top end was a little lacking and there’s really no superstar talent in this year’s pool.
I will divide the players into five categories for the purpose of this discussion: “Can’t Miss Prospects,” “Should Do Well,” “Projects with Hope,” “Has a Chance,” and “Slim to None.” Within each category the players will be in alphabetical order. This evaluation is primarily based on the performances at the combine, although some additional information will be included and influence the evaluation.
It’s important to recall that this was just one three day tryout and that MLS teams will be drafting using a players entire career, the scouting they have done prior to the combine, and recommendations from people they trust. Some players on the original combine list did not play and I will not be evaluating them here. I will put their names at the bottom and the reason they were missing.
I’ve been asked a couple times what I look for in a player, so here’s a quick run down of some of those qualities. Fast or slow over distance, quick first step? Body type: big, small, strong, thin, agile, plodding? Touch; is the ball close by and how quickly is the player ready to make the next move? Is he overly complicated with the the ball or simple and clean? Can he hold onto the ball when challenged, does his touch hold up as the time and space decrease? Is he aware of his surrounding both with and without the ball. Does he move in anticipation before the play or just react to it? Work rate; does he put in effort on both ends, does he take breaks. How is his decision making, is tactically smart, does he know what a player in his position is supposed to do or does he just react on instinct? Does he create chances, are other players better with him around? Can he take a player on the dribble or with pace? Does he dribble with his head up or does he need to look at the ball? Is he physical or technical in defending? Good in the air? Can he play in combination or is he a good long passer? Does he influence play, does he have the will power to shape the game, do good things happen when he’s around the ball? And perhaps most importantly, how do all these factors add up… is he any good?
A quick reminder that if you are connected to a player you may not want to read this. Some of these comments are hard. And if you think I’m tough, MLS coaches are far, far tougher than I am in grading. I tend to give a guy a chance and look for something to say positive. MLS coaches want the complete package and the smallest flaw will be shredded.
Can’t Miss Prospects
There are not really any “can’t miss” prospects in soccer. The beautiful game more than any other is an art form and sometimes the player can be far greater or far worse than the obvious tools he has. Far to often a first overall pick is a Steve Shak rather than an Alecko Eskandarian. Still these are the players I am most confident will make the step to MLS with no problem and should be starters within a season or so. I expect all of them to go in the first round.
To compare this list to last two years I had seven & five players in this category, this year I only have three such players.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| Eric Avila |
UCSB |
A quick darting slasher of a player who can really tear apart a defense. He’s also capable of playing the possession game and is willing to work on defense. |
| Julius James |
UConn |
A complete all around player and tremendous athlete. The best athletic defender, and a very smart tactical defender on top of that. |
| Patrick Nyarko |
Virginia Tech |
The best single talent in this year’s pool. Both fast and quick with terrific touch. He can play in combination, take a guy with the dribble or pace. He does like to come back to midfield to much but that can be cured. More of a off striker or winger, not a target type forward. |
Should Do Well
The above top category will always be small, yet there are some solid players at the combine that I think have MLS potential. Those player with potential fall in this category. Each member of this group has a little flaw that makes me not place them in the first group. Some of them are closer to being in the above section that others, but they form the core of the players I think will be picked in the early rounds of the SuperDraft.
This groups is larger than in year’s past.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| Ely Allen |
Washington |
A forward in college but I think he’s best as a high wing in a 4-3-3 or wide mid in a 4-4-2. He’s got terrific energy and has enough game to separate from a defender. Quick burst and first step. Fantastic motor he goes hard all game, great range. |
| Xavier Balc |
Ohio State |
The best pure will power game changer in the pool. Wonderful class left foot and fantastic long passer. He’s made in the vein of Preki or Blanco, not to quick but very influential. Will he be as good as them? Only time will tell. He creates more than he scores. He’s either a withdrawn forward or a #10 type midfielder. Don’t ask him to play much defense, it’s a waste of his talent. |
| Eric Brunner |
Ohio State |
Fast and tall but a bit skinny. Great feet for a big man and is a solid passer. Showed he can shoot at the combine. Best as a center back but can play wide left. He raised his stock at the combine and might be the second defender taken. |
| Scott Campbell |
North Carolina |
Smart and simple two way midfielder. Good touch, solid first step. Great all around player as he’s quite smart and has good awareness. |
| Dominic Cervi |
Tulsa |
Best keeper at the combine. Has all the tools, just needs work on the mental game. |
| Sean Franklin |
CS Northridge |
Terrific modern outside back. Arguably best outside back at the combine. Fast and strong and willing to use both at both ends. A real up and down defender who can actually defend. |
| Joe Germanese |
Duke |
My current combine player infatuation, I LOVE this kid’s game. Which doesn’t mean I think he’s a superstar, I just love watching him play. Real quick first step and can blow by a defender with both pace and with the dribble. Good work rate, great crosser of the ball. Can play either wide right in midfielder or as a right wing. Real good touch and capable of combination play in tight space. |
| Pat Healey |
Towson |
Smooth and simple player. Touch is class and the ball is very quickly ready to be played. Works hard and reads the game very well. Plays great midfield defense by anticipation and willing to occasionally tackle. Nice all around player with great soccer instincts. |
| David Horst |
Old Dominion |
Has all the tools to be a mid tier MLS defender, but does nothing great. Won’t ever be a First XI, but can be a solid player for years in this league. Good pace, good strength, good tactics, good reading, good feet, good tackler, and good in the air. |
| Andy Iro |
UCSB |
A big physical dominate man to man defender. Very vocal and can lead the back line. Feet are lacking, don’t ask him to play possession in the back or pass out to any effect. Can be a shut down defender in the right partnership. |
| Andrew Jacobson |
California |
A terrific holding type midfielder with great awareness and terrific long passing skills. He makes his team midfield tight and composed by offering outlets and possession play. Good defender, although I’d like to see him tackle more. Covers good ground. |
| Stephen King |
Maryland |
Small but strong well rounded midfielder. Didn’t have a great combine day. I like him better wide than in the middle. Good skill set and smart player. |
| Josh Lambo |
US U17 |
Terrific talent with spectacular tools. Young and inexperienced, I put his progression at the same age ahead of Guzan and Seitz. He’d be a can’t miss, but no 17 year old is a can’t miss. |
| Jonathan Leathers |
Furman |
A fast and energetic college center back who’s best suited for the outside game at the pro level. He’s going to have to learn how to play out there, but has the tools to run all day and be a great defender. A notch behind Franklin, mostly on experience. |
| Peter Lowry |
Santa Clara |
Pure class offensive minded midfielder who makes everyone around him better. Covers good ground but not notably fast. Sweet touch and passing vision, he constantly creates opportunity. My only question would be where he plays at the next level because he’s not a pure #10. |
| Rauwshan McKenzie |
Michigan State |
Very athletic defender with great recovery speed. Can play both wide and centrally. Not a smart tactically or as good a game reader as some but big upside and potential with some coaching. |
| Chance Myers |
UCLA |
A modern outside back that challenged Franklin as the best outside back at the combine. Terrific feat and skills, he could really be a midfielder if a team so chose. Fast, young, and talented. A touch inexperienced. |
| Alex Nino |
US U17 |
Tiny, I doubt he’s 5-4, but strong in possession. Real nifty on the ball and capable of great combination and dribbling work. Needs to learn to cross. |
| Ciaran O’Brien |
UCSB |
A class midfielder who plays better deep in the midfield. Great passer who reads the game well and can dictate pace of play. Great awareness. Got better as the combine progressed. |
| Pat Phelan |
Wake Forest |
Big and strong defender with the ball skill and passing to play in the defensive midfield in college. His future is as a center back where he will be an organizer and leader who can build from the back. Great reader of the game. |
| David Roth |
Northwestern |
A wide player who relishes going at defenders and creating danger. Solid crosser. Can also pop up in the hole and make danger plays. Not as quick as some, but good engine and work rate. |
| Jonathan Sabbatini |
Uruguay |
The best of the three foreign players and in my opinion the one worth signing. Stylistically he’s a poor man’s Claudio Reyna. Smart, advanced thinker. Great in possession and uses his body to shield the ball. Can dictate tempo from the midfield. The best pure #10 here, but can also play deeper. He’s not draftable. |
| Shea Salinas |
Furman |
Serious pace and energy on the wing. Up and down all day, goes by defenders almost at will with speed. Not the trickiest dribbler but good enough feet to play in MLS. If you want pace wide this is your guy. |
| Brek Shea |
US U17 |
Very tall and lanky but terrific feet and possession game. Played circles around some guys and he’s 17. Might be the player here with the biggest upside as he’s got tremendous potential to be really great. Was a man among boys, even though he’s the boy. |
Projects with Hope
These are the players that have a skill that is interesting, perhaps something that can be developed into a MLS player. These are the players that will in my opinion get some of the developmental contracts around the league and will be taken in the middle to late rounds. A few might get passed over, but I think most will get taken at some point in the 8 rounds. There might even be a player in there that turns out to be special and just didn’t show it all at the combine.
Again this group is larger than in years past.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| Matt Allen |
Creighton |
A good solid keeper who will likely need a few years seasoning to be a decent MLS player. Will probably never be a top tier keeper. |
| Jeremy Barlow |
Virginia |
Great pace, willing to defend. Wants to be involved but doesn’t always make the right decision. Has some of the raw tools, but hasn’t put the package together. |
| Eric Burkholder |
Tulsa |
In college he had a quick burst to really put defenders on the wrong foot, but wasn’t able to show it at the combine. Overwhelmed by the occasion perhaps? Just didn’t have anything to separate himself from the pack. |
| Geoff Cameron |
Rhode Island |
A tall midfielder that I really liked out wide and couldn’t stand in the middle. Outside with space to run he was quite good. Took people on and got forward into danger spots. Inside he just vanished as he couldn’t do anything with the decreased space. |
| Adrian Chevannes |
SMU |
A fast and rangy defender who really likes to get forward. He had a horrible combine, although I recall the last fast SMU defender that had a horrible combine turned out all right. |
| El-Hadj Cisse |
North Carolina State |
A talented and athletic player, but not a great finisher. I think his best game is a mobile outside mid or wing rather than as a striker. Can beat players one on one and can play off others well. |
| Ryan Cordeiro |
UConn |
One on one he’s a great player, but as a team player he’s a disaster. If he’s not in the right spot he goes to pieces and his team shape is ruined. Would need a lot of mental work to be a great MLS player, but does have some good tools. |
| Pavle Dundjer |
Illinois-Chicago |
A very smart, player. This kid just knows how to play soccer. Not too fast, or big, or fit… he’s just a good soccer player. He won’t need a lot of coaching, just body and fitness work. |
| Brian Edwards |
Wake Forest |
Had an ok combine, looks to slow coming out or getting across. Positionally he’s very sound and is a smart, experienced keeper. Would have a chance if he’s willing to take a few years on developmental salary. |
| Roger Espinoza |
Ohio State |
Got singed off a terrific College Cup, but didn’t impress me at the combine. Has good tools: pace, dribbles fairly well, can play in tight. But he’s not too smart. The decision making is poor and he’s immature tactically. Can’t read the game all that well. |
| Lucas Fernandez |
Argentina |
The next best of the foreign players here. If he was a college player I’d say he was worth picking late as he has quick feet and is comfortable on the ball. Looked better as a wide defender. But I just don’t see enough to sign him outright. |
| Brian Grazier |
St Louis |
Another player I liked out wide but vanished centrally. Out wide he played with his head up, wanted to combine, read the game well, and was a solid if not fast player. Inside he was just invisible. He clearly knows how to play, but just may not have the raw tools for MLS. |
| Kevin Forrest |
Washington |
Wonderful work rate, energy, and tenacious as hell. He never, ever stops working or moving. He’s mart too, know where he’s supposed to be. The problem is he doesn’t have any way to separate from defenders. He spent the entire combine up top, I really wish he would have tried it wide in midfield cause I think he could be terrific there. |
| George Josten |
Gonzaga |
Strange player. Keeps moving and loves to play defense high. But he’s not fast nor does he look all that fit. Doesn’t run by people nor beat them on the dribble. He just scores, and not as a poacher in the box. He has enough moves to make a tiny space and scores. Can he do that against MLS defenders? I’m not convinced. |
| Andrew Kartunen |
Stanford |
Smart goalkeeper with good hands. But he’s a bit slow side to side. That may be some residual from the injury last year so I’m not ready to give up on him. We may not have seen the last of him if he can get quicker. |
| Sherron Manswell |
Boston College |
Not fast enough to play forward, but he translated well to holding mid. Would be an interesting project as he’s big, strong, mobile enough, has good enough feet, and is willing to hit real hard to win the ball. |
| Ryan Miller |
Notre Dame |
An outside defender that really, and I mean really, likes to get forward… almost to the point of forgetting to defend. Might make a terrific wing back. Good pace and energy and can cross fairly well. |
| Brandon Owens |
UCLA |
A terrific athlete who can play both centrally and wide. I like him better wide. He’s not a great reader of the game which hurt him in the middle. Outside he can use his athleticism to much better effect. |
| Ricardo Pierre-Louis |
Lee |
Raw as heck but frequently the most dangerous forward at the combine. When given space he has the touch and is dangerous. When closed down the touch gets worse and he can take 3 or 4 touches to get ready to shoot. He’s fast and athletic and would be a real project. Could be a good late game threat at this point and maybe be coached into more in a year or two. We could also never seen him again. |
| Yomby William |
Old Dominion |
Nice defender with good skills. He’s quick and tough with decent touch. Unfortunately he’s 26, so this is as good as he’s likely to get. There won’t be much room to coach him up from here. Might make a good role player. |
| Ben Shuleva |
SMU |
He’s a pure ball winning midfield destroyer. Injured about 15 minutes into the first day, but showed great range and better touch than I expected in those 15 minutes. I like him better than Brandon Moss for example. |
| Julian Valentin |
Wake Forest |
A lot of people really like Valentin. He’s very smart and has tons of experience. Tough as hell and a good defender tactically, technically, and physically. Unfortunately he’s slow. Someone will draft him, perhaps even early on. But I think he’ll be a MLS bust and I am rating him where I think he belongs. |
| Mike Zaher |
UCLA |
An average outside back, he’s smart enough and gets it, but isn’t fast enough or good enough on the ball. Good crosser and defender, but needs to play with his head up and with greater awareness. |
Has a Chance
These players are the group that were average college soccer players in my opinion. A MLS coach might see a little something here and take a flyer hoping to get lucky. Some of them may go in the Supplemental draft but many will not get picked at all.
This groups is smaller than last year.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| Scott Bolkan |
Stanford |
Big strong defender, might make a good man marker. But the decision making isn’t good nor are the feet. |
| Matthew Britner |
Brown |
Mobile and active, but not good enough with the ball at his feet. Occasionally gets out of position. |
| Hugh Cronin |
North Carolina State |
Very smart defender, but not fast enough for MLS. |
| Maximiliano Damiano |
Argentina |
Didn’t see much here beyond size to make him worth signing. |
| Matt Hatzke |
Santa Clara |
Didn’t do anything till the last day when he made a couple nice passes. Being a lefty someone still might take him. |
| Kai Kasiguran |
Messiah College |
Wants to be a #10 playmaker, but just isn’t quick enough with the ball. Easily closed down and stripped. No speed to play wide. |
| Casey Latchem |
Ohio State |
Drops to many balls, to many rebounds, and is to slow. Good reader of the game and leader. |
| Andre Sherard |
North Carolina |
Stay at home type defender was ok out wide but a disaster in the middle. Just not fast enough or good enough with the ball to overcome poor mental defending. |
| Dan Stratford |
West Virginia |
An average midfielder who just played in the game rather than playing the game. Never did anything to attract the attention or show what he may or may not be capable of. |
| Lukasz Tumicz |
Rhode Island |
I was impressed at first until I realized he looked good cause Balc was feeding him great chances. Never finished any of the 5 or 6 clear goal scoring chances he had. Quick and mobile enough to be interesting without the finished product on net. Could he play wide? hum… maybe. |
| David Worthen |
UNC Greensboro |
Solid outside back that’s not to adventurous. Was a mess inside making disastrous decisions. Just not enough to endorse a shot in MLS. |
| Cesar Zambrano |
Illinois- Chicago |
A player I had high hopes for, but turned out to be to pedestrian. To slow with the ball and to slow of foot. |
Slim to None
These players based on the combine I think have little to offer and I would be surprised to get drafted.
It’s a smaller group than last year and I think shows the overall combine was better.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| AJ Kulp |
Old Dominion |
An average athlete with nothing to overcome that. |
| Luke Sassano |
California |
Heavy touch and far to slow to play the ball. Was better at outside back but not good enough to be worth a shot. Not mobile enough in midfield. |
| Keith Savage |
West Florida |
Not fast enough nor good enough with the ball to have a chance. He works really hard and was relentless, but his decision making is atrocious which makes his hard work a liability. |
| Corey Sipos |
Akron |
Overmatched for pace early and it made him panicky and very nervous. It went all down hill from there. I’m sure he’s a nice kid so I felt bad for him, no one wants to give up 2 own goals at the combine. |
MIA
These are the players that were invited but missed the combine for various reasons and therefore in this exercise can’t be evaluated.
| Player |
School |
Comment |
| Anthony Beltran |
UCLA |
A holding midfielder by day, right back by night. Injured. |
| Joe Lapira |
Notre Dame |
Too cool for school. |
| Rob Valentino |
San Francisco |
Injured. |
| Michael Videria |
Duke |
Injured. |
That’s it for the combine, I hope you enjoyed it. Won’t you come join us for our 7th annual MLS SuperDraft chat room form he draft floor at Baltimore.
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Did you mean Ely Allen, not ‘Eric Allen?’
Excellent coverage Buzz, I enjoyed it as always. Personally, I like Shea, Nyarko, and James. Hope we get one, would love to get two of them.
And to all readers here, I urge you to note Buzz’ last sentence in this great report. He operates this site many of us read daily at a personal financial loss. Help him out, keep this site going, make a donation once in a while. Use pay pal, or, if you’re low tech like me, ask for his mailing address, and send him a check. (And no, I’m not related, don’t work for him, never even met him…just really enjoy his work.)
Yes, Ely. sorry. brain fart.
fun reading but we all know this is total crap shoot….
Thanks for the coverage. I’ve blogged your blog highlights of Seattle’s local guys. Cheers.
Is Avila the type of player you could see FCD drafting. I s he that good?
I would love to see this type of player in hoops. But knowing our HO, they’ll go w/the a defender even though I believe our central midfield is a glaring handicap.
Nice article…is there any word if they are going to stream the draft again like last year.
Marcel, Avila is certainly a player Morrow might like.
David, we’ll have a chat room. I don’t know about anything else.
“A small plea, if you like what we do you might consider a pay pal donation.”
Done.
Sherard not fast enough.. Either he was hurt or your soccer evaluating skills are struggling
It looks like you have listed only 4 GKs that might be considered for drafting. I do have to say I disagree w Matt Allen’s status. His stature & athleticism may seem MLS caliber, but his soccer intelligence is very far from it. Seeing him play at CU home games over the years, he is a good save maker but also the goal he gives up always seem to be poor decisions, or bad positioning. Cervi of Tulsa is the same way. Anyone else have comments.
I certainly hope you aren’t covering the draft live from Indianapolis when its in Baltimore.
Blue, oops yes. Baltimore.
Buzz, Yomby is actually only 23. And just out of curiosity, what kind of playing experience do you have?
Yomby’s bio says his birthday is 06/18/1981. That makes him 26 unless my math has failed me.
All my playing experience in on a amateur level and is of no value relative to the pro game.
It wasn’t your math skills that let you down – it was your “inside” knowledge
http://odusports.cstv.com/spor...occer/mtt/william_yomby00.html
Well someone with outside knowledge needs to send Old Dominon a correction too.
Never claimed to be an insider. Both the ODU bio and the bio provided by MLS say he’s 26. If that wrong then I suppose someone will eventually correct it.
Hey Buzz,
Where’s the love for the Hounds? We (Loyola Md) had a great season and some talented players.
This page is only about player at the combine. There are some Loyola players in the other open pool rankings.
Thanks Buzz,
New to the site. Great info on the combine.
Hey Buzz, great write ups and insight. Regarding Germanese. Do you see his game as comparable to Ronnie O’Brien’s? Is he someone FCD may look at with their later 1st or maybe 2nd round pick? I found that to be a glaring weakness for the Hoops this past season, nobody able to carry the ball up the flank with pace and able to make a cross in to any one of a number of targets.
I would take Germanese in the second round. Not sure if Morrow would. He’d be a good wing player. Salinas is also an exciting wide player.
thanks Buzz, Have seen a ton of Ucla & Ucsb games this season, O’brien is terrific player,how he ended up at U.San Diego frosh year I don’t know. Have watched Chance Myers for years, he can play any of 10 field positions, & score. Avila has all that pedigree & experience. By the way, everyone should try to attend a Gaucho home game sometime in Isla Vista, the ocean fog rolling thru stadium while up to 10,000 crazed Gaucho fans going nuts & tossing tortillas after a score.
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