November 15, 2006 9:56 PM
Toronto FC mock expansion draft
Major League Soccer's 12 teams have released their lists of players who will be available for selection in Friday's MLS expansion draft. Toronto FC will choose 10 players from the lists, no more than one from any team.
If I were drafting for Toronto FC in Friday's expansion draft, these are the players I might select, in no particular order:
1. Dan Gargan (Colorado Rapids) — Fast, young, experienced, inexpensive, energetic, aggressive ... all nice qualities for a young team looking to build.
2. Jay Nolly (Real Salt Lake) — This Chatfield High School product is an imposing figure in goal (6-3, 217 pounds) and won two national championships at Indiana University. He could be Toronto's goalkeeper of the future — and the present.
3. Preston Burpo (Chivas USA) — A lot of good goaltenders were left unprotected (Zach Thornton, Jon Busch, Jonny Walker, Nick Rimando, Zach Wells, Bo Oshoniyi, Tony Meola and former Rapids mainstay Scott Garlick among them). But I like Burpo. He's huge in net (6-foot-3 and 215 pounds) and has a wealth of experience with the USL's Seattle Sounders. No doubt he doesn't carry the salary of the other keepers on the list (which is probably why they're there in the first place). He's a solid leader, has a strong presence on the field and distributes well. He would make an excellent backup to Nolly.
4. Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy) — Instant star power. There's no doubt he can still run, and he's a crafty playmaker. He wouldn't come cheap, but he would make up for it at the box office. Don't underestimate Cobi's ability to draw the casual fan, who in turn might become the season ticket holder. It's doubtful that Toronto would pick Cobi. Toronto coach Mo Johnston has said as much in print. But this is a move I would make. Cobi draws fans everywhere he goes.
5. Adrian Serioux (Houston Dynamo) — One of four Canadians in Major League Soccer, Serioux played well during the Dynamo's recent victory in the MLS Cup. With Ricardo Clark serving a suspension for yellow-card accumulation in the playoffs, Serioux was called on to play a larger role in the league's championship game. He was up to the task.
6. Joey Franchino (New England Revolution) — He's the captain of the league runner-up and a sparkplug on the left side. He provided some of the only excitement during the first half of Sunday's MLS Cup. He could be Toronto's captain from day one, and he'll see more playing time than the Revs are willing to give him. It's painful to watch him on the Revolution's bench.
7. Edson Buddle (New York Red Bulls) — A scoring machine when he gets enough playing time. Toronto could offer that.
8. Roberto Mina (FC Dallas) — A nice partner up front for Buddle. The two could make a formidable tandem.
9. Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire) — The Fire left him unprotected because his contract status is uncertain. Rumor has it he wants to play overseas or in L.A., and Johnston told the Canadian Press that he might draft Jaqua and trade him to the Galaxy. Sounds like a plan.
10. Cheatin' time — Toronto might not make all 10 picks, so I'm not going to, either. For my 10th pick, I'll hedge a couple times: If Toronto doesn't take Gargan, maybe Mike Petke is a better choice from the Rapids' roster. Very few experienced central defenders are on any team's list. And if my Burpo pick doesn't fly (which I doubt it will), Toronto could take a chance on John O'Brien. Chivas USA apparently is disappointed with the O'Brien signing and has given up on him. Is he worth the risk for the Toronto team? The American international won't be as popular north of the border as he would be playing in the U.S. But if his injuries heal, he could be among the league's Best XI for years.
Join the discussion