Today’s Expansion Draft Timeline
- 2 p.m.: Expansion draft takes place. MLS releases the names of players chosen.
- 2:30 p.m.: MLS issues a list of players waived by teams and eligible for a subsequent waiver draft.
- 3:30 p.m.: Waiver draft takes place.
MLSSoccer.com will air the draft live online beginning at 1:45 p.m.
For some mock drafts, check out:
The smartest ones are from Goal.com and Fox Soccer. Both have Brad Knighton departing the Union. Soccer America has Andrew Jacobson still playing for D.C. United.
Union
Here’s a great look at Peter Nowak’s expansion draft philosophy. In a nutshell, “Go young and cheap. You never know what will happen during the season. You have to have the resources. It’s easy to spend all this money the first day of the pre-season.”
Nowak on leaving both Seitz and Knighton unprotected: “If you are going to protect one, it’s not fair to the other…Both did a very good job…We want to keep the group together and can’t do that with both goaltenders.” More on this here.
Sheanon Williams reacts to being protected. “I’ve really been put in a great situation.”
Stefani Miglioranzi, left unprotected for the expansion draft, will receive his US citizenship today.
Is Brian Carroll sad to be leaving Columbus? Sure. “I’ll miss my friends and fans in Columbus. I had a great time here, but I guess it’s time to move on.”
Corey Hertzog
Penn State junior Corey Hertzog, “who currently leads the nation in goals (20), goals per game (.95), total points (46) and points per game (2.19,” has been named as a possible Generation Adidas target, which could be very good for the Union. This report says, “After playing this summer with Reading United A.C., Hertzog’s rights would belong to the Philadelphia Union.”
Local
La Salle star senior midfielder Ryan Richter is eying a career in the pros.
MLS
Here’s a look at what Portland is doing to prepare for the expansion draft. For a sense of what they’re thinking in Vancouver, there’s this. For an overview of how things might go down, try this.
The LA Times looks at some of the big names left unprotected.
Here’s a look at reaction to various teams protected lists from Dallas FC, Chivas USA, Chicago Fire, New England Revolution, DC United, and LA Galaxy.
Real Salt Lake forward (and USMNT disappointment) Robbie Findley was left unprotected because he plans to pursue a career in Europe. Rumors suggest the most likely destination is Danish side Bronby IF.
43-year-old Vancouver native and unprotected goalie Pat Onstad says he would be shocked to be selected for the Whitecaps.
The overnight ratings for Sunday’s MLS Cup final dropped 44% compared to last year and were the lowest since at least 1998. In Canada, the broadcast of the match drew just 36,000 viewers. Compared to last season, ESPN saw a 12% drop in viewers for regular season matches.
MLS Talk says the playoffs are dead, MLS just doesn’t know it yet.
Gone?
NASL
One report says that a team slated to join the NASL, AC St. Louis, has folded. AC St. Louis says that no final decision has been made.
The NASL’s rival, the USL, just wrapped up its annual general meeting.
US
Last week Chuck Blazer, an American and one of the CONCACAF representatives on FIFA’s Executive Committee, questioned the safety of holding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saying, “I don’t see how you can air-condition an entire country.” Fellow FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam has responded by reminding his US counterpart that the 1994 World Cup was plagued by high heat. “American fans forgot about the heat, and yet, (organizers) applied for another World Cup posting in less than 16 years from the time they last hosted.”
Bill Clinton on why the US should host the 2022 World Cup.
Bien sûr, je vais jouer pour Aston Villa. Mais vivre à Birmingham? Ne soyez pas ridicule.
Elsewhere
The Soccerex Global Convention in Rio opened on Monday and is the scene of some last minute campaigning by several countries bidding to host for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. With only a handful of FIFA Executive Committee members at the convention, the US bid group chose not to send a delegation.
UEFA will investigate whether Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos deliberately incurred red cards in Tuesdays Real Madrid win over Ajax. The red cards mean that both players will be suspended for a meaningless final game in the group stage and their disciplinary records cleared for the knockout stage.
Robert Pires continues to win admirers. This piece reflects on his preference to being chauffeur-driven 250 miles each way from his luxury London apartment to training over actually living in Birmingham.
An amateur player in England, incensed at not being awarded a free kick, has been sentenced to six months in prison for driving his Range Rover onto the pitch in an attempt to run over the referee.
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