Most of it seems in line with what most people predicted, but not including Riley is a real curveball to me. I get that they trust Marshall to perform, and that after spending a draft pick on Ianni (and considering the importance of the centerback position) they wanted to keep him, but I’m not sure if this is the best way to do it. I guess I just find it hard to believe Marshall would have been picked up at his age.

The gamble on Le Toux also doesn’t sit well, but hopefully you’re right about the salary point.

Also, why on earth do DP spots need to be protected? I get that the league wants there to be a decent talent pool for the teams to pick from, but it seems to me that those stars should probably stay with the team that have signed them.

Partially because I wanted to use the feature, but also because this story can’t be buried.

Obviously there were some interesting choices to be made. One of them featured on Freddie Ljungberg, who it seems by rule had to be protected, though many had thought that he would not. For me, if Adrian could protect 11 + Ljungberg Riley and Ianni are both protected. Another thing happened along the way, in that Steve Zakuani graduated from the Generation Adidas tag, so of course you want to protect him. If he hadn’t the Sounders would have been at 13 protected and one of Seb Le Toux and Pete Vagenas would have been guarded.

I didn’t get to Ianni yet in the recap series, he and Pete were next, but uber-quick. He’s fast for centerback, can enter the offense, plays CB, CDM and either LB or RB. He’s also young and appropriately valued in this league. If he hadn’t been protected he would be gone.

For me, the real surprise is that Marshall was protected. Because with his age, his contract valuation (yes, renogiations happen in frequently) he just wouldn’t be a wise pick for an expansion side. Certainly he had a great year, but there were also some signs that he had a bit of a hot-head and could be prone to a mistake.

Riley has some of those same traits but as a younger player with greater upside and less cost. James had a career year in terms of Games Started and Assists. He also was tied with the team leader in Clean Sheets for an outfield player, and early in the season played two positions at the same time as Alonso, Evans and Ljungberg were all central.

As I said on twitter, here expanded, past history is not an indicator of the future. Just because James got picked the last two expansion drafts does not mean that he will be this time. Wade Barret, Mike Chabala, Frankie Hejduk, Jay Heaps, and more are players who could make sense as a pick to play right back.

One thing I know is that James Riley will embrace whichever city he is in next year. He got rave reviews from San Jose personel I talked with this weekend at the Supporters Summit, and he wore the Rave Green quite well in 2009.

I had always thought that Tyson Wahl or Stephen King would be the pick off of the Sounders, but with Riley available, if I’m the Union I pick James. Here’s to hoping that Sounders FC are one of the five that get passed over by Philly.

He would not be the type that could enter the offense at any time. Certainly he wouldn’t be a right sided Zach Scott, but remember that James covered as much ground as any player on the squad.

I think Sigi likes that style of player, and only James can do it. While Brad Evans can fill in at the Right Back, I didn’t get the impression that he could do that for 25 matches next season. Though pushing Evans back would open up a slot for a CAM, rather than a CM. I still see that Attacking mid as the biggest need.

As for the idea that Jaqua didn’t turn enough of his shots into goals, he was only the best starting player at doing exactly that. Only Levesque was better amongst starters and rotationals. Nearly 20% of Jaqua’s shots wound up as a goal. Le Toux and Ljungberg were both at 10%, Zakuani at only 7%.

Jaqua wasn’t the problem

It is important to note that only two guys taken in the Expansion Draft are on the protected list.

Nate Jaqua (3 CAPS)
Brad Evans (3 CAPS)

No other player the Sounders took in the expansion draft are protected this year. Only Vagenas and Riley were starters and rotationals. Only Wahl was use enough I saw him in my “Sub” category, though arguments could be made that King and Sturgis belong in that group.

If Philly think they are going to get more than half their Starting XI from the Draft they will take Riley, Wahl or Vagenas because those are all starting quality players in MLS. If they are going to follow Adrians model with aggressive use of international free transfers (Leo, Jhon, Fredy, Kasey, Freddie) than if they pick a Seattle player it would be a Nyassi or King to develop them for future depth.

Let’s not forget about King. He was a solid starter for us early on until he got crowded out and (iirc) injured as well. I would hate to lose him as a young and hopefully up-and-coming center mid.