Seattle’s Protected Players

I am so happy to see most of my favorite players on this list!

Wait, why is Zakuani on that list?  I thought generation Adidas players didn’t need protecting.  Lack of Riley makes me sad.

Joe Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm

I’m not clear on the rules, but apparently playing time can alter the 3 yr GA status, effectively removing it and making Zak a full-fledged pro (again, my understanding). The status/outcome of both Zak and Freddie were really unclear and very frustrating in the build-up to this list. MLS for ya.

Dan Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Zakuani “graduated” out of Generation Adidas, therefor needing protection to keep him around

Hmm. I guess we believe in Evan Brown?

Interesting.

would rather see a Riley over a Jaqua or Evans myself…

I wish James Riley and Roger Levesque were on that list. On the other hand, with only 11 protected spots I can certainly understand why they are not protected.

I gotta say I am disappointed that Riley isn’t on there.  I’m not sure how they justified leaving him off, when he played the entire season and yet they protect Ianni who had significantly less time on the field.  Perhaps they see something there but Riley was not only solid with his play but also the way he stuck up for his team mates.

Ben R Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm

I think it comes down to the Open Cup, Champions League, Marshall’s age, and yellow/red card issues.  Ianni is going to be used a lot next season I imagine, just maybe not in regular MLS play.  I do think Ianni is a bigger asset than Riley for those reasons.  It really is just too bad that Zak had to graduate from Generation Adidas.  I bet that is the only reason why Riley isn’t protected right now.

riley has been a fan favorite for MANY people. i am sure this will upset a few. i feel that he is good but not great. his defense is more than adequate, but not flawless.

his going forward is pretty much non existent for me. i mean he does it, but i can’t remember a meaningful pass or cross from him so it almost doesn’t matter.

still, i am a bit surprised to see ianni AND marshall on there instead of riley. 

levesque is a huge fan favorite… but regardless of all his fans… he isn’t going to stand out as a player the union will be clamoring after. (famous last words?)

I’m absolutely amazed they didn’t protect Reilly.  Either we have faith in Brown or we feel we can find a comporable replacement on the open market.  Let’s hope so because I can’t see Philly NOT taking Reilly with the way he played this year.

Sigi likes Nate. And based purely on his stats, I think Philly would take him. James is a fan favorite for sure. Can he be replaced or can we upgrade at that position? Yes. Would it be nice to retain him for depth? Yeah. But having to protect Zak and FL b/c of the rules got us on this one.

The good news is, there are some real decent players being left unprotected by other teams, so we may be fine.

Riley not being protected is a joke.

I’d assume the strategy is to pick players not likely to be picked by Philadelphia. So why would you even put Ianni there? Nothing against him, but he’s more likely not to be picked than unprotected players like Le Toux, Levesque, and Riley. Let’s not forget that Riley is are only formidable right back. Wasn’t surprised by Jaqua, despite everything I have against him. Apparently we need a guy who is really tall, since we don’t have a decent heading player on our team. Though, I don’t ever remember Jaqua ever scoring a  goal with his head. But now we could see Riley leave or the two USL Sounder natives Le Toux and Levesque leave.

For what it’s worth, Anthony, one of only two Philly Union blogs I could find predicted that if Ianni was left unprotected, he would be drafted by the Union (http://bit.ly/20AMog). I agree. He only makes $72k, and his potential is pretty clear.

I wish Riley had been protected over Marshall, whose salary (around $170k) and age seem to make him a less attractive expansion option. But. You know. We had to risk somebody.

…Time to cross our fingers…

Some of the players left unprotected by other teams makes me realize what a lack of depth we have. I honestly think there are 10 players out there that make for better options than James.

I think Riley did a really good job on a great defence this year, but he has alot of liabilities.  He’s a hot head, gets forward nicely with no apparent crossing or finishing skill and leaves his feet way too much.  I think you need to have a backup to Marshall in central defense.   Ianni showed very well, late in the season.  The bonus for protecting Nate, is he could be huge trade bait.  We know he is tall, but never heads it home.  The potential for that and this years final stats, make him someone alot of teams might give something we need up for.

I also am wondering if Union would prefer taking Peter Vagenas over Riley.  The thing is Pete is expensive, but the Union might want to grab seasoned players.  Also Pete can probably adapt to more positions than Riley which is good for depth.

To Joe – Your comment gives me hope.

Any chance of you — or somebody else here? — posting mock Philly drafts?

I’m dying for things like that right now, but don’t feel like I have any sort of real expertise in the area…

Joe Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm

Well I’m no expert, but a mock draft sounds fun. First, I agree w/ many of Ben’s comments below. To expand, I think we can make a list of teams that will definitely lose a field player. Those teams being RSL, Chivas, Columbus, LA, Houston, Chicago and NE. Just too many solid players not to take one. On top of that, I think Convey (SJ) is a lock as he’s from the Philly area. They also need a keeper as far as I know and there are serveral available. That’s potentially nine picks right there. Then throw in some other potentials such as Gomez (KC), Guevara (TFC), Noonan (Colorado), Emilio (DCU). Even weaker teams have some decent names with experience and quality. Philly need 10 players from this draft that can start on matchday one. Unfortunately, James meets that qualification, but I think there are 10 others on other teams that will be more highly prized.

And if I was Adrian, just for good measure, I’d send the Philly guys an email or text saying “Red Card Riley”

Ben R Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Well technically Riley isn’t game 1 ready with the red card he picked up in the past playoff match right?  I hope that somehow factors into their decision making…

Complete list here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_MLS_Expansion_Draft

I’m not too well versed on other team rosters, but here are the names that stuck out to me:

I’m wondering which Crew player is going to go.  Hejduk is unprotected, but old.  And then there’s Moreno.

Also Chivas has a few picks I could see happening.  Lillingston, Trujillo or Saragosa.

RSL also has Clint Mathis up for grabs, but he’s a bit on the older/declining side as well.

And DC is not protecting Emilio.  Do you think the Union would pick up a cheap DP that way or are they going to go shopping for someone more prominent?

Also Houston has former Husky Craig Waibel up for grabs.  Again he is a bit on the older side, but a seasoned center back is a good thing to have.  I imagine he is cheaper the Hejduk?  The Dynamo also are not protecting their DP, Luis Angel Landin.  Would they steal him?

Riley had some pretty good crosses early on in the season and with our favorite costa rican leo doing the same thing from the left, I thought we had some good offensive push from those positions.  Marshall is a liability…pure and simple…but Sigi likes to use players wtih which he has history.

If Freddie or Zakuani weren’t being listed I would imagine Riley is the next person on that list of 11.

I think the Union would be fools, to not pick up Hejduk.  He is good for at-least one or two more years and plays for the national team.  Philly has a whole bunch of money to spend and the CBA is coming up.  They need veterans.  I don’t like Hejduk for the national team, however he is in that type of realm.  This would leave Riley alone.  I also, think that an expansion team needs a really good goalkeeper.  We know that.  Unless, the Union have something on the horizon, if I were them, I would swipe away our #2.  Remember, he was the goalkeeper of the year in the USL and has been taught by Kasey Keller all year.  The only reasons for not being our starting keeper, are injury(big one) and Kasey Keller( I guess that is a big one also.)  Without the injury, he is a first team prospect.

I was thinking of a different Riley.  James Riley is horrible, he is crap, he is a menace to society, all that volunteer work is a front.  He is really an international arms dealer. Philly doesn’t want that type of person on their roster.

i guess it is good that we really only have one major debate here… riley….

as for the other mild debates…don’t worry seattle fans. as much as you love le toux and levesque, they aren’t as attractive to other teams as you think. we have fan loyalty towards them, and there is nothing wrong with that… but the union is trying to build a franchise here. they are looking for stability and longevity. le toux and levesque aren’t poster childs for that given their age, salary and goals competition. they show up here and there for a crucial goal or two, but the union wants a 10 goal player, not 4.

i can see why ianni was protected. he has the potential to be a solid CB for another 6 -8 years. marshall being protected was a little bit more puzzling given his salary and age…

so all in all, riley not being protected is a risk, but obviously a calculated one. as i said before, he is a good, but not great defender.  he is not at all fallible to give up a goal or two, and he can’t put in a cross to save his live. riley has earned a great rep in our town for being hard working, a nice guy, and a fan favorite to be sure….. but i am not going to lose too much sleep for him being on this list.

Our Philly blogger is predicting these guys will go:

http://seattle.theoffside.com/team-news/who-does-our-philly-blogger-think-his-team-will-take.html

Thanks, Laurie. (And Joe!)

I think if I’m Peter Nowak… Stephen King looks like a very nice and affordable option.

Ives picks King too…  http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/11/sbis-mock-mls-expansion-draft.html

Maybe there is an unwritten Expansion Draft mercy rule about being picked three times. I’d imagine James might re-evaluate his life, or at least his profession, if he were picked again.

Isn’t it somewhat common to trade with the expansion team for one of the players they pick? I wonder if the Sounders will do something like that.

Ben R Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I think that’s more with the SuperDraft.  IE Seattle gives Philadelphia Nate Jaqua and we get to take their early draft pick for our team.

Hot Dog and Friends are also saying Riley’s gone:

http://hotdogandfriends.com/2009/11/24/2009-mls-expansion-draft-predictions/

Ben R Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

4 Left/Right Backs?  I don’t believe that guy is close to being right.

And he also list Rolfe.  Isn’t Rolfe going to Europe?

Joe Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Well Mr. Dog only got two right last year and one of those was Jaqua, who was already rumored a lock b/f the draft. So let’s hope his “luck” continues and, if he only truly gets one right again, that it’s not James.

Onstad is unprotected – Philly, he’s the guy you need!!!

Take him, he’s a proven (ass of a) keeper, and you can see how important it is to build from that spot. 

Is it vengeful to wish a guy gets screwed up in his final years?