MLS News
The 9th Edition of Frank Lampard's 'Frankie's Magic Football' Is Poorly Timed
MLS News
Thursday, 22 January 2015 14:55

Just as New York City's wounds started to heal from the prolonged Frank Lampard contract saga, Lampard's latest children's book has been revealed. 

Nope, the timing of it is not good. 

Lampard, of course, signed with MLS' New York City FC (owned by Manchester City), was shipped on loan to Manchester and then extended his loan, delaying the start of his NYCFC career. The whole ordeal is broken down here. 

NYCFC fans were not fond of the move. 

So when the ninth edition of Lampard's children's book was revealed, "Frankie's New York Adventure," it's safe to assume it won't sell especially well in New York. 

It will be released on Feb. 5. At least NYCFC fans will get to see Lampard in book form before they see him in human form. 

[Who Ate All The Pies]

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10 MLS Players Who Could Be on the Move in 2015
MLS News
Thursday, 22 January 2015 10:56

The 2015 MLS season hasn't kicked off as of yet and there are already rumors surrounding many of the league's players. Among these are Jermaine Jones, who has indicated that he wants to go back to Europe, per Doug McIntyre of ESPN. MVP Robbie Keane has also hinted at leaving the LA Galaxy, as noted on MLS' official website.

Players who are rumored to be leaving MLS will be highlighted in this slideshow. The likelihood of each departure will also be analyzed, whether it's a contractual issue or interest from other clubs. 

Here are 10 MLS players who could be leaving the league in 2015.

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Why American Players Returning to MLS Is Good for the League and USMNT
MLS News
Tuesday, 20 January 2015 08:25

The U.S. men's national team now has 13 MLS-based players from its World Cup squad after Jozy Altidore signed with Toronto FC. Some fans are worried about the mass exodus of USMNT players from Europe, but it's a positive for both the league and the team.

Mix Diskerud agreed to a deal with New York City FC three days before Altidore moved to Toronto. Jermaine Jones, Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley (who's now retired from international duty) and Clint Dempsey have all signed with MLS teams over the last 17 months.

All of these men are crucial players on their respective teams. Bradley and Dempsey are also two of the richest MLS-based contract holders, per ESPN FC.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann hasn't been shy in saying that he'd rather see his players in Europe. However, that doesn't have to be the case.

When Klinsmann was asked by ESPN FC about Diskerud's decision to join NYCFC, the German tactician agreed with the midfielder's choice.

"In [Diskerud's] case, there's no Champions League team in Europe on a higher level that asked him to join them, so the options he had were probably not as attractive to him as the option he chose."

Diskerud has the potential to be an integral figure for Klinsmann in future tournaments. His electric style of play is something that the United States lacked at times during the World Cup. However, the only way for the 24-year-old to earn that starting spot is to do the same with his club.

Diskerud will be key in NYCFC head coach Jason Kreis' plans, so the midfielder could be a part of Klinsmann's system in the future.

As for Altidore, Klinsmann believes that the striker is a Champions League-caliber player, even though he scored only twice in 70 Premier League games. This would suggest that he is not at the level of Arsenal or Manchester United.

Altidore attracted interest from clubs such as Fiorentina, Napoli, Fulham, Sporting Lisbon, Lazio and Schalke, per MLSSoccer.com. However, most of them eventually looked elsewhere. 

There was also no guarantee that he would have started on any of those teams. Only a few of those clubs consistently qualify for the Champions League, so Altidore wouldn't have been playing at the level Klinsmann believes he can play.

Also, there's nothing wrong with accepting more money, especially as a professional soccer player. One bad tackle can instantly end a career. ESPN's Marc Stein reported that Altidore signed a five-year, $30 million deal with Toronto. That's a nice cushion for the 25-year-old when he retires.

There is wisdom in returning to a familiar league with the option of earning significantly more money. As long as Altidore plays and scores, that's all that matters from a USMNT perspective.

Clint Dempsey was also highly regarded by his national team coach, per NBC's ProSoccerTalk. 

My whole talk to Clint Dempsey for 18 months was [about how] he hasn’t made [expletive].

You play for Fulham? Yeah, so? Show me you play for a Champions League team, and then you start on a Champions League team and that you may end up winning the Champions League. There is always another level.

If you one day reach the highest level then you’ve got to confirm it, every year. Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Lionel] Messi. Confirm it to me. Show me that every year you deserve to play for Real Madrid, for Bayern Munich, for Manchester United. Show it to me.

No offense to Dempsey, but it's highly unlikely that he would have even made the bench for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Manchester United. Teams like Everton, Liverpool and Sunderland were interested in the 31-year-old, per NBC's ProSoccerTalk. However, none of those sides were Champions League clubs at that time.

Again, in Dempsey's case, his best bet was going to Turkey or Russia in order to play in the Champions League. He opted to make significantly more money and play in his home country. It didn't affect his World Cup performance, either. He was the USA's top scorer with two goals in Brazil.

Bradley, who is still just 27, had the chance to move to Verona and Genoa in Italy, as well as Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, per MLSSoccer.com. The latter is a Champions League team, but Leverkusen constantly buys and sells players.

This is the same with Schalke, Sporting Lisbon and other aforementioned clubs. That's not a particularly stable environment for any player. There's no sense in sacrificing a raise and personal happiness in order to play a competitive game for 10 minutes every week, only to be sold after the season ends.

Klinsmann expects the U.S. to be a semifinalist at the 2018 World Cup. That looks unrealistic at this point, as the USMNT cannot be a powerhouse without a strong domestic league. 

Germany manager Joachim Loew, after being named FIFA Coach of the Year, credited the Bundesliga for its role in the national team's World Cup win (h/t Bundesliga.com).

The result at the World Cup was the result of years of hard work.

I'd like to thank all German coaches, who do such a great job with young and senior players. They're all coach of the year.

Of course I owe thanks to the Bundesliga, the league without which this success would not have been possible and continues to deliver such a high level of football.

USMNT players coming back to MLS is a good thing for both parties. The quality of the league will improve, and academy products will be able to play significant first-team minutes in what should be a stronger domain.

As Loew said in his speech, it takes a lot of hard work to become a competitive soccer nation, and it has to start somewhere. Attracting the best players will lead to a better MLS, and, in turn, a stronger national team.

 

Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @pgalindo16.

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Picking a Best XI of Players from the 2015 MLS SuperDraft
MLS News
Tuesday, 20 January 2015 00:47

Although we are less than a week removed from the 2015 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, we have a better idea of which players will succeed in their rookie seasons. 

By looking at depth charts, styles of play and raw talent, we were able to analyze who the best 11 rookies will be during the 2015 season. 

The team is set up in a 3-5-2 formation because of the wealth of attacking players set to thrive if all goes well during the preseason. 

Here is a look at our best 11 players from the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. 

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Sebastian Giovinco to Toronto FC: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
MLS News
Monday, 19 January 2015 12:40

Toronto FC have completed the signing of Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco, with the Italian set to join the MLS outfit in the summer after the completion of the 2014-15 Serie A season.   

The Canadian club announced the move via Twitter on Monday but did not disclose any information about the financial terms of the deal:

Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun reports that Giovinco could be set to earn $7 million (£4.6 million) a year across a five-year contract.

This would potentially make the Italy international one of the highest-paid players in MLS with top-earner Kaka of Orlando City currently demanding a similar figure.

Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko hailed the signing of the 27-year-old Giovinco, per the club's website, which is something of a surprise move despite him being out of favour at Juve. He has started just twice in the league this season:

Today marks a very special day for Toronto FC with the addition of Sebastian Giovinco. Seba is in the prime of his career and he has chosen to join Toronto FC and MLS at a time when many of the top clubs in the world were pursuing him. We are very pleased to bring a fantastic player to Toronto FC for our club and for our fans, especially those in the Italian community.

Indeed, Toronto have pulled off quite a move in signing Giovinco, a high-profile signing for the whole league, per beIN Sports' Tancredi Palmeri.

He joins the Canadian club following the recent addition of Jozy Altidore, who switched from Sunderland last week with Jermain Defoe going the other way.

Giovinco figures to bring some excitement and intrigue to his new club in the near future.

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What Signings of Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco Reveal About Toronto and MLS
MLS News
Sunday, 18 January 2015 23:53

Over the last week, Toronto FC has made a massive statement in the transfer market with the acquisitions of Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. 

Altidore was officially announced as a TFC player Friday after the club finalized a swap with Sunderland that involved Jermain Defoe, who only lasted one season with the Reds. 

Monday will mark another type of landmark announcement by Toronto, as Sebastian Giovinco will be announced as the club's latest designated player. The 27-year-old Italian will join the Canadian side in July after his contract at Juventus runs out, per Sportsnet's John Molinaro. 

With Major League Soccer entering a new chapter of its history in 2015 following the retirements of Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry, Toronto has helped continue one league precedent and begin another with its two recent deals. 

The Altidore signing continued the rapid trend of Americans returning to home soil to in the ever-evolving MLS. 

Clint Dempsey and the Seattle Sounders started the movement in 2013, when the United States captain moved to the Pacific Northwest from Tottenham Hotspur. 

Toronto helped continue the trend before the 2014 campaign, as it brought in Michael Bradley as one of its three new designated players alongside Gilberto and Defoe. 

Bradley will be the lone man standing of the three unless the number of designated players per team is raised from three to four. Gilberto looks like he will be the odd man out when Giovinco arrives. 

Over the last 12 months, Maurice Edu, DaMarcus Beasley, Jermaine Jones, Mix Diskerud and Brek Shea have highlighted the wave of American players returning home.

Altidore became the 12th player from the 2014 United States World Cup roster to ink a deal with MLS, which is a significant number for the league trying to draw fans of the USMNT to its stadiums. 

Not only will the returning USMNT stars continue to raise the level of play on the field, they will also provide a bit of a boost in regard to attendance. 

Altidore's switch back to MLS, where he played as a teenager for the New York Red Bulls, is particularly significant for the national team since he will be able to play with Bradley on a consistent basis. 

Having two first-team players in the same club lineup is a rarity for the USMNT outside of the Sporting Kansas City combination of Matt Besler and Graham Zusi. When healthy, Bradley and Altidore will be able to build up their attacking chemistry, which should reap rewards for the USMNT down the road. 

Bradley is expected to play as a holding midfielder at the club, while his position with the USMNT is up in the air after manager Jurgen Klinsmann played him in an advanced role during the second half of 2014. 

Even if Bradley returns to his normal defensive midfield role at the international level, he will have built a connection with Altidore. As a forward who is expected to hold up play with his strength, Altidore will benefit from having a strong passer like Bradley feeding him during the MLS season. 

Although the acquisition of Altidore is an important one for MLS, the addition of Giovinco is the more meaningful one to the future of the league. 

Since the David Beckham signing in 2007, MLS has been labeled as a retirement league by outside observers across the pond. The recent additions of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard did not help quell that image one bit.

MLS has shown no fear in bringing over older stars of the game like Beckham, Henry, Robbie Keane and Marco Di Vaio, but no high-profile European has ever inked a deal with the league in his prime.

All of that changes with Giovinco, who has made 21 appearances for Italy over the last four years. The presence of the 27-year-old on the pitches across North America will force each team in the league to improve its defending with the potential of more key European stars looking at the league more seriously now. 

The league may not see a complete influx of talent from European shores over the next 12 months, but Giovinco's deal with Toronto proves the players' interest to join MLS is definitely there. If Giovinco is able to find success in MLS, it would not be shocking to see more new faces come over for the 2016 campaign. 

One of the main reasons Toronto was able to lure Giovinco over to MLS was the hefty payday it promised the Italian attacker. 

Exact terms of the contract have not been released by the club per MLS rules, but Giovinco is set to become one of the highest-paid players in the league. Sportsnet's John Molinaro reported the Italian's deal is believed to be worth $7 million per year. 

If that is the correct price for Giovinco, only Orlando City's Kaka would be paid more than him in 2015. Kaka's guaranteed compensation in 2014 was listed at $7,167,500 by the MLS Players' Union salary database. 

While it is great for the league to lure big-name players with large amounts of cash, the acquisitions give the players yet another advantage in the talks over the new collective bargaining agreement. 

The league and the players' union are in the middle of discussions for the new CBA at the moment,and player salary is one of the key issues in the negotiations. 

For the 2014 season, the minimum salary in the league was $36,500 for select first-year players. If MLS clubs are willing to dish out enormous sums of cash for top players, they should be able to spend more money on younger players as well. 

With the Giovinco deal fresh on their minds, the players' union should go into the newest set of negotiations with aggressive demands for an increase in salary. 

While league executives bay balk at a large increase, the MLS brass has no leg to stand on in regard to its salary defense. Acquisitions like the Giovinco one have opened the door for bigger salary demands for the average player. 

The two Toronto signings carry with them two completely different impacts on the league. But in the long run, they both should leave a positive impact on MLS for years to come. 

 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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MLS Draft Notebook: Seattle Gets Its Guy; Portland, TFC Impress with Selections
MLS News
Friday, 16 January 2015 01:10

As the first round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft progressed Thursday, one key name was left on the draft board. 

It took until the 16th selection for the University of Washington's Cristian Roldan to be selected by the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders traded up to the 16th pick in a deal with Real Salt Lake. SB Nation's Jeremiah Oshan reported that the trade cost the defending Western Conference champions just under $100,000 in allocation money. 

One of the reasons why Seattle made sure it worked out a trade with Real Salt Lake was the familiarity between Roldan and RSL assistant Craig Waibel. Waibel was an assistant at Washington before he joined RSL. 

"We really thought RSL was going to take him because Craig Waibel has history with him as well," Sounders boss Sigi Schmid told reporters. "For them, it came down to the situation where what we were offering was more important to them than the players." 

Roldan also has plenty of connections with the Sounders since he played collegiate soccer in the area at Washington. 

"I know a lot of the guys, not just (recently signed homegrown player and college teammate) Darwin Jones," the midfielder said. "It’ll be a transition I think. I’ve been to the locker room. I’ve been to the Starfire (training facility). It’ll be a pretty easy transition." 

When he eventually took the stage to say a few quick words to the fans in attendance at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Roldan said what many prospects were thinking Thursday. 

"Wow. I'm nervous as hell," he said on the stage next to MLS commissioner Don Garber. 

The 19-year-old tried to take positives out of the entire process instead of dwelling on the negatives. 

“I try not to look at it in a bad way," Roldan said. "Going wherever I went, I’m still at a team and still signed with Generation Adidas. I look at it in a positive way." 

The most telling quote on how Roldan's future will go in the Pacific Northwest came from Schmid on an experience he had in California after the season. 

“I was down in Southern California looking at training-field options for our preseason and I go to look at this one field. They’re playing six versus six and Cristian’s out there playing," Schmid said. "I didn’t expect him to be out there playing. But he’s the kind of kid if there’s a soccer game, he’s going to play. Guys like that make it." 

 

Portland Pulls in an Impressive Haul 

Seattle's rival to the south also had a strong day across the country in Philadelphia. The Portland Timbers selected Notre Dame midfielder Nick Besler with the first of their four picks at No. 5 overall. 

“I’m really excited to join Portland. I think they’re a great organization," Besler said after his name was called. "I think they’re headed in the right direction and they have the best fans in MLS. I’m really excited to get up there and start working with them."

As expected, Besler was asked a question about the comparisons to his older brother Matt, who is a star center-back with Sporting Kansas City and the United States men's national team. 

"I get them so much that I’m used to responding to them," Besler said of the questions about his older brother.

The Timbers open their preseason slate against Sporting Kansas City, and the two sides meet at Sporting Park in the regular season on March 21. 

"It’s going to be a little different now since I’m playing against him," the younger Besler said. "I’m really excited to go up against him and I won’t be easy on him.”

In the second round, the Timbers selected three valuable players in defender Andy Thoma and forwards Christian Volesky and Kharlton Belmar. 

Thoma was projected as a first-round pick in many mock drafts, but he fell to Portland at the 24th selection. He will provide depth in the back four during Portland's attempt to get back among the Western Conference's elite clubs. 

Volesky and Belmar may not be contributors right away with the Timbers, but they will get a chance to develop with the club's USL Pro team. 

It is way too early to hand out draft grades. But based on early returns, the Timbers are close to an A. 

 

Toronto Makes a Splash with Youth

Toronto FC has been criticized on numerous occasions in the past for not committing to young players. 

It looks like the Reds, who are no stranger to big-money signings, are investing in the youth as well with the 2015 season on the horizon. 

Before the draft began, Greg Vanney and Co. locked up a key asset in homegrown player Jay Chapman. The midfielder was joined by five other acquisitions on the day before the Jozy Altidore deal becomes official. 

Toronto was also able to invest in its defense with the selection of Syracuse's Skylar Thomas, who is set to work as hard as he can to make the first team. 

"I’m going to go in there and work hard," Thomas said. "Put out all I can put out and hopefully I do well. I’ll leave the decision up to the coaches.”

Thomas' college teammate Alex Bono was taken five picks before him. Bono is currently training with the USMNT in California. 

“It’s good to know a ‘keeper that’s in the organization," Thomas said. "We automatically have a bond on and off the field and hopefully we can build on that." 

Toronto also drafted defenders Clement Simonin of NC State and Wesley Charpie of South Florida as well as forward Edwin Rivas from Cal State Northridge. 

Just like many of the players selected in Thursday's draft, Toronto's youngsters will get a chance to hone their skills with the club's USL Pro affiliate over the next year or two. 

 

Emotional Moments on Stage

Some of the best moments of Thursday's draft came on the stage right after certain players were selected.

When Matt Polster heard his name called as the seventh-overall pick, he broke into tears while addressing the crowd. 

The SIU-Edwardsville product caught the eye of the Chicago Fire while playing out of position at the MLS Combine. 

"I played center-back in college," Polster said. "When I went to the combine, I got lucky enough to play at center mid to show my skills. A lot of my tendencies helped boost my stock." 

“I have the engine to be a box-to-box midfielder," Polster said. "Really it just depends on what Chicago wants. I’m versatile, I can do whatever they need." 

In the second round, Bosnian-born forward Dzenan Catic broke down in front of his new home support in Philadelphia. 

"That was real emotion up on the stage," Philadelphia manager Jim Curtin said of his newest addition.

Catic was forced to play at NAIA school Davenport after he played professionally at Kaiserslautern in Germany. 

"He had a career at Kaiserslautern in Germany. He’s been in a pro environment before so it’s not a shock to his system when he comes in Day 1," Curtin said.

The selection of Catic was just another chapter in the tale of the forward. 

"My parents moved to the US when I was eight years old," Catic said. "I currently live in Michigan with my family. We've lived in Michigan since. I’m just grateful for my parents to have the courage to bring us over here for a better life."

Not all players on the stage displayed tears, especially Connor Hallisey. The 10th-overall pick decided to take a selfie with Garber before thanking Sporting Kansas City for selecting him. 

 

Other Draft Notes 

The New York Red Bulls didn't win over their fans when they selected Leo Stolz with the 18th pick. Stolz is currently in Germany working on a professional contract, as he prefers to play in Europe over MLS. One glimmer of hope for Red Bulls fans is Stolz was willing to play in New York or Los Angeles if he was selected. 

It was a surprisingly quiet day for trades, but the Colorado Rapids did make the best of their moves during the draft. They traded up to the 14th pick to select 6'7" defender Axel Sjoberg out of Marquette. Colorado's day got better when it acquired midfielder Marcelo Sarvas from the LA Galaxy in what was probably the biggest trade of the day. 

FC Dallas only had one pick Thursday, which was used on left-back Otis Earle. If manager Oscar Pareja's recent history with developing draft picks continues, Earle will be a star in no time in Texas. 

Maryland midfielder Dan Metzger was the SuperDraft's version of Mr. Irrelevant, as he was selected with the 42nd pick by D.C. United. 

“It gives me a little bit of motivation, if not a lot, going into preseason just to prove everybody wrong," Metzger told reporters. "I didn’t expect to go this late, but I’m kind of happy. It gives me the motivation and edge to show everyone what I can do." 

 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

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2015 MLS SuperDraft Winners and Losers
MLS News
Thursday, 15 January 2015 19:07

Another Major League Soccer SuperDraft is in the books as the 20 teams of MLS gathered in Philadelphia on Thursday to make their picks.

Drafts in any sport are tricky to manage. A team has to balance its needs on the field, financial concerns, building plans for the long-haul and duty to make its fans happy.

But in MLS, the draft can be even harder to figure out with things like allocation money and Generation Adidas contracts in play.

And that's to say nothing of homegrown signings, international roster spots, the allocation order (not to be confused with allocation money), designated players and the like—complexities that MLS teams deal with everyday.

With all that in mind, here are your 2015 MLS SuperDraft winners and losers.

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What Pressures Will Cyle Larin Face as No. 1 Overall Pick in MLS?
MLS News
Thursday, 15 January 2015 15:52

The Major League Soccer SuperDraft may not receive as much attention in the United States as the drafts in the four major sports, but the top selection still faces a good amount of pressure. 

Orlando City SC selected UConn forward Cyle Larin with the first overall pick in Thursday's SuperDraft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. 

Larin will go into a unique environment in Orlando thanks to the presence of former No. 1 pick Danny Mwanga, who inked a deal with the Lions this week. The Philadelphia Union picked Mwanga, now 23, with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, but he was traded in 2012 after two-and-a-half mediocre seasons. He has bounced around at a few different clubs since, never finding success at any of them.

“I think there is a lot of pressure. It’s tough," Mwanga said prior to Thursday's draft. "Sometimes as a player, you get too much of that into your head. You start doubting yourself a little bit. Going from the college level straight to the pros, being the No. 1 draft pick, people expect a lot from you." 

The forward first joined Philadelphia before its expansion season, just like Larin will do with Orlando City in 2015. 

The environment of an expansion club is a bit different compared to that of a club that has spent plenty of time in the league. 

"He’s also going to an expansion team," Mwanga said. "You’re going to a club where you’re starting from ground zero. Whether you’re a rookie, a second-year player or anyone, it gives you a chance to go in to change everything." 

Mwanga and Larin are expected to compete at some point for the same position in the Orlando City squad.

The two might not go head-to-head right away, but further down the road in 2015, they could be vying for a spot in the team alongside Bryan Rochez and Pedro Ribeiro. 

The adjustment process into the league can also depend on the city in which the team plays. Andrew Wenger experienced a bit of a culture shock when the Montreal Impact selected him with the No. 1 pick in 2012. 

"The language was definitely a bit different," Wenger told Bleacher Report. "The same jokes don’t come off the same way in French and English. Everyone in Montreal was great, though." 

Regardless of the destination, the new additions to MLS are tasked with a challenge to stay busy after training is over each day. 

"The largest adjustment I found was dealing with the downtime in the afternoon and evening in a responsible manner," Wenger said. "You are a professional player and need to be ready for training each day, but what they forget to tell you is how to spend your downtime effectively so it doesn’t take away from your on-field performance."

"So I would say find something that can occupy your time, whether it is playing video games, painting or another hobby, and get after it," Wenger continued. "The other change is you are entering the working world often in a new city, but that is very similar to any other college graduate." 

Both Mwanga and Wenger admit there is a decent amount of pressure on the top pick in the draft. 

"As the No. 1 pick, your face and actions aren’t plastered across SportsCenter each day like other U.S. sports, but within your market and the U.S. soccer market, everyone does keep an eye on you," Wenger said.  

"Though how much of that added scrutiny you pay attention to is up to each player," the current Philadelphia Union midfielder added. "Your career is your career, and what you make of it is up to everyone individually." 

"The No. 1 pick comes with a lot of pressure," Mwanga said. "I think people are watching you and expecting you to contribute right away. It’s up to the player to take charge and realize how big of an opportunity it is." 

"It takes some players a short amount of time, it takes some players a lot of time [to adjust]," Mwanga said. "There is no doubt that there’s pressure being drafted No. 1. They’re expecting you to come in right away and start helping the team." 

If Larin does not succeed right away, there is no reason for him to put his head down about the situation. Wenger is a good example of this, as he did not see much playing time in Montreal before his breakout season with the Union in 2014. 

"Continue to do the things that made you the No. 1 pick, but find ways to add to your arsenal of talents on the field," Wenger suggested. "Keep a level head [off the field] and work your butt off.

"Finally, I would say find players on your team you respect and admire that have been in the league awhile and are winners and learn from them. Pay attention to the little things they do."

Some signs point to Larin having success right away in MLS, as he already earned a few call-ups on the international level with Canada, and in his two years at UConn, Larin scored 23 goals and recorded six assists in 39 games. 

The entire draft experience can be a whirlwind process for any young player, but the true key to succeeding in any professional league is to follow advice from older players and come in willing to work for a spot in the team. 

"There’s no doubt that the transition period is very important for a player coming from the college level," Mwanga said. 

 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

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MLS SuperDraft 2015: Complete Round-by-Round Results and Twitter Reaction
MLS News
Thursday, 15 January 2015 14:50

The first two rounds of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft took place on Thursday, January 15, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, as the first 42 picks were made.

Orlando City SC landed the consensus top prospect with the first overall pick, selecting Connecticut's Cyle Larin. The first round saw a handful of big surprises, including the slide of Washington's Cristian Roldan and Toronto FC's pick of little-known defender Clement Simonin.

Here are the full results for the first round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft: 

Canada international Larin was widely regarded as the top player available in the draft, and as shared by Goal.com's Ives Galarcep, Orlando surprised no one by selecting the powerful forward first overall:

Larin was not able to attend the event, as he's currently playing for Canada in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

According to ESPN FC's Paul Carr, it marks the first time in MLS history a single school provided two consecutive top picks after UConn's Andre Blake went to the Philadelphia Union first overall in 2014:

Roldan was seen as the second-best prospect in the draft, but after a disappointing combine, some pundits warned the pint-sized midfielder could slide on draft day. New York City FC, who have no clear needs in central midfield following the signing of Mix Diskerud, settled on Oregon State's Khiry Shelton instead.

The forward couldn't believe his luck, as he told NewYorkCityWatch:

UCF's Romario Williams made it three consecutive forwards, going to the Montreal Impact. American Soccer Now thought Roldan's combine performance wasn't as poor as some suggested and was shocked by the decision not to select him in the top three:

Matt Polster provided one of the more touching moments of the first round, bursting into tears after being selected by the Chicago Fire. ITV's Kristan Heneage was moved by his show of emotion:

Toronto FC took Syracuse's Alex Bono, the top-rated goalkeeper in the draft, with the sixth pick before shocking everyone by selecting Simonin, a defender from North Carolina State, 10th overall.

Simonin was not invited to the combine and didn't make any major waves heading into the draft. Galarcep didn't hide the fact this was an odd pick:

Roldan continued his tumble until the 16th overall selection, where Seattle Sounders swapped picks with Real Salt Lake to take the midfielder. Bleacher Report's Joe Tansey and Galarcep thought the move made sense:

UCLA's Leo Stolz was the last high-profile star to come off the board, as questions regarding his MLS future saw him drop all the way to the New York Red Bulls at 18th overall.

As noted by Galarcep, the young midfielder made it clear he had no interest in signing for a team not based in New York or Los Angeles, which explains the drop:

The second round saw few surprises, with most teams electing to fill areas of need rather than taking a flier on some of the prospects with more upside. Here are the full results of Round 2: 

Dzenan Catic was one of the more intriguing players still available, and the Philadelphia Union took a chance on the Bosnian with the 31st overall selection. He also couldn't fight back the tears:

Oumar Ballo fell to Houston Dynamo with the No. 30 overall pick, and his tremendous upside could see him end up as one of the top steals of the draft.

The 2015 MLS SuperDraft will continue on Tuesday, January 20, via conference call.

 

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