tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post9217640674748343623..comments2010-12-14T10:14:49.773-07:00Bonjihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03994311016750091672noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-24401769725487350772008-12-04T13:44:00.000-07:002008-12-04T13:44:00.000-07:00did balc get cut?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-15990189713188520022008-01-26T04:57:00.000-07:002008-01-26T04:57:00.000-07:00Emile,<BR/>I don't think your argument has enough evidence to support it (at least, not yet). Prior to this year, I count only 10 Supplemental draftees who came from outside Division I. With Kpene and Wondolowski among them, I think they're at least as good on balance as other players who were drafted in a similar position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-74118283193996471052008-01-25T21:21:00.000-07:002008-01-25T21:21:00.000-07:00So is there going to be a grading on this draft or not? The opening lines suggested there would be, and I'd love to get a sense of who made good picks and who did not. I like that my team (DC) went after players with solid credentials, but I have no idea of any of the other teams' picks.jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17557672897804755584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-20270093279418680572008-01-25T09:25:00.000-07:002008-01-25T09:25:00.000-07:00All of the guys you mentioned, including Wondolowski, were extremely productive college players. All of them except Wondo played at a very high collegiate level.<BR/><BR/>Getting acclimatized to pro soccer is hard for any college player, regardless of where they went to school. But the productive players from good teams at least have as a base the confidence and ability to have succeeded already at a high level.<BR/><BR/>I agree that success comes from a combination of pure talent, opportunity, and a persistent desire to overcome the odds. High-level success at the college level is a minimum indicator of two of those qualities, IMO.<BR/><BR/>Several MLS teams ignored that this year, and I think this supplemental draft was a disaster for them. It is somewhat of a crap shoot to find guys who are willing to battle through a few years of low pay and career roadblocks and have the talent to eventually be able to contribute. But in order to find those secret successes, you have to start out with the best inputs, not indulge yourself with fantastical picks gleaned from a day or two of training.Emilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17930263693319274239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-38835571065718366722008-01-25T03:02:00.000-07:002008-01-25T03:02:00.000-07:00Was there anything that made Jeff Larentowicz, Jason Hernandez, or Abe Thompson stand out among selections in the inaugural 2005 Supplemental Draft? What about Devon McTavish, Dasan Robinson, Joe Vide, and Lawson Vaughn in 2006?<BR/><BR/>With most of these guys, the payoff is so delayed and uncertain that it's practically impossible to pick out good value on draft day. Even three years later, Chris Wondolowski is still a question mark. He has torn up the reserve league, but it's unclear whether he's well-rounded enough for the first team. <BR/><BR/>There's a natural tendency to give credit to the guys who get immediate minutes, but I think that's a mistake. Playing time is usually more a function of circumstances than quality. As a rookie, Larentowicz saw the field for exactly 1 minute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22510884.post-37498340993548944112008-01-24T17:34:00.000-07:002008-01-24T17:34:00.000-07:00I think my bro should have been picked... but thats me hahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com