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How does the Superdraft fit the Union's needs?

Getting players that fit your team in the draft can be difficult. You want to simultaneously get the best talent available while filling holes in the roster. Though the Union showed some considerable improvement through the course of the year, there are still quite a few holes in the roster, particularly in terms of depth. Getting young players in the draft to serve as depth can be a good move because then you have depth able to learn on the job and step in should the starters get injured or leave. The Union's roster needs are, at minimum, in attacking midfield and defense.

Unfortunately, there are not likely to be that many good attacking midfield options, particularly worthy of selecting with the pick the Union have obtained from Chivas USA. Ives' big board lists some players who might fit the club's potential needs.

Christian Dean (CB- California): A natural LCB, Dean is a large 6'3" centerback who could slot in well next to either Jeff Parke or Amobi Okugo. He is probably the most talented player in the draft, and though he wouldn't be the kind of centerback who could do a job out on the flank, he would both give the Union a reliable backup and a potential starter should Okugo either move to the midfield or be sold. Overall, he would be a great fit.

Leo Stolz (CM- UCLA): He is more of a "8" than either a DM or a CAM, but the Union really didn't have anyone reliable in the kind of linking midfielder slot that is essential in either an empty bucket 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1. An underclassmen, he may not come out, but if he does, he would be worth consideration to compete for a starting spot or otherwise provide depth.

Schillo Tsuma (F- Maryland): The best striker, he is a tricky player with some pace. Outside of Antoine Hoppenot, the Union don't really have that kind of player, and Tsuma is likely an upgrade on Hoppenot. Still, while Tsuma could likely find a place on the Union, he does not fill any particularly great need.

Patrick Mullins (F/M- Maryland): Mullins is a very good player, but he does not offer anything the Union really need. Considering some of the other players in the draft, the Union are better off passing on a player who at best would offer nothing more than Sebastien LeToux offers and likely much less. Mullins also has a pretty low floor, and I doubt he offers much more value than Steve Neumann, who might be had with a later pick. The Union need attacking midfielders, but they should not take Mullins with the second pick.

A.J Corrado (RW- Indiana): Corrado would give the Union a true winger, but he would play on the same side as Sebastien LeToux. Getting depth at the attacking midfield is useful, but unless Corrado can play on the left hand side he would mostly serve as useful depth and not as a starter. It would be useful to add creativity anywhere to the 18, but he would need more versatility to supplant Danny Cruz.

Andre Blake (GK- Conneticut): Blake should pretty much be a pass for the Union. Nothing against him, but considering Zac MacMath's performances last year, the Union do not need to use a high draft pick on a goalkeeping prospect. MacMath likely has a few years left before he might head to Europe, so there is more than enough time beyond this year to get a potential understudy to learn on the job under MacMath.

My best guess is that DC United, looking for attackers, will select one of the two Maryland products. If that is the case, the Union would be best off taking Christian Dean. If Dean is off the board, Leo Stolz would also be a fantastic pick should he enter the draft. With the sixth pick, the Union should consider these names, but beyond them, there may be a few players that might be considered

Steve Neumann (M/F- Georgetown): Neumann is a very similar player to Patrick Mullins, and part of the reason that I would want the Union to pass on Mullins early is because I imagine Neumann will be left on the board. Neumann will not be Generation Adidas, but does not have a natural fit on the field. Perhaps his best place may be as a CAM, which he would play similarly to how Clint Dempsey plays with the United States.

Ben Sweat (LB- USF): Ben Sweat is a player with second round talent who may end up going in the first round because of the dearth of quality left back options. In terms of his playing style, he would be a great fit for the Union. He can defend but he likes to get into the attack, and he's also a natural lefty. By itself, however, that is not enough to justify his selection that high in the draft. If the Union want a left back, they should consider trading down.

Kyle Venter (CB- New Mexico): Venter would also be a little bit of a reach, but if the Union do not get a centerback with the second pick, he would be worthy of consideration. He is a senior, and so the Union should favor Wisconsin's A.J. Cochrane should the latter be offered a Generation Adidas contract.

Overall, it seems very likely that the Union could get defensive depth and another piece to the attack, but I am not exceptionally bullish on the club finding the missing piece of creativity that the team needs. Perhaps that should not be all that surprising, but the search for creativity will have to expand beyond the draft, likely beyond the national border.

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