The Brotherly Game MLS Superdraft Open Thread

If you're not lounging at the Convention Center or a pub in Center City, this is the place for you!

This Superdraft is the the Union's most important draft since the last time the draft was held in Philadelphia, when the Union used three top 10 picks to take Danny Mwanga (sigh), Amobi Okugo (Yay!), and Jack McInerney (double yay!).  Thanks to a May trade with Chivas USA in which the Union dealt young midfielder Gabriel Farfan, the Union own the second overall pick in addition to their own sixth pick.  They also own the 25th and 27th picks in the second round.

John Hackworth made it clear that unlike last year where they did not have a first round pick, the Union expect to be major players in this draft.

"This year, we are in the exact opposite (situation)," Union manager John Hackworth said on a conference call with reporters Monday morning. "So it's a much different draft. As far as our scouting, we have spent a lot more time on the road making sure we have seen as many college games as possible, so we would see these guys in their playing environment before we get to the combine here.

Many observers feel that the Union will select one of the Cal-based defenders, Christian Dean and Steve Birnbaum, with the second pick.  However, Hackworth has effusive in his praise of UConn goalkeeper Andre Blake.  Another prospect that has been widely talked about is Georgetown attacker Steve Neumann, who played for Union assistant coach Brendan Burke at Reading United.  If the Union are high on Neumann as many suspect, they will take him with their sixth pick, or trade down and target him with a pick outside of the top 10 while gathering more picks.

The Sons of Ben will be loud and unmistakable, not just to support their favorite club but also voicing their displeasure at MLS commissioner Don Garber.  The MLS commissioner and his office balked at the Union paying American international midfielder Maurice Edu 1.2 million dollars a year and reportedly shut down the deal.   In an offseason where the Union have struggled to add talent to team that narrowly missed the playoffs last season, this move was met with much controversy.

The Superdraft begins at 12 PM Eastern and will be broadcast on ESPNNews and the WatchESPN app.  The Brotherly Game will be putting up draft profiles for each of the club's picks.  Hopefully the Union can find players today that can contribute to the team in the future.

The Draft Picks:

No. 1: Andre Blake, goalkeeper, Connecticut

(Update: In a shock move, the Union traded up their second overall pick and allocation money for the number one pick to select Blake)

No. 15: Pedro Ribeiro, midfielder, Coastal Carolina

(Update: The Union traded down twice from pick 6 to pick 10 to pick 15 with FC Dallas and Toronto FC respectively.  Each trade included allocation money coming to Philadelphia.)

No. 25: Kevin Cope, defender, Michigan State

No. 27: Robbie Derschang, defender, Akron

(Picks 44, 46, 52, and 63 will be made via conference call on Tuesday, January 21st.)

First Round

Second Round