More Expansion Draft Stuff: The Midfielders

By: Laurie | November 16th, 2007

First thing: If you’re unclear on how the expansion draft or other MLS minutiae works, go back to this post and read everything “bluemeanies” writes in the comments. Extremely educational.

Next, let’s talk about midfielders and who I’d protect in the Expansion Draft. I protected one goalkeeper and four defenders, and now I want to protect four midfielders. Which leaves two slots for the forwards. Funny, I never intended to go 4-4-2. It just worked out that way. Is it the players, or is that just the mode my brain is locked into?

But at any rate. According to the roster on the website, here are our midfielders, again minus the retired CoJones. (And of course the only reason I said that was because I like writing “CoJones.” And you already knew I was immature when you stopped by today, so stop complaining.) Again, I’m marking the ones I want to protect with an asterisk, and again, discussion is below.

David Beckham*
Kelly Gray
Kevin Harmse
Chris Klein*
Kyle Martino*
Josh Tudela*
Pete Vagenas

I’m not sure we have to protect Beckham. My guess would be that his contract precludes him from being traded, or that a rule will suddenly go into place before the draft on Tuesday saying DPs are already protected. (Why would you protect Gen. Adidas players and not DPs?) But he’s on my list till I hear he doesn’t need to be.

Chris Klein is on my list because he impressed me a lot this year. It would have been easy to get all whiny about everyone attacking the trade that brought him in, but he was a professional from start to finish, and he has a cool head on the field. Chris, if it were up to me, you’d be protected.

Josh Tudela made the list because he stepped up to the plate when he was given the chance and secured a spot on the field. We need to hold onto a player who can do that.

The last spot was a toughie, but I ended up going with Kyle Martino because I couldn’t NOT go with Kyle. No other explanation.

There’s a pretty good chance that under this scenario Yallop would at least consider taking Pete Vagenas, Kelly Gray or Kevin Harmse. If he were to pick one of these three, I’d guess it would be his Canadian discovery, Kevin . And it might not be a horrible thing for the Galaxy to lose a scrappy, volatile card-magnet like Kevin. (Although it might not be a bad thing to keep him, either.)

Have I covered all my bases here and flip-flopped enough?

And again I am feeling the need to apologize to the guys I didn’t pick. Nothing personal, boys! I still love you!

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

« Expansion Draft Thoughts: Which Goalkeeper(s) and Defenders to Protect | Home | Caption This Beckham Photo »

jenl

Stopping in to say that Tudela and Vagenas are holding midfielders and that's a tough call. But because of salary cap I would probably keep Tudela and let Vagenas go.
Diane

Just read bluemeanies' reply to a previous question and it covers this. Thanks again!
Diane

Question. I've been studying this whole MLS player acquisition concept and I may be thick but I'm missing one thing: what happens with guys who aren't coming out of HS, college, another professional team (native or international)? Say some brilliant player who's been in prison or working for a small architectural firm instead of pursuing a pro sports career. They would fall into the free-agent category in other sports. Would they be Discovery signings here, and how would that work?

Laurie, I have lots of questions about how the money is handled -- mostly about whether the salary cap is a facade -- in case you want to do a post where those would be relevant. Pretty please do. No rush.
Diane

Nathanhj, Klein's 32 now, but he looks really smart on the pitch and he has the composure that comes with age. If he's fit, I don't think you can have enough of either. Plus, if he's put back on defense, that's usually a longer career anyway. Maybe other DP's have to be protected, but Beckham's contract protects him from leaving Los Angeles. So, unless you really think Chivas will go after him, that's another spot on the list available.
Nathanhj

Laurie:

If you could have Randolph playing on left wing in front of Jazic and Martino in his natural right wing spot with Beckham in the middle and Donovan playing withdrawn striker behind someone who can score (say a Gavin Glinton with more talent), then all of a sudden the Galaxy midfield doesn't suck. Not a top-notch midfield, but one that maybe can get in some good crosses and have some actual wide play. Anything to have the personnel to ditch that punt-and-scramble crap we played all season. Some build-up from the back would be a welcome change and indicate a midfield that can actually possess the ball a la DC United from the mid-90's...
Laurie

In theory Mike Randolph is an authentic left winger. It's just that he got his wings at leftback because of Jazic's injury and that's where he stayed.
Laurie

Also, I hear you on Klein. I also think he's in no danger of being picked up, both because of his salary and because I don't think Frank would touch any of the midseason acquisitions with a ten-foot pole. But it would still feel wrong for me to not protect him.
Laurie

Nathan,

Giggle.
Nathanhj

Laurie:

CoJones and Vagenas, starring in "Goldenballs".
Nathanhj

I can see why you would protect Klein based on his performance, but based on his very high salary and his advancing age (for the record he is younger than I am so i don't know what that says about me), you could leave him unprotected and chance that the Quakes don't take him. And if they do... well, I'm not sure he has another 2007 in him.

In place of Klein, I'd protect Harmse who has more attacking flair than Kelly Grey and is the kind of bruiser who gets away with a lot because of the crap refereeing in MLS.

I'm also not so sure about Martino, even though he played out of position and was additionally playing injured over the last half of the season. I'm not sure he's worth protecting when what the Gals really need is an authentic left wing. But since there isn't one on the bench, I could be persuaded.

I'm also pretty sure that DP's have to be protected, though maybe that's just rumor at this point. No way the Quakes could afford Beckham, though. But wouldn't it be just like them to pick him up and trade him back just like TFC did with Kreis last year? Whatever the DP rule, you gotta protect Beckham in order not to have your lunch eaten.
Laurie

CoJones and Vagenas. Sounds like a porn team.
JustJack

I'd protect Pete and let Kyle go. Using my funky alchemy and my penchant for watching gameplay, Kyle doesn't have the effectiveness percentage Pete does (minutes played factored into shots on goal to goals scored/assists), plus my emotional gut feeling that I just don't like Kyle's style on the pitch (plus I don't share Laurie's groin-bonding thingy ;-) tee-hee). Plus Pete's been a long-time Galaxy player and I'm loyal to the old timers who were there back in the beginning... [cue voice-of-god] In the beginning, there was CoJones, Cienfuegos....[end vox divina] Vagenas (tee hee) is in there somewhere.
Laurie

That's why I protected Randolph. :-)

(And Jeff at Center Holds It calls Tudela "Monchichi." Some of the Riot Squad guys call him Eddie Munster. Cruel, but giggle-worthy.)
Melissa

Tuleda! Thats the player I was trying to remember yesterday. He's the scruffy looking one that popped into the lineup towards the end of the season? Yallop is soooo nabbing Tuleda if he's unprotected. If CoJones (cock) blocks Yallop then he's nabbing an unprotected young defender (pack your bags Randolph).
Laurie

You dis Kyle, you dis my heart, Dave. I'm afraid we cannot be friends.

(As I have said before, when you write enough posts about somebody's groin? You're eternally bonded. Don't question it. It just is.)
Dave Martinez

Wait . . . . Yallop isnt on the team. Harmse has no hope.
Dave Martinez

oof. Martino stinks. I would definitely have protected Grey over him.
Diane

You probably have an extra asterisk to use. I believe Beckham's contract allows him to remain in LA, so unless Chivas are inclined and have $6.5 a year laying around...