Mo’s Magic at the MLS Superdraft!

Posted on January 7, 2010

As the 2010 MLS Superdraft fast approaches in Philadelphia next Thursday I thought it would be interesting to point out the success Mo Johnston has had in previous drafts in identifying up-and-coming talent.  This year may be a challenging one for Mo to equal his past success simply based on the fact that Toronto FC currently have only two picks in the draft and they are nothing close to the positions the club had last season.  Toronto will have the 24th overall selection (via Colorado) in the second round and the 53rd overall selection in the fourth round.  Not having a pick in the first round is not the end of the world.  Toronto FC has quite a bit of allocation money and maybe even a couple of players to float around to see if there is a possibility to move up in the draft.  Plus, there are many diamonds in the rough circulating around NCAA Division 1 soccer that could be missed, as they have in the past, and Mo has found them as you will see below.

In 2006 Johnston was Head Coach of the New York Metrostars with Alexi Lalas holding the position of General Manager.  Here is how the now Red Bulls selections went that year and the end result pretty much speaks for itself!

Wynne followed Johnston to Toronto from the Red Bulls. (Getty)

2006 MLS Superdraft New York Metrostars Selections:
1st Round 1st overall Marvell Wynne (UCLA) Current Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
2nd Round 17th overall Jozy Altidore (Generation Adidas) Current Club: Hull City (English Premier League)
4th Round 41st overall Blake Camp (Duke University) Current Club: Atlanta Silverbacks (United Soccer League)

Marvell Wynne now features as Toronto FC’s right back and earns calls to the US National Team on a regular basis.  Jozy Altidore now finds himself in the EPL and Hull City after a short stint with Villarreal and an opportunity to go to Everton (a deal in which Villarreal turned down).  At the time of the draft it was thought Altidore, a Generation Adidas player, may not report to Major League Soccer if drafted, but that was not the case.  He made 37 appearances for New York scoring 15 goals along the way and is now an integral part of the US National Team program earning 21 caps and scoring 8 goals along the way.

After starting the 2006 season with New York with a 2-3-7 start to that 2006 season Johnston was let go by New York, but promptly picked up by the newest member of Major League Soccer, Toronto FC as GM and Head Coach.  Two of Mo’s selections at the 2007 MLS Superdraft are very familiar to many around the soccer globe and the other two may ring a bell to Canadian soccer fans.

2007 MLS Superdraft Toronto FC Selections:
1st Round 1st overall Maurice Edu (Maryland) Current Club: Glasgow Rangers (Scottish Premier League)
1st Round 10th overall Andrew Boyens (New Mexico) Current Club: New York Red Bulls (MLS)
3rd Round 27th overall Richard Asante (Syracuse) Current Club: Italia Shooters (Canadian Soccer League)
4th Round 40th overall Jeffrey Gonsalves (Rhode Island) Current Club: Not attached

Maurice Edu claimed MLS Rookie of the Year honours in 2007 and it was not long before he was off to greener pastures.  Rangers paid in the neighbourhood of 5 million dollars for the University of Maryland product and with Toronto FC getting a large percentage of the transfer fee it helped with many off the pitch improvements to the club any maybe even a grass pitch.  Thanks Mo!  Andy Boyens struggled with Toronto FC, which may have been expected with a first year franchise.  A New Zealand International Boyens has a starting role with his country, including the 2009 Confederations Cup.  It’s a tournament he’d probably prefer to forget after a nightmare match against Spain.  He more than likely prefers to look forward considering New Zealand has qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Richard Asante and Jeffrey Golsalves are two Canadian soccer players that I covered while they were south of the border on scholarships.  Asante a small speedy player probably saw his best days on Canadian youth teams and at Syracuse.  Gonsalves is a player that should still be playing at a high level.  It proves how important being invited to the Combine can be.  At University of Rhode Island he was rated among the top ten strikers in NCAA Division 1, but not invited to prove his talents at the combine.  Johnston was happy to draft him at the time, but Gonsalves could not find a role with Toronto FC when the team kicked off their opening season.  He’s Canadian teammate at Rhode Island, Simon Gatti, is a member of the Montreal Impact.

On to 2008 and although Mo’s first pick of the Superdraft in 2008 did not live up to the hype, he did fall into the clubs plans in the long term.  Here is how Toronto selected at the 2008 MLS Superdraft in Baltimore.

2008 MLS Superdraft Toronto FC Selections:
1st Round 9th overall Julius James (Connecticut) Current Club: DC United (MLS)
1st Round 10th overall Pat Phelan (Wake Forest) Current Club: New England Revolution (MLS)
2nd Round 28th overall Brian Edwards (Wake Forest) Current Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
3rd Round 30th overall Mike Zaher (UCLA San Fernando Valley Quakes) Current Club: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

Julius James in the end only appeared in 13 matches for Toronto FC and scored one goal.  On a good note he was part of the deal that brought Dwayne De Rosario back to play for his hometown team.  James did not fit into the mold with the Dynamo either, went on loan and eventually landed with DC United.  At 28th overall Brian Edwards has been a key player for Toronto FC.  If it were not for the 2009 Draft he could very well be Toronto FC starting keeper.

In 2009 Toronto FC and Mo Johnston were all smiles with 3, count them, 3 first round picks.  All three of the first round picks fit into Toronto FC’s 2009 first team.

The selection of Frei proved another major success for Johnston. (Getty)

2009 MLS Superdraft Toronto FC Selections:
1st Round 2nd overall Sam Cronin (Wake Forest) Current Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
1st Round 4th overall O’Brian White (Connecticut) Current Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
1st Round 13th overall Stefan Frei (University of California) Current Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
3rd Round 34th overall Mike Grella (Duke) Current Club: Leeds United (English League One)
3rd Round 39th overall Kyle Hall (Syracuse) Current Club: Unattached (Played for Canada’s U23 team in 2008 CONCACAF Championship)

In what was considered an already deep midfield the 2nd overall pick in Sam Cronin proved he could play with the big boys and after earning his first start of the year he went on to make 27 first team appearances and scored his first MLS goal June 13, 2009 against the New York Red Bulls.  MAC Herman Award winner O’Brian White spent much of the 2009 season recovery from injury, but by the end of the campaign started to show what he brings to the table.  Size, grit, determination and great 1-v-1 skills should have him battling for a starting spot up front in 2010.  In training camp Stefan Frei and at the MLS Combine, where he was named MVP, he impressed Toronto FC’s coaching staff enough they named him the clubs starting keeper in front of fan favourite and Canadian International Greg Sutton.  Frei proved to the fans and his coaches it was the right move.  He earned player of the week honours on numerous occasions and a MLS Rookie of the Year nomination.  Mike Grella drafted 34th overall declined to sign with Toronto FC, instead went to the UK hoping to pick up with a team there.  That is how he landed with Leeds United.  It’s been quite a ride for Grella since then scoring important goals in helping the club reach the FA Cup 3rd round match with Manchester United.  Although he did not get onto the pitch the one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in history he was a sub at that match at Old Trafford.  That would have been one hell of a night in Manchester!