The constantly forward-moving MLS keeps its engine revving in high gear in preparations for the 2010 season and expansion to 16 teams. Less than a week removed from the 2009 MLS Cup Final victory for Real Salt Lake, the champions were wondering just which piece of the championship puzzle might be lost, as the Philadelphia Union gathered a core squad from which to build upon in time for the upcoming term. Each of the existing MLS clubs was able to protect 11 members of their roster, with some additional exemptions and limitations regarding Designated Players and Generation Adidas developmental contracts. Philadelphia was able to select 10 players, meaning 5 squads were left unharmed around the league.
After hours of discussions, brainstorming, and talent evaluation, the Union and manager Piotr Nowak made the following selections as the first 10 players in Philadelphia Union history:
- Jordan Harvey (D-COL)
- Andrew Jacobson (M-DCU)
- Brad Knighton (GK-NE)
- Sebastien Le Toux (S-SEA)
- Stefani Miglioranzi (M-LAG)
- Alejandro Moreno (S-CLB)
- David Myrie (D-CHI)
- Shea Salinas (M-SJE)
- Shavar Thomas (D-CHV)
- Nick Zimmerman (S-RBNY)
*Note: Also joining the Union as of 11/25/2009 is GK Chris Seitz. However, his signing was separate from the expansion draft.
The first name that will stick out to followers of the MLS is undoubtedly Alejandro Moreno. The 30-year-old Venezuelan is an accomplished MLS veteran, with 43 goals in 218 appearances with the Galaxy, Earthquakes, Dynamo, and 2008 Champion Columbus Crew. Coach Nowak will also call upon Miglioranzi and Thomas to provide quality leadership in the midfield and defense, respectively. Beyond those three, the draft provided the Union with a large helping of young talent ranging from the 21-year-old Myrie to two 25-year-olds, Le Toux and Harvey. Many highly respectable names were left off the draft sheet when all was said and done (Igwe, Convey, Dunivant, Saunders, Thompson, Grabavoy, Sturgis, and Noonan to name a few — on a personal note it’s mind-boggling to me that none of these guys were selected; we’ll save that for another post) but Nowak and his staff feel that they’ve gathered a solid core from which the club can build upon in the January MLS SuperDraft and in the free agency window. Said the experienced Nowak, whose previous managerial stints include 3 seasons at DC United (04-06) and 3 more with the US National Team and U-23 outfits, “It’s a good mix of young players and veterans. We want to have leadership from the beginning. We like where the roster is and it’s a good start… It’s a good starting point for the future work of our team.”
Michael DiAmore is currently a play-by-play and color commentator for the Athletics Dept. of Stevens Institute of Technology, where he is a Computer Engineering major and freelance sportswriter. He can be contacted via e-mail at MichaelJDiAmore@gmail.com.
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