MLSsoccer.com continues its team-by-team preview of the 2013 SuperDraft with a look at D.C. United and their needs heading into Thursday.
D.C. United’s SuperDraft is shaping up to be a predictable one, with left back appearing to be the most obvious selection for the club with its lone SuperDraft pick coming at No. 17. And there are enough quality left backs to give D.C. United a solid choice at that pick.
D.C. United SuperDraft Picks: No. 17 (1st Rd)
D.C. United Depth Chart (25 players):
Goalkeepers (3): Bill Hamid, Joe Willis, Andrew Dykstra
Right Backs (2): Robbie Russell, Andy Najar, Chris Korb
Center Backs (3): Dejan Jakovic, Brandon McDonald, Ethan White
Left Backs (2): Daniel Woolard
Right Midfielders (1): Nick DeLeon
Central Midfielders (5): Perry Kitchen, Lance Rozeboom, Marcelo Saragosa, John Thorrington, Connor Shanosky
Attacking Midfielders (2): Dwayne De Rosario, Raphael Augusto
Left Midfielders (2): Lewis Neal, Chris Pontius
Forwards (5): Lionard Pajoy, Rafael, Hamdi Salihi, Long Tan, Michael Seaton
Internationals slots (1 of 7 remaining): Jakovic, Neal, Pajoy, Rafael, Raphael Augusto, Salihi
D.C. United SuperDraft Priorities
Left Back: Concussion-like symptoms kept starting left back Daniel Woolard on the sidelines for the last 13 matches of the regular season and he missed out on the playoffs. While right back Chris Korb filled in admirably – he can play both flanks – D.C. United could use another left back who is MLS-ready.
Wish List (left backs):Taylor Kemp (Maryland), Jimmy Nealis (Georgetown), Kory Kindle (Cal State Bakersfield), John Gallagher (Penn State), Greg Cochrane (Louisville), Ryan Clark (Monmouth)
Right Midfielder: The trade that sent Danny Cruz to Philadelphia, coupled with Andy Najar’s move to right back, means that D.C. United are thin at the wide right position. With the left-footed Lewis Neal more than capable of playing the inverted midfielder role, this hole can wait until the Supplemental Draft next week.
Wish List (right mids):Evan Raynr (UCLA), Cody Calafiore (Temple), Marc Cintron (Providence), Yannick Smith (Old Dominion), Ryan Smith (Louisville), Andy Riemer (Georgetown)
Center back: With Emiliano Dudar’s return still in question, D.C. United could also use a center back to back up starters Dejan Jakovic and Brandon McDonald. With Ethan White carrying two full seasons under his belt (no action in 2012, however), they can afford to draft a player for the future.
Wish List (centerbacks):Tommy Muller (Georgetown), Eric Schoenle (West Virginia), Eric Robertson (Brown), Trevor Newquist (St. Mary’s), Kofi Opare (Michigan), Jose Diaz (UC Riverside), Danny Wenzel (Wake Forest), Lmaden Lemez (Alabama-Birmingham)
