What’s the key to achieving success at Major League Soccer’s college draft?
Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson maintains it’s flexibility and being able to instantly react to any number of scenarios that may unfold.
With the Whitecaps holding the third and seventh overall picks in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft in Philadelphia, Robinson is prepared to field a flurry of last minute trade offers that could alter his draft game-plan—hence the need to be prepared for any situation.
“The fun starts on draft day because you can put all of your plans into place and then suddenly you get a phone call from another team minutes before you’re supposed to make your pick that throws you a curve ball,” Robinson told Sportsnet.
“You have to be open and you have be in a position to adjust because there might be something that comes in at the last minute that you’re willing to consider, whether it’s allocation money or a player. You have your strategy if every pick stays the same, but then you have to react if a team makes a trade offer or if they sneak ahead of you in the draft order—then you have to quickly figure out what do you do.”
In the Whitecaps’ case, they have to keep cool and can’t tip their hand as to what they’d be looking for in prospective trade offers. Let other teams come to them, Robinson said.
“I’ve had calls and people asking me what would we want in return, but when you hold the picks it’s not for you to say what you want—it’s for the other teams to come to you with offers,” the former Toronto FC midfielder explained.
“There’s been lots of chatter about would be interested in bits and pieces, and I’ve left it open. I’m not looking to move my picks but if something comes to the table that I think is right for my team, I’ll consider it. If not, then I’ll go pick two young, quality players.”
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The retirement of veteran South Korean right fullback Y.P Lee has left a major hole in the Whitecaps starting lineup. Eric Miller from Creighton University is touted as one of the top defenders in this draft class, and as a Generation adidas player he wouldn’t count against the MLS salary cap.
Using draft picks to fill a problem position is one way to go. There are other considerations that you have to weigh and balance, though.
“We’ve lost Y.P Lee, so we do need to fill that gap. But there are other areas that we might be looking to fill or need to fill, and that’s part of the process in deciding a game plan. Do you go on the best player available or do you fill a position? It depends on so many things,” Robinson said.
“At the end of the day I want good players. …. The main question I have is if I’m looking for starting players, do I think the guy can start straight away? If he can, then I’ll pick that player and fill the hole. If I don’t, I weigh it up against who is the best possible player in the draft. … If you don’t pick the best player, then the team after you will. So there’s a lot you have to consider.”
Robinson replaced Martin Rennie as the Whitecaps’ coach last month, which means Thursday’s draft will be the first major and important event of his coaching tenure. The Welshman explained that putting together a draft game-plan has been a collaboration between himself and the rest of his coaching staff. Ultimately, though, Robinson will make the final decisions.
“As a new coach, I’m open to opinions. … But at the end of the day, the buck stops with me. I will have the final say but I want all of my staff to be open with their evaluations and they might be able to see something that I can’t see,” Robinson stated.
“I don’t know it all and I’m learning, so I need the input and information that I get from them to make an informed decision. It’s a collaborative effort, but it’s a decision that I will make in the end.”
And while most pundits are focused on the top of the order (University of California defender Steve Birnbaum tops a lot of mock drafts on the internet) Robinson feels this draft has a bit of depth—the Colorado Rapids picked Dillon Powers 11th overall last season and the midfielder went to win the rookie of the year award.
“Everyone is talking about who will go one, two and three. …There’s always depth in drafts and it’s important you do your homework to make sure you’re as well prepared as possible to maybe find that gem,” Robinson said.