By Martin French @BluebeardRex
LCFC’s boss, James O’Connor is heading to Florida this week on major business – scouting the MLS combine.
While the combine is primarily used for scouting ahead of MLS Superdraft, many of the unselected players can fall to NASL and USL Pro teams with sharp eyes. Last year saw the odd example of Andre Lewis – drafted by Vancouver in the first round, but rejecting them in favor of an NASL contract from New York Cosmos, who – at the time of writing – are the last NYC team yet to somehow implode spectacularly in 2015. It’s unlikely that MLS is going to allow another such situation to happen with the Superdraft after that embarrassment. In the past, USL Pro has held combines of their own, but they have elected not to hold one this year with the aim of doing it right next year.
The most recognizable player at the Combine from for many Coopers will be Cards defender, Daniel Keller from Carmel, IN. Former U of L players to be drafted from the Combine include Marlon Hairston (#12), & Jimmy Ockford (#21) in 2014, and in 2013, Paolo Del Piccolo (#27), Greg Cochrane (#38), and overall Number 1 pick, Andrew Farrell. MLS Superdraft will take place on Thursday January 15th in Philadelphia. With Orlando up first, the chances are reasonable for the number 1 pick to be playing for Elsie this year.
With 3 players signed for City, and an unknown but hopefully successful haul from his Christmas trip to Britain and Ireland, we are hoping to hear more news soon. Unfortunately, I believe that USL require all paperwork to be signed and approved before announcements, so we are probably going to have a wait to find out who he gets. In the meantime, any responsible rumors will be gratefully received and discussed, as will many irresponsible but tangentially plausible ones.
