Following Wednesday’s MLS Dispersal Draft of Chivas USA players, FC Dallas find themselves with an embarrassment of riches in goal. They added veteran MLS goalkeeper Dan Kennedy with the first pick in the draft and, suddnely, they're three deep between the sticks.
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“It’s a great opportunity for us,” FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo told MLSsoccer.com. “It is a great opportunity and great challenge for us where not many teams have an opportunity to do that.”
The draft offered a chance for the 20 MLS clubs who will play in 2015 to obtain players, but not without challenges. Teams that took a player in the draft were required to keep that player at their full 2015 salary and, if there was a 2015 option, that option was required to be exercised.
In the case of Kennedy, a seven-year league veteran and 2012 MLS All-Star, there was no question for FC Dallas of his value. On the other hand, like the rest of the league, Dallas did not make a selection in the second round.
“There were rules that we need to go by in the selection of players,” Clavijo said. “We were very confident with Dan. We were not as confident with anybody else at those numbers.”
The addition does cause a logjam in goal. Dallas have 2013 MLS All-Star Raul Fernandez and eight year veteran Chris Seitz, who both played well in the 2014 season.
“It goes back to the coaching staff and exactly what we are looking for,” Clavijo said. “It’s going to be extremely hard to keep all three. I don’t think many teams have the options that we have now.”
Clavijo confirmed that FC Dallas have an option on Fernandez and that Kennedy is under contract in 2015 with a team option for 2016. Seitz’s situation, though, is more complicated.
“He is out [of contract],” Clavijo said. “We have the rights. We are trying to figure out how to keep him here. It’s an ongoing negotiation.”
Fernandez’s situation is also somewhat special, as he garners recognition as Peru’s national team goalkeeper.
“When you have a goalkeeper like Raul, you always have inquiries,” Clavijo said. “We put ourselves in a good position to be able to make a good deal for the club.”
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The addition of Kennedy gives Dallas more resources to work with at a time when clubs are having to protect their players for the upcoming Expansion Draft.
“This offseason, with the expansion draft, there is a lot of changes, a lot of uncertainty,” Clavijo said.
Three proven MLS-caliber goalkeepers are a luxury perhaps no team can afford, but the club is confident they can work out what is best for them.
“We can have a good combination,” Clavijo said. “We have to make sure the names match the numbers we can afford. They are going to have to fight for it.
“Every time you have an opportunity to add quality to your roster in a very complicated system, we’re excited,” he added.
