MLSsoccer.com continues its team-by-team preview of the 2013 SuperDraft with a look at the potential targets of the Philadelphia Union.
The Union’s picks come late enough that they will very well miss out on securing the top tier of talents at the positions where they are thin.
However, what Philadelphia does have going for them is that they have flexibility with their international slots and presumably could afford themselves a pick that other slot-strapped teams may not.
Philadelphia Union SuperDraft Picks: #26 (2nd Rd), #29 (2nd Rd)
Philadelphia Union Depth Chart (25 players):
Goalkeepers (2): Zac Macmath, Chris Konopka
Right Back (3): Chris Albright, Sheanon Williams, Raymond Gaddis
Center Back (4): Amobi Okugo, Jeff Parke, Bakary Soumare, Carlos Valdés
Left Back (1): Gabriel Farfan
Right Midfielder (2): Danny Cruz
Holding Midfielders (4): Brian Carroll, Greg Jordan, Michael Lahoud, Jimmy McLaughlin
Attacking Midfielders (2): Freddy Adu, Michael Farfan
Left Midfielder (1): Roger Torres, Keon Daniel
Forwards (6): Conor Casey, Antoine Hoppenot, Sébastien Le Toux, Jack McInerney, Chandler Hoffman, Cristhian Hernandez
Internationals slots (4 of 8 remaining): Daniel, Hernandez, Torres, Valdés
Philadelphia Union SuperDraft Priorities
Another left back: Gabriel Farfan is durable, but John Hackworth needs some cover there. By the time the Union make their first selection at No. 26, there may be one or two left backs remaining from the elite ones being touted before the SuperDraft.
Wish List (left backs):Dylan Remick (Brown), Greg Cochrane (Louisville), Ryan Clark (Monmouth), Jack Bennett (St. John’s), John Gallagher (Penn State)
Wide midfielders: We’re probably going to find out from the SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft which side of the field Hackworth feels he needs the most help. Aside from the left-footed Keon Daniel, who can man both sides, all the Union have to work with is Danny Cruz (right) and Roger Torres (left).
Wish List (wide men):Uwem Etuk (West Viriginia – left-footed), Don Anding (Northeastern – left-footed), Andy Riemer (Georgetown – right-footed), Ryan Smith (Louisville – right-footed)
Goalkeeper: If Carlos Valdes heads out on loan to Colombian side Santa Fe, then center back could supercede any goalkeeper search (although Chris Albright and Sheanon Williams can manage at central defender). Otherwise, the Union are deep enough at most other positions that they very well might be the one team in the SuperDraft that takes a goalkeeper, if they feel strongly enough about a particular one.
Wish List (goalkeepers):James Belshaw (Duke), Michael Abalos (Cal State Northridge), Brad Stuver (Cleveland State), David Meves (Akron)
