Orlando City, NYCFC take long-term view as first MLS SuperDraft beckons
LAUDERHILL, Fla. --
New York City FC and Orlando City technical staffers spent the past several months scouring the country and the world. Journey after journey brought them closer and closer to completing their inaugural squads. This comparatively short trek to south Florida for the MLS Player Combine represented the denouement to those efforts ahead of the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
Orlando City coach Adrian Heath adopted a long-term, pragmatic view to this component of the process several months ago. Orlando City holds the first overall selection in Philadelphia, but the club does not necessarily need its choice to start in the opening match against New York City FC on March 8. This project requires an enduring presence, not an immediate splash, according to Heath.
"We said all along that if we get somebody out of the next couple of days who is still with us and contributing in two or three years' time, then it's been valuable to us," Heath told FOX Soccer's Inside MLS on Tuesday. "You look at some of the guys who come out, they can help you straightaway. If that was the case, then great. If we have to wait a year and we end up with somebody like Zach Loyd who plays every minute of every game for Dallas for the last [five] years, then you go, well, that's been a really worthwhile draft. That's the aim for us: take somebody who we think can contribute for us over the next few years."
Most of the buzz in that particularly category revolves around UConn forward Cyle Larin. The Canada Under-20 international missed out on the MLS Player Combine due to his commitments at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, but his credentials are well established as the probable number one pick at this point.
Larin makes sense from a roster (Orlando City shipped forward Jairo Arrieta to D.C. United on Wednesday in exchange for the use of an international slot this season) and from a talent (likely the best prospect in a weak class) perspective, but there are always other considerations to weigh before making the selection. Heath said Orlando City will lean on its scouting reports -- the club relies on input from trusted colleagues and subsequently watches enticing prospects in person -- and weigh any offers before proceeding accordingly.
"The only good thing about sitting here with the first pick is knowing that we can pick who we want, within reason," Heath said. "There has been a little bit of interest in it from one or two clubs, but we'll sit down when we've evaluated what has gone on over the past [few] days. We think there are people out there who will be able to contribute for us."
New York City FC faces most of the same dilemmas with the second overall pick, but the arrival of U.S. midfielder Mix Diskerud on a free transfer injected another element into the planning process.
It won't distract NYCFC from its fundamental task, though. Kreis said NYCFC wants to identify a player capable of developing into a regular contributor over the long haul. Diskerud's presence will not alter the calculus one bit, according to Kreis.
"It doesn't at all," Kreis said. "It doesn't at all. We're just interested in finding the best player that we can. I think any of these players that you're adding, if you're going into it thinking you have to fill a position or going into it thinking that the player is going to be a big part of what you're doing in your MLS season, I think you're making a mistake. For us, we're looking for a guy that we think has the highest potential and that we can develop into a fantastic MLS player, not somebody we think can come in and do a job for us."
That sort of viewpoint fits well within the talent pool at the moment and provides NYCFC with plenty of latitude to respond accordingly. Kreis' preference for tactical awareness and technical ability restricts the options even further, but his willingness to take a patient approach -- combined with the top-end talent already in the squad -- places the club in a position to move prudently.
"I think we're clear to say that there are at least two players -- since we pick second -- that we'd be very, very happy to add," Kreis said.
It is a scenario that dovetails neatly with the priorities of both expansion sides at the moment. The rosters are taking shape. Training camp is in sight. The trek is almost over. This last stop along the way supplies one last, high-profile chance to bolster the ranks and take stock before the toil starts in earnest next week.
