The combine is well on it's way. Yesterday afternoon all four teams played in a double header. Today we'll examine which players won and lost in those scrimmages. Four key players were not present yesterday. Generation adidas prospects: JJ Williams, Frankie Amaya, and Griffin Dorsey, as well as top senior, Andre Shinyashiki, missed the first games, but will be present for Wednesday's kickoff. It's important to note that this is not a big board. I'm not ranking these players just yet. I'm listing who made a favorable impression, and who did not. Of course, there were many players who made no impression at all--you might as well call them losers too. I am factoring performance in yesterday's games, as well as performance in the athletic drills (60-yard dash, agility drill, and vertical leap) that MLS posted yesterday.
The All-First Game of the MLS Combine Team:
G Ben Lundt
D Akeem Ward
D Prosper Figbe
D Alex Comsia
D Chase Gasper
M Anderson Asiedu
M Sergio Rivas
M Amir Sejdic
F DeJuan Jones
F Santiago Patino
F Amir Bashti
^ All college seniors, no generation adidas players
Winners:
M Sergio Rivas
College #10s don't find the field in MLS. So, I'm still not sure what Rivas' role will be in the league. However, he was one of the best players Saturday, and out-shined (in my opinion anyways) the consensus top play maker in the draft Siad Haji.
F Amir Bashti
Bashti looked great on the left in the attack. He's a skilled winger who has the ability to take on defenders. To no surprise, after watching the match, he scored very well in the agility testing. I'm convinced Bashti can fill a role on the bench in MLS. He's not as physically talented as Chris Mueller, but I think they have similar qualities on the ball.
M Anderson Asiedu
Asiedu boosted his stock more than any other player at the combine. He was a one man army in X's midfield. He looks like the best ball-winner in the draft. Either David Gass or Bobby Warshaw said on commentary that Asiedu reminds them of Mo Adams from a year ago, and I completely agree. Not only do they have a similar stature (Asiedu is just 5'6"), but they are gritty, unselfish ball-winners. Asiedu was downright dominate, and the two players above, Bashti and Rivas, benefitted.
D Callum Montgomery
Montgomery, a left-footed senior center back who won't take up an international roster spot, entered the combine as a likely high draft pick. He wasn't terribly tested, but he didn't do anything to hurt his stock. That makes him a winner.
D Chase Gasper
Gasper was not on my radar entering the combine, and he showed good two-way ability on the left. He played a beautiful ball through the penalty area that Ikoba should have put away. As a left-sided defender (fullback), Gasper plays a position that will be valued in the draft, but this draft is very deep at fullback, and Gasper makes it even deeper.
D Roy Boateng
Boateng only played in the second half of his match Saturday, and he didn't draw too much attention (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). However, Boateng showed well in the performance drills. He has the best vertical leap of any player at the combine (which he needs as a 6'0" center back), and was also the tenth fastest player in the 60-yard dash. I'll have a closer eye on Boateng on Wednesday when the combine kicks off again.
D Akeem Ward
Ward put in a good shift on the left in his game. He looked like the best athlete on the pitch, showing great recovery speed. I think he's a good 1 v1 defender. He also showed he can pass with either foot. I believe he's naturally right-footed, but proved he can play either way. Ward is the top fullback in the draft right now.
D Alex Comsia
Comsia had a heck of a game. He showed leadership, composure, and the ability to win the ball. He's only 6'0", but I think Comsia has a place in MLS as a third center back. Comsia was the second best CB on Saturday, and has a shot to be a first rounder.
D Prosper Figbe
Alex Comsia was the second best CB on Saturday, because Prosper Figbe was far and away the best. If Anderson Asiedu boosted his stock more than any other player, than Figbe was right behind him. Figbe was excellent on the defensive end, bullying attackers with his unmatched physicality. He also flashed some special passes out of the back, including an assist to Santiago Patino. Figbe also proved to be one of the best athletes in the draft. He finished second in the 60-yard dash, and also has the second best vertical leap. I see Figbe as a more athletic Lalas Abubakar, who rode an excellent combine in 2017 to a top-five selection.
M Amir Sejdic
Sejdic had a goal and an assist in his match. His pass to DeJuan Jones was special. He's a very good college play maker. I don't know what that makes him in MLS though. Sejdic played as a #10 in the first half of his match, but he was brought back in in the second as a #8, and Team Copa immediately scored on a counter attack upon his return. I watched Sejdic leisurely track back, and was absolutely disgusted. I don't know if he can be an eight in MLS, and that's worrying. I could have listed Sejdic under "winner," "loser," or "neither." However, I think he showed very good attacking ability, and game-changing passing. He has yet to show me he has a place on an MLS roster though.
M/F Tucker Bone
Tucker Bone entered in the second half of his match, and was an absolutely difference maker. He showed good ability on the ball, and plays quick. It was not surprising to see Bone had the second fastest agility time in the performance drills.
F/M DeJuan Jones
DeJuan Jones was one of the biggest risers from the first game of the combine. I mentioned prior to the match that Jones may have to transition to fullback in MLS, but he played very well as a right winger. Jones scored the opening goal of the combine, beating the back line with his game breaking pace, controlling the pass, and finishing well. Jones was a constant threat on the right. Jones was the big winner in the performance drills. He had the fastest time in both the 60-yard dash, and the agility drill. Expect Jones to be a top-ten pick.
F Santiago Patino
With JJ Williams missing, Santiago Patino was the best #9 on Saturday. He's very physically strong, and showed very good hold up play, even if he wasn't always able to connect with teammates. Patino reminded me of Bobby Wood. Not only due to his strength (and average height), but his runs through the seams.
D Sean McSherry
McSherry was not on my radar. Now he is. He was one of the best two-way fullbacks on Saturday, and showed well in the physical drills.
F Nils Bruening
Bruening was another player I wasn't watching entering the draft, but had a very good match on Saturday. Bruening played on the wing, and looked surprisingly fleet of feet for his size (he's 6'3").
D John Nelson
Nelson was one of the few Generation Adidas players who made a positive impression on Saturday. he has a reputation as an attacking full back, but looked good both ways.
Losers:
G Dayne St. Clair
St. Clair had a dismal match, and he made a mistake that directly led to (Maryland teammate) Sedjic's goal. He'll still be a first round pick as a generation adidas goalie, but I think the top-five buzz has cooled.
D Abdi Mohamed
This draft class is deep at fullback. Mohamed looked poor defensively, and failed to make an impact going forward.
M Brad Dunwell
Dunwell wasn't terrible, but he needed to be better. He's not a ball-winner, and he couldn't make a game-changing pass often enough
F Sebastian Elney
Elney looked absent.
M Hassani Dotson
Dotson was dominated in midfield, and made some simple mistakes.
M Geoff Dee
He was the #6 for Team Nemeziz, while Sejdic dropped to the #8. That's a bad midfield pairing. They got burned on a couple of plays.
Neither, but still on my Radar:
D Marcello Borges
Borges saw a lot of the ball, but he wasn't a difference maker. He struggled defensively. I still think there's more to him than what he showed, but other fullbacks are overtaking him.
F Janos Loebe
Loebe scored. He also showed to be one of the fastest players at the combine in the 60-yard dash. However, he made some bad decisions going forward, and missed players running into space.
M Camden Riley
I'm still not sure what Riley is in the midfield. He didn't make an impact in his match.
F Don Tchilao
Threatened a little bit on the right, but was completely overshadowed by Rivas and Bashti.
F Eduvie Ikoba
Ikoba was most notable for leaving his jersey at the hotel, meaning he had to wear a black-T on the pitch. He should have scored on a cross from Gasper. He did well in the performance testing proving to be one of the more athletic players at the combine.
D Logan Gdula
I've seen many people say Gdula was one of the most impressive fullbacks, but I disagree. First, he entered the combine as the second or third best fullback to begin with. Yes, he showed good ability going forward--that is not a surprise. He scored a really nice goal as well. He even proved to be quicker than I expected in the performance testing. However, I don't know how good of a defender he is right now, and was my greatest concern entering the combine.
M Tommy McCabe
McCabe was supposed to be one of the best holding midfielders in the draft, and possibly the best ball-winner. He was neither on Saturday. McCabe had a quiet match.
M Andrew Samuels
Samuels had a terrible first half at right back. Amir Bashti and Chase Gasper owned him. He did better in the second half when he was moved to his more natural holding midfield position. Keep him there.
D Wouter Verstraaten
Verstraaten suffered because the midfield in front of him was terrible, and could not control the ball. He's a potential first round CB, and I'll give him a pass.
D Kamal Miller
Miller is a left-footed "domestic" center back, meaning teams will want to draft him. He was just ok in his match. He did not look spectacular, and may have been responsible for Bashti's goal.
M Siad Haji
Haji was alright, but didn't look particularly special in this match. It's always difficult for creative players to enter the combine and stand out with a cast of players they've never played with.
F Ryan Sierakowski
Sierakowski suffered due to poor service. He's a second tier #9 in this draft.
F Tajon Buchanan
Finally, Buchanan failed to connect with teammates, and seamed a little lost out there. He's young, and he's fast, and he has good size. Buchanan has all the tools to be a special player.
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