Thursday, January 12, 2012

MLS DRAFT: Chivas goes on the attack

 Chivas USA offers some clear needs which year's draft course has some actual depth, so once the fifth pick found its way to Thursday's MLS SuperDraft, Robin Fraser as well as his staff experienced some tantalizing options to think about.

Maryland striker Casey Townsend, probably the best finisher about the board, proved the majority of enticing, and the actual Goats exited the actual Kansas City Conference Center feeling such as conquerors.

That's nothing when compared with Townsend's emotions, nor the chance thrown his method -- if Juan Pablo Angel is really coming back.

Townsend, a first-team All-American that scored 17 goals like a senior and 43 objectives in four seasons using the Terrapins, has big-time guarantee, and a season spent using the star Colombian striker's -- and dealing with Venezuela veteran Alejandro Moreno, too -- seems like the best completing school imaginable.

“Absolutely. Those two guys are extremely accomplished. They've proven on their own in MLS for a long time, ” Townsend, twenty two, told ESPN La. “I'm very excited to understand whatever I can from their store. I'll be a sponge available and take all of the advice they can provide. ”

Townsend figures to determine his share associated with action, too. The Goats are not done dealing -- they have a surplus associated with midfielders, at least an additional offshore acquisition arriving and five picks within the first two circular of Tuesday's additional draft -- however the newcomer from Navigate City, Mich., is simply the third forward about the active roster.

Uh, help to make that second. Angel has not re-signed yet, although Fraser stated he's confident he'll.

“This is an excellent place for [Townsend] to understand, ” Fraser stated. “He has excellent role models close to us, serious professionals who're very dedicated for their craft. It's a real dream situation for just about any forward to end up being around especially individuals guys. ”

Fraser together with his only SuperDraft choice chose Townsend more than center backs Tim Jean-Baptiste, a Era adidas signing through Connecticut, and Louisville's Austin texas Berry, both gone through the ninth selection, deciding to cope with one primary need as opposed to the other. The Goats' trainer said he'd adopted Townsend for “a very long time. ”

“This is really a player we are excited to obtain, ” Fraser stated. “He's incredibly aggressive, extremely hard-working, includes a great nose for that goal... embodies everything we're attempting to do when it comes to being competitive. He's a success. He's a champion. ”

Chivas, that opens preseason camping Monday, was in love with Townsend after the formal interview throughout the MLS Player Mix that ended Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Townsend was chosen MVP from the event after rating twice and assisting another goal in two games for that team that received the tournament.

“It had been very exciting [waiting to be selected]. Really nerve-racking, ” Townsend stated. “I was really hoping to visit Chivas. I had an excellent sit-down meeting together. They were my personal gut feeling, and I really was excited to listen to them call my personal name. ”

Chivas common manager Jose Domene stated that “after the actual interview, we had been really, really pleased with him. Just like a person. He's a man who loves in order to compete. He knows he's reached compete, knows he's to earn an area in the [game-day] eighteen, and he's prepared to do all the job needed.

“In the philosophy, our culture -- the brand new culture we're creating -- he suits perfectly. ”

Townsend knows Chivas midfielder Blair Gavin through his youth nationwide team days and it has friends down the hall within the Galaxy locker space -- he performed alongside defenders Omar Gonzalez along with a. J. DeLaGarza his freshman 12 months at Maryland -- who he suspects may “give me difficulty about going in order to Chivas. ”

He's already engaging in the rivalry.

“They're enemy number 1 now, I speculate. ”

Domene said another addition will be coming from abroad -- the Goats have brought in Ecuadoran midfielders Burns Bolaños and Oswaldo Minda throughout the offseason -- and also the goal was to become “two-deep in each and every position. ” The Goats possess only 18 players on the roster, and only four of these are exclusively defenders.

“It's nearly impossible [to have the kind of depth we're seeking], but we will strengthen the backline, ” Domene stated. “We're still searching abroad, looking inside the league. If the best opportunity comes, all of us will grab this. Same thing along with another forward. ”

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