Michael Nanchoff, 15 goals and 22 assists in his career at Akron University, has been picked in the mock MLS drafts of websites, such as Soccer By Ives and many other guessers, as the most likely pick for the Crew at the first round- twelfth spot.
However, guessing what is going to happen before a MLS Draft occurs, is like Charlie Sheen on Wall Street, judging stocks, without Gordon Geecko's cheating hand their for assistance. Overall, judging the MLS Draft is about as easy as judging stocks. No one can usually guess one pick in a row, let alone two in a MLS Draft. Likewise, Charlie Sheen couldn't discover a good stock, if good stocks were an ocean and he was on a boat surrounded by them in that movie.
And, a Mock Draft (like the financial projections) is usually crummy at picking out how everything will line up. A Mock Draft might be right on the first pick or here or there, but after that it's usually wrong... Unless Ives or other Mock Drafters are following coaches around and screening their phone calls. :-)
One doesn't have to go far in the history books to see the unpredictability of the whole MLS Draft, take for example the Crew's 2010 draft. Everyone nailed Dilly Duka as the Crew's pick at no. 8, but then everyone predicted the Crew were going to go with Akron's Blair Gavin at no. 12; It was a sure thing.
But, the Crew went the less-expected route and picked some fellow named Bright Dike (right up there in footie names with Frank Awanka, Roberto López Ufarte, Dean Windass, Harry Daft, and Johnny Moustache). Then the Crew didn't listen to their inner soccer shakra on Dike and cut him, just to find out 10 goals in 23 games later (for the Portland Timbers) that they may have been right in the first place with Dike.
So, anyways, I'm hoping the Crew save us that yo-yoing and any surprises this draft year. And, instead, listen to Ives and draft Nanchoff because I think he would be a solid player. Nanchoff has the ability to start games as a rookie, which could help our depth; as well as our ability to trade one of our midfielders for our other needs.
Nanchoff, is Schelotto-like as a dimunitive player, that gets up and down the wing well and has a strong, accurate cross. Nanchoff's accurate cross is seen twice in the below video, first in a goal scoring opportunity not converted and then in a game winning assist against Michigan in the NCAA Semifinal. Nanchoff also scored the game winner against Indiana University in the NCAA Playoff's Round of 16 this year:
Nanchoff at #12 in Ives Mock Draft, is expected to be the 6th Akron player picked in the draft at that point! Defender Perry Kitchen (1st pick), Forward Darlington Nagbe (2nd pick), Defender Kofi Sarkodie (4th pick), Defender Zarek Valentin (5th pick), Midfielder Anthony Ampaipitakwong (10th pick) are all expected to go first. So, twelve picks in, six of the picks will be from Akron and the other six will represent the other 120 or so NCAA Division-1 programs.
It's fully deserved by Akron University. I seen Akron firsthand twice this season (being less than an hour and a half away from me, compared to the Crew at the moment who are 3 and a 1/2 from me). I saw them beat Michigan 7-1 on October 19th, where you got a real range of their talent and all of these weapons (video below). Wasn't a shabby game to choose- Kofie Sarkodie and Darlington Nagbe looked like real monsters in that game. And I also went to the 3-2 NCAA Tournament Second Round win against West Virginia on November 21st. I also caught about six games on Sportstime Ohio throughout the season.
From those games I can say I admire Nanchoff's workrate and there is no reason coming from the team that he came from, that Nanchoff couldn't pick up where he left off with the Crew. Nanchoff is probably a better crosser of the ball than Gaven or Rogers, not what neither is truly known for, and could find himself on the left wing with Gaven slotting central.
Nanchoff also has a great family pedigree when it comes to footie. His dad George Nanchoff played 70 games in the old NASL at the height of his career and was capped 10 times for the U.S. National team including a goal. Nanchoff Sr. and his brother Georgie both played at Akron University and both were capped by the U.S. National team at the same time in the 70's. Nanchoff Sr. currently is a co-owner and head coach for the PDL Cleveland Internationals. I also have been at the Internationals home field when I worked with the Dutch Lions in a 2-2 tie in June, Akron's Darlington Nagbe was on the roster but did not play in that game.
Michael Nanchoff's brother and sister also play Division-1 college soccer at Dayton and Duquesne respectively.
George Nanchoff, after his NASL days, with the indoor Phoenix Inferno where Nanchoff scored 42 goals in 37 games.
With adding Nanchoff the Crew would have a formidable and young midfield to choose from, with possible selection problems that any manager would love to have. As the Crew would have Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven, Emmanuel Ekpo, Dilly Duka, and Michael Nanchoff to choose from (and quite possibly Leandre Griffit who I think can make an impact over a full season).
Heck, they mise well add Robert Warzycha's son, Konrad Warzycha, to the mix. Not expected to go in the first two rounds by Ives, Konrad would make sense as a third round pick for the Crew (with 8 goals this season and a Big Ten First Team honor in 2010). From what I have seen and saw Konrad seems like a good player with a good head on him. VIDEO BELOW OF KONRAD AT MLS COMBINE:
Introducing Konrad Warzycha from mlsinsider on Vimeo.
In fact, if I was the Crew I would just sign midfielders because that's the only position usually deep in the draft. At forward and striker there are no sure things past the first five or six picks in the draft.
Then if enough of the younger players step up in midfield, you may have the possibility of trading one of your midfielders for a sure thing striker or defender at another team.
But, I expect since I wrote all of this, the Crew are not even interested in Nanchoff and will go with a bit of a head-scratcher like their last twelfth pick (Bright Dike) in the 2010 draft.
Here's what I see currently for the Crew and where they need depth going into this draft and offseason (italicized in need of depth or help):
--------------Mendoza----------Renteria-----------------
Subs: Lenhart, Heinemann
It's unlikely that both Mendoza and Renteria step up in 2011. Were going to need one more striker who can score over 10-15 goals a year. FOR ONCE!
Overall at forward: Could be better, but not horrible. If the Crew can sign one more striker that can actually bag goals consistently for them (Herrera 2.0 lol) then the Crew would have a nice strike force.. They need one out and out goalscorer, which would balance well with their two dangerous South Americans (Renteria and Mendoza) with moments of brillance and flair but not enough of them, and then Lenhart and Heinemann who can come in and be your danger men on headers (as well as your bruisers, guys that can also hold the ball well for you).
Rogers------------------Gaven------------------------Ekpo
-----------------------O'Rourke--------------------------
Subs: Duka, possibly Nanchoff, possibly Griffit, Renteria has also been known to play right mid.. Burns, although I don't see Burns as a starting DM.
Overall at midfield: The most solid part of the team. Duka is going to be a strong player in the future, as Duka reminded me a lot of Schelotto in certain ways when he did get on a field in 2010. Ekpo, Gaven, Rogers are all young players with tons of experience from 2008 to 2010 with the Crew.
Add a player like Nanchoff and maybe someone like Warzycha, and there's a lot of young talent there and players who can play different positions.
However, I WANT O'ROURKE out of the midfield and back in central defense with Marshall, that's why I put the DM position as shaky. Because I just do not trust Iro enough in central defense. I think we need to sign a defensive midfielder, but I don't think your going to find one that can start from day one in 2011 in this draft at our picks.
That's why it might of been a bit dumb to part with Carroll, especially since he was like 30 and not 36. I think that was overkill by the Crew in clearing house, especially if they have no one in mind.
The Crew's backline is just much stronger with O'Rourke back there with Marshall.
Francis------------Iro-----------Marshall-------------Miranda
Overall on defense: Were in trouble here in my opinion currently but then again I doubt were going to find anyone who can start from day one in this draft at our picks.
I mean Francis and Iro can do a serviceable job at times, but there not the 2008 backline in their prime of:
Padula--------------O'Rourke-------------Marshall------------Hejduk
I loved that backline then.
I'm just not sold yet on Francis's and Iro's body of work.
And who knows about Miranda, whether he will be a rock or only serviceable. His 3 years as a captain and the memory of Marcos Gonzalez make that signing seem positive. But, after Sergio Herrera last season, I want to actually see him make it on the field before I judge.
------------------------------Hesmer--------------------------------
Think were fine in goalkeep with Hesmer and Greunebaum, although I wouldn't be upset if Friedel came back and took over (especially for leadership since the Crew really have no one, except possibly Marshall who I could see stepping up and leading this team at the moment).
So, overall I think the Crew need in 2011:
A high caliber starting left back
A high caliber or at least better center back
Or move O'Rourke to center back and sign a higher caliber DM
And a striker for once who can score over 10 to 15 goals, to go along with our current strikers
If we can land a solid LB, CB, and ST in the transfer market...
or a solid LB, DM, and ST in the transfer market...
Then I think we will be okay. I also think we should just stock up on midfielders in this draft, as possible tradebait, if need be for one of those other positions.. If the Crew do not have the cap room to just buy all three positions on the transfer market.
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