If you were wondering how it was that the New York Red Bulls protected 14 players ahead of Wednesday's MLS Expansion Draft, the simple answer is they didn't.
The lists released by Major League Soccer for the exposed players in the draft was missing three Red Bulls who were left unprotected. Gabriel Cichero, Andrew Boyens and Terry Boss were left unprotected and are available to be taken by Seattle Sounders FC in the expansion draft.
I will keep you posted on any other changes or corrections to the master MLS expansion draft list.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Aha! Mystery solved.
Even with the news that Boss is unprotected, still seems pretty crazy to protect 2 keepers. (Three was unfathomable, which was another reason I suspected the original list was messed up.) Pick your top keeper and let the other go unprotected.
Posted by: A.S. | November 25, 2008 at 02:50 PM
I knew there was a mistake!!!
Posted by: Mighty | November 25, 2008 at 02:55 PM
it can only happen in MLS
Posted by: luis | November 25, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Man, Ives, way to blow it! Seattle wasn't going to know!
Posted by: garg0yle | November 25, 2008 at 03:10 PM
A.S.,
I'd imagine Conway is protected because NY is going to trade him. Why let him go for free?
Posted by: Faux Fur and Soccer Shirts | November 25, 2008 at 03:15 PM
I have to imagine that Seattle will pick M. Pappa, I. Joy, E. Gaven, Z. Wells, N. Jaqua J. Smith/C. Ruiz in addition to J. Parke. Let's see what the Sounders do tomorrow. I hope the Red Bulls do a trade with Chicago to get Pappa.
Posted by: Tim F. | November 25, 2008 at 04:26 PM
I meant Seattle not Chicago.
Posted by: Tim F. | November 25, 2008 at 04:27 PM
I don't know, Faux. I wonder if they feel confident in Cepero for the whole season.
BTW, I'd imagine that Seattle will take a Red Bull defender, if anyone, given that RB have left several decent ones unprotected. Of Boyens, Jiminez, and Parke (they're obviously not going to take Cichero), I might take Boyens.
Posted by: A.S. | November 25, 2008 at 04:37 PM
I think Boyens was one of our strongest defenders throughout the playoffs
Posted by: jevanvoo | November 25, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I was wondering how we had so few exposed players. Still, not much to worry about. We have some decent defenders exposed, but no one who can't be replaced.
Posted by: Joamiq | November 25, 2008 at 05:41 PM
These predictions are without knowing all the salaries etc basically just what I think are best options
1 Parke
2 Badilla
3 Pappa
4 Joy
5 Jaqua
6 Ricketts
7 Talley
8 Petke
9 Lenhart
10 Grabavoy
Parke is a strong tough player with speed a hard defender to get through
Jaqua a big target up front for Ljunberg,Nyassi, and Pappa possibley to aim for
Talley may suprise some of you but, in RSL he played well and could be a good DCM in seattle
Lenhart a strong forward impressed many with his 4G/10 games
and Grabavoy a good attacking mid could provide some good energy of the bench with some pacy threw balls
Posted by: Scott | November 25, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Ives,
Who else do you think the Red Bulls will get rid of or struggle to keep? Do you think Cepero will want more money after his playoff run? what about van den bergh's contract situation? Do you think the echeverry, cichero, rojas, pietravallo contingent will be back?
Posted by: bradzilla | November 25, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Scott - I agree with you on Talley a solid DM
Posted by: gerald | November 26, 2008 at 09:26 AM
cepero played for free, how would he not want more money
Posted by: redbullfan | November 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Question? Red Bulls coach JC osorio is protected?? in this unprotected list???
Sounds funny eh!!
Posted by: Mastrino | November 27, 2008 at 08:26 AM