Two days ago, Jay Heaps was officially introduced as the head coach of the New England Revolution.
Now, the work begins.
Heaps’ first task in his new role will be to put together a list of 11 protected players ahead of the 2011 MLS Expansion Draft, in which the Montreal Impact will continue to shape its roster by selecting 10 players from other teams around the league. Each team must submit its list of 11 protected players on Monday, Nov. 21, while the actual draft will take place at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
As we’ve done in years past, we want to get your take on which 11 players you’d protect if it was your decision.
There are quite a few rules for the Expansion Draft (which can be found here), but for our purposes I’ll simplify it to the bare essentials …
- Diego Fagundez is automatically protected because of his status as a Home Grown Player. Fagundez does not count against the Revolution’s protected list, meaning the club can still protect 11 players beyond Fagundez.
- The Revs must protect AT LEAST three of the five internationals on the roster.
- Montreal can only select one player from each team. Once a player is selected from a specific club, that club is off the table for the rest of the Expansion Draft.
A list of the 26 players on the Revolution’s current roster (not including Fagundez) is below with international players noted as such. Keep in mind you must protect at least three of the internationals.
With all that said, who would you protect? Let us know in the comments section below.
ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXPANSION DRAFT
Kevin Alston
Darrius Barnes
Zak Boggs
Milton Caraglio (INTERNATIONAL)
Ryan Cochrane
Franco Coria (INTERNATIONAL)
Kheli Dube
Benny Feilhaber
Ryan Guy
Shalrie Joseph
Ryan Kinne
Alan Koger
Rajko Lekic (INTERNATIONAL)
Otto Loewy
Kenny Mansally
Stephen McCarthy
Tim Murray
Sainey Nyassi (INTERNATIONAL)
Pat Phelan
Matt Reis
Zack Schilawski
Bobby Shuttleworth
A.J. Soares
Andrew Sousa
Chris Tierney
Monsef Zerka (INTERNATIONAL)
AUTOMATICALLY PROTECTED
Diego Fagundez
19 comments
GreyGhostX says:
November 18, 2011 at 12:53 pm (UTC -5)
Wouldn’t Alston be protected by his Generation Adidas contract?
Matt says:
November 18, 2011 at 1:14 pm (UTC -5)
Kevin Alston
Darius Barnes
Milton Caraglio
Benny Feilhaber
Ryan Guy
Shalrie Joseph
Rajko Lekic
Matt Reis
AJ Soares
Chris Tierney
Monsef Zerka
Toughest call was leaving Coria unprotected, but as an international I don’t think he’ll be picked. Everyone else I wouldn’t be sad to see go.
matt j. says:
November 18, 2011 at 1:19 pm (UTC -5)
i would protect: alston, barnes, caraglio, feilhaber, guy, joseph, lekic, nyassi, reis, soares, and zerka. I feel that if or when joseph is resigned this is a very solid core of players to build around. and adding diego to that will make it ever better.
Jeff Lemieux says:
November 18, 2011 at 1:23 pm (UTC -5)
GreyGhostX – Alston graduated from Generation adidas following his rookie season in 2009.
bwidell says:
November 18, 2011 at 1:31 pm (UTC -5)
Protect:
Alston
Barnes
Caraglio
Feilhaber
Soares
Nyassi
Lekic
Guy
Coria
Shuttleworth
Joseph
jw says:
November 18, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC -5)
1. Alston
2. Barnes
3. Caraglio (INT)
4. Feilhaber
5. Joseph
6. Lekic (INT)
7. Nyassi (INT)
8. Reis
9. Shuttleworth
10. Soares
11. Tierney
RevsFan08 says:
November 18, 2011 at 2:33 pm (UTC -5)
Jeff, Is Mansally not International status?
Jeff Lemieux says:
November 18, 2011 at 2:40 pm (UTC -5)
RevsFan08 – He’s not (U.S. Green Card holder).
Steve says:
November 18, 2011 at 2:42 pm (UTC -5)
@RevsFan08 Mansally has his green card, I believe, which removes him from int’l status. Not sure why Nyassi hasn’t gone that route.
I could give my protected list, but then I already have in other mediums. You can find it at The Bent Musket at http://www.thebentmusket.com/2011/11/3/2536717/2012-mls-expansion-draft-who-should-we-protect among other places.
Djmuchachitomalo says:
November 18, 2011 at 3:02 pm (UTC -5)
PROTECT:
1. Caraglio
2. Lekic
3. Zerka
4. Reis
5. Soares
6. Joseph
7. Feilhaber
8. Alston
9. Mansally
10. Nyassi
11. Tierney
NFLPatriot says:
November 18, 2011 at 3:32 pm (UTC -5)
My list matches Matt, right down to Coria being #12 and odd man out.
James says:
November 18, 2011 at 3:35 pm (UTC -5)
Wow! No love for Stephen McCarthy from the above!
McCarthy
Barnes
Caraglio
Feilhaber
Soares
Nyassi
Lekic
Guy
Coria
Shuttleworth
Joseph
Chris B says:
November 18, 2011 at 3:47 pm (UTC -5)
My lists are very similar to the ones already posted but I’d go with:
3 INT’s:
1) Caraglio
2) Zerka
3) Lekic
Rest:
Alston
4) Soares
5) Benny
6) Shalrie
7) Tierney
9) Guy
10) Barnes
11) And of course, MVP Matt Reis!
Also, I like what Heaps and Burns were talking about regarding attempting more inter-MLS trades. A great way to start that that is with the Expansion draft. Try to engineer some trades it’s how DC got Dax McCarty and Colorado got Sainey’s bother last year!
Chris B says:
November 18, 2011 at 3:48 pm (UTC -5)
Ha my number 8 came out as a smiley face with sunglasses!
Jim Murray says:
November 19, 2011 at 7:08 pm (UTC -5)
Kevin Alston
Zak Boggs
Monsef Zerka
Matt Reis
Stephen McCarthy
Ryan Guy
Kenny M
Brad says:
November 20, 2011 at 1:20 pm (UTC -5)
Get rid of:
Lekic
Barnes
Nyassi
Phelan
Tierney
Dube
kinne
Schilawski
Sousa
Trade Joseph for some good young players. His time here is done its not like were good with him whats the worse that can happen.
kate says:
November 20, 2011 at 1:26 pm (UTC -5)
keep Kevin …
Zerka
Matt
Bobby
Ryan Guy
stephen
Kenny
Franco
the rest can go and get players who car about the game and not going out at night ..
Kate says:
November 20, 2011 at 1:32 pm (UTC -5)
Also keep A.J .
Alex says:
November 20, 2011 at 4:59 pm (UTC -5)
players to dump ……
JOSEPH
BARNES
NYASSI
LEKIC
DUBE
AND ALL OF THE 2ND TEAM