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MLS SuperDraft: Crew Selections Could Make It To Highmark Stadium; RMU's Brett Likely To Be Drafted

Major League Soccer’s Annual SuperDraft is today.   Why it’s called Super, I’m not sure, but it’s what MLS has been using for 17 years to select (mostly) from players that have graduated from College or have been signed to play in the league as they have also combined the college player selections with its supplemental draft.
The draft will go four rounds, and like its counterparts in U.S. pro sports, will follow a format based on how the teams finished in the previous season.
And although Pittsburgh does not have an MLS team, there will be at least two story lines that we will be following here.
ROBERT MORRIS’ NECO BRETT  

BRETTT

Robert Morris’ Neco Brett won the Northeast Conference Player of the Year three years in a row. 


The three-time Northeast Conference Player of the Year, Neco Brett, who completed his career at Robert Morris University, will likely be picked anywhere from late in the first round to the fourth round.
The Jamaican striker accumulated 41 goals and 98 points in the last three years at RMU, both league-leading totals in that span.  There’s been some speculation that his stock has dropped since the beginning of 2015, as his production tailed off at the end of his Senior season.
Here are a few nice goals Brett scored with RMU and Jamaica…

 
HOUNDS AFFLIATE COLUMBUS CREW HAVE FOUR PICKS IN FIRST TWO ROUNDS 
McInerneyCLBvDC

Columbus Crew SC acquired both General Allocation Money and Targeted Allocation Money from the Portland Timbers in exchange for forward Jack McInerney. This might pave the way for the Crew to draft a forward or two. (Photo Courtesy of Columbus Crew/MLS)


The Crew, 2015 MLS Cup Runner-Up, will be picking 19th (out of 20 teams) in the first round.
Then, they have a slew of selections.
They have picks 21, 31 and 41.   Depending on how things shake down, with a roster that is pretty deep, coming off MLS Cup appearance, there’s a possibility that some of the players drafted may end up playing in Pittsburgh this Summer.
There’s also an indication that because they  traded Jack McInerney, their first forward off the bench from last year’s team, to Portland for Targeted Allocation Money and General Allocation Money, that they may be looking a forward in the draft.
Could Brett, who is a forward, be on the Crew’s radar?
There are also rumors that Cheslea’s Radamel Falcao Garcia could use a change of scenery in order to find more playing time, and Columbus Crew SC are interested in making that happen.

Heading into the 2016 campaign, Kai Kamara, is the incumbent starter at forward in Columbus.

Should be fun to see how this all plays out — and how the ripple effects could involve the Riverhounds.

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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