With Minnesota United’s entrance into MLS in 2017 secured, the team and fans can turn their attention in earnest to what that first-kick roster might look like. People will closely be watching how the Loons use their three designated player spots. We’ve spoken to a few outside observers, Peter Vermes and Taylor Twellman, to get a sense of how a market like Minnesota might recruit designated players.
Over the course of the past few months, I’ve been working on a series called the Designated Report. The pieces are a way to both reflect on the history of the league as the designated player rule is in its tenth year as well as (more importantly) a cautionary tale for Minnesota United as the team looks to fill their spots.
Speaking to this writer over at mlssoccer.com, sporting director Manny Lagos confirmed that the United “aren’t going to say we ‘need’ to use three DPs or one DP, no DPs. We’re going to build the roster for the right reason.”
This should be music to MNUFC fans’ ears.
While the Twin Cities isn’t a small market by any means, it is dwarfed in comparison to MLS heavy-hitters in New York and Los Angeles. While Chicago hasn’t been able to use their city’s size to their advantage, Miami looks poised to enter the league in 2018 alongside another Los Angeles franchise.
“I think Minnesota, Kansas City, Columbus, Salt Lake, Dallas, Houston – we’re all very similar markets,” Sporting KC head coach and sporting director Peter Vermes said ahead of the team’s June US Open Cup matchup with Minnesota. “We’re not New York or Los Angeles, so a lot of times when you’re bringing players you can add to your team, the Beckhams of the world won’t necessarily like your team’s city. That’s just the reality of it. As a club, we have to find different means of ways we can keep the level of the player coming into our team high to be competitive with teams outspending us. That’s why the academy is such an important part.”
Kansas City has developed one of the best academies in the league, with defender Kevin Ellis usurping Matt Besler’s grip on a starting spot, defender Erik Palmer-Brown being one of the hottest prospects in the USMNT pool and earning a loan to FC Porto, and goalkeeper Jon Kempin having seen a post-season start against Portland last fall and earning regular minutes for San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) and Swope Park Rangers (USL) on loan.
“Orlando City has been a home run. With what OC has done has completely surprised the heck out of me.”
-Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman sees other recent expansion sides as strong examples to follow. “Right away, you look at Seattle and Portland, right? Even Portland struggled a little bit and Caleb Porter came in and was able to right the ship, so to speak. I look at those two, even Vancouver with their academy. They struggled, but they had that academy and now they’re reaping the rewards of that. Business-wise, Orlando City has been a home run. With what OC has done has completely surprised the heck out of me.”
“I think if you’re short-sighted and build a team based on 2017, I think you’re going to be unsuccessful. I think when you look at this, and Dr. McGuire has done a very good job of this, I don’t think they’re panicked because they want to build this for the future. I think the experience of Manny Lagos playing in MLS, understanding the personnel in Major League Soccer, is vital. He understands what it takes to win. But you need to get your philosophy, you need to get your ducks in a row, and then you go from there. But I think if you build this half-heartedly based on 2017, then I think you’re in a situation where they’re three-four years down the road and still trying to make up for it.”
There’s a buzz around the Cascadian teams and Orlando as well that seems to have eclipsed the major markets as the focal point of the league. While the likes of Beckham, Henry, Villa, and Gerrard may not be interested in living in Minnesota, there are far bigger factors that can pull in players who are equally successful in the league. These factors are as crucial a part of the bigger picture as any player signing could be.
“It’s not about 2017 and 2018. When that stadium opens, you want everything firing because that is going to be a huge first impression on a lot of people.”
-Taylor Twellman
Twellman pointed out: “I think the most important thing when you’re attracting players here is that they see that stadium that’s not artificial turf, that’s 20k seats in Saint Paul. Now all of a sudden, you can recruit the Diego Valeri’s of the world and those kind of players. That’s why I reiterate: it’s not about 2017 and 2018. When that stadium opens, you want everything firing because that is going to be a huge first impression on a lot of people.”
With Minnesota United looking to build their MLS roster in time for January’s training camp, the club will need to hit the ground running sooner than later. With expansion partner Atlanta United FC having been preparing since their announcement in April 2014, there’s a bit of worry amongst fans that Minnesota is behind the curve.
According to Twellman, that’s far from the case.
“Are they behind Atlanta? No. I think the urgency is there, don’t get me wrong. I think if you asked the Minnesota United people off the record, I think they’d say that the pressure is on. Atlanta doesn’t know what’s going to work or not. I think I look at it and say that they wanted to make sure they were starting in 2017 and would go from there, but it’s August 19th? They better be rocking and rolling on September 1st with a good understanding of what that plan is.”
There will be lots of talk on this site and others about what Minnesota should do as they fill their inaugural roster. I’ll give a take on how I think the club should tackle their Designated Player slots, but before they make any marquee signings, three things should take place.
First, the club needs to do a real assessment on the current roster.
Over the course of the season, there have been varying opinions about how many players on this NASL roster could make the jump to MLS. While recent results have a lot of us in a state of pessimism, the fact remains that there are players in the club today who can contribute to MLS, whether they start or otherwise. Analyzing who these players are and figuring them into their plan moving forward is an obvious but crucial place for the team to start.
Second, the club should try to bring back Miguel Ibarra.
Sometimes the obvious partnership is the right one. Ibarra hasn’t been getting minutes for Club Leon, and his transfer fee would presumably be low because of this. If he needed a transfer, he would automatically become a DP, but because he knows the club’s philosophy and fills a need on the wing, it’s a match made in heaven.
Third, the club should come out of the expansion draft with three starters.
Even if the club has three starters coming up from NASL (entirely possible) and can sign Ibarra to be a fourth, that leaves seven places on the field open. With the benefit of hindsight, it looks as if New York city bested Orlando City in the last expansion draft, with players like Tommy McNamara and Jason Hernandez providing more to the club. Orlando, meanwhile, spent the first pick on Donovan Ricketts, a goalkeeper who clearly had little left in the tank once the season kicked off. This expansion draft will be crucial to the team’s fortunes as they look ahead to 2017 and beyond.
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