Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Battle Training Camp Kicks Off With a Bang


Dilly Duka Hits Double in CCL Play Versus Pachuca

- San Antonio

The big story down in the Alamo City dealt with how the Battle would find a way to impose their will on the 2015 BSL Superdraft despite not being able to make any pre-draft moves.  The BSL may have just found out last night as 5th round selection Dilly Duka netted a brace in Concacaf Champions League play against Pachuca.  With the club gathered in the film room after a long first day of training together they all watched on as the lone missing member of the club took center stage in the opening match of the CCL knock out rounds.    

"We can't tell you how great it was to gather everyone and sit and watch one of our new players light things up,"  stated Alamo City officials.  "The very reason he was selected was on display tonight and the 2015 season could not have started in a more fantastic way."

That reason ?  Well, it was all part of the strategy put in place this year for the draft.  After stockpiling Obafemi Martins, Mauro Diaz, and Tesho Akindele with their DP and Retention Player slots the Battle went in search of an effective strategy to try and maximize each round of the draft.  "We had no shot at roughly half the players we'd want simply due to draft position.  For whatever reason we don't have a snake order in this league so picking late in each round really makes things hard.  That's what we get paid for here in the Battle FO, so we took the challenge head on.  At least on paper it looks like we might have pulled it off.  We went for the POP and Dilly illustrated it perfectly tonight."

POP ?  That would be the Potential Opportunity for Production.  It was the focal point of the draft and is the sole reason the names that make up the Alamo City SC roster for 2015 read as they do.  The first portion of the draft has some selections that need little to no explanation but the good folks in the Alamo City FO were kind enough to give a quip about each selection when we inquired:

Krizstian Nemeth - unbelievably skilled and fits any system he's likely to play in ... he skill set is that big.
Sebastian Jaime - will be a focal point on a perennially good team ... he never got the chance to show why a respected RSL club brought him in ... this season he will.
Andrew Wenger - he was a #1 MLS pick for a reason ... he's got the tools but just couldn't find the fit ... he's not only found the fit, but has a big man up top to play off of now.
Frank Lampard - it's Frank Lampard.
Dilly Duka - MLS first rounder due to potential as a playmaker ... never had the chance really to shine ... in a position this season, with another playmaker, to exploit his talent.
Diego Fagundez - suffered a lost season as New England which we kind of felt was coming ... they figured out their identity and he fits very well going forward
Jaime Calle - when Jason Kries pursues you there isn't much else that needs to be said.
Luis Marin - unsung signing in our opinion ... will play for a very good defense team and comes with an amazing resume that includes international call ups
Dairon Asprilla - Caleb Porter attacks mercilessly and he fits the mold ... already abundance of experience at 22 and has shown he's more of a finished product than most at this age
Adam Kwarasey - as a GK he's been the captain of a Norwegian champion and also started for his national team at the last World Cup, and he's only 27 ... yeah.
Luke Moore - big names came on board but he's already proven himself with his team and the league ... he's a constant among the moving parts and fills several roles
Kwadwo Poku - pure potential and chance to fulfill it in a variety of ways on a club that will try any and everything this season ... dark horse talent ready to explode.




2 comments:

  1. Nice recap, I thought Jaime and Wenger were great picks. Dairon and Calle are risky. Fagundez is a great player, but NER are just so deep in midfield since Jones joined so it will come down to who fits into the system. Regarding your comment on the snake, I thought it must be the commissioners goal to make successful teams in one season as unsuccessful as possible the next in order to promote competitiveness. Perhaps thats why no team has won the league twice.

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  2. Thanks .. Dairon will get minutes as I really feel Porter is just going to throw everything forward. With Valeri out to start the season he has an even bigger chance to get minutes and make it difficult to keep him off the pitch. Calle is speculative but Kries has been chasing him down. Fagundez is tricky but Mullins moving on helps him out quite a bit.

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