Ah, the SuperDraft. Major League Soccer’s antiquated, slightly bizarre version of the amateur player draft is back, once again promising far more excitement and potential than will likely ever be fulfilled. The 2019 MLS Player Combine is in full swing, with coaches and executives (including the newly-arrived Frank De Boer) enjoying a classic showdown between “Team Nemeziz” and “Team X” under the steamy central Florida sun.
In the league’s infant years, the draft was a crucial part of building a winning roster. Missing on a high pick was catastrophic, while unearthing a gem in the later rounds was like hitting the lottery.