Dein erstes Forum » Pogba still had enough energy left to thump

With New York City FC and Orlando City joining Major League Soccer next year, the league will hold an Expansion Draft next Wednesday (December 10). Clubs are currently preparing to submit their player lists to league office – they are allowed to protect eleven players and could lose two. Here is a link to the full rules for the Expansion Draft. --- http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/20...ion-draft-rules For MLS coaches, the next few days will be a guessing game as they take into account which pieces of their squad would be valued by New York and Orlando, but also being aware of the potential trade value of any players that are left exposed. Vancouver Whitecaps have built a squad that includes plenty of depth, and that makes them vulnerable to losing a player or two, as it is impossible to protect all of the players who played an important role for the club in making the playoffs last season. So lets throw a dart at the board and see how close we can get to the bullseye. Here are my predictions: Protected: Steven Beitasour, Sebastian Fernandez, Jordan Harvey, Erik Hurtado, Gershon Koffie, Matias Laba, Kekuta Manneh, Darren Mattocks, Pedro Morales, David Ousted, Kendall Waston Unprotected: Mehdi Ballouchy, Mamado Diouf, Johnny Leveron, Andre Lewis, Nicolas Mezquida, Andy OBrien, Mauro Rosales, Omar Salgado and Paolo Tornaghi The Whitecaps Homegrown Players do not need to be protected, so Sam Adekugbe, Marco Carducci, Caleb Clarke, Kianz Froese, Ethen Sampson and Russell Teibert are all automatically safe, as is Christian Dean, who is protected because he is on a Generation Adidas contract. Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson knows the whole process is a calculated risk: Youve just got to protect your players and the rest will take care of itself, said Robinson recently. And that is the key to this process. There is little margin for error, so the Whitecaps will have to ensure they protect the players they most want to keep, and not get into the game of wondering whether or not clubs would be interested in some of their key men due to other factors. We have seen in the past, clubs leave players unprotected because they believe a players high salary would make him undesirable and that has backfired on a few occasions. For example, earlier in the year, there was debate as to whether the Whitecaps would need to protect goalkeeper David Ousted as he is one of the most expensive shot-stoppers in the league, and takes up an international spot. But Ousteds performances towards the end of the season mean the Whitecaps cannot afford to lose him, so he must be protected. The majority of the players on my predicted protected list are easy decisions to make. Even with a player like Darren Mattocks – who likely will be traded in the New Year – it is necessary to protect him because of his value in the league. The Whitecaps will be able to receive something sizeable in return for the Jamaican striker rather than lose him in the Expansion Draft. The only slot I debated was whether to protect Sebastian Fernandez or Mauro Rosales. The Whitecaps would love to keep the veteran Rosales with the club next year, but it would need to be on much less money than last year. I believe Rosales could be more valuable than Fernandez next season, but the Uruguayan youngster has more upside in the long term. With both players, there are factors that would make the expansion clubs think twice about using one of their picks. Fernandez return to MLS hasnt yet been confirmed following his loan from Boston River last season, although both the Whitecaps and the player are hopeful of keeping him in Vancouver. As for Rosales, he could just decide to return to his native Argentina – if that happens, New York or Orlando would have wasted a pick. The same could be said for veteran defender Andy OBrien, who would be provide depth and veteran leadership to either of the leagues newcomers but is out of contract. I dont believe OBrien would be interested in the upheaval of moving to another club. He wants to stay in Vancouver, but if that isnt possible, he may just return to the UK. So of the players left unprotected, who are the Whitecaps most likely to lose? Mehdi Ballouchy would be top of my list. He has a wealth of MLS experience and would be a great player to have within an expansion squad. He is quality on the ball and can be a good influence on games in the midfield as he showed for the Caps last year off the bench. Honduran international Johnny Leveron has shown his ability and composure in the centre of defence but Im not sure whether either team would view him as the starting central defender that he wants to be. Even in Vancouver, it is unlikely Leveron will be the first choice to partner Kendall Waston in defence next year. Omar Salgado would be an interesting reclamation project should either NYCFCs Jason Kreis or Orlandos Adrian Heath believe they can get the unproven and unpredictable former top pick back on the right track after a controversial end to his time with the Caps. Of the players on my unprotected list, in my opinion, Nicolas Mezquida would be the biggest loss. Carl Robinson has often talked about Mezquidas qualities and ability but we have only seen limited glimpses of the young Uruguayan due to the fact he is an understudy for MLS Newcomer of the Year Pedro Morales. But its clear Robinson believes Mezquida will have a big role to play moving forward, and with the Whitecaps also in the CONCACAF Champions League next season, he could see his playing time increase dramatically. There is a strong chance Carl Robinson will lose one of his players on Wednesday. Thats the price to pay for a job well done in building a squad that has many valuable assets, even outside the players who are considered regular starters. Stitched Bulls Jerseys . INJURIES - Reds RF Jay Bruce is facing knee surgery for a torn meniscus and it could cost him a month of playing time. Chris Heisey, who has shown some pop (43 home runs, . Chicago Bulls Shirts . -- Jose Bautista never worries about hitting homers during the regular season. https://www.cheapbulls.com/ .J. -- The NHL reduced its penalty against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday for signing Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010. Chicago Bulls Pro Shop . "Im not even that added up," the 39-year-old Australian replied. And to the Hall of Famers surprise, when all the math was done Sunday in the JTBC Founders Cup, she was the one posing for pictures with the big trophy. Chicago Bulls Store . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- France drew 0-0 with 10-man Ecuador to advance to the second round of the World Cup on Wednesday, while the South Americans will be going home from the tournament. In the other final Group E game, Switzerland defeated 3-0 Honduras to finish in second place and join France in the knockout stages. Ecuador was down to 10 men short at Rios Maracana stadium after Antonio Valencia was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute for digging his studs into the leg of French defender Lucas Digne. But Ecuador may feel upset that France centre half Mamadou Sakho was not shown a red card in the eighth minute when he appeared to elbow Oswaldo Minda in the face during a France corner. Then, in a late incident off the ball, France forward Olivier Giroud jabbed his elbow in to Gabriel Achilier, who was standing behind him. France coach Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting lineup, knowing his side was all but assured of advancing. France came closest to scoring when Antoine Griezmann hit the post in the 47th and then missed a string of late chances as its much-vaunted attacked failed to live up to the hype generated by last Fridays 5-2 win against Switzerland. An inspired Ecuador went close in the 82nd when substitute midfielder Alex Ibarra broke down the right, cut inside centre half Raphael Varane, and saw his powerful strike beaten away by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Moments later, France striker Karim Benzema played a one-two with Giroud but stroked a casual shot that goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez easily saved. Dominguez had an outstanding match, denying substitute Loic Remy with a brilliaant leaping save from the forwards curling shot in the 87th minute.dddddddddddd. Giroud should then have scored in injury time but planted a free header straight into Dominguezs hands. After France had hit the post, Ecuador almost took the lead in the 54th when Cristhian Noboa shot wide. Ecuador kept pushing forward, knowing it had to win because Switzerland was coasting. With more space, France pressured down both flanks and Benzema teed up Paul Pogba, whose shot was well blocked. Benzema was getting on the ball much more and he sent Blaise Matuidi through the middle in the 62nd, but the midfielder placed his shot too close to the goalkeeper. As time for Ecuador ran out, both sides went close. Pogba headed wide from close range and Benzema shot straight at Dominguez after cutting in from the left. Then, Edcuadors Michael Arroyo burst down the left but centre half Laurent Koscielny stood him up well and he shot wide. Pogba still had enough energy left to thump a powerful shot narrowly wide, while Ecuadors last chance came from a corner as France defended desperately to prevent an unexpected defeat. ------ Lineups: Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez; Jorge Guagua, Frickson Erazo; Juan Paredes, Cristhian Noboa (Felipe Caicedo, 89), Walter Ayovi, Oswaldo Minda, Antonio Valencia, Michael Arroyo (Gabriel Achilier, 82), Jefferson Montero (Alex Ibarra, 63); Enner Valencia. France: Hugo Lloris; Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho (Raphael Varane, 61), Laurent Koscielny, Lucas Digne; Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Blaise Matuidi (Olivier Giroud, 67); Antoine Griezmann (Loic Remy 79), Karim Benzema, Moussa Sissoko. ' ' '