Forward Ricardo Pierre-Louis Resurfaces....

Ricardo Pierre-Louis was high on my list of small school players who should get a chance in MLS. He was drafted in the 2008 SuperDraft by Columbus and then I lost track of him. Turns out he was finishing his studies at Lee University and now that he's done, and Adam Moffat was placed on season ending injury, the Crew have room to sign him to a developmental contract according to a Crew press release I just received.

Pierre-Louis' college stats are impressive to say the least. Pierre-Louis scored 101 goals, with 33 assists, in 63 career games at Lee. Yeah, that is a lot of goals in a college career. The question now becomes, how well will he adapt to the pro game's speed and physical nature? His six foot one, 180 pound frame should hold up well to the beating MLS defenders will undoubtedly give him but that doesn't mean he'll become a solid professional in MLS. He's going to have to work hard and learn how to avoid that beating. I believe someone like Pierre-Louis, who seems to score goals with the same ease the rest of us walk and talk, will be able to become a good MLS goal scorer. Hopefully Columbus is the right place for him to grow. At 23 years old he is a little behind the curve in terms of transitioning to the pros but only time will tell how he adapts.

Watch out, MLS may have another Haitian Sensation.

Robbie Rogers Wants To Go To China...

Columbus Crew left midfielder, Robbie Rogers, is leading his team to the top of MLS and wants to prove a point. He didn't get to help the US qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics but his early season form should help punch a ticket to China this summer. U-23 coach Nowak can not afford to ignore 5 goals in his first 7 starts, especially when wing play was one of the poorest parts of the team that qualified.

For those who didn't realize, Robbie Rogers is an American college product. He spent his freshman season with the Maryland Terrapins and won the 2005 NCAA championship. As a freshman he started 20 games, played 1,400 minutes, scored 7 goals and made 5 assists. Those are some solid numbers for a freshman on the best team in the country. For fun, take a look at who else was on that championship team. Yeah, Maryland knows how to produce pros.

Rogers decided to go to Holland in 2006 before his Sophomore season and signed a professional deal with SC Heerenveen. He signed the same year Michael Bradley joined the Dutch club. Fortunately for the Crew and MLS Rogers decided to boomerang back to The States and signed with the league in early 2007. The Crew got his rights through a special draft.

The 2007 season was tough for the Crew and Rogers. In 10 appearances he scored 3 goals and made 1 assist. A lot of American soccer fans asked the question, what makes this kid so special? Robbie is showing what makes him so special. Did you see his goal from this weekend's match that is nominated for Goal Of The Week? It was pure clinical finishing expected from a late twenties marksman, not a 21 year old kid. (By the way, Happy Birthday to Robbie! Today happens to be his 21st birthday. No, I didn't plan that.) By the way, to celebrate the big occasion Robbie decided to score two goals over the weekend, one of which tied the game and one that put his team ahead.

Rogers didn't find European success but he's back to prove skeptics wrong. He's winning games for the Crew, will undoubtedly feature in the American quest for Olympic gold and will probably get another chance to play abroad if he wants to. Who knows, maybe he'll develop a Landon Donovan Been There, Done That kind of attitude and will dominate MLS instead. I look forward to watching this young American develop.

Which 2006 MLS Draftee Will Shine in 2007...Part I...

Bill Urban put a nice piece together over at ussoccerplayers.com. He took a page out of my book looking at the young guys and asking who will step up. I'm going to throw some more names out there to go along with his list.

Let’s go team by team in three parts….first the “C” teams.

Chicago – Brian Plotkin. Plotkin became a midfield sparkplug for the Fire, being used as a late game sub most often by coach Sarachan. In his rookie season he notched fourteen appearances while only four were starts. There is certainly room for Plotkin to take hold of an outside midfield position with Armas, Thiago and eventually Blanco holding the central midfield spots. Mapp on one flank and Plotkin could certainly look like a strong combination if Plotkin continues his growth as a professional. He has the pedigree being an IU grad, M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award finalist and two time NCAA College Cup Champion and now he needs to make a sophomore statement firming up a starting eleven spot.

Chivas USA - David Arvizu. Arvizu amazed many American soccer fans with his displays on the field at U-17 Residency events. I remember a video on ussoccer.com where he hit a couple amazing goals and even I salivated at the thought of Arvizu and Adu at the 2010 World Cup. However, as I have learned, U-17 glory does not translate into professional success. Arvizu spent 2006 on the Red Bulls’ roster but he didn’t see a professional game as he was often training with the national team in preparation for this summer’s 2007 U-20 World Cup. Bruce Arena decided young David wasn’t needed this off-season and traded him to California, closer to his Santa Ana home. Chivas USA will certainly lose a few players to National Team duty during this summer’s Gold Cup and Copa America so Arvizu will get his chance if he works hard. The talent is certainly there.

Columbus - Robbie Rogers. I know what you’re thinking. Rogers is a MLS rookie. Yes, you’re right but he isn’t a professional rookie. He took some time playing in Holland professionally, and then when everything seemed to be on the up and up for him, he decided he didn’t like it and he moved back to the states. Columbus is a very young team and Sigi Schmid will have his hands full putting together a winning line up. If Rogers can show he learned a thing or two from the Dutch, he should be able to cement a starting spot. If not, I’m going to be blogging more about players leaving college, getting a lot of unnecessary hype by going to Europe and then coming back as a failed soccer experiment.

Colorado - Daniel Wasson. Wasson was the Rapids last 2006 Supplemental Draft pick and he quietly became a super-sub for the Rapids defense during the 2006 season while also helping the Rapids Reserves to the 2006 Reserve League Championship. The Colorado Springs product has showed the Rapids staff that he understands the game and can keep up with the physical side of the league. In 2007 he is going to need to show he can step in for Captain Pablo Mastroeni and Ugo Ihemelu when they go play for the US National team this summer (Yes, I know Ugo isn’t in the player pool but there is a chance, right?). Wasson has a lot of weight on his shoulders going into the 2007 season. My sources tell me he is trying to get a senior contract worked out and the team has until July to come to terms. If they don’t, he’s ready to walk away from his home team. The departure of Aitor Karanka and the seeming downhill nature of Mike Petke’s game means that central defense has a potential opening. If Wasson can step up he’ll get that senior contract and stay in Denver. If not…..

What do you think? Who will be the break out MLS Sophomores?

Check back tomorrow for the next group.