Jeff Carlisle’s analysis of RSL’s first round trade and pick:
15. Real Salt Lake -- Collen Warner, M, Portland
RSL created an odd end to the first round by shipping Clint Mathis to Los Angeles, swapping picks with the Galaxy, and getting a third-round selection next year. Evidently that was needed to acquire Warner, whose stock rose considerably at the combine, and could give the champs more of a classic wide presence on the right side of midfield.
Additional comment by JR, “College Soccer Professor” from Goal.com’s draft coverage:
LA traded their pick and a pick next year for Clint Mathis and RSL's pick. I like Collen Warner. I think he fill an outside mid spot on that team.
Ives Galarcep’s comments on Schuler and Warner:
18. New York Red Bulls- CHRIS SCHULER, D, Creighton
Another big and confident centerback for the Red Bulls, Schuler quietly impressed at the Combine and his 6-foot-4, 200 pound frame should help New York's awful back-line.
19. San Jose Earthquakes- COLLEN WARNER, M, Portland
One of the draft's true sleepers, Warner comes from a small school but has impressive skill and can play on the right wing or centrally.
Here are Buzz Carrick’s thoughts on Warner, Schuler and Davis:
19. Collen Warner, M, Portland: His combine performance moves one of the best-kept West Coast secrets into the top 20. He's arguably the best wide midfielder in the pool and has good pace and a solid crosser, a combination that is rare these days.
3. Chris Schuler, Creighton -- The first of two good defenders coming out of Creighton this year, Schuler is an intimidator and dominant physical presence in the back for the Bluejays. Schuler helped Creighton to eight shutouts this year, a school-record 13 last year and 39 total in his career. A top-10 prospect out of high school, Schuler redshirted at Indiana in 2005 before transferring to Creighton. Despite his size and power at 6-4, 185 pounds, Schuler plays a disciplined game, earning very few yellow cards.
10. Justin Davis, New Mexico -- "Fast" and "lefty" are the two key words you need to know when talking about Davis, although "good long-range shot" and "nose for goal" don't hurt. Like Schilawski before him on this list, Davis might find a living out wide in midfield at the next level. With multiple Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first-team nods to his credit, Davis notched 13 goals and 12 assists through his junior year and then led the Lobos in scoring this season with seven goals and six assists.
Interesting note: two tweets from RealSaltLake refer to Davis as a defender. Are they planning on converting him? Everything I have read about him lists him as an attacking player.
