And TFC Selects... Marky Delgado – The Chivas USA Dispersal Draft

The dispersal draft for the now defunct Chivas USA took place earlier today and saw seven players selected.

Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was selected by FC Dallas with the first pick – he was clearly the most valuable asset available, while Matthew Dunn, Thomas McNamara, Donny Toia, Caleb Calvert, and Kristopher Tyrpak were in turn taken by New York City, DC, Montreal, Colorado, and San Jose, respectively, with a few passes mixed in for suspense.

With the next four clubs opting to pass, one could be forgiven for assuming that was all of value to be picked from the carcass of Los Ameri-Goats, but come the fourteenth pick, Toronto FC stepped to the mic – er, picked up the phone on the conference call – and selected Marco Delgado.

Marky Delgado, as he prefers (presumably) – he can be followed here on twitter – was a neat little acquisition for a Toronto side looking to get more out of its wide attackers. A product of the highly-regarded Chivas USA youth academy, signing for the first team back in April of 2012 when he was just sixteen years of age, Delgado proved himself a useful squad player, making 25 starts and 36 appearances over the course of the 2013 and 2014 seasons after making his debut with a single substitute introduction in 2012.

Still just nineteen years old, the California-native has a good amount of experience under his belt, both at the club and international level, where he represents the US, having featured at several youth levels, recently with the U-20s.

Having broken into the side as a right-back – he is both a defender and a midfielder – Delgado found the majority of his minutes in a more advanced position this season, operating as a wide attacker to some effect, scoring the first two goals of his professional career and collecting one assist, on a lovely cross for Cubo Torres.

His goals came against Dallas and Seattle; the first a deceptively skillful finish, touching in a Mauro Rosales pull-back – note the clever feint-run to make that yard of space against Matt Hedges – and the second a cheeky, looping back-post header against former Red, Stefan Frei, after getting on the end of an Eric Avila lofted cross.

Continuing the theme of former TFC players, Delgado's assist came on a lovely passage of play in Vancouver, receiving the ball in midfield, touching over the head of Matias Laba before beating Nigel Reo-Coker to find Rosales wide. Continuing his run, Delgado received a return ball down the outside from the Argentine and barely needed to lift his head to find Torres poaching at the back-post with a pinpoint cross.

Toronto was most definitely lacking in accurate crossing ability this season and with Greg Vanney stressing that absence in his end of season presser, Delgado fits the mold of what the club wants from its wide midfielders. Of particular note, is how Delgado simply tried to put the ball into the dangerous space, allowing Torres to do his thing and get on the end of it – that is exactly what Vanney made note of on his wishlist. Now let's see if he can hit a decent corner kick.

With Mark Bloom at right-back and Dominic Oduro operating on that side of the pitch, it remains to be seen how Delgado will fit into the side's plans. With months before training camp, such speculation is a little premature – there are plenty of more moves to be made before the 2015 season kicks off, but as another option at either position, Delgado will be a welcome addition of youthful talent to a Toronto side still looking to make the most out of its assembled pieces. And it is safe to assume that the TFC coaching staff is well familiar with Delgado, having spent time with Chivas in the recent past.

By selecting a player in the dispersal draft, the MLS legalese states that "MLS clubs acquiring Dispersal Draft players must take players at their full 2015 budget charges and options must be exercised, including any associated transfers or loans", which is pretty straight-forward, or is at least until it gets to that 'transfers or loans' bit.

It was a little disappointing that Osvaldo Minda, a midfield ogre of a brute – meant in the nicest way possible – will not be joining the club, as mentioned by Duncan (remember him) on the VMP, sorry, the award-nominated Vocal Minority Podcast, it would have been fun to see him prowling the centre of the pitch in Toronto. But alas, age was undoubtedly a factor in the dispersal draft, as every player, aside from Kennedy (obviously), was under 24 years of age – McNamara the oldest at 23, despite playing in his rookie season.

Those players not selected today, will be made available in either the Re-Entry Draft, if eligible, or a Waiver Draft set for December 10th – fingers crossed for Minda.

Welcome to the club, Marky!