MLS Allocation
By Doug Smith
Major League Soccer has a unique process that allows for high profile members of the national team to be selected. The MLS Allocation is upon us and the New England Revolutions have the first choice. For more on the process, this from the 2012 MLS roster rules:
"The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day when the discovery period opens in December. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account."
The players being discussed most are members of Rangers, a team in turmoil. Rangers were recently bought by Sevco group and a protest of about 1500 people took place this week in an effort to keep fans from renewing season tickets. After a liquidation and further troubles the team looks unlikely to be accepted back into the Scottish Premier League so Carlos Bocanegra, Alejandro Bedoya, and Maurice Edu may be looking to get out.
Bocanegra was rumored to be on his way to Vancouver but they have traded away their pick. The Revolution seem to have other plans at center back at the moment and have the highly paid John Lozano in the reserves.
More from the roster rules regarding Allocation:
"Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is the other club’s ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season."
The Revs gained the top spot after Philadelphia signed Bakary Soumare following a trade agreement with Vancouver. Soumare is a former stand out in the MLS returning from abroad, a player type that can also be selected in the Allocation process. Here is the current pecking order for Allocation.
(1) New England Revolution (28pts in 2011)
(2) Toronto FC (33pts in 2011)
(3) Chivas USA (36pts in 2011)
(4) San Jose Earthquakes (38pts in 2011)
(5) D.C. United (39pts in 2011)
(6) Portland Timbers (42pts in 2011)
(7) Chicago Fire (43pts in 2011)
(8) Columbus Crew (47pts in 2011)
(9) FC Dallas (52pts in 2011)
(10) New York Red Bulls (2011 Conference semifinalist / 46pts)
(11) Vancouver Whitecaps (28pts in 2011 / Dropped from No. 1 to No. 12 after trade with PHI on June 26, 2012)
(12) Seattle Sounders (2011 Conference semifinalist / 63pts)
(13) Sporting Kansas City (2011 Conference finalist / 51pts)
(14) Real Salt Lake (2011 Conference finalist / 53pts)
(15) Houston Dynamo (2011 MLS Cup finalist / 49pts)
(16) LA Galaxy (2011 MLS Cup finalist / 67pts)
(17) Montreal Impact (2012 Expansion Team / Signed Eddie Johnson from No. 1 spot on Feb. 17, 2012)
(18) Colorado Rapids (2011 Conference semifinalist / Signed Kamani Hill from No. 11 spot on March 28, 2012)
(19) Philadelphia Union (Moved from No. 12 to No. 1 via trade with VAN / Signed Bakary Soumare June 26, 2012)