November 25, 2009 TAKEN Union selects Red Bulls' Zimmerman
Nick Zimmerman will do his kicking for the Philadelphia Union next season. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
Midfielder Nick Zimmerman is a former Red Bull today because of Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak's decision to go with younger players over more experienced and expensive ones in Wednesday's MLS expansion draft.
Zimmerman, 22, did not play very much for the Red Bulls this past season, but showed some promise and potential in the times he performed. He started seven games over 11 appearances and 757 minutes. Zimmernan, one of a dozen players not protected by the Bulls, did not register a point.
"Nick Zimmerman had a very good half of the season," Nowak said on a conference call. "He's a very good kid who wants to succeed in the league."
Zimmerman was one of 10 players who started to fill the Union roster for its debut season in 2010. He was the only Red Bull taken as the 15 established teams could lose only one player each.
The only other player with local ties selected was former St. John's standout midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi, who played for the L.A. Galaxy.
The Union also selected goalkeeper Brad Knighton (New England Revolution), defenders Jordan Harvey (Colorado Rapids), Dave Myrie (Chicago) and Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA), midfielders Andrew Jacobsen (D.C. United) and Shea Salinas (San Jose Earthquakes) and forwards Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle Sounders FC) and Alejandro Moreno (Columbus Crew).
"I was surprised with the many names," said Nowak, referring to some well-known players available, including Toronto midfielder Amado Guevara, Columbus defender Frankie Hejduk, Dallas midfielder Dave van den Bergh, RSL midfielder Clint Mathis and Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark, who wants to play in Europe. "We made these decisions on what we need, not on the big names."
Hejduk played for the U.S. National Team in World Cup qualifiers for the 2010 competition in South Africa, while Guevara and van den Bergh were standout performers for the Red Bulls and Clark, who scored a vital goal in a 1-0 qualifying win in Trinidad & Tobago in September, was a promising young players with the MetroStars.
Moreno and Shavar Thomas, both of whom started 17 games for their respective clubs this past season.
Moreno, a Venezuelan international, recently completed his eighth MLS season, has scored 43 regular- season goals, and plus one in the Crew's 3-1 win over the Red Bulls in the 2008 MLS Cup. Thomas, a Jamaican international who has seven years experience as a central defender. as a centerback, was part of Chivas' backline that allowed only 31 goals in 30 games.
The Union also dealt for Chris Seitz, the backup goalkeeper for the MLS champion Real Salt Lake, giving Philly allocation money. The deal was contingent on the Union not selecting any RSL players in the draft, according to sources in the league. The Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Toronto FC and FC Dallas also did not lose any players.
Nowak, the former assistant to U.S. national coach Bob Bradley who directed United to the 2004 MLS Cup title, said trying to pick the correct complement of players was "challenging."
"We went over different scenarios with John [Hackworth, assistant coach) and my staff and Nick Sakiewicz on who we needed and what we needed," he said.
Sakiewicz, the Union president, was MetroStars general manager and president from 2000-2005.
“This is a good starting point,” Nowak said, adding that the Union picked players who were “hungry for success,” but that some had “leadership qualities.”
Nowak would not reveal who his No. 1 choice was.
"The No. 1 pick will always be in my mind," he said.
