The Vancouver Whitecaps came into the 2013 SuperDraft with an idea of picking two players in the top ten. However after making a trade with TFC on the draft floor they ended up picking their two players in the top five. They traded an undisclosed amount of allocation along with their tenth pick to move to the fourth spot which was previously owned by New England Revolution.
It was clear that the Whitecaps wanted to increase the pace in their attacking ranks with the selections of Kekuta Manneh and Erik Hurtado. Both players have speed and while they are listed as forwards they have the ability to move out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, which is where Martin Rennie has already stated he sees their immediate future at the Caps.
Each player has taken a different developmental path in their rise to joining their first professional club.
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<b>Kekuta Manneh FW-MF/Austin Aztex (PDL) - 4th SuperDraft pick overall:</b>
The Whitecaps took the youngest player available in the draft, with the Gambian born player Generation Adidas player just turning 18 in December.
Having moved to the US from Gambia aged just 15, Manneh joined and trained with a couple of academies before joining PDL side Austin last year. He went on to score 12 goals in 13 games and contributed nine assists.
He has also scored 58 goals in the last two USSDA seasons for Texas Rush and Lonestar SC and was named to the USSDA U-15/16 Development Academy Best XI for the 2010-2011 season.
Before he moved to America he played professionally in the Gambian First Division for Steve Biko FC, which made him ineligible for NCAA schools. Manneh has also been capped by The Gambia at U20 level.
While pace is the most obvious aspect of his game, Manneh has a goal scoring touch around the net and is a strong player relative to his age and size. He has the ability to play multiple positions, including both wing spots, but he primarily played as a striker with his youth teams.
An added bonus for the Whitecaps is that the Texas native since 2010 is in possession of a green card, which will make him a domestic player and not take up an international spot.
He has trained with a number of professional teams, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Borussia Mönchengladbach, but there will be a learning curve for the youngster when it comes to the every day life of a professional especially in the strength department.
Vancouver took a good look at Manneh a couple of months back when he spent a week training in Vancouver and getting to know the city and what are now his new team-mates. This summer also saw him train with LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers, but he has now made Vancouver his new home.
<b>Erik Hurtado FW-MF/Santa Clara (NCAA) - 5th SuperDraft pick overall:</b>
With the second of back to back picks the Caps continued to add pace to the attack with the selection of Erik Hurtado. The native of Beaverton, Oregon spent the last four seasons with Santa Clara of the NCAA West Coast Conference and played with the Portland Timbers U23 team in the PDL.
He found the net six times, with one assist, in 10 PDL appearances for the Timbers last season.
Portland had attempted to put a claim in for the WCC 'Player of the Year' but were denied by MLS as he had only played for them after he enrolled in college. Once it was denied Hurtado moved up the draft boards and it was clear he would be a top ten pick, with many feeling that he was one of the few players in this year's draft that was ready to start in MLS action.
During his four years at Santa Clara, Hurtado recorded 33 goals and 20 assists. 15 of those goals, and seven of the assists, came during his senior year.
Those achievements have seen him named to the All-West Coast Conference team in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and he has featured as part of the US National Team U18 set up.
During his time in college Hurtado played as a striker, but he has all the attributes that could see him become the ideal right winger in Rennie's system. He has the ability to score from the wide parts of the field, in addition to the pace and energy he brings to the pitch.
If he is able to add the ability to provide service from the wing, which he displayed at times while at the combine, then Hurtado could start from day one.
<b>Overall Analysis:</b>
The Whitecaps were clearly going for speed and athleticism with their two picks and it was a trade with TFC that helped Rennie secure the players they wanted.
Hurtado is the more polished player that should contribute immediately and be more of a long term MLS player for the Caps if he meets his potential.
Manneh could end up being the best player in the draft, as he has the highest upside in the draft as well as being the youngest. Having already stated that he wants to play in Europe, the Whitecaps may look at this selection as an opportunity to develop and sell which would give them ten times the amount of allocation money they spent to trade up for the pick.
The addition of Brad Rusin seemed to lessen the need for depth at CB but another factor could be the impressive play of residency alum Daniel Stanese in his first year of NCAA play.
The creative midfield player that everyone wanted in the draft will obviously come through the transfer market.
It is clear from this draft that Rennie isn't gun shy when it comes to identifying, then acquiring, the players he wants even if it means giving up assets. The next step for the club is now to find those final couple of players, especially a creative midfielder, who can help these picks excel in their first year.
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