Filed under: Columbus Crew, D.C. United
While many had expected the first stage of the inaugural MLS Re-Entry Draft to be a quiet event despite the big names available for the taking, few anticipated it would last all of five minutes and see just two fairly unheralded players find new clubs.Yet, that is exactly what happened Wednesday, when D.C. United selected striker Joseph Ngwenya, the Columbus Crew took defender Aaron Hohlbein, and the remaining 16 clubs sat idle.
Opening round regulations for the pseudo-free agent draft stipulated that any player selected would need to have his option exercised or have a bona fide offer extended his way. With these restrictions in mind, each team opted to wait until next Wednesday's second stage -- which offers greater negotiating flexibility -- to try their luck at adding more renowned (and, therefore, more expensive) players.
For the likes of Juan Pablo Angel, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Jimmy Conrad, Jeff Cunningham, Frankie Hejduk and Josh Wolff, that means at least another seven days will pass before they find out where they will be playing in 2011.
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