2025-04-17, 11:07 AM - Word count:
Hey folks welcome to another draft recap here as Pablo will start to go through some of the team’s picks, and some of his favourite picks from the S20 draft!
With one of the largest groups in the history of the league, all of the teams really could not choose wrong, and instead of focusing on activity were able to focus upon positional need, and personality fits for their teams.
First look would be looking towards Catalunya who utilized the trade market once players they had on their list were taken. Recognizing this top class, they went ahead and acquired the commentating duo of Andres de Giron (560), and Pablo Kawasaki (574). With a re-roll onto Kawasaki, they have reinvigorated the defensive core with those 2 in the backline. They then utilized their top choice to take the active Daibhi Barr (591) who will definitely be looked upon as a contributor for the first team in the coming seasons. Couple late choices in Gibrahimovic provides depth in attacking, and Bread Lasso who can be a sneaky late pick in the midfield. Lastly, many teams were confused with James Asprey got selected (561), but after the reroll to Pablo, the plan was made clear to pick one of the top academy goalkeepers. Seoul has joined a strong S20, with a young S19 squad, and although rebuilding they will be a tough team in few years.
Hollywood went ahead and grabbed some of the best midfielders available in the class bringing in some top talent with Ashworth (595), Dohbra (600), and Kupinas (560). I have a strong feeling that these 3 players will be players we will definitely be talking about in seasons to come with their activity, and play. A very strong core with a few Season 17 players who are likely ready to make the jump up to the first team next season, season 21 class might be interesting for them to start to build out their next core.
Black Forest didn’t have much to do in this class, having the strongest team in the minors this past season. Power (589) is definitely a strong impact in the midfield with Dobric on the attacking side (582), however the other choices we will have to see if they will reach the levels they are looking for. Players here likely will be waiting a few seasons to really make that impact.
Buenos Aires immediately went to fix their defence with Criminal and Lorenzo. Both were definitely top choices throughout the academy. However, past those two choices, there will be question marks, especially towards Satoshi in goal with his activity. I think the choice was more of a we need a GK as there is nobody left choice.
Reyjkavik might have made some of my favourite choices in the class with what picks they did have. While pushing for the title, they traded some picks, and didn’t start to pick until the 3rd round where they still were able to land their goalie in Mobek (572). They then picked up some solid mid-level choices with Warrick who seems to be picking up the activity, and Gibraltar/Mitidiero.
Romana is a strange one. They did immediately promote Kim Minjeong straight to the 1st team, as the only first S20 in the Majors so far. We know that they will be a TPE merchant, but both teams are running quite bare with 11 players on both teams. Should they lose activity from a player they could be in trouble. Kaufmann could be a sneaky late pick as a player who joined the academy late, he has proven his interest to be in the long term.
Sao Paulo is making a push this season in the majors, so I didn’t expect much here. Ashito Aoi (564) was a late bloomer in the academy, but will likely make the biggest impact of this team in the class I feel. Very smart later pick to join their top choice in Fensterhausen (586).
Tokyo also promoted a player to the first team, but not a player I was expecting with Xavius Kenderlin, I would have expected Ronflex, but they must see something in Kenderlin. That looks like it was more of a positional need more than anything, but WOW Tokyo will live and die on this Season 20 class. A lot of interesting choices with of course Ultimus (542) being the most intriguing one. Ramos (553) in the midfield is a quiet one that could grow well as well.
Shanghai of course being one of the expansion teams would have it tough, but they went ahead and took some of the top available choices in the academy with Voda (600), Delvecchio (596), and the two Johnsons (577, and 598). They will be players that will prove in the long term, so I am not worried about their impact in seasons to come. Just will be tricky this season for them to make the jump. If there is one player to make the jump to majors early I would look at Albinson (597). I don’t imagine they will be there for long.
Lastly, Tenochtitlan was the other choice for expansion, and they seem to utilize the expansion draft a little more for their first team. However, their minor league team is stacked with top academy choices such as Roger (581), Tonto (599), and Elliot (593). They have a few stopgaps in the roster, that I expect them to upgrade on for the S21 class. I see this more being a let’s take some good players, but really start to build with this upcoming S21 class with this squad.
Overall, it was hard to screw up this class. Teams took different directions, and with uncertainty of what is to come in future classes some teams took the best the could with this class.
Good luck to all squads, as this ends the ramblings of Pablo.
With one of the largest groups in the history of the league, all of the teams really could not choose wrong, and instead of focusing on activity were able to focus upon positional need, and personality fits for their teams.
First look would be looking towards Catalunya who utilized the trade market once players they had on their list were taken. Recognizing this top class, they went ahead and acquired the commentating duo of Andres de Giron (560), and Pablo Kawasaki (574). With a re-roll onto Kawasaki, they have reinvigorated the defensive core with those 2 in the backline. They then utilized their top choice to take the active Daibhi Barr (591) who will definitely be looked upon as a contributor for the first team in the coming seasons. Couple late choices in Gibrahimovic provides depth in attacking, and Bread Lasso who can be a sneaky late pick in the midfield. Lastly, many teams were confused with James Asprey got selected (561), but after the reroll to Pablo, the plan was made clear to pick one of the top academy goalkeepers. Seoul has joined a strong S20, with a young S19 squad, and although rebuilding they will be a tough team in few years.
Hollywood went ahead and grabbed some of the best midfielders available in the class bringing in some top talent with Ashworth (595), Dohbra (600), and Kupinas (560). I have a strong feeling that these 3 players will be players we will definitely be talking about in seasons to come with their activity, and play. A very strong core with a few Season 17 players who are likely ready to make the jump up to the first team next season, season 21 class might be interesting for them to start to build out their next core.
Black Forest didn’t have much to do in this class, having the strongest team in the minors this past season. Power (589) is definitely a strong impact in the midfield with Dobric on the attacking side (582), however the other choices we will have to see if they will reach the levels they are looking for. Players here likely will be waiting a few seasons to really make that impact.
Buenos Aires immediately went to fix their defence with Criminal and Lorenzo. Both were definitely top choices throughout the academy. However, past those two choices, there will be question marks, especially towards Satoshi in goal with his activity. I think the choice was more of a we need a GK as there is nobody left choice.
Reyjkavik might have made some of my favourite choices in the class with what picks they did have. While pushing for the title, they traded some picks, and didn’t start to pick until the 3rd round where they still were able to land their goalie in Mobek (572). They then picked up some solid mid-level choices with Warrick who seems to be picking up the activity, and Gibraltar/Mitidiero.
Romana is a strange one. They did immediately promote Kim Minjeong straight to the 1st team, as the only first S20 in the Majors so far. We know that they will be a TPE merchant, but both teams are running quite bare with 11 players on both teams. Should they lose activity from a player they could be in trouble. Kaufmann could be a sneaky late pick as a player who joined the academy late, he has proven his interest to be in the long term.
Sao Paulo is making a push this season in the majors, so I didn’t expect much here. Ashito Aoi (564) was a late bloomer in the academy, but will likely make the biggest impact of this team in the class I feel. Very smart later pick to join their top choice in Fensterhausen (586).
Tokyo also promoted a player to the first team, but not a player I was expecting with Xavius Kenderlin, I would have expected Ronflex, but they must see something in Kenderlin. That looks like it was more of a positional need more than anything, but WOW Tokyo will live and die on this Season 20 class. A lot of interesting choices with of course Ultimus (542) being the most intriguing one. Ramos (553) in the midfield is a quiet one that could grow well as well.
Shanghai of course being one of the expansion teams would have it tough, but they went ahead and took some of the top available choices in the academy with Voda (600), Delvecchio (596), and the two Johnsons (577, and 598). They will be players that will prove in the long term, so I am not worried about their impact in seasons to come. Just will be tricky this season for them to make the jump. If there is one player to make the jump to majors early I would look at Albinson (597). I don’t imagine they will be there for long.
Lastly, Tenochtitlan was the other choice for expansion, and they seem to utilize the expansion draft a little more for their first team. However, their minor league team is stacked with top academy choices such as Roger (581), Tonto (599), and Elliot (593). They have a few stopgaps in the roster, that I expect them to upgrade on for the S21 class. I see this more being a let’s take some good players, but really start to build with this upcoming S21 class with this squad.
Overall, it was hard to screw up this class. Teams took different directions, and with uncertainty of what is to come in future classes some teams took the best the could with this class.
Good luck to all squads, as this ends the ramblings of Pablo.
