2026-08-12, 08:16 PM - Word count:
With season 27 fast approaching, one of the hot topics is the new coming expansion franchises. We have I.R. Casablanca and SD Guayaquil as the first entrance into the league, and then ASC Yumboes de Dakar and CD Alfama as the second addition.
Let’s take a look at the Expansion draft results and see what the teams need in the upcoming prospect draft.
Casablanca/Guayaquil
Casablanca added several players and reinforced their pick reserve with the quality of the upcoming season 27 prospect draft; it feels like a safe bet to take a chance on some of the players and build a team from scratch. They now have two 1st round picks (HOL, SHA) in this draft, plus a 2nd (CAT), with two 3 round picks (CDT, HOL). This should not be overlooked going into this draft, insane foresight by the Casablanca managers. This could be a really good opportunity to get some new users onto their books and foster a well-knit community.
Onto the players. They drafted:
Takeda Takahashi (1551 TPE - LM, LAM, RAM)
Alessandro Del Pirlo (589 TPE - CAM, ST, CM)
Denis Mobek (1179 TPE - GK)
Jonathon Jameston (907 TPE - CDM, CAM, CD)
Curtis Yeager (646 TPE - CDM, CM, CD)
Peter Apostle (1038 TPE - CDM, CM, CD)
Henry Andrews Jr. (957 TPE - LD, LWB, RD)
Angry Lizard (935 TPE - LWB, RWB, LD)
Ali Dia (1385 TPE - CM, CDM, CD, LM)
So in there we have all the midfielder positions covered. Both wingbacks positions are covered and could be defensive if needed (LD/RD). There are potential CBs in there too but they are secondary positions. In all likelihood, Casablanca will attempt to get CBs and some help on the right wing. Whether it’s a RWB, RD, RAM, RM, it seems like there’s a vacancy there. I will admit they’ve done extremely well in getting four 1000+ TPE players straight out of the Expansion draft. It really looks like from the outside looking in they are building for a strong team in the future, a well built prospect draft will only ensure that. And I have every faith they will do that.
Dakar/Alfama
Dakar has gone for a little bit more of a win now approach. Not by much, but they took more players in the expansion draft over picks. The picks they took include a S27 USP 1st, S27 TOK 3rd, S28 SHA 1st, and a S27 SHA 2nd. Still an impressive collection and could easily result in some impressive users, keeping in mind the quality of the S27 class.
Dakar’s player include:
Sharko Demarco (741 TPE - CD, RWB, RD)
Pardner Magool (989 TPE - LD, CD, RD)
Mullet Man (574 TPE - LAM, CAM, RAM)
Monkey Buccaneer (971 TPE - CDM, LD, CD)
Nerve De Groot (1214 TPE - ST, RAM, LAM)
Scott MacLeod (950 TPE - CD, CM, CDM)
Slabko Plačkovič (529 TPE - CDM, LD, CD)
Kori Mizukana (1179 TPE - CDM, LM, CD)
Brick Wall Jr. (427 TPE - GK)
Pete Martell (997 TPE - ST, LAM, CAM)
It’s way too early to count them out and maybe I’m a negative nancy, but I just don’t feel that much excitement with this group. There are definitely some positives, they’ve managed to get a good striker in Nerve De Groot. We all know that a good striker will win you games. I like that they have an established midfielder in Kori Mizukana, and still fairly early in their career. Then we have the youth that will eventually break the first team, like Mullet Man, and Sharko Demarco. There are roots to a good team there but for now, I need more ambition and more signs to be truly excited for the project.
Let’s take a look at the Expansion draft results and see what the teams need in the upcoming prospect draft.
Casablanca/Guayaquil
Casablanca added several players and reinforced their pick reserve with the quality of the upcoming season 27 prospect draft; it feels like a safe bet to take a chance on some of the players and build a team from scratch. They now have two 1st round picks (HOL, SHA) in this draft, plus a 2nd (CAT), with two 3 round picks (CDT, HOL). This should not be overlooked going into this draft, insane foresight by the Casablanca managers. This could be a really good opportunity to get some new users onto their books and foster a well-knit community.
Onto the players. They drafted:
Takeda Takahashi (1551 TPE - LM, LAM, RAM)
Alessandro Del Pirlo (589 TPE - CAM, ST, CM)
Denis Mobek (1179 TPE - GK)
Jonathon Jameston (907 TPE - CDM, CAM, CD)
Curtis Yeager (646 TPE - CDM, CM, CD)
Peter Apostle (1038 TPE - CDM, CM, CD)
Henry Andrews Jr. (957 TPE - LD, LWB, RD)
Angry Lizard (935 TPE - LWB, RWB, LD)
Ali Dia (1385 TPE - CM, CDM, CD, LM)
So in there we have all the midfielder positions covered. Both wingbacks positions are covered and could be defensive if needed (LD/RD). There are potential CBs in there too but they are secondary positions. In all likelihood, Casablanca will attempt to get CBs and some help on the right wing. Whether it’s a RWB, RD, RAM, RM, it seems like there’s a vacancy there. I will admit they’ve done extremely well in getting four 1000+ TPE players straight out of the Expansion draft. It really looks like from the outside looking in they are building for a strong team in the future, a well built prospect draft will only ensure that. And I have every faith they will do that.
Dakar/Alfama
Dakar has gone for a little bit more of a win now approach. Not by much, but they took more players in the expansion draft over picks. The picks they took include a S27 USP 1st, S27 TOK 3rd, S28 SHA 1st, and a S27 SHA 2nd. Still an impressive collection and could easily result in some impressive users, keeping in mind the quality of the S27 class.
Dakar’s player include:
Sharko Demarco (741 TPE - CD, RWB, RD)
Pardner Magool (989 TPE - LD, CD, RD)
Mullet Man (574 TPE - LAM, CAM, RAM)
Monkey Buccaneer (971 TPE - CDM, LD, CD)
Nerve De Groot (1214 TPE - ST, RAM, LAM)
Scott MacLeod (950 TPE - CD, CM, CDM)
Slabko Plačkovič (529 TPE - CDM, LD, CD)
Kori Mizukana (1179 TPE - CDM, LM, CD)
Brick Wall Jr. (427 TPE - GK)
Pete Martell (997 TPE - ST, LAM, CAM)
It’s way too early to count them out and maybe I’m a negative nancy, but I just don’t feel that much excitement with this group. There are definitely some positives, they’ve managed to get a good striker in Nerve De Groot. We all know that a good striker will win you games. I like that they have an established midfielder in Kori Mizukana, and still fairly early in their career. Then we have the youth that will eventually break the first team, like Mullet Man, and Sharko Demarco. There are roots to a good team there but for now, I need more ambition and more signs to be truly excited for the project.
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