(Oct. 3, 2008) -- The next phase in the structuring of the seven inaugural WPS team rosters takes place with the WPS General Draft on Oct. 6 (view details on how to follow the draft live at 2pm ET/11am PT).  Unlike Allocation and the Initial International Draft, the four-round General Draft is open to both domestic and international players.  By the end of Monday, each team will hold the WPS-playing rights to a full compliment of 11 players each. (View the draft order)

To get a sense of what each team may be looking for in Monday’s General Draft, it was necessary to do a little assuming since none of the international players drafted on Sept. 24 have officially signed with their teams yet.  So this article was done under the assumption that each team will be able to secure the services of their four international picks.  We also took the liberty of assuming that established international players will fill similar roles on their WPS clubs, although past history says that will not always be the case.

That being said, here is a quick rundown of what each team might be seeking in the WPS General Draft:

Bay Area:  Bay Area is the only team with a goalkeeper plus two each at defender, midfielder, and forward.  Furthermore they seem to have struck an early balance up and down the field particularly up front where eccentric Japanese striker Eriko Arakawa will made an intriguing partner for bruising Canadian Christine Sinclair.  That should leave Bay Area free to gobble up the best players available and/or fill in with role players that Head Coach Albertin Montoya and Assistant Coach Sissi believe can successfully compliment the pieces already in place.

Boston Breakers:  Heather Mitts is a wonderful start in building a defense, but at the moment she will be playing all four positions along the backline in front of Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne, who was tabbed as a post-draft discovery player by Boston.  So the Breakers are likely to be in the market for defenders to back up what should be a dynamic attack.  Kristine Lilly, Kelly Smith, Fabiana, and Maycon are all capable of playing in midfield or up front so Tony DiCicco will have plenty of leeway in adding more attacking players to the fold.

Chicago Red Stars:  Head coach Emma Hayes has been talking up attractive, attacking soccer from the day she was named to her post.  The team so far reflects that although the Red Stars took Caroline Johnsson as the only goalkeeper selected in the International Draft.  Already possessing a well-rounded attacking core consisting of Brazilian forward Cristiane, English forward Karen Carney, USA forward/midfielder Lindsay Tarpley, USA attacking midfielder Carli Lloyd and Australian left flank midfielder Heather Garriock, Hayes will likely seek to add talent on the defensive side of the field both in midfield and on the backline.

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles is another club who currently has a major void in the back with Stephanie Cox as the only defender and no goalkeeper.  So defense is at the forefront.  Marta’s penchant for drifting back into the midfield will make for a crowd with Aly Wagner and Shannon Boxx already there so finding players to support that cast will be important for Head Coach Abner Rogers.

Sky Blue FC:  Sky Blue have central defense covered with Christie Rampone while Heather O’Reilly and Natasha Kai lead an eclectic group of attacking players.  That leaves outside back and goalkeeper as the most glaring needs.  Head coach Ian Sawyers built the first championship team in the WUSA and did so through uncovering some excellent role players.  He will look to follow the same path in Monday’s draft.

St. Louis:  With Lori Chalupny, a defender/midfielder, and Tina Ellertson, a forward/defender, on its roster, St. Louis already possesses lots of versatility.  Through its international selections, St. Louis added a number of attacking personalities including Sweden’s Lotta Schelin, England’s Enoila Aluko and Canada’s Melissa Tancredi as well as two defensive keys – Brazilian defender Renata Costa and Brazilian defensive midfielder Daniela Alves.  With Hope Solo locked in at goalkeeper, St. Louis will likely seek to fill out its backline and keep adding to its midfield.

Washington Freedom:  The Freedom were the only side not to take any Brazilians in the Initial International Draft leaving them with arguably the most obscure cast of internationals at least to American fans.  Abby Wambach is the most prolific target player in the world and she could be paired with Australia’s Lisa De Vanna, a forward who gave opposing defenses fits at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup while Japan’s Homare Sawa orchestrates the Freedom’s attack out of midfield.  But with both Wambach and central defender Cat Whitehill rehabbing after major surgeries finding depth at those positions will likely be a priority

Dan Lauletta is a freelance writer and can be reached at thirtymtp@aol.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.