The MLS SuperDraft is this Friday (January 11) and it's important to take a look at the FC Dallas depth chart to talk about what FC Dallas might do with their upcoming picks. The most important picks are the 4th and 10th overall picks that the Toros own.

There should be great value at 4, but by the time FCD picks at 10 it's already starting to get a little hit and miss. The SuperDraft is diminishing in value over time due to Academies and Homegrowns. With North Texas SC on the horizon, FCD will have some room for picks to possibly develop, a luxury they've never had before.

So what kind of player might FC Dallas be targeting in the SuperDraft? Let's look at the depth chart for some clues.

A Quick Chat about Tactics

Luchi Gonzalez (right) gives instructions during the 2018 Dallas Cup. (Collodi Photography / Collodi Photography)

Luchi Gonzalez's teams, in general, are very tactically fluid, but the 4-3-3 is more often the base. The 4-3-3, in this case, isn't radically different from the 4-2-3-1 FCD has used under Oscar Pareja, merely swap in a linking 8 for the 2nd holding 6. This is the shape the U20s played in the Concacaf Championships recently if you watched any of that.

Gonzalez has also fielded a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-1-4-1 that I've personally witnessed. So our depth chart isn't set in stone. The 4-3-3 just gives us a starting point. Always before Gonzalez has been taking a certain amount of input from the first team staff. Now he's in charge. We really need to see training and scrimmages for a true read of where he will be tactically.

The FCD Depth Chart

Let's start at the front.

Striker - Zdenek Ondrasek, Dom Badji, and Jesus Ferreria. Maybe Michael Barrios. Also Cristian Colman.

Zdeněk Ondrášek (MARCIN PIRGA / CYFRASPORT)

The choice at the 9 is probably Ondrasek unless he gets here and stinks. You don't bring in a 30-year-old veteran striker to sit the bench, not in the spring anyway. Badji will be in the mix but might end up playing more as a wing. Ferreira should get some late-game sub opportunities in Tesho Akindele's former role.

Barrios as a high striker is the x-factor. We saw that some last season and Dan Hunt specifically mentioned it this winter.

Colman, I'm afraid, is going to be out the bulk of the season and can't be counted on. Although I'm not a doctor obviously.

Left Wing - Santiago Mosquera, Paxton Pomykal, Francis Atuahene, and Ryan Hollingshead.

Santiago Mosquera of FC Dallas. (Matthew Visinsky / 3rd Degree)

Mosquera is going to be the guy on the left most games. You may be surprised to see me place Pomykal second on the left when he's mostly been right/central for FCD prior to this.

I've put Pomykal here because of his wonderful performance on the left wing for the U20s. He was eye-openingly spectacular. I talked to some FCD coaches about it, admittedly this was before Pareja and the Bazan brothers left town, and I think Pomykal is going to see a lot of time at the left wing.

Most of these wing guys can play either side. Atuahene seems to pop more left than right, as does Mr. Versatility Ryan Hollingshead.

Right Wing - Michael Barrios, Paxton Pomykal, and Ema Twumasi. Maybe Dom Badji.

FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios (21) is surprised by a call during the first half as FC Dallas hosted San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Saturday, August 4, 2018. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor) (Stewart F. House / Special Contributor)

Barrios is first, of course, then... yes, Pomykal again. I think he's the second choice at both wings. He finished last season ahead of both Atuahene and Twumasi who have trouble even being active because of their international status.

Twumasi is third at best on the right side I think, Badji might even be ahead of him when push comes to shove.

Frankly, I'm surprised FCD hasn't traded either Twumasi or Atuahene. They play basically the same spot, both are GAs (that might be the only reason both are around), and both are internationals.

Attacking mid - Pablo Aranguiz, Thomas Roberts, and Paxton Pomykal. Maybe Mauro Cichero.

Pablo Aranguiz plays for FC Dallas against Orlando City. (10/7/28) (Matthew Visinsky / 3rd Degree)

Aranguiz is going to get his chance to drive the bus unless something goes badly wrong this spring.

I've put Roberts second here, this is his natural position. I've yet to see Roberts even in a scrimmage with the first team but I'll keep Pomykal again here for now as third. Depending on how ready Roberts looks this one could change.

Cichero is the x-factor. How good is he after a year off? Can he make the squad? As an attacking style mid/forward it'll be interesting to see if he fits in. Ex-FCD Technical Director Fernando Clavijo, in particular, was really high on Cichero. Cichero may end up being the steal of last year's draft.

Linking mid - Bryan Acosta, Brandon Servania or Jacori Hayes.

Honduras' Bryan Acosta (L) vies for the ball with Chile's Alexis Sanchez during a friendly football match at the German Becker stadium, in Temuco, Chile, on November 20, 2018. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP)PABLO VERA/AFP/Getty Images (PABLO VERA / Getty Images)

Update: Acosta is official.

While we have no stateside confirmation, the Acosta transfer has been reported as complete. So, for now, he's the choice. If Acosta falls through, then Servania and Hayes go head to head for the starting spot.

There is also a school of thought that the 8 might be Paxton Pomykal's best position, although I don't attend classes there.

Thomas Roberts may also get some looks here.

Holding mid - Carlos Gruezo, Jacori Hayes or Brandon Servania. Maybe Edwin Cerrillo.

FC Dallas midfielder Carlos Gruezo (7) attempts a shot next to Houston Dynamo midfielder DaMarcus Beasley (7) during the first half as FC Dallas hosted Houston Dynamo at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Saturday , September 1, 2018. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor) (Stewart F. House / Special Contributor)

Gruezo remains the name in ink... but I still think there is a chance he's gone this offseason. Right now Hayes is the backup here.

If Gruezo is gone this spot will open up and Servania could factor too. He did earn the U20 Concacaf Championship Best XI nod as a 6. Servania will need to decide, perhaps this season, if he is a 6 or an 8.

(Imagine for a minute if Gruezo leaves and Acosta doesn't come in...)

Also, I still think Edwin Cerrillo gets a Homegrown contract. He's the U19 most ready to contribute.

Left Back - Marcos Pedroso and Ryan Hollingshead. Maybe Bressan or Reto Ziegler.

FRISCO, TX - AUGUST 04: FC Dallas defender Marquinhos Pedroso (#6) controls the ball during the MLS game between FC Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes on August 4, 2018 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky) (Matthew Visinsky / 3rd Degree)

Pedroso is the clear first choice. He was one of the best left backs in MLS the last half of the season.

Hollingshead is the only obvious backup right now.

But we're told Bressan can play left back and we know Ziegler can.

There might be some interesting choices along the back line if Bressan works out.

Update: I was asked about Moises Hernandez, who did play left back in his first stint at FCD. Since his return to FCD last year I never once witnessed him play left back in training. But, new coach and all that. So it's worth bringing up.

Left center back - Reto Ziegler, Bressan, and Moises Hernandez.

Ziegler is the guy until old age catches him. Frankly, I think he's got one more season in him as a starter. He's also the best free kick taker FCD has at this point.

Bressan will have some time to acclimate and get some spot starts. If Bressan is playing really well, it might not take long for a change in the back.

Hernandez is just for depth at this point.

Right center back - Matt Hedges, Bressan, and Moises Hernandez. Also maybe Kris Reaves.

FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges (24) controls the soccer ball during the first half as FC Dallas hosted San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Saturday, August 4, 2018. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor) (Stewart F. House / Special Contributor)

This one too is cut and dried, most of the defense is. Hedges is the man. Hernandez is an option.

Honestly though, if Hedges was out Bressan probably gets the nod over Hernandez. Unless Bressan isn't as good as we expect of course.

Reaves could factor for depth if he gets back into the team this spring.

Right back - Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds. And again maybe Kris Reaves or Jacori Hayes?

Reggie is the man. At the end of 2018 Oscar Pareja said Bryan Reynolds was ready to start if needed. This will only happen if Reggie is sold or maybe in the case of some US call-ups. Reaves just needs to make the team at this point.

Without Reaves on the team, I can't help but wonder if, in a pinch, Hayes just might make a solid desperation right back.

Goalkeeper - Jesse Gonzalez or Jimmy Maurer. And Kyle Zobeck or Carols Avilez.

A position of actual important questions. Gonzalez or Maurer? Both are starter quality.

As for third choice, can Avilez push Zobeck out of the team? I think Avilez is close, really close.

Three Deep

3rd Degree predicted three deep FC Dallas 2019 depth chart as of early January. (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

The FC Dallas Draft Strategy

So after reading all of the above, where exactly are a couple of first-round picks going to fit into the roster? (And I ask this question thinking that maybe there are two Homegrowns possible this offseason.)

At the very bottom of the roster, that's where. Maybe even on the North Texas SC roster. There just isn't a position of need for Dallas and really not much room.

The only spot I think you could see needing a little help is left-back with an eye on the future. There isn't a left back in the Academy ready to help in the next few years. There are a couple potential Homegrowns left backs in college but even they would need time. If you can get a great, young left back and groom them for a season or two, that is worth a pick.

Outside of that... maybe center back? Although I like Moises Hernandez and Kris Reaves if there's a Matt Hedges clone available that would be a great pick.

Otherwise, it's best available. Even picking best available it's quite conceivable this is the first year no SuperDraft pick makes the FC Dallas MLS roster.

One last Keep-in-Mind... there have been some rumors of interest in Gruezo, Gonzalez, and Barrios. If any of the three departs that might shake things up a bit.