Soccer Analytics

Soccer analytics class assignment:

Mock expansion draft
instructions:

Imagine the following scenario:

The 2022 MLS season has just ended, and St. Louis SC are diligently preparing for their expansion draft on December 16th. Front offices across the league are nearing the deadline for sending their protected list to the league office. (Austin, Atlanta, D.C. United, LAFC, NYCFC) DO NOT DRAFT
Teams are permitted to protect a total of 12 players pursuant to expansion draft rules.
I represent the MLS team: FC Dallas.
You will be assuming the role of an MLS sporting director. You have been tasked with providing the league office your teams protected list by the deadline.

• *Below is what must be included in the assignment.
Protected List: The protected list should contain your list of protected players as well as summaries of the analysis that went into each protection decision.
The selection of protected players are based on the current roster of FC Dallas.

• Format: The assignment should be submitted in PDF format. If any Excel spreadsheets and/or R/Python files are used, attach those files as well.

In summary, we need to create a list of 12 players we must have next season (2023) based on their performance data, value and cost/salary, youth/experience, injury, rumors, contract renewal availability, team financial and other essential factors. (just recommendation) Please search online about what is protected list for a MLS team and explain the reason why they are important for the team FC Dallas.
Please refer to the online sources and know what factors should be under consideration when select a protected list. Please at least provide one table to list these players (maybe with their performance data or and analyze them and then give rationale why they will be protected.
 
Key Rules for expansion draft
● 5 picks – teams that had a player chosen in the last expansion draft are exempt
(Austin, Atlanta, D.C. United, LAFC, NYCFC)
● Teams get to protect 12 players (not including those automatically protected)
● Generation Adidas and Homegrown players 25 and under are automatically
protected
● If a Supplemental or Reserve Roster Player is selected, he must be offered a Senior
Roster position and he must remain on the Senior Roster as of Roster Compliance
Date.
● Clubs with four or more international players must protect at least three
international players, excluding any automatically protected players. If a Club has
only three international players, it must protect two. If a Club has only two
international players, it must protect one. A Club that has only one international
player is not required to protect that player.

(These links could be helpful for your writing.
• What is MLS expansion draft: https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/news/mls-101-the-expansion-draft

• https://3rddegree.net/exposing-fc-dallas-mls-expansion-draft-protected-list
• Nashville SC’s Expansion Draft protected list – 2020
https://www.bigdsoccer.com/2021/12/9/22825923/projecting-fc-dallas-expansion-draft-protection-list)
• https://www.sounderatheart.com/2021/11/19/22792347/how-sounders-will-be-affected-by-2021-mls-expansion-draft

This is what a expansion draft look like. Players are from several teams.