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First, AWK caught up with a typically chatty Paul Riley yesterday. Here are a few quotes and nuggets of info:

Riley is confident that Nicole Barnhart will return to the Independence in 2012.  “Barnie has agreed to a contract, but we don’t have a signed contract yet.” Val Henderson split first choice responsibilities with Barnhart last season, but has recently signed with Atlanta. Riley says Henderson wanted guaranteed playing time. “You can be A-Rod, you can be Vero, you’re not getting a guarantee on this team. It’s just not the way to go about business.”

Philadelphia will continue its search for a goalkeeper capable of filling in for Barnhart this summer. Former Atlanta Beat goalkeeper Allison Whitworth was among the names on the team’s target list.  “We inquired about Whitworth, but she didn’t seem to want to play soccer anymore,” Riley says, “maybe she’s changed her mind, I don’t know, but I think she was so upset about the whole sanctioning thing going on, and she just decided she didn’t want to play. We talked to her a few times. If I don’t see a lot of interest I just give up quick. No bother waiting.”

Riley says the team will look to add reinforcements in the form of draftees and/or foreign options.

Riley also shared some insight into Lori Lindsey’s exit from the team and her ambitions to become a player-coach. She has since joined the Western New York Flash.

“She would’ve made a great coach. I love her, I love the kid to death so for her to stay with the organization is really what I wanted. She told us at the exit meetings that she really wants to play. I go ‘I see you more as a coach than as a player for the Philadelphia team.’ Doesn’t mean she can’t play, but in our midfield, I just don’t see her getting into our midfield. She stills shows flashes of brilliance. It was very difficult because if she was here every day, I think we would have signed her.”

On Abby Wambach and Hope Solo and why they remain on the free agency market.

“Nobody’s going to pay silly money for players who aren’t going to be full-time, and maybe aren’t committed. The final product is trying to win three points on the weekends. I want players who are totally committed, not coming in and out every week. I’m not saying that Hope or Abby are like that, they’re both tremendous professionals…Abby Wambach just doesn’t fit our style, she fits other team’s styles. I think her price will come down as we get closer to the start of the season. I think the main thing is that if they don’t play, then they need to be supportive of the league. The league is still around for Engen and A-Rod and Cheney and the next generation for the Olympics and the World Cup. If they want to be ambassadors, they have to support the league, whether they find a team to play on or not.”

And remember the rumors that claimed Aya Miyama appeared at the team’s open tryouts this offseason? Riley dismissed such talk with a laugh. Turns out the player in question was actually Aya Noguchi from Franklin Pierce University. Namesake and look-a-like maybe, but definitely not Aya Miyama.

“Aya from Franklin Pierce came and I called her ‘Aya Miyama’ as a joke! She plays for Franklin Pierce, good little player, and we might have brought her back to the next combine. She actually looks a little like Aya, she looks just like her.”

On Philadelphia’s philosophy heading into today’s draft and whether the team will continue to look to build its squad via the free agency market.

“Absolutely. It’s free agency for us. The draft for us, it’s a nice day out and there are some great players out there. With five teams in the league, my advice to all these kids is if you get drafted and get stuck with 21 or 22 on the roster, stick with it. When expansion comes next year, you’ll have a year next year. Some of them want to be a starting line-up, but they’re not going to get in the starting line-up. If all the first five or six picks make the 18 on game day, I’ll be shocked.

“I’m only looking at one pick and that’s number five. After that it’s a wash. They’re some players I like, maybe locally I’ll pick up. The one kid I really wanted was [Sarah] Hagen and because of our rules, she goes to Bayern Munich…We might still see her in a Philadelphia Independence shirt come summer, if she lasts until five.”

Riley’s predicted draft order and meeting the team’s other needs.

“Henderson, Leroux, Taylor, wild card is at number four. It’s a late trade, [Atlanta] tried to trade with us, but it’s not worth it us. We also looked at Stephanie Ochs. She’s got good size and has good wheels. We’re definitely going to take a forward with the first pick. There’s no questions. Whether it’s someone here or not here. We have three picks together after that and I wish we had earlier picks honestly, because we would take a goalkeeper. We’ll take whatever goalkeeper is left, any of the three. “

He also shed light on how next season’s schedule might look. He believes the 2012 regular season will consist of 16 matches and teams will play each other twice at home and twice away. One side will have a bye each week. Additionally, three teams will make it to the play-offs. This hasn’t been confirmed of course, but it makes for interesting musing.  

Lastly, Riley mentioned that a USWNT attacking player is close to joining the Independence. “We’ve got a really good national team player almost wrapped up.” Any other hints? “She can play in the midfield, and is good on both sides.”

That pretty much leaves two options. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

A few scattered thoughts ahead of this afternoon’s draft:

- Who will go first overall? For arguably the first time in the league’s four-year existence, that question is cause for suspense. As highlighted above, Riley believes the Atlanta Beat will draft Notre Dame forward Melissa Henderson. Sydney Leroux has also been expected to be picked first. Team owner Fitz Johnson didn’t exactly dispute that line of thinking in this Marietta Daily Journal piece from last night.

- Last year’s draft proceedings were understated and austere, and that’s probably an understatement. It made for a stark contrast from 2010 which resembled a party more than a draft. This year’s draft location is definitely roomier than last year’s and there are more tables and seats for media and other onlookers. There’s also a large screen mounted to the wall that will allow for attendees to watch the webcast as it’s being streamed. At least three players are expected to be in attendance, as well as family members, so don’t be surprised if you hear hooting and hollering on the webcast.

- Will Sarah Hagen and Ingrid Wells get drafted? Hagen seems to be more of likelihood, as the Frauen-Bundesliga league concludes in May. Wells will suit up for Goteborg in the Damallsvenskan.  The Swedish league begins in April and concludes in November. The season will feature a summer break from July 4 to August 18, which will serve as a respite for Swedish national team players as the team takes part in the Olympics. Unless there’s a clause in Wells’ contract that will allow her to make a brief cameo appearance in WPS, it doesn’t look all that promising. Other players may also still sign with European clubs, but the transfer window shuts at the end of the month. Contracts must be finalized quickly.

- Don’t be shocked if your hear the following sentence today: “And with the (x) overall pick in the 2012 WPS Draft, (team x) selects…oh, it appears they’ve made a trade with (team y).”

Philadelphia, in particular, seems eager to offload a few draft picks.

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