Practice Starts!

The Rapids had their first practice today and we got the first list of trialists in camp.  We also found out that, currently, Hendry Thomas, Martin Rivero, and Anthony Wallace are not with the team.  The three trialists are:

• Joe Nasco - Goalkeeper: Made 3 appearances in the last 2 years with the Atlanta Silverbacks (Chris Klute's old team)
• Juan Guzman - Midfielder: Made 11 appearances in the last 4 years with the Charlotte Eagles
• Samuel Galindo - Midfielder: The big news of the day.  Galindo is currently with Arsenal but hasn't played a game with them since he was signed in 2010, instead being loaned out to 2nd division sides in Spain and Club Jorge Wilstermann in the top flight of Bolivia.  This looks to me that he couldn't get a UK work permit so Arsenal has been moving him around trying to get him experience.  He's also been capped twice for the Bolivian National Team and captained their U20 and U-17 teams.  He'll turn 22 in April.  Its unclear if he would join on loan or as a full signing.

Out of the 25 signed players, 16 of them participated in training today.  Mullan (right knee), Mwanga (hernia), Griffiths (shoulder), Armstrong (ACL), and Powers (tendonitis, concussion) were held up to heal up, while Klute and O'Neill were held out to let them recover from their National Team training and travels.  Deshorn Brown was also held out as he just returned from Barcelona last night.  The only player not in Commerce City today was Matt Pickens, who was on an excused absence.

Chris Bianchi tweeted today that its a matter of when, not if, Pickens is traded, so that  might have something to do with his absence.  There's also a rumor going around that Wynne is being traded.

So as we start camp, here's the camp roster:

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco - Unsigned trialist

Matt Pickens

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned draftee

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International