Rapids Sign LaBrocca, Alvarez, Give Burch New Contract

Today the Rapids made the LaBrocca re-signing official and also announced the re-signing of Carlos Alvarez.  I like the Alvarez re-signing, though with how crowded our midfield is getting I wonder if he's going to get any time.  Marc Burch, who was under contract, also got a new contract.  With those moves that puts us at a total of 25 signed players for 2015, with 6 of 8 international spots filled.  We're still waiting on the new CBA to find out what the new roster rules will be and how the usL affiliation will play into it.

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Carlos Alvarez
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Juan Ramirez*
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned but in AZ or negotiating:
D Francisco Flores* (trialist)
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably, was in Vegas)
D Wes Knight (trialist)
D Ben Newnam (trialist)
D James Riley
D Grant Van de Casteele
M Benji Joya
M Oscar Montoya (trialist)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (negotiating)

Unsigned and not in AZ:

GK Quentin Westberg
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee, not in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (Charlotte player)
M Andrew Ribiero (Charlotte player)
F Billy Schuler

Rapids beat PDL Team, Plays FSL In Final

In our third game of the Desert Diamond Cup the Rapids finally got a win, albeit over FC Tucson, a PDL team.  Our starting XI:

MacMath

Riley - Burling - Watts - Burch

LaBrocca - Cronin

Hairston - Powers - Ramirez

Brown

Riley getting another shot at right back.  This group was...not good.  Ramirez showed some flashes but generally this group struggled to compete against a PDL team.  Tucson never got close to scoring, but nether did Colorado.  By the 72nd minute the lineup had become:

Berner

Knight - Sjoberg - Newnam - Harrington

LaBrocca - Cronin

Serna - Badji - Joya

Torres

Benji Joya is a 21 year old attacking mid who has played for the U.S. U-20 and 23 teams and professionally with Santos Laguna 9and last year with the Fire on loan).  This lineup certainly had a bit more going for it.  It paid off with a goal from a header by Axel Sjoberg.  That would be the only score in the match.

With the results, along with the other results last night, the Rapids finished 2nd with 5 points from the 3 matches.  They'll face first place FSL (9 points) on Saturday for the championship.  Game time is 7pm and the game will be streamed on ColoradoRapids.com.  This year we can take two trophies from FSL!

Rapids, Revs Draw In Jameson Night Preview

Saturday night the Rapids had their 2nd of 4 games in AZ, facing off against MLS Cup finalists New England.  The starting XI:

Irwin

Hairston - Watts - Sjoberg - Harrington

Pittinari - Sarvas

Sanchez - Torres - Ramirez

Badji

Badji was the only unsigned player to start, while we got our first look at our new DP Ramirez.  First impressions?  Fast.  He adjusted quickly to the physical play which is a good sign.  Badji is looking like he's going to get a contract, either here or in Charlotte.  Hairston didn't look out of place at right back but he's still got a lot to learn.  Overall lots of individual performances but as a team it was fairly meh in the first half.  The second half started with a bang though as Badji put Torres through and he finished for his second goal in two games.  The lead only lasted 6 minutes though as Fagundez pulled off a slaloming run through the defense to level the score.  After a bunch of subs the team ended the game with this:

Irwin

Riley - Burling - Sjoberg - Burch

Cronin - LaBrocca

Alvarez - Powers - Serna

Brown

James Riley, trialist, former Sounder (among others), at right back.  Carlos Alvarez, trying to get a new contract, at right mid.  Not a whole lot of great play with this group.  Brown put one over the bar as normal.  The Rapids face Tucson FC on Wednesday at 5:30pm. 

Rapids Sign Juan Ramirez As Second Designated Player

Long rumored but finally announced tonight.  Juan Ramirez has joined the Rapids as their second Designated Player, taking up a young DP slot.  Reports are he's already in tucson with the team and will be available for tomorrow's scrimmage with the Revs (5:30pm MST, coloradorapids.com).  Ramirez is a 21 year old attacking left winger who joins from Argentinos Juniors.  As a 'young DP" he'll only count $200K against the cap and if the Rapids sign a third DP (like Doyle) they won't have to purchase a third slot as you don't need it if you have a young DP.

This is a big risk big reward move by Colorado.  If the rumored $2 million purchase price is accurate that's a lot of money for a team like the Rapids to spend on a young, unknown (to fans) quantity.  This isn't a signing that's going to drive ticket sales, this is a signing to (hopefully) drive wins and that will drive ticket sales.

With this signing the Rapids are now at 24 signed players with 6 of 8 international spots filled.  We still don't know, due to the continuing CBA negotiations, what the roster limit will be this season.  It was 30 last year but conventional wisdom is that will drop with provisions for players under contract but playing with USL teams to not count against the total.  I've changed the unsigned section of the camp roster to reflect players who don't appear on the Desert Diamond Cup roster lists.  That may mean the Rapids have passed on them or it may mean that they just didn't plan to feature them (more likely the former than the latter).

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Juan Ramirez*
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned but in AZ or negotiating:
D Francisco Flores* (trialist)
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably, was in Vegas)
D Wes Knight (trialist)
D Ben Newnam (trialist)
D Grant Van de Casteele
M Carlos Alvarez
M Oscar Montoya (trialist)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (negotiating)

Unsigned and not in AZ:

GK Quentin Westberg
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee, not in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (Charlotte player)
M Andrew Ribiero (Charlotte player)
F Billy Schuler

Rapids Draw KC 2-2, Sneak Peek Of New Jersey

As I was making my post last night saying we were up 2-0 KC scored twice in 2 minutes to make it 2-2.  Starting XI for the Rapids:

MacMath

Knight - Burling - Sjoberg - Harrington

Sarvas - Pittinari

Sanchez - Torres - Alvarez

Badji

This lineup scored twice in the first 17 minutes.  The first was Torres off a nice through ball from Pittinari.  The second was Badji after Pittinari put Sanchez through on the keeper, beat the keeper, and crossed it to a wide-open Badji in front of an empty net.  Some really nice play by everyone in the first half.  Pittinari was the MPC but Badjo, Sarvas, and Sjoberg also stood out.

A full field team substitution at half left us with this lineup:

MacMath

Flores - O'Neill - Watts - Burch

Cronin - Newnam

Serna - Powers - Montoya

Brown

Not surprisingly this team struggled more.  In the 75th Flores received his second yellow for kicking the ball away.  Ticky-tack call but stupid for a trialist to risk.  Right after that the Rapids conceded a PK, then the defense got beaten badly by KC and it was 2-0.  I thought MacMath in particular looked bad on the second goal.

The Rapids next game is Saturday at 5:30 against New England.

Today we got a sneak peek at the Rapids new away/secondary jersey.  The official unveiling will be Thursday the 5th at an open event at the Tavern Downtown.

Looks like a primarily yellow jersey with the same badge that was on the prior flag jersey.  I really don't like that badge so I hope the rest of kit wows me.  Some suggested that it might be similar to Arsenal's yellow kit this year as part of KSE synergy.  If so it would be an upgrade over the flag kit but still not one I'd be jumping up and down to buy.

News And Notes, Feb. 18th 2015

• Altitude released the TV schedule for the Rapids season.  The only note of interest is the March 28th game which won't finish before the Avs drop the puck and the Nuggets tip off.  Because of that Altitude won't show the game until late that evening on same-day delay.  You can't really blame Altitude as they get much better ratings for the other two teams and only have two channels to work with.  In the past when this has happened the Rapids have lifted the blackout restrictions for the game on MLS Live to make it possible to watch locally live.  I've reached out to see if they'll be doing it again for this match.

• The Denver Post had more info today about the the Ciao lawsuit.  It appears that the team and league did not do due diligence as both Global Logistics (the North American distributor for Ciao) and Ciao itself had legal proceedings against for failure to honor commitments and pay debts when the deal with the Rapids was signed.  Both Garber and Hinchey are reported as stating they weren't aware of these proceedings.  As hard as that is to believe its an indicator that somebody dropped the ball in doing their research on the companies.  Let's hope the next deal is a bit more stable.  Ciao and Global are now pointing fingers at each other over who's to blame while Hinchey says they're in talks with 2-3 companies for the sponsorship now.  Of course, we've heard that before...

• The Rapids are currently playing Kansas City in Tucson.  2-0 to the burgundy boys in the second half.  Torres and Badji with the goals, both set up at least partially by Pittinari.  Full game report tomorrow after the Rapids release the lineups (I don't know all the trialists on sight yet)

• Finally, and to me the most interesting news of the day, draftee Brandon Fricke has signed with Charlotte.  A tweet a couple of weeks ago from a former coach of Fricke's had made it sound like he signed with the Rapids but that appears to have been in error.  This signing was announced on the Rapids website so its obviously with their blessing.  Not only that but Brian Crookham, who's the Rapids Senior Director of Soccer Development, is currently service as Charlotte's Technical Director.  
• The Independence have 6 players under contract now, and 3 of the 5 others are currently in Arizona with the Rapids (Slogic, Newnam, Ribeiro).  The Denver Post also reported this weekend that the Rapids and the Independence will be using the same 4-2-3-1 system and mentality.  It appears that the Charlotte Independence are Colorado Rapids II in all but name.  coach Mike Jeffries, which Crookham and the Rapids helped hire, even wore a Rapids jacket for a interview on the local FOX affiliate in Charlotte last week (though to be fair, with the Independence just revealing their logo and colors, there probably isn't team gear available yet).  If this is really going to be the equivalent of the Rapids AAA team as a true partnership and not just a place to send 3-4 players for some playing time that's a huge step forward for the Rapids plan.

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
GK Quentin Westberg (trialist in camp)
D Francisco Flores (trialist in camp)

D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably, with team in Vegas)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee, not in camp)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (trialist in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (trialist in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (trialist in camp)
M Oscar Montoya (trialist in camp)
M Juan Ramirez* (multiple reports of signing with the Rapids, in town for physical)
M Andrew Ribiero (trialist in camp)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (negotiating)
F Billy Schuler (trialist in camp)

Rapids Lose To SJ, Get Ready For KC Tomorrow

Sunday night in Vegas the Rapids took on San Jose.  Here was the starting XI:

Irwin

Knight - O'Neill - Watts - Harrington

Cronin - Pittinari

Serna - Sarvas - Sanchez

Badji

Wes Knight, trialist, at right back and Dominique Badji, draftee, at forward.  San Jose scored right before the break, Wondolowski in the 43rd minute.  The only halftime change was trialist Quentin Westberg for Irwin but in the 63rd minute all 10 field players were subbed.  The new lineup:

Westberg

Flores - Greenspan - Sjoberg - Burch

Riberio - Newnam

Montoya - Alvarez - Torres

Calvert

Francisco Flores, trialist, at right back, Joseph Greenspan, draftee on leave from the Navy, at center back, Andrew Riberio and Ben Newnam, trialists, at defensive mids, Oscar Montoya, trialist, at right mid, Carlos Alvarez, looking for new contract, at center mid.

(BTW, the 4-2-3-1 formation I'm showing seems to be what they plan to play this season)

JJ Koval would score for the E-Quakes in the 74th minute.  Final score 2-0.

The Rapids moved on to Tucson yesterday and will face Kansas City in their first Desert Diamond Cup game tomorrow at 5:30pm.  The game will be streamed ColoradoRapids.com.  full schedule below:

KC - Wed 2/17 - 5:30pm

NE - Sat 2/21 - 5:30pm

FC Tucson - 2/24 - 5:30pm

Final game opponent and time based on standings on 2/28

First Game Action And Ramirez In Town

Two main pieces of news today but first just a quick update on the Doyle rumors.  Most sources are reporting that talks are still on-going but there have been some mentions that he doesn't want to leave until his girlfriend gives birth.  We'll see what next week brings.

Now onto the bigger news.  Yesterday Juan Ramirez tweeted these two pictures:

That top picture is from the Rapids training room.  So clearly we're close to a signing of Ramirez if he's taking a physical.  My guess is that it gets done early next week and he meets up with the team in Arizona.

Meanwhile the rest of the team is on Las Vegas where they played UNLV yesterday.  A heavy reserves and trialists lineup was used.  Here's the starting XI with a guess on formation:

Berner

Flores - Greenspan - VDC - Slogic

Ribeiro - Raben - Montoya - Neeskens

Schuler - Calvert

Andrew Ribiero is a defensive midfielder who's bounced around the USL and MLS reserve sides the last few years.  Currently he's under contract with Charlotte.  Sam Raben is a high school senior in the Rapids academy who committed to Wake Forest in the fall.  Billy Schuler is a forward who started his post-college career in Sweden for 2 seasons before joining the E-Quakes last year.  Of note only 3 of these players are signed to the Rapids for 2015, Berner, Neeskens, and Calvert.

After half a more experienced lineup was put on the field. though still heavy on unsigned players.

Westberg

Flores - Greenspan - VDC - Slogic

Cronin - Pittinari - Montoya - Alvarez

Schuler - Badji

Flores was replaced with Raben being re-inserted in the 67th minute.  Quentin Westberg is a French-born American keeper who has played for the U.S. U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams while playing for 3 different French League teams since 2006.

The Rapids won 2-0 with goals from Montoya (62') and Badji (84').  Tomorrow night the Rapids will play the E-Quakes in Vegas before heading to Arizona for the Desert Diamond Cup.  No stream of the SJ game but all 4 games in AZ will be streamed at ColoradoRapids.com as well as MLSSoccer.com.

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Brandon Fricke
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
GK Quentin Westberg (trialist in camp)
D Francisco Flores (trialist in camp)

D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably, with team in Vegas)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee, not in camp)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (trialist in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (trialist in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (trialist in camp)
M Oscar Montoya (trialist in camp)
M Juan Ramirez* (multiple reports of signing with the Rapids, in town for physical)
M Andrew Ribiero (trialist in camp)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (negotiating)
F Billy Schuler (trialist in camp)

More Trialists In Camp

The Denver Post's Daniel Boniface tweeted some information about trialists in camp today:

Oscar Montoya (formerly of Abraham Lincoln HS in Denver) and Francisco Flores (Cruz Azul) were in on trial today.

Not much is known about Montoya but Flores is a Mexican right back who was signed by Cruz Azul in 2012 after playing for the Mexican U-17 team in the 2011 World Cup.  He hasn't gotten much first-team time (7 appearances at Cruz Azul) but he has continued in the Mexican National Team system, playing 11 times for the U-20 team including in CONCACAF U-20 World Cup qualifying and at the 2013 U-20 World Cup.  He addresses one of the thinnest areas of depth and would be a good young signing.

Boniface also tweeted that Eloundou is still stuck in Cameroon with visa issues but is expected to join camp soon.

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Brandon Fricke
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
D Francisco Flores (trialist in camp)

D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (confirmed to be in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (confirmed to be in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (confirmed to be in camp)
M Juan Ramirez* (multiple reports of signing with the Rapids)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (in town negotiating)

?? Oscar Montoya (trialist in camp)

Also tonight the Charlotte Independence, the Rapids USL partner club, unveiled their logo:

Hot Stove Season Hots Up

Before we get to the player rumors, one piece of coaching news.  Brian Mullan was named an assistant coach yesterday,  Its good to see the team rewarding core players after retirement like this.  Two-thirds of the MLS Cup winning starting midfield are now coaching at the club (Pablo, Mullan, and Smith with the Academy).

Now onto the player news.  Off an on over the last couple of days we've seen confirmation tweets from South America that the Rapids have actually signed Juan Ramirez for a $2 million transfer fee as has been rumored.  Nothing official from the club yet but some connected fans have also heard similar rumors.  So this sounds like a done deal just waiting for the i's to be dotted and t's to be crossed.  Its a big move for the club.  Dropping that kind of money on an essentially unknown attacking mid/winger will either pay of huge when we sell him on or blow up in their face.

Then this morning stories out of Ireland linked the Rapids to signing Wolves striker Kevin Doyle.  Later in the morning ESPN picked up the rumor, which made for some good discussion fodder for the fans but nobody knew if all the stories linked back to the same source in Ireland or if there was more to it.  Then about 10:30 the Denver Post confirmed the Rapids interest with the news that Doyle is actually in Denver and took in the Nuggets game with Rapids brass last night.

This appears to be the "goal scorer" Hinchey has talked about this offseason.  Doyle was with Reading when they were promoted to the EPL and then relegated from the Championship, scoring 55 times in 157 appearances with the club.  He joined Wolves before the 2009-10 season as they had just been promoted to the EPL.  He scored 9 goals as the loan striker in a 4-5-1 formation that season.  Wolves then went through back-to-back relegations and loaned him out, first to QPR and then Crystal Palace but he got little playing time at either club.  He also has returned to the Irish National Team for recent friendlies against Costa Rica and Oman, scoring in both games.

Doyle has been compared to Conor Casey in style of play, which is exactly what the Rapids need.  Somebody to hold up the ball, maintain possession in the attacking third, and play through balls for Brown and Torres (and maybe Ramirez) to run on to.  Of course at 31 years old and with a history of minor but annoying injuries the specter of Caleb Folan still looms large.

The interesting thing about both Ramirez and Doyle as DP signings is that neither one look like sure bets.  While Torres has been hit or miss in hindsight its hard to blame the Rapids for jumping on a young striker who just shared the Golden Boot in the Gold Cup.  Hinchey has talked about small teams like the Rapids having to get their DP signings right to compete.  These two might be right, but its not immediately obvious that they will be.  We're certainly going to find out if that money they talked about spending on scouting this offseason went to good use or not.

One final note, pictures from training last week show that defender Patrick Slogic is in camp.  Slogic was in the Rapids youth organization and then went to Cornell.  He was in camp with the Crew last season after graduating but failed to make the team.  He played with Rochester last year and was signed by Charlotte for 2015.  He grew up in the Springs so this may just be a chance for him to get some training in before Charlotte opens its preseason or the Rapids may be taking a look at him as something more.

Below is an updated roster.  I've added Doyle, Ramirez, and Slogic into the unsigned list for now since there are solid links between them and the Rapids.

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Brandon Fricke
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (confirmed to be in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (confirmed to be in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (confirmed to be in camp)
M Juan Ramirez* (multiple reports of signing with the Rapids)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (in town negotiating)

Some Housekeeping Notes

A couple of housekeeping articles today.

US Soccer has released the format of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup.  The 17 American MLS team will enter in Round 4 on June 16th and 17th along with the 15 winners of Round 3.  Because of this two MLS teams will play each other in round 4 while the other 15 teams are matched up with the Round 3 winners.  Anyone want to bet the Rapids are in that all-MLS game, probably on the road?  Colorado is scheduled to host Dallas on the 19th so the game will probably be the 16th over the 17th.  They'll have 9 days off before that though.

Also the Denver Post reports that Sanchez and Sarvas have gotten their green cards so they won't count as internationals.  That gives the Rapids some flexibility in their international signings as they now have 3, instead of 1, international slots open.  So even if we have signed Ramirez we still have options.  An updated roster is below.

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Brandon Fricke
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (confirmed to be in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (confirmed to be in camp)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)

Juan Ramirez As Our Second DP?

Interesting news from the Denver Post today.  The report is that the Rapids have signed Juan Ramirez from Argentinos Juniors for a 2 million dollar transfer fee, making him our second Designated Player.  Here's what I wrote about him about a month ago when the rumor of our interest first surfaced:

A 21 year old attacking midfielder.  He currently plays for Argentinos Juniors in the Primera B Nacional (the second division) where he's made 50 appearances over the last 3 seasons.  Last year he played alongside Riquelme, so hopefully he picked up some things from the creative playmaker.

The one new detail since then is that Argentinos Juniors was only in the Primera B for one season and most of his appearances were made when the team was in the top flight.

If this report is accurate it puzzles me.  The Rapids have historically been a team  that doesn't spend money and to suddenly reverse that by signing a young player with no real "name" would be unexpected.  I wonder if Kiszla might have his wires crossed and this is a case (like with Pittinari last week) where we're taking Ramirez on loan and his option to buy is $2 million.  That would fit the Rapids MO much more than buying him outright.

Zat Out, Clarke In, Rodallega Over?

Three pieces of news.  From least interesting (IMO) to most:

Two tweets today about the Rapids rumored pursuit of Fulham's Hugo Rodallega.

Fulham Football ClubVerified account‏@FulhamFC

The #ffc Manager knows nothing about rumours linking Hugo Rodallega with a move to the MLS.

MLS Transfers‏@MLSTransfers

Source: Rodallega to Colorado talks are dead. Don't expect him moving last minute today. 

Now the idea of this being a "last minute" move shows that MLS Transfers doesn't understand the transfer window (the window of the league adding the player is what matters, which didn't close today for MLS) so take that tweet with a grain of salt.  This is a bit disappointing as I thought Rodallega would have been a great signing for Colorado, but I'm not surprised.

Secondly, the Rapids finally have a new PR guy, announcing the hiring of Richard Clarke from Arsenal to fill the big hole left by David Lindholm last season.  Clarke seems to have a good background to handle the PR of the Rapids and should help generating some positive biuxx that's been missing this offseason.

Finally the biggest news of the day (IMO), Zat Knight and the Rapids have parted ways.  If you've read this blog for the last 6 months you know I wasn't impressed with Knight and his salary hit wasn't small.  With the other defensive moves we made Knight was unnecessary in 2015 and I'm glad the Rapids agreed.  This gives us a little more flexibility with internationals and with the salary cap.

Updated roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Brandon Fricke
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas*
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp)
Vicente Sanchez*
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee)
D Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
D Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (confirmed to be in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (confirmed to be in camp)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)

#WeAre12

Go Hawks!