AWOL Offense

Let's talk about the elephant in the room (or on the field).  The complete lack of offensive attack from the Rapids.  Under Pablo Colorado has never been an offensive juggernaut, with the worst 3 year total of goals scored in team history and 2 of the 3 worst individual seasons (in goals/game).  At least last year that was buttressed by one of the best defensive seasons in league history which made for good results if not exciting play.

So far this year though we're reaching a new low in offensive output.  This is best seen by looking at our last game against the woeful Minnesota United.  In their 3 MLS games against teams other than the Rapids they've allowed 16 goals (5, 6, and 5) and 20 shots on target.  The Rapids managed 2 goals and 3 shots on target.  That includes the last 20 minutes of the game where the Rapids were playing up a man, at home, and manged a single shot right at the goalkeeper.

Lest you think this was just a bad game look at the combined stats so far this season.  We are averaging 7.3 shots and 2 shots on target per game.  Last year, where we averaged barely over a goal a game, we averaged 12.7 shots and 4.4 shots on goal per game.  Essentially our already anemic offense has dropped by 50% this season.  As you can figure out yourself, this is not a recipe for success.

This isn't much of a surprise.  In the offseason we let 6 goals, 8 assists, and 23 shots on target, approximately 6 games of offense, go and replaced it with Alan Gordon who averaged half a goal and a shot on goal every 90 minutes last year,  Pablo talked a lot in preseason about changing the team's attacking mentality this year so that must of been the plan for this season.  He seems frustrated its not working yet.

Barring this being an unexpectedly bad run of play (and I  don't think it is) there is really only one solution in my opinion.  Adding offensive talent.  Inside MLS that would require a trade and I'm not sue we have a player that would bring us starting attacking talent that we can afford to spare, other than MacMath.  The window for outside talent is still open for a few weeks but being realistic there's probably not a lot of talent willing to move at this point in the season.  We're probably going to have to ride this out until the summer window and expect the Front Office to have seen the issue and have a major signing lined up for July.  Otherwise this appears like its going to be a very long season.