2023 Season Preview and Predictions

I just got home from a week in Cabo to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary, so we're going to squeeze in a couple of posts between now and game time on Sunday to be ready to kickoff the season.  First up, my annual preview and predictions.  But before we get to that, one bit of news.  Defender Michael Edwards has been loaned to USL side San Antonio for the season, with the option to be recalled.  That will give him a higher level of competition than he would get with Rapids 2.

As we go into this year I see a team with, once again, lots of unproven-in-MLS potential  The only real addition we made this offseason that has already been successful in the league is the return of Cole Bassett from his loan in the Netherlands.  Otherwise its a collection of MLS players looking to find success with a new team or international signings new to the league.  That latter is notable as Padraig Smith has talked multiple times about players new to the league needing adjustment time, sometimes up to a full season.

Well, Colorado can't afford for the new guys to take a full year to get up to speed.  Arguably if more than one of Ilic, Gersbach, Ronan, or Maxsø fail to hit the ground running we are probably going to have a long season.  Certainly we need two of them to be ready to go starting in Seattle.  The good news is that we didn't look for our normal bargain deals in Europe.  They brought Maxsø in as a DP, and no DP should be given latitude to have a full season to get established in the league.  If you're taking up one of those spots you're expected to produce immediately.  Cabral was brought over from the Galaxy as a DP as well.  Ilic is here on loan but with an expected big number in his purchase option.  Gersbach is filling a big hole and needs to be ready to do that on day 1.  Only Ronan really has the flexibility to take some time settling in.

In the end, I think this season will come down to how well and how quickly the new parts mesh.  Its clear in this window that the Front Office recognized how badly they screwed up the last couple of windows (that's a discussion for another day) and has made moves to address our lack of depth and most of our holes.  That doesn't get them off the hook of creating the problem where we have a bunch of new parts that we're still unclear about less than 18 months after winning the West.  If we get to May and we're still figuring out our best XI and who works well with who its going to be another long season of one-and-done competitions and no playoffs.

With that, on to the predictions:

• Colorado, on the back of great goalkeeping from Ilic, beats a lower league side in their first USOC game but then gets eliminated by a MLS side in the next round
• The Rapids surprise some people and actually make it out of the group stage of the Leagues Cup, getting a draw in Nashville and beating Toluca at home.  But one knockout match is all they get
• We bring the Rocky Mountain Cup home by beating FSL on the last day of the season
• With that win Colorado leapfrogs FSL into 7th place, avoiding the wild-card play-in game and qualifying for the playoffs
• But its one series and done again, but with the new format at lease we get a home game
• The summer transfer window is quiet for the Rapids, other than exercising Ilic's purchase clause.  No other major moves are made (in or out) but some depth is added
• By midseason Ilic will be the clear #1 in net
• Diego Rubio wins the team Golden Boot with double-digit goals but less than 15
• Cole Bassett is the team MVP, cementing his status as an everyday starter and getting interest from Europe again by the end of the season
• Jack Price returns to being one of the most underrated players in the league
• Maxsø is the clear defensive player of the year and makes a push for the league's best XI
• Ronan and Max both struggle to claim the third starting spot in midfield, creating a rotation all season
• Cabral finds himself in Colorado and while he doesn't live up to the DP money the Galaxy paid to sign him does justify the GAM we traded to bring him here.  10 or more goals + assists this year.
• Yapi shows he's a year away still, but really looks set for a big 2024

Will I be right?  Probably not.  But am I optimistic or pessimistic?