tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44005281225110051652024-03-18T21:42:21.441-06:00View From The CouchDiscussion of MLS's Colorado Rapids and other soccer topicsJason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.comBlogger2456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-80655283070216104092024-03-18T21:41:00.001-06:002024-03-18T21:41:26.183-06:00Rapids Fumble Their Way To A Draw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_squared_6_desktop/f_png/mls-col/veff11orubggoi8ubgmq.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_squared_6_desktop/f_png/mls-col/veff11orubggoi8ubgmq.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well, that was something. A game where it felt like the Rapids were going to lose a game they should of won they pulled out a draw at the last minute. It was both an unexpected point gained and two points lost at the same time. IF at the beginning of the season you had told Rapids fans they would have 5 points after 4 games, including a win over FSL, we all would have taken it. At the same time though, we dropped 2 easy points against Nashville and we probably should have won this game, so its not hard to feel like we're not where we should be based on our play.<div><br /></div><div>At the same time, after the first 45 minutes in Portland this was already looking like a lost season. Certainly the Rapids teams of the last couple of years would have gotten down after giving up another cheap PK on a hand ball. Instead the Rapids kept playing good defense and looked for opportunities to get on the board. Seattle made it easier picking up a mustard-and-ketchup red with about 30 minutes left and Colorado thought they were back in the game when they got a penalty kick shortly thereafter. Then Mihailović stepped up and took the PK attempt from Navarro, only to hit a rather poor shot close to Seattle's keeper. Not nearly good enough for a team-record signing. He partially made up for it in the 88th minute when his free kick was pushed onto the bar by the keeper, only for Cabral to be waiting to tap-in the rebound to level the score. Cabral had a chance to be a double-hero late but somehow failed to get any contact on a corner inside the 6 and the game ended 1-1.</div><div><br /></div><div>Again, at halftime in Portland this team looked like a mess, but since then they've only allowed three goals, and two of those were penalties off of stupid handballs. Sorry Rosenberry, a captain ahs to be smarter than to leave his arm out like that (the less said about Lewis' idiocy, the better). The defense has managed to figure out their problems fairly quickly. They'll get tested in a couple of weeks when they go to Miami but against some average offenses they've held their own.</div><div><br /></div><div>The same can't be said for the offense. Its telling that the Rapids best non-PK/scoring shot this season (based on xG from FotMob) has come from Sam Vines, midway through that first half in Portland. There are some real questions to ask about the guys making the top salaries on this roster:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Djordje Mihailovic</b> - Has not looked like a TAM-level player, much less a "team-record signing" player yet. His game on Saturday, other than the free kick, was fairly bad and taking a PK away from a guy who made one last week and then hitting an easily saved shot is a bad look.</li><li><b>Rafael Navarro</b> - Does good things off the ball, but he's being paid to score and he's not scoring.</li><li><b>Kevin Cabral</b> - Well, we all knoew going into this season who Cabral was and that hasn't changed. Credit for being in the right place to finish off that goal this week, but is few goals he's had for Colorado have all been like that, where somebody else does all the work and then he has a simple finish. For a DP he needs to be doing more.</li><li><b>Lamine Diack</b> - A TAM-level player who's here on loan for the first 20 games can't get a start 4 games in when the players starting in front him are out injured and we play a striker out of position on the wing instead? That's a really bad sign. If we don't see him this week its hard to think of him as anything but a bust already.</li></ul><div>That's a lot of investment that's not being converted into goals. DM has a combined xG of 0.86, 0.79 of which comes from the saved penalty. Navarro's highest non-PK xG is 0.14. Cabral has two shots outside his goal, of 0.11 and 0.08. These need to turn around today.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Rapids are a team that can compete defensively but are still bottom of the league in generating and converting chances. So far we've scored from a corner kick, an own goal, a penalty, an open play goal, and a free kick. You can't rely on penalties and own goals, and 3 goals in 4 games is the same pace as we scored at in 2023. Offensively only a couple of lucky breaks has us looking better than last season.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Man of the Match</b>: Oli Larraz. Really this feels as much an award for the last couple of games as one just about how he played in Seattle. He was good in Seattle, but he's been real solid the last three games.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-20262401718347280392024-03-16T08:56:00.002-06:002024-03-16T08:56:54.936-06:00A Chance For A Result In The Emerald City?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://uploads.visitseattle.org/2016/03/16131644/seattle-rainier1-940x485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="800" height="207" src="https://uploads.visitseattle.org/2016/03/16131644/seattle-rainier1-940x485.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Colorado goes to my hometown with a chance to get a result for the first time in a long time, maybe ever. Seattle is struggling to start the season with only 1 goal in their first two games (last week's game was rained out in Philly). The Rapids aren't doing much better, but after a horrid first half in Portland their defense has given up one goal from the run of play and one PK on a stupid handball. High-scoring this is unlikely to be. Kickoff is an early 1:30pm MT today as the game is on FOX as well as Apple TV. I'm not sure who FOX will have on the (lesser video quality) broadcast but Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth will have the Apple TV call.<div><br /></div><div><b>Player Availability:</b></div><div>OUT: Conor Ronan (knee)</div><div>QUESTIONABLE: Jasper Löffelsend (hamstring)</div><div><br /></div><div>We found out this week that the knee injury that forced Ronan to be subbed in the 11th minute last week will keep him on the sidelines for 6-8 weeks. Not great news. Seattle will be missing Paula, de la Vega, and Frei so they're really hurting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5168wn-pgZ3GdoDSrik25jByBHK9GzthRNCrrFrxSxuyhVQPL2pHHZ73SJwxJyu0S-_Z1b_sUchi_nF16X1bwoFV6JLMnguFNKNg-t9h9I3YH9zBiR0wi0f3-R9vwK-QY0s49wujgNIg5p_bzT-BLrfFQy0ADUH4LC3F6ZjmVWGWT4xNb1CL9YqhMeNOJ/s600/lineup%20(36).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5168wn-pgZ3GdoDSrik25jByBHK9GzthRNCrrFrxSxuyhVQPL2pHHZ73SJwxJyu0S-_Z1b_sUchi_nF16X1bwoFV6JLMnguFNKNg-t9h9I3YH9zBiR0wi0f3-R9vwK-QY0s49wujgNIg5p_bzT-BLrfFQy0ADUH4LC3F6ZjmVWGWT4xNb1CL9YqhMeNOJ/w320-h400/lineup%20(36).png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With Ronan out and Löffelsend also unlikely to start (especially on turf) I have to assume we see Diack. If we're not going to start him in this game missing those two players, what was the point of a 6 month loan? Other than that the only real question is Harris or Fernandez at right wing, I think we stick with Fernandez.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Prediction:</b> 0-0 draw. I'm not convinced that either of these teams can score reliably, but our defense is looking better. My main concern is that Jordan Morris starts on the right and eats our left side alive like FSL was doing unsuccessfully last week. But they still don't have a finisher and neither do we so a screless draw seems a reasonable expectation.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-49901588531902591092024-03-12T21:35:00.004-06:002024-03-12T21:35:51.251-06:00Rapids Return Priso North Of The BorderColorado made a trade today, sending Ralph Priso to Vancouver in exchange for Vancouver's later of their two first round picks next year and their natural third round pick. They can also get up to $150K in GAM based on performance. Tom Bogert reported there would also be a 33% sell on clause which wasn't officially announced.<div><br /></div><div>This is a pretty good return for a player who clearly wasn't progressing and wasn't even making the gameday roster. Bogert's report says Wayne Frederick had passed him on the depth chart. So getting a first-round draft pick after being successful (apparently) with Frederick and with Bombito last season and then another pick on top of that is good business.</div><div><br /></div><div>Priso was originally acquired as part of the trade that sent Kaye to Toronto. Winding it back a step further we originally traded $1M in GAM and a international slot for a season to LAFC for Kaye and their first round pick. We turned that pick into $125K in GAM and Markanich. Markanich was traded for $75K in GAM and St. Louis's first round pick which we turned in another $75K in GAM.</div><div><br /></div><div>So just from the Kaye trade we ended up with Kaye and $275K in GAM, plus a few games from Markanich.</div><div><br /></div><div>We then traded Kaye for $1.025M in GAM, an international slot, TFC's 2023 first-round pick, and Priso. The pick became Moise Bombito, and Priso has now become two more picks.</div><div><br /></div><div>So in the end we gained $300K in GAM, Moise Bombito, and two picks, plus all the games Markanich, Priso, and Kaye played for the club. No matter what you think about Markanich and Priso, that's some good work. Arguably, given Smith's track record, that's better than what he would have done with the initial $1M of GAM we sent to LAFC for Kaye.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of Bombito, he was called up today for Canada for the Copa America qualifier playoff in two weeks. He'll be available for this week's game in Seattle, but will then head to Dallas to join up with the Canadian National Team. He'll miss our next home game against Houston as the playoff game is the same day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly today the roster rules for the MLS Next Pro teams playing in the Open Cup leaked. Players will have to be loaned to the MLS Next Pro side from the MLS team for at least 90 days to be eligible and no DP or TAM players are eligible. Also any players so loaned have to average less than 15 minutes a game through this weekend's MLS games. Fernandez, Harris, Ronan Navarro, Vines, Larraz, DM, Steffen, Rosenberry, Maxso, Bombito, Bassett, Cabral, and Diack are all ineligible under those rules, and Löffelsend will be ineligible if he plays 19 minutes or more this weekend (Yapi, Lewis, and Travis could all lose eligibility if they play enough minutes in Seattle as well).</div><div><br /></div><div>Really though, the three month loan requirement is the killer. I can't see loaning anyone who's likely to get any real playing time this year to Rapids 2 for 3 months just so they can play in the USOC. Its going to be Nate Jones, Wayne Frederick, or Michael Edwards that might be considered.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-12283581055482899002024-03-11T21:03:00.002-06:002024-03-11T21:03:17.937-06:00Rapids Finally Get 2024 Started With An RMC Win!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_squared_6_desktop/f_png/mls-col/ht1uvpa40yl89vkk8kei.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_squared_6_desktop/f_png/mls-col/ht1uvpa40yl89vkk8kei.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />It took two and a half games but the Colorado Rapids finally decided to join the 2024 season in the second half Saturday night. In the process they also frustrated FSL en route to a 2-1 win and reclaiming thee advantage in this year's Rocky Mountain Cup. Now 45 minutes doesn't erase the other 225 minutes this season (or the 34 games last season) but for the first time in a while there's a bit of hope across the fanbase. It was a massive win for this club and its fans.<p></p><p>Lets get through that first half though. It was rough for 30 minutes and not great for the last 15. We spent more of the first 10 minutes down a man than at full strength due to aa momentary injury to Larraz and a more serious one to Ronan. One that would force him to be subbed out in the 11th minute for Löffelsend. For the next 20+ minutes FSL had their run of the game, including a goal in the 20th minute that came right through Löffelsend. To be fair to Jasper, Mihailovic sent him a ball with no options, at all four cardinal points the closest player was in FSL red. After the turnover Maxsø seems to have lost track of his man and didn't know he was on his back shoulder, which made the finish from the cross easy.</p><p>Colorado slowly worked themselves back into the game and got a lucky break in the 41st minute with a handball in the box by FSL. Navarro finished the PK (though it looked like Bassett wanted it originally) and the Rapids were a bit lucky to go into the locker room tied at half. Whatever Armas said or did in their worked, because Colorado was much more focused and aggressive in the next 45. Bassett finally got on the board in the 70th minute with the Rapids' first goal from open play this season (corner, own goal, PK for the others) and the team managed a combination of good defense and luck to ride out the win.</p><p><b>Other Thoughts:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'll admit, 30 minutes in I thought we were looking at another disaster in Sandy and what was likely a lost Rocky Mountain Cup and a cusp of a lost season. The 2022 and 2023 Rapids would have lost this game.</li><li>FSL was bombing down our left side at will in the first half. I don't know if the tactics we were playing were pulling Vines out of position or if there was confusion but it was not a good look for Sam.</li><li>Despite being a better team in the second half FSL still had the majority of possession in every 5 minute interval in the half. That's not a combination that normally leads to a shutout.</li><li>Löffelsend had a rough night and showed why Larraz has been starting the first three games. He got better as the night went on, though.</li><li>At the end of this one the Rapids were doing to FSL what they normally due to us. Frustrating them, killing the clock, and working the refs. Fun to be on the better side of that for the first time in a while.</li><li>Bassett had a great game. It was a classic Goal Bassett goal where he sets up the initial shot and continues his run into the box to be available for a second chance. It was also his 100th appearance with the club.</li><li>Good to see Navarro get on the scoresheet. Only a penalty, but maybe its the jump-start he needs.</li><li>Fernandez got his first start and while he didn't seem to be as involved as you would expect, he popped up at opportune moments to make a play.</li><li>Mihailovic though, still needs to be providing more to justify his DP status & salary.</li><li>There are two more game sin this year's Rocky Mountain Cup, One in Sandy on Volcano Day (May 18th) and back here in Commerce City on the 55th anniversary of the lunar landing. Appropriate since this game was on my birthday. One win or two draws and the Cup is ours.</li></ul><div><b>Man of the Match:</b> Moise Bombito. I said I'd bring this back when the team changed, and they changed. A lot of that was due to Bombito's steady play on the back line. He's gone from college to a Canadian Nat and a MLS starter in a little over a season.</div><p></p>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-90765974897813717772024-03-08T19:17:00.001-07:002024-03-08T19:17:31.904-07:00Rocky Mountain Cup 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMa-lY_dOjp_DCMXpi6_OFZ_G6GO6Epg-Awxyq4U4CzPdhAaWrBvKvnDMKFusu769dmcevSp1zytH6kvZksuWpmEGAA6n6GFZE-tD702wRF7fxcnYxnc_WLbX1A4sHGqV4smhDiOgDdejmmXZ_wOE2QDGQVS5cq_w5Y9vBvGGJ7h-Y5iCRlJjIu3IPFD/s618/AntiUtah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="618" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMa-lY_dOjp_DCMXpi6_OFZ_G6GO6Epg-Awxyq4U4CzPdhAaWrBvKvnDMKFusu769dmcevSp1zytH6kvZksuWpmEGAA6n6GFZE-tD702wRF7fxcnYxnc_WLbX1A4sHGqV4smhDiOgDdejmmXZ_wOE2QDGQVS5cq_w5Y9vBvGGJ7h-Y5iCRlJjIu3IPFD/s320/AntiUtah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well, here we are. Nobody needs to explain what's on the line tomorrow in Sandy. The first of three games in the 2024 Rocky Mountain Cup and a Rapids team still looking for their first road win since May 6th of last year (at the Galaxy). We haven't beat FSL since August 21st 2021, and have only won at Questionably Racist Name Field once, the 5-0 shellacking we gave them in 2020 to win the Cup. Kickoff tomorrow is at 7:30pm, and Apple TV is giving us Keith Costigan and Maurice Edu on the call. If you know Spanish, or just prefer to listen to somebody you know understands this rivalry even if you don't, Jorge Perez-Navarro and our own Marcelo Balboa will have the call.<div><br /></div><div><div><b>Player Availability</b></div><div>OUT: Kimani Stewart-Baynes (illness)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>At least this year our injury reports have been short. Everyone likely to be picked is once again available for Armas tomorrow night. FSL has multiple people missing due to injury, including having just lost key midfielder Pablo Ruiz for the season.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv919UHCZqPYiJA371iIexJXu8tlSJhUq_WVZshvMePtY4kDjNv4NJIFEusjsYwbxwaiw3R1FDQAsM1dz32_alGln8Prs361sDFFLa1_bkQH07MVhaUYGtMMGUaheyHzxH9rJ1DXm9BSDbHm746O-w2hLhOh3I6N4yjv2xjDr7oAH5CHOjcXE0gxe3Jgd9/s600/lineup%20(35).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv919UHCZqPYiJA371iIexJXu8tlSJhUq_WVZshvMePtY4kDjNv4NJIFEusjsYwbxwaiw3R1FDQAsM1dz32_alGln8Prs361sDFFLa1_bkQH07MVhaUYGtMMGUaheyHzxH9rJ1DXm9BSDbHm746O-w2hLhOh3I6N4yjv2xjDr7oAH5CHOjcXE0gxe3Jgd9/w320-h400/lineup%20(35).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I haven't seen anything to suggest Armas is going to make a lineup change, so I assume we're going to see the same XI from the first two matches.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Prediction:</b> 1-0 loss. Given our long track record its hard to see anything but a loss coming out of this one. Maybe we surprise and get a 1-1 or 0-0 draw but that's best case. And if FSL gets 2 its over.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-3428591310053080022024-03-08T14:28:00.001-07:002024-03-08T14:28:30.321-07:00Ha Det Marko IlicThe Rapids made the long-rumored loan of Marko Ilic to Sarpsborg 08 in Norway official today. Ilic and Sarpsborg announced it earlier. The loan is through July 17th but even if he doesn't stick there I don't expect to ever see him in a Rapids kit again. Steffen is the clear starter and Beaudry is the heir apparent, there's just no future for Marko in Colorado.<div><br /></div><div>Thus ends (probably) one of the worst transfer decisions in recent years, not just for the Rapids but for MLs as a whole. Colorado went out and pursued signing an international keeper while having a quality MLS keeper already under contract. They then paid a transfer fee that was a top 3 amount in club history at the time, while upsetting their current starter. Ilic proceeded to then put up some of the worst advanced stats i for keepers in MLS last season (he was 65th by some measures). Yarbrough and the Rapids clearly had to move on in the offseason, and we had to solve a keeping problem of our own making, leading to the signing of Steffen. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is up there with the likes of Stefan Aigner, Juan Ramirez, Daniel Amokachi, and Giles Gramindi in all-time bad signings by Colorado. And unlike those other signings who were trying to fill a hole the team had, this was completely self-inflicted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Combine Ilic with Gersbach, Tavares, and arguably Navarro and Maxso, and last year's scouting is an absolute disaster. Ronan is the only player who is saving it from being a complte wash. (Navarro and particularly Maxso still have time to come around, but so far they haven't lived up to their price tags)</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-31877596871672413152024-03-07T20:49:00.006-07:002024-03-07T20:50:17.138-07:00A New Day At KSE...Aw, Never Mind<p>Last month long-time KSE leader Matt Hutchings, who was essentially Padraig Smith's boss (there may be another layer or two in there, but he was the last stop before Stan/Josh) stepped down from his position as Chief Operating Officer. He was responsible for all of Kroenke's sports teams in the KSE organization, including the Rapids. Today KSE announced that Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff was name President of of TEam and Media Operations for KSE, taking over responsibility for Kroenke's 5 sports teams (Rams, Avs, Nuggets, Mammoth, and the Rapids).</p><p>When I heard this I thought this might be an opportunity for KSE to take a new start with the Rapids and the fan base. While I don't expect big changes it would be a chance for Demoff to make a statement, or have a press conference, or send a letter saying something to the effect of "I know that its been a turbulent time in Commerce City. As the new person in this role I plan to dedicate some time to understanding the issues, etc.". Again, that doesn't mean there would be changes but it would be an opportunity for everyone to reset and give it a new shot.</p><p>Well, that didn't last long. Demoff was asked about the Rapids in his opening press conference today. Here's the relevant bit as transcribed by <a href="https://twitter.com/Shapalicious/status/1765872584028008878" target="_blank">Jake Shapiro of DenverSports.com</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIGjmGeXEAAG8Jj?format=jpg&name=large" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="800" height="153" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GIGjmGeXEAAG8Jj?format=jpg&name=large" width="400" /></a></div><p>You all remember those marches to the match that we've actually never done, unless you mean crossing the street from the tailgate to the entry gate en masse right? And we didn't even do anything like that on Saturday at the home opener he apparently attended. We tailgated up a storm, like we always do, and if he had come out to check that out he would have known that. He could have just wandered in as another fan and I guarantee you nobody would have known who he was and bothered him. </p><p>Also, what is this "activated around Commerce City"? The lack of local outreach was one of the things called out by Centennial 38 in their public letter last fall. Now I will admit that the Rapids have made some strides in that area since then, particularly engaging with youth programs as part of the new kit program, but its probably too early to judge them a success or not.</p><p>This was a chance to turn the page and write a new chapter, but instead KSE stumbled out of the starting blocks (to mix metaphors) and fell on their face. I can't think of a way to come off more inauthentically than to talk about being at the home opener and then refer to fan activities that didn't occur (and have never really occurred). If Demoff was at the Dick on Saturday, he clearly never got out of the President's suite above the west stands to see what the real fan experience is. Once again its clear the Rapids are the unwanted child in KSE's empire.</p>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-47151930053743832412024-03-04T20:55:00.002-07:002024-03-04T20:55:48.269-07:00Lewis Hands a Draw To Nashville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/10_share_images/games_15/new_nintendo_3ds_download_software_2/H2x1_N3DSDS_ShootTheBall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://fs-prod-cdn.nintendo-europe.com/media/images/10_share_images/games_15/new_nintendo_3ds_download_software_2/H2x1_N3DSDS_ShootTheBall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The story of the Rapids this season is much like 2023. No ability to score. The play is probably technically better, but if you can't put the ball in the net it doesn't matter. On Saturday they had 2 shots on goal and a 0.7 xG. Our three DP's (Cabral, Navarro, and DM) have a combined 0.16 xG this year. Fernandez, who played 26 minutes on Saturday, has 0.22 himself.<div><br /></div><div>This is, simply, unacceptable for a team that had this problem last year and made major changes in the offseason. We clearly haven't fixed the core problem from last year, scoring. That would come back to bite us in this one, with the only goal being a stunning well-taken header by Shaq Moore (one of the few players who's shirt I have, from when he played for Tenerife) into his own goal. The Rapids had the lead for most of the second half but it didn't feel earned.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jonathan Lewis would make sure we didn't get those undeserved points with a blatant handball in the box that was picked up by VAR. Nashville converted the PK in the 90th minute and the teams ended level at 1-1, which was deserved based on the play. Neither team looked good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Other than that the match was fairly unremarkable. The two most notable moments were both in front of C38. In the first half Mosie Bombito cleared a ball at the post that I think he only half knew about and then turned to C38 and got us going with was a fun reaction from a Rapids player. Leaning into that would be good for this team. Then late in the match Yapi came on for a ineffective Navarro. He was chasing a loose ball near the other post and the Nashville defender just beat him to it. It looked clean live from our POV but the scab ref gave a yellow, which resulted in a chant of "scab! scab! scab!'. Turns out on replay Yapi might have gotten lucky. He solidly got the defender's ankle, to the point where you can see it bending away from the contact. It could have easily been a red card out of context, but a lose ball on the post means both guys are diving in and the ref probably decided yellow was the more reasonable call.</div><div><br /></div><div>If the Rapids can't beat a Nashville team coming off a midweek game, at altitude, without their two best DPs then you have to wonder who they can beat. They're off to Sandy and Seattle the next two weeks, two places that have been very bad to them historically and two teams that look much better than them. Houston at home after that, maybe? Then LAFC at home, probably not. We could be looking up at a big mountain very quickly.</div><div><br /></div><div>No Man of the Match until they show they have actually improved.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-65191260376963440372024-03-02T09:58:00.002-07:002024-03-02T09:58:10.409-07:00For Joan<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GD-FSGkbsAEfSl8?format=png&name=900x900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GD-FSGkbsAEfSl8?format=png&name=900x900" width="320" /></a></div><br />For those fans who didn't know Joan Dobrzynksi she was a wonderful woman who became somewhat of a 'team mom' over the years. She was a regular at training for the Rapids over the last 10+ years and was always in her seat in 108 for the game. For a number of years when I sat in 108 I had a seat first right in front of her and then nearby. Joan battled leukemia for the last couple of years and wasn't able to see her Rapids as often, but the team hooked her up with a tablet and Season Pass so she wouldn't miss any of the action. She passed away in January. At today's home opener she will be remembered both by the team and her friends in the stands. Her seat will be left empty this season and in the 38th minute C38 will be raising an overhead tifo in her honor.</div><div><br /></div>The Rapids are back home for the start of the 2024 season, and the former-Rapids coaching staff of Nashville SC, namely Gary Smith, Kosuke Kimura, Steve, Guppy, and Matt Pickens are the opposition. Nashville has had a busy start to the season with their CONCACAF Champions Cup play, They rolled through their opposition from the Dominican Republic, 7-0, but their season opener against RBNY was a scoreless draw. The season kickoff at the Dick is at 7:30, with the undefeated tailgate starting around 4.<div><br /></div><div><b>Player Availability</b></div><div>QUESTIONABLE: M Ralph Priso (hamstring)</div><div><br /></div><div>Kimani Stewart-Baynes played for the Canada U-20s on Tuesday night so his availability may be limited, but I wouldn't expect him to be in the gameday roster yet anyway. For that matter, i wouldn't expect Priso to be in uniform either even if he was healthy, so Armas can have his pick of the roster.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx0xk7lXe-Ayo5XWGa6boAiTlKqW4Dvq5nX8xgDos54eab8LoeWLtrNr8DAqvV5SuNHADBlYHT5isEpKBQetP2T9crn0QTFAuUUHkdGIYnQuIWs3zvYIKtk05SrouupS2Z777jJybOV2ysfgaUPAvWphAHusBqDuFZ-Gn4hX8SN_IKisvepNo3HZnBlct/s600/lineup%20(35).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlx0xk7lXe-Ayo5XWGa6boAiTlKqW4Dvq5nX8xgDos54eab8LoeWLtrNr8DAqvV5SuNHADBlYHT5isEpKBQetP2T9crn0QTFAuUUHkdGIYnQuIWs3zvYIKtk05SrouupS2Z777jJybOV2ysfgaUPAvWphAHusBqDuFZ-Gn4hX8SN_IKisvepNo3HZnBlct/w320-h400/lineup%20(35).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I think we see almost the same XI from last week. Its too soon to bench Bombito and other than that the only questions are right mid and the 6. Everyone else is pretty much locked in. Harris gets rewarded for his goal with another start, but Larraz takes a seat to let Löffelsend get his shot before Diack is ready.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Prediction</b>: 1-1 draw, goal by Mihailovic. I can't predict a win from this team until they show something, but Nashville is tired having a lot of games in their legs. I think its a rather drab affair but the Rapids actually get one fairly early, give the lead back, and then Nashville sits in a low block and accepts the draw and Colorado continues to be unable to break that down.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-28913656140254537872024-03-01T19:42:00.001-07:002024-03-01T19:42:36.195-07:00Open Cup and Player NewsFor the second Friday in a row there's notable news from the Rapids that will delay my game preview. First, lets start with the elephant in the room.<div><br /></div><div>The Rapids first team will not be playing in the U.S. Open Cup this season. If you haven't been following the drama around the USOC in the offseason MLS informed the U.S. Soccer Federation that they were withdrawing their teams from the Open Cup and replacing them with their MLS Next Pro teams (Rapids 2 and the rest). The USSF said no. Under the certification for the league granted by the USSF (and FIFA) they are required to participate in the USOC. At first we thought that was that, but a couple of weeks ago it came out that MLS was still negotiating with the USSF. The final decision came down today. The teams playing in the CONCACAF Champions League will not play in the USOC. The next best 8 teams in the 2023 standings will send their first teams (including defending champion Houston) to enter in the 4th round. The rest will send their MLS Next Pro teams entering in the 1st round. (DC doesn't have a MLS Next Pro team, so they won't be participating either)</div><div><br /></div><div>This, to put it frankly, is hot garbage from the league. They are claiming schedule congestion as a primary reason but in the end it comes down to money. MLS and even USL teams largely lose money on this tournament. Now that shouldn't be ignored, but the answer isn't withdrawal. Its fair for MLS to say "hey, you have to run this tournament well enough that we're not taking a notable loss playing in it", but at the same time, MLS can afford to lose a little bit playing in the tournament for the good of the game. Taking the ball and going home because you can make more money with the Leagues Cup is a horrible move.</div><div><br /></div><div>When it comes to the Rapids, multiple outlets have reported that they were unhappy with the initial decision to leave the USOC and, presumably, are equally unhappy with the league's decision that only RapiDos will play in the competition. For once the club is on the right side of something like this. The roster rules for the Open Cup this season have not been published but we know that Rapids 1 players can be loaned to Rapids 2 on short-term deals. It will be interesting to see if some first-team players end up playing for R2 during the Open Cup, especially if they progress to the point where they're playing USL Championship teams or the MLS first teams in the competition.</div><div><br /></div><div>On to player news. <a href="https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1763679491212087406" target="_blank">Tom Bogert is reporting tonight</a> that there's a deal being made to send Marko Ilic on loan to Norwegian club Sarpsborg When he didn't show up on the bench last Saturday I wondered if the club was trying to move him. He's an expensive player to just be playing backup and with Steffen here (and Beaudry looking like the long-term future) that's all he would be. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see him in Colorado again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, this was a top-tier bad moves by the Rapids. Having Yarbrough, Rodriguez, and Beaudry waiting in the wings they went out and spent time scouting a new goalkeeper, then paid a top 3 transfer fee in club history (at the time) to bring him in, only to find out he put up some of the worst advanced stats by keepers in MLS last season. They then had to go out and sign Steffen to fill the hole they created (since Yarbrough had no willingness to stay after that move). In a year plus one game we went from Yarbrough-Irwin-Rodriguez to Steffen-Beaudry-???. Stability that is not. A graduate-level class on how not to build a position.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final bit of news is the Rapids 2 announced the extension of midfielder Daouda Amadou's contract for 2024 and 2025, but the interesting part is that he's guaranteed a first-team roster spot in 2025. The club also has option years for 2026-28. Amadou was a big part of the success of Rapids 2 last season, but as we've seen with Remi Cabral and Yosuke Hanya, the next step is generally a year in the Championship before moving to regular first team play. We'll see if he goes on loan this season, or if he joins the first team next year and what he's able to contribute.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-87845671428762892922024-02-26T21:54:00.000-07:002024-02-26T21:54:01.925-07:00Here We Go Again<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sarahkrycinski.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/same.jpg?w=768&h=779" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://sarahkrycinski.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/same.jpg?w=768&h=779" width="315" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My apologies. On Friday I wrote a preview of the opening game of the 2024 season. I wasn't aware we were just replaying the 2023 season. Because from where I sat, I saw a lot more 2023 Rapids out there on Saturday night than anything that looked like a new 2024 Rapids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">for a team that talked about playing in transition, Portland ran over us in transition. What we claimed we were going to do, they did. Sure enough we were down 1 in the first 10, 2 in the first 15, and 3 in the first 30. Much like our worst games last year. The Sam Vines own goal just before half was icing on the cake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Rapids did get one back in the second half, even though it took VAR to confirm it crossed the line. Nice start for Harris who got the start as expected, but it was far too little too late. A number of fans are pointing to the second half as evidence that things got better and we've improved from last year, but its very easy to look good against a team that's taken its foot all the way off the gas knowing they've got the game wrapped up after a half where they completely dominated and leads by four goals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other random thoughts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Marko Ilic didn't even make the bench for this one, Adam Beaudry was Steffen's backup. Maybe they were rewarding Beaudry for his preseason work (more on that below) but its not a great look for Ilic to have fallen down to 3rd less than a year after we paid a notable transfer fee for him.</li><li>Oliver Larraz got the start over Diack and Löffelsend and it wasn't good. After the game Armas said tht he had earned the start with his work in the preseason (likewise Jackson Travis subbing in for Vines) but if Larraz really beat out Löffelsend as the backup d-mid we're in a world of hurt because Larraz did not look ready to play the role. Portland ran him over. The 6 role was the key need in the offseason and it doesn't look like we sufficiently filled it after one game.</li><li>Of course the other key role was the number 9 and Navarro looked just as good as last year, which is to say not good at all.</li><li>You hate to say it, but the worst performance of the night went to Rosenberry who got burned on the first two Timbers goals and never recovered. Last time I saw a captain getting beat that bad a Gorn was on the other side.</li><li>The defensive breakdowns were very similar to 2023, players out of position, lack of communication, and lack of teammates covering. Disappointing.</li><li>Offense was very similar as well, lots of chance creation, very little accurate shooting.</li><li>The Rapids have now been outscored 11-1 in their last 4 season openers (and the first of those was a 0-0 draw. Which, yes, means Harris' goal was the first opening day goal since 2020.</li><li>This was an absolute worst possible start for an organization who wants to turn around its image this year. Any sort of good feelings or honeymoon from what was a good offseason have essentially been dashed, From the POV of the standings Saturday's home opener against Nashville isn't a must win, but to convince the fanbase that something has actually changed it might be, especially with trips to FSL and Seattle following it.</li></ul><div><b>Man of the Match</b>: Nada. Not giving this out until something has actually changed from last year.</div></div><br /><p></p>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-36725698444785548712024-02-24T09:34:00.001-07:002024-02-24T09:34:38.342-07:00We Go Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/aa08f40/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4065x2710+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F24%2F6c09810840d187319fa871bd559f%2Fn2212p23007h.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/aa08f40/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4065x2710+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fde%2F24%2F6c09810840d187319fa871bd559f%2Fn2212p23007h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ok, time to put 2023 behind us and move into 2024. New coach, lots of new players, and the return of the Sam Dimes/Goal Bassett combination. We get this season started in Portland tonight against an equally revamped Timbers squad, also with a new coach (and while Armas was not my top choice, I'd easily choose him over Neville). Kickoff tonight is at 8:30 as the Apple TV returns with the standard 7:30 local kickoff times. Unfortunately we have the commentary duo of Rogondino and Pearce and they were...not good last year with comments that made it clear they weren't tracking the team. We'll see if they improve this year, or if Apple finally gets the road radio call synced up.<div><br /></div><div><b>Availability Report:</b></div><div>OUT: D Daniel Chacon (ACL tear), KSB (Canada U-20s)</div><div>QUESTIONABLE: D Sam Vines (flu)</div><div><br /></div><div>I won't list Chacon every week until he's close to returning and he's actually still here and not on loan somewhere. Sam Vines missed the last preseason game in Orlando with the flu but sounded pretty good during his kickoff week PR appearances around town. Portland has 3 players out and 2 more questionable, including Crepeau who's working on his green card process and may or may not be available tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0lIgpXQYGXfJ506cgQDwUWBuQ6udcRlt88511PqHvy9uA_1Of6PY7Nb6SiX_DchrLnRMeQUCEQ9td5SY3CwwwZQ3dr_1C7kq6jx6iPMu_MJUJoKtH8hSXhBEsIaMXiOTM9Ii5-7zZhNMiHKPNrH_gbpaA5NLH8grkcasHFz1oKIIj1l8FFaPTuzPQJs2/s600/lineup%20(34).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0lIgpXQYGXfJ506cgQDwUWBuQ6udcRlt88511PqHvy9uA_1Of6PY7Nb6SiX_DchrLnRMeQUCEQ9td5SY3CwwwZQ3dr_1C7kq6jx6iPMu_MJUJoKtH8hSXhBEsIaMXiOTM9Ii5-7zZhNMiHKPNrH_gbpaA5NLH8grkcasHFz1oKIIj1l8FFaPTuzPQJs2/w320-h400/lineup%20(34).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This is pretty close to our best XI. Diack just arrived so I think Löffelsend gets the start over him this week, and Fernandez missed a couple of preseason games with a knock so I think Harris will step in for him this game. Otherwise that is our starting XI this season if everyone is available.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Prediction: </b>1-1 draw, goal by Bassett. Its really impossible to make any sort of accurate prediction going into the first game of the season where both teams have changed so much. So this is really a gut feel that a draw seems likely but I don't see it being scoreless. Lets get Goal Basset on the scoreboard early this season.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-20255853244712019902024-02-23T19:43:00.006-07:002024-02-23T19:43:53.970-07:00Roster Compliance Day Means Saying GoodbyeToday was roster compliance day for the league (other than Miami and FSL, who had to be compliant before their game Wednesday night) which means a number of trades and cuts, and the Rapids did both today. First of all we say goodbye to Alex Gersbach, who was bought out, and Sidnei Tavares, who was waived and will return from his loan.<div><br /></div><div>Gersbach was bought from Ligue 2 side Gernoble for a reported $325K last offseason and never showed he was a MLS-caliber player, getting ripped to shreds in the 4-0 loss in Seattle to start the season. After tha he only had two more appearances, starting against SJ 2 weeks later (a 1-0 loss), and against Atlanta in May (a 4-0 loss). 3 starts, a total of 9-0 scorelines against us. He had surgery for a cronic injury in July and never suited up again. Unless that injury occurred in preseason (it was after he arrived at some point) its hard to imagine what he could have showed in France that made Smith believe he was a MLS-level starter as he never appeared anywhere close to it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tavares was brought in during the summer window on loan. By the time his paperwork was complete the season was for all intents and purposes over, but despite that he only made 5 appearances. Most of his time here last season was spent on the injury report with an undisclosed illness. Per Matt Pollard ad Burgundy Wave it couldn't have been COVID as that would have been reported differently, his best guess is that he struggled with altitude sickness. Regardless he didn't show much in his 5 appearances and with the addition of Diack, Mihailovic, Löffelsend, and Fernandez he was going to be low in the pecking order this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back at 2023 the club added Ronan, Maxso, Ilic, Cabral, Gersbach, Tavares, and Navarro. Ronan looks like a good signing and I have hoped for Maxso. The rest over are somewhere between a question mark (Navarro) and a diaster (Gersbach). I can almost forgive Navarro and Tavares. Those were moves made after losing Price and Max for the year and Rubio for big chunks of the season so you need to make quick additions and bringing them in on loan to see if they help gives you an out. Ilic, Cabral, and Gersbach are unforgiveable though, I really don't know what our scouts saw in them.</div><div><br /></div><div>After making those two moves the Rapids traded a now open international spot to the Red Bulls for $175K in GAM.</div><div><br /></div><div>Full credit to the Rapids for doing something I've been wanting for years. After making those moves they put out <a href="https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-announce-roster-compliance-breakdown" target="_blank">a detailed roster explanation, listing every player and every category they fill</a>. This is extremely helpful for looking at where we can make some moves come the end of the window in May or the summer window. Atlanta set the standard today, putting out not only this info but also detailed contract info with length and option years listed.</div><div><br /></div><div>We officially have 30 players under contract right now, with 6 internationals (Cabral, Diack, Ilić, Maxsø, Navarro, and Ronan). Our 3 DP slots are filled by Cabral, Mihailovic, and Navarro. Diack, Maxsø, Steffen and Vines are on TAM deals while Bassett is ouir only current U22 player. Chacón is on the injury list which means he doesn't currently take up a roster/international spot as he rehabs from his ACL tear in October.</div><div><br /></div><div>There will be a preview of the Portland game either later tonight or first thing in the morning.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-32565259050569024922024-02-22T20:14:00.003-07:002024-02-22T20:14:21.224-07:00As Expected Keita Won't Be In Colorado, But Now Ireland?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GG9rIUvXcAALLEO?format=jpg&name=900x900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GG9rIUvXcAALLEO?format=jpg&name=900x900" width="259" /></a></div><br />After spending essentially the whole offseason training with an Austrian Bundesliga club it was fairly obvious Aboubacar Keita would not be in the plans for the Rapids this season. What wasn't foreseen is that his new location would be Bohemian FC in the League of Ireland, not Austria. The move was made official today with both Colorado and Bohemian announcing a one year loan with a right of recall. Other reports are that there is no option to buy in the deal.<div><br /></div><div>Bohemian needs a center back after Rob Cornwall blew out his knee. Before moving to Ireland Cornwall's last team was the Northern Colorado Hailstorm. The Centennial state seems to be a popular recruitment spot for the Irish side.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure what it says about Keita though if he's moving to get playing time in a league that has recently pulled from the USL1, a league two levels lower than MLS and roughly equivalent to the MLS Next Pro Rapids 2 side Keita would likely get time with in Colorado. It does seem that Keita is focused on making a move to Europe and this is certainly going to give him more of a shop window than playing for R2 would.</div><div><br /></div><div>In unrelated news the Rapids made the formal announcement of the coaching staff today. The notable piece of news is that Wolde Harris was not retained by Chris Armas. You can always expect some turnover when a new coach comes in, but its always hard to see a former player now coach move on.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-23805137478020449072024-02-21T19:50:00.002-07:002024-02-21T19:50:24.387-07:002024 Preview and PredictionsLast week I mentioned reviewing the C38 letter and evaluating what the Front Office did this offseason to do better. As I started writing that recap on Monday night though I realized that a good part off that letter references things I don't have a way of forming an opinion on yet. Is the team better on the field? I don't know, we haven't played a real game yet. Is the experience at the stadium improved? I don't know, I haven't been out there yet. It didn't seem fair to really go into those until we have some actual experiences and data to go on. So at a good point in the next month or two I'll circle back on that.<div><br /></div><div>So that means we're on to the preview and predictions. Perfect timing as the season just kicked off with me actually rooting for Messi to win, of course they are hosting FSL tonight.</div><div><br /></div><div>This offseason the Rapids actually went out and found some solid players and spent some real money. The big problem, from my POV, is they didn't spend money on the two critical spots they had to fill coming out of 2023. Namely defensive mid and striker. Instead at both positions we have a player on a loan that ends in July and questionable depth behind him. Our season rides on how well those two players do, particularly Navarro at striker, and if they earn a full transfer that we actually pull the trigger on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Away from those two positions this is a pretty strong starting XI. Zack Steffen in net fixes the hole created by botching the Yarbrough succession plan/Ilic transfer last season. Maxso and Rosenberry can be expected to at least be MLS quality on the back line and likely supporting the young but talented Bombito between them. And of course the most fam-friendly move of the season was bringing Sam Vines back at LB to fill the hole created when Sam Vines left really locks down that position. In midfield Ronan and Bassett are back but with new friends on the outside, Mihailovic and Fernandez should provide better service than anything we saw last year.</div><div><br /></div><div>After that the depth has some questions. Striker is the exact same depth as last year, which wasn't good. Our winger depth are the starters from last year, Cabral and Lewis, which, eh. Our defense at least has some strength in numbers with Abubakar and Anderson giving us some options if needed. Overall those this season will largely rise or fall based on our starting XI. Löffelsend at d-mind is the only backup I expect might break through to really push for starting time.</div><div><br /></div><div>The talking heads of MLS media seem to think the same way. Between MLSsoccer.com and the Athletic 22 people have put out predicted final conference standings. Only 7 of them think the Rapids make the playoffs. This after an offseason of a club record transfer fee on Mihailovic , grabbing two other fringe National teamers in Steffan and Vines, and bringing in two other starters in Diack and Fernandez. That's a big amount of investment by this FO, arguably the biggest ever, and the general response seems to be "eh, not enough". Brutal. That tells you how much of a hole this team is in.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, on to predictions. I've been getting steadily worse with these, we'll see if this is the year to reverse my fortunes.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Rapids either don't participate in the USOC (due to the ongoing negotiations between the USSF and MLS) or if they do they get knocked out in their first two rounds to another MLS team.</li><li>They also don't get out of their Leagues Cup group, but give Portland a scare in Portland. Leon is too much for them at home in Colorado though.</li><li>And to finish out the competitions, they finish 10th overall and miss the playoffs. They're eliminated in the next-to-last week.</li><li>All that said, the team is improved and plays entertaining soccer at times. It won't be the pointless soccer we saw last season.</li><li>The rapids don't buy Diack or Navarro at their current price this summer. Navarro doesn't show enough to be worth $4.5M and Diack gets renegotiated to a lower number before we complete the transfer.</li><li>Needing a striker to replace Navarro Colorado makes a big trade within MLS for a striker in the summer window.</li><li>Mihailovic is the Golden Boot and Player of the Year. He gets back into the National Team picture by the end of the season.</li><li>Steffen gets a look by the Nats for either the Gold Cup or the Copa, and becomes part of the regular Nats rotation.</li><li>Vines is Defensive Player of the Year but doesn't get a Nats look.</li><li>With trips to Portland, Salt Lake, Seattle, and LAFC in the first 6 weeks the Rapids will be looking up the table all season after getting no more than 2 points out of those 4 games.</li><li>Because of that, and the fact that we have to go back to Sandy in May before FSL comes to Colorado, we once again fail to win the Rocky Mountain Cup.</li></ul><div>Ok, that's pretty pessimistic. But after 2023 can you blame me?</div></div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-91106563767986731402024-02-16T20:42:00.003-07:002024-02-16T20:42:30.790-07:00Wavin' Flag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop/f_png/mls-col/h3ud7mbblhuxgidgrt4p.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop/f_png/mls-col/h3ud7mbblhuxgidgrt4p.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Colorado dropped their new shirt today, the One Flag kit. A classic burgundy look with sky blue highlights and a checkerboard pattern that waves its way across the jersey. The pattern is a tribute to supporters flags waved at the Dick, like the burgundy and blue ones given out for the Thanksgiving Day playoff match. It also reminds me of K'naan's song Wavin' Flag. If you watched the 2010 World Cup you heard it during any Coke ad.<div><br /></div><div>This is a solid looking shirt that's probably at least more interesting than our last few home kits. That said, its just a slightly different take on our classic home kit. That's fine. The Rapids want to be a club that has a standard look at home and then does different things with its road kits. Much like Blackburn Rovers, who are always blue and white halves and the only question is what accent color are they going to use and are they going to go back to the earlier lighter blue or stick with the more modern darker blue in any given year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Along with the jersey drop the Rapids also announced that this kit celebrates the connection between the club and the fans, and they backed that up by partnering with the Colorado Soccer Foundation to sponsor soccer-specific after school programming in the Adams 14 school district (which includes the schools near Dick's Sporting Goods Park). Over the next two summers the Rapids will also be sponsoring pick-up games at the Dick and Soccer City Aurora.</div><div><br /></div><div>The New Day kit will continue for another year as our road kit.</div><div><br /></div><div>The big negative about these kits are something the Rapids don't control, and that's the price. $195 for an authentic player name/number kit, $160 for a plain authentic, $100 for a replica. And the replicas are noticeably different from the real thing, missing trip, patches, and the star above the badge. Adidas sets these prices for the league and they're ridiculous. I could order 2-3 kits from team sin Europe with shipping for that price. More if I went the mystery box route. I won't be buying a new kit this year for many reasons, but the top one is price. Instead I'll expend my collection of kits buy adding other teams.</div><div><br /></div><div>I know for preseason its been fairly quiet around here, but there hasn't been much to talk about. Recapping game scores of closed-door scrimmages doesn't really add much. But that changes now that we're entering game week. I'll have a comment on how the organization has done this offseason in response to the fan protest at the end of last year, the normal season preview and predictions, and a game preview next Friday.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-88317670047219664832024-02-09T21:03:00.002-07:002024-02-09T21:03:48.361-07:00Braian Galvan Transferred to Argentina<p>For a week or so its been rumored that Galvan was going to go back to Argentina. The rumor was a loan for the season with an option to buy with Talleres. Today the Rapids made the move official, but it turned out to be a straight transfer to Club Atlético Banfield. Presumably they came in with a better offer. Galvan ends his 4 years in Denver with 53 appearances, 4 goals, 4 assists, and 2 notable red cards.</p><p>Galvan turns out to be another attempt at finding a young player in South America and developing him into a regular starter and/or selling them on to Europe, but that path has yet to work with any of our signings. The likes of Juan Ramirez, Lucas Esteves, and Max fall into this category as well, with similar results. At some point you have to think that maybe whatever Colorado is doing in finding these players and then training them isn't working out. Galvan might have been the best chance, an unfortunate injury seems to have been the real thing that held him back.</p><p>With his absence the Rapids now have 32 players under contract, but most liked 28 that will be available for selection during the season. M. Navarro, R. Cabral, D. Chacon, and A. Keita, for a variety of different reasons, are unlikely to be on the roster for selection this season. That does give the team an open international slot and room to add another plater should they want to.</p>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-23381783989445356262024-02-01T20:05:00.006-07:002024-02-01T20:05:31.970-07:00Lamine Diack ArrivesToday Colorado made the signing of Diack official, on a 6 month loan "through July" with an option to buy. As we saw last season with Ilic "through July" is a little broad, Ilic's "through July" was actually to the opening of MLS's Secondary Window on July 5th. If that's true with Diack it will likely be until the window opens on July 18th this year. That would be 25 league matches, plus whatever happens in the USOC.<div><br /></div><div>I'm still a little concerned that going into the offseason we really needed to solve our holes at striker and defensive midfielder, and it appears we will enter the season with those solutions being two players who don't have much experience at the MLS or above level, and who are both on loans that expire in July. If we go into the final RMC game on July 20th starting Yapi up front and Löffelsend in midfield because we declined the buy option after the loans its going to waste what's been a fairly good offseason otherwise.</div><div><br /></div><div>With that I think we are likely done with any significant acquisitions. Diack will reportedly take up our final international slot, and we now have 33 players under contract if my math is correct, against a roster limit of 30. Remi Cabral and Navarro are on season long loans, and Daniel Chaco is on injured reserve, which should get us to 30 (some MLS roster rules are unclear around this), plus it seems unlikely Keita will be with the team when the season starts given his training in Austria. So the Rapids should be down to the roster cap successfully, but they don't really have room for any other major acquisitions. Here's the full roster as it sits now. Again, the international and homegrown designations are my best guess based on where players were classified last year.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Goalkeepers:</b></div><div>Adam Beaudry - Homegrown</div><div>Marko Ilic - International</div><div>Zack Steffen</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Defenders:</b></div><div>Lalas Abubakar</div><div>Seb Anderson - Homegrown</div><div>Moise Bombito - Generation Adidas</div><div>Daniel Chacon</div><div>Michael Edwards - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Alex Gersbach - International</div><div>Nate Jones</div><div>Aboubacar Keita</div><div>Andreas Maxsø - International</div><div>Miguel Navarro</div><div>Keegan Rosenberry</div><div>Sam Vines</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Midfielders:</b></div><div>Cole Bassett - Homegrown</div><div>Lamine Diack - International</div><div>Omir Fernandez - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Wayne Fredrick</div><div>Braian Galvan - International(?)</div><div>Oli Larraz - Homegrown</div><div>Jasper Löffelsend</div><div>Djordje Mihailovic - Designated Player</div><div>Ralph Priso - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Connor Ronan - International</div><div>Sidnei Tavares - International</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Forwards:</b></div><div>Remi Cabral - International</div><div>Kevin Cabral - Designated Player, International</div><div>Calvin Harris - Generation Adidas</div><div>Jonathan Lewis</div><div>Rafael Navarro - Designated Player, International</div><div>Kimani Stewart-Baynes - Generation Adidas</div><div>Darren Yapi - Homegrown</div></div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-91442239190022786992024-01-31T21:02:00.002-07:002024-01-31T21:02:33.883-07:00A Trade, A Group Reveal, and A Signing?A busy 1-2-3 day for the Rapids. First up they traded the rights to Oliver Semmle, their 2nd round pick from the 2023 Superdraft to Philly for their 2nd round pick in the 2025 draft. Semmle never signed for Colorado and spent last season starting in net for Lousiville City. Philly then signed him as a backup after the trade.<div><br /></div><div>After that the Leagues Cup groups were announced and Colorado's has a very green tinge to it. As the original MLS green team they're in a group with Leon of Liga MX and the Portland Timbers, two teams who primary color is green. They'll play the Timbers in Portland and Leon at home in a renewal of the Marcelo Balboa derby. 'Celo played for Leon before joining the Rapids in the inaugural season. The teams also met in the Rapids first ever international game in 1998 back in the old CONCACAF Champions' Cup. In the home and home series Colorado actually won the leg in Mexico 1-0, but lost the home leg 4-0. Dates have not yet been announced.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally Burgundy WAve, Tom Bogert, and others are reporting that the deal for Lamine Diack is done. Its expected that the deal will match the earlier rumors, a 6-month loan with an option to buy. I'm still not <a href="https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2024/01/catching-up-on-first-full-week-of.html" target="_blank">overly impressed</a> by the deal but we'll see what gets announced.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-44645204848444286882024-01-29T21:02:00.002-07:002024-01-29T21:02:07.065-07:00Rapids Win Preseason Match and Loan NavarroColorado played a scrimmage against Liga MX side Querétaro F.C. today and came out on top 5-1. They started arguably their best XI of Cole Bassett, Moïse Bombito, Jonathan Lewis, Jasper Löffelsend, Andreas Maxsø, Djordje Mihailovic, Rafael Navarro, Connor Ronan, Keegan Rosenberry, Zack Steffen, and Sam Vines and looked much better than last week. The game was played as four 25 minute periods. Bassett and Galvan each got a goal in the first two periods, then Harris got a brace with a Yapi goal in-between in the final period (which is also when Querétaro scored). Colorado will play one more scrimmage in Mexico on Friday before coming home for a bit next week.<div><br /></div><div>Earlier in the day the team completed the loan of Miguel Navarro to Tallares. As previously reported its a year-long loan with an option to buy. I'm assuming the option, or possibly a lower negotiated price, will be taken and Navarro will never play a game in a Rapids uniform.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-25377511870178301272024-01-26T22:31:00.001-07:002024-01-26T22:31:12.167-07:00Catching Up On The First Full Week Of PReseasonWell its been a week. For me I mean, not the Rapids. Finally got a chance to catch up. After the Sam Vines news on Monday we had a preseason scrimmage, a player signing and loaning, and a rumor of another signing.<div><br /></div><div>On Tuesday the Rapids played Mexican second-division side Atlético Morelia FC and lost 3-1. This has started the normal worries in the Rapids fanbase. Should we really be losing to a second-division side? Meh, I'm really not worried. It was the first game with a new coaching staff and a bunch of new players, Vines didn't play (just got to camp), Mihailovic didn't play (slight knock), Maxso and Ronan only played in the second half, which reportedly we looked much better in, etc. If you're wondering Rapids 2 player Yosuke Hanya was the only player not under contract who got time.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday Colorado announced they had signed Remi Cabral, Kevin Cabral's twin brother, to a contract from Rapids 2. Then they immediately loaned him to Phoenix in the USL Championship for the season. Remi is the reigning MLS Next Pro Golden Boot and the Rapids clearly feel like he's ready to step up to the next challenge. The Championship is seen as a level above Next Pro. We have the right to recall him at any time should we feel the need. Since he's on loan for the season he won't take up a roster or international spot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then finally yesterday <a href="https://theathletic.com/live-blogs/mls-usmnt-offseason-news-signings-live/IvX39jUF1Mft/WFP74VqEvOGe/" target="_blank">Tom Bogert at the Athletic reported</a> that the Rapids are close to signing defensive midfielder Lamine Diack from Ligue 1 side Nantes. He's a 23 year old Senegalese international and the rumor is that it would be a 6-month loan with a purchase to buy. Essentially the same deal we had for Ilic last season. We've also looked at Portuguese d-mid Leandro Lopes of Cercle Brugge, English d-mid Issac Hayden, and Kellyn Acosta, but according to Tom we prefer Diack because of his youth an potential.</div><div><br /></div><div>This feels like the first "classic" Rapids move of the offseason. By which I mean we're taking a flyer on a young player on the hope that his potential pays off, we're doing it as a loan, and we're not filling a critical position with a known option. The other three players we've considered all have 100+ appearances in leagues roughly equal to MLS (Belgium top-flight, the Championship, the EPL, or in MLS) or better. Diack has 52 appearances in the Macedonian top division, 34 in the Turkish second division, and 26 in the Turkish top-flight. He has yet to appear for Nantes since being loaned to them this past summer (Nantes has an option to buy which they would have to exercise before they loaned him to us). The whole "loan for 6 months and then buy" didn't work well for us last summer with Ilic and I don't think it will work well here either.</div><div><br /></div><div>If this deal goes down as described its a step back from what has been a great offseason by Rapids standards.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-44488697894811216242024-01-22T19:52:00.004-07:002024-01-22T19:52:51.617-07:00Welcome Back Sam Vines!Colorado made the very well known signing of Sam Vines official today, announcing that he's been signed to a 4 year contract. The headline for the press release said that the Rapids acquired him from Royal Antwerp, but the text mentioned him signing, nothing about a transfer fee. If there was one it was probably minimal, since Vines would have been out of contract this summer. <div><br /></div><div>Sam will also wear a new number, as the Rapids put together a nice "handoff" video of Drew Moor putting Vines' new jersey in his locker with Drew's old number 3 on it. It makes me think if #3 is going in the same category as #17 for the Rapids. Other than the year after Balboa retired, when backup goalkeeper Preston Burpo wore it for the season, the #17 has been held back and only given to long-time homegrown player Dillon Serna. It feels like maybe 3 and 17 will only be given to players that have more of a connection to Colorado than just a contract.</div><div><br /></div><div>There's also been multiple reports that Colorado is preparing to loan LB Miguel Navarro to Tallares in Argentina. Navarro was acquired as part of the trade for Gutman and was expecting to come here and start as he fights for a spot on the Venezuelan National Team for this summer's Copa America. Now that Vines is back and the clear starter Colorado is finding a place he can go and play. The rumors are than the loan is for the full season with an option to buy.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-35368858640974812202024-01-17T19:53:00.002-07:002024-01-17T19:53:45.969-07:00Off To Training Camp With Three DrafteesThe Rapids left for Mexico today, but not before a couple of transactions. First, the final part of the Steffen move, sending Yarbrough's rights to San Jose, was finalized with us getting San Jose's 3rd round pick in return. Then Colorado signed 3 (well technically 2) of their draftees to MLS contracts. Midfielder Wayne Fredrick signed a three year deal with an option for 2027. Defender Nate Jones (out of Washington!) signed a one year deal with three option years. Forward Kimani Stewart-Baynes, who was already on a Generation Adidas deal with the league, was revealed to be on a three year deal with one additional option year. The other three draftees, defender Anderson Ross and forwards Palmer Ault and Gunnar Studenhofft will be returning to school but the Rapids retain their rights for two years.<div><br /></div><div>Colorado also released a list of the players with the team in Mexico. Along with the 29 signed players (but not Sam Vines, yet) there are two Rapids 2 players and one trialist. Vines is back in Colorado so I'm guessing its just a matter of time before the deal is signed and he flies down to join the team.</div><div><br /></div><div>The two Rapids 2 trialists are two midfielders, Daouda Amadou and Yosuke Hanya. Both played well in the successful Rapids 2 season last year, with Hanya in particular making a big impact. I doubt either of them are going to be signing a first-team contract any time soon, but this will allow the staff to get a real good look at them. The trialist is GK , most recently with SKC 2. Presumably he's beling looked at as a backup for Beaudry on Rapids 2, I see no way he's being evaluated for the first-team roster.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are two signed players not in Mexico. First is Daniel Chacon, who was signed from Rapids 2 in June and loaned to Alajuelense in Costa Rican side. He blew out his ACL while playing for them and is continuing his recovery in his home in Costa Rica. Second is Aboubacar Keita, who was signed to a new multi-year contract in August. He's currently training with TSV Hartburg of the Austrian Bundesliga. You have to assume that's a precursor to a move to Austria, otherwise the Rapids wouldn't approve it. Hopefully we can get back the equivalent of the $300K of GAM we traded to the Crew for him back in the 2022 preseason. He's made 0 appearances for the Rapids over the two seasons he's been here due to a combination of injuries.<br /><div><br /></div><div>So here's the full camp roster. The press release said we have 3 Designated players, 5 Homegrowns, and 7 International players. We have 5 players on this roster that came through the Rapids Academy as homegrowns, but we have 3 others who we traded for and at least up to this point a traded homegrown could still be considered a homegrown. I don't know if that's changed or if the press release was trying to focus on the local kids. Until that's clarified I've put a (?) after the Homegrown label on the other 3. I've also count 8 internationals based on last season, so my guess is Galvan, who's been here the longest, has gotten a green card but that's a pure guess. I'm not counting Löffelsend who was reportedly back home working on his green card and who is presumably far enough along in the process to not count as an international.</div><div><br /></div><div>(Underlined = Trialist, Italics = Rapids 2)</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Goalkeepers:</b></div><div><u>Ethan Bandry</u></div><div>Adam Beaudry - Homegrown</div><div>Marko Ilic - International</div><div>Zack Steffen</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Defenders:</b></div><div>Lalas Abubakar</div><div>Seb Anderson - Homegrown</div><div>Moise Bombito - Generation Adidas</div><div>Michael Edwards - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Alex Gersbach - International</div><div>Nate Jones</div><div>Andreas Maxsø - International</div><div>Miguel Navarro</div><div>Keegan Rosenberry</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Midfielders:</b></div><div><i>Daouda Amadou</i></div><div>Cole Bassett - Homegrown</div><div>Omir Fernandez - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Wayne Fredrick</div><div>Braian Galvan - International(?)</div><div><i>Yosuke Hanya</i></div><div>Oli Larraz - Homegrown</div><div>Jasper Löffelsend</div><div>Djordje Mihailovic - Designated Player</div><div>Ralph Priso - Homegrown(?)</div><div>Connor Ronan - International</div><div>Sidnei Tavares - International</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Forwards:</b></div><div>Kevin Cabral - Designated Player, International</div><div>Calvin Harris - Generation Adidas</div><div>Jonathan Lewis</div><div>Rafael Navarro - Designated Player, International</div><div>Kimani Stewart-Baynes - Generation Adidas</div><div>Darren Yapi - Homegrown</div></div></div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-69067963632971574952024-01-15T21:24:00.002-07:002024-01-15T21:24:31.307-07:00Updating My International Signing RankingsJust about two years, during an offseason that had (at that point) seen few signings from outside U.S. soccer, <a href="https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2022/02/reviewing-rapids-international-signings.html" target="_blank">I wrote a column that reviewed the international singings</a> that the Rapids had made since Padraig Smith took over as GM/team President. There was one discussion last month about how we well do in international signings so I thought now would be a good time to updated it and add in the signings in the last two years.<div><br /></div><div>A quick explanation of the parameters we're covering. These are players who came to the Rapids from a team outside the U.S/Canada. Not just internationals but also Americans (Yarbrough was on the last list, and Steffen and Mihailović will be on this one).</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a quick recap of the categories and where the players fell two years ago. Players marked with an * will have their ranking updated in this article, but otherwise look at the prior article for the details on the others.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Group 1: The question marks, because we haven't seen them yet:</i></div><div><b>Michael Edwards</b></div><div><b>*Max</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>Group 2: The failures, no sugar-coating it, these were bad to horrible signings:</i></div><div><b>Stefan Aigner</b></div><div><b>Yannick Boli</b></div><div><b>Joe Mason</b></div><div><b>Nicolas Benezet</b></div><div><b>Younes Namli</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>Group 3: Replacement level MLS players or overpaid for their decent production:</i></div><div><b>Giles Barnes</b></div><div><b>Johan Blomberg</b></div><div><b>Tommy Smith</b></div><div><b>Edgar Castillo</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>Group 4: Solid contributing players worthy of the international spot (eventually):</i></div><div><b>*Lucas Esteves</b></div><div><b>Danny Wilson</b></div><div><b>*Braian Galvan</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>Group 5: Top signings:</i></div><div><b>Jack Price</b></div><div><b>William Yarbrough</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Now, on to the new and updated players:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Group 1: The question marks, because we haven't seen them yet:</i></div><div><b>Djordje Mihailović, Zach Steffen, Sam Vines, 2024 winter</b> - Obviously, we haven't seen them play yet (in Vines case, haven't seen him play yet since being in Europe).</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sidnei Tavares, 2023 summer</b> - 5 appearances and 300 minutes on a last placed team isn't really enough to judge, but its not looking good</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Group 2: The failures, no sugar-coating it, these were bad to horrible signings:</i></div><div><b>Max, 2022 winter - </b>Our first revision from two years ago. Max hadn't played yet for the Rapids when I made this list originally. Now he played, showed a little, got busted for potential match-fixing and got sold. For $1M that's solidly in the failure category.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Alex Gersbach, 2023 winter - </b>Signed to replace Lucas Esteves at left back Gersbach started the opening game of the 2023 season, and got absolutely smoked by the Sounders in a 4-0 loss. He had the home opener off then started the next week in aa 1-0 loss. He wouldn't see the field for the first team in league play again until mid-May when he started against Atlanta, a game we lost 4-0. That's a -9 goal differential for a left back. He didn't play another minute of first-team action last year and the team has made not one (Gutman), not two (Navarro), but now three (Vines) left back acquisitions to try to fill the hole.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Felipe Gutiérrez, 2022 summer</b> - Honestly when I was making this list I saw his name and had to ask "who?", before I remembered our midseason loan pickup. 848 minutes, 2 assists, 0 goals, almost no impact. Hard to call it anything but a failure.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Marko Ilić, 2023 winter</b> - Brought in on loan to replace Clint Irwin as the backup and push Yarbrough, the pushing part seemed to work as Yarbrough had a good season last year. But then we paid a transfer fee to buy him, replaced Yarbrough as a starter, and Ilić put up some of the worst advance stats in the league last season. So much so we went out and signed Zack Steffen as the starter. This was a badly handled moving on from Yarbrough.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Rafael Navarro, 2023 summer</b> - Navarro was our big signing of the summer window, on loan with a team record $5 million purchase clause. He's here until June 30th this year and certainly has an opportunity to move out of this category. 1 goal on 888 minutes over 10 starts is not any sort of success from a premier signing, even if he got no service.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sam Nicholson, 2022 summer</b> - Sam was a fan-favorite and a solid contributor in his first stint in Colorado. In his second stint he was still a fan favorite, but it was clear the league had passed his game by. You can never go home again, right?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Group 3: Replacement level MLS players or overpaid for their decent production:</i></div><div><b>Lucas Esteves, 2021 summer</b> - I had listed Esteves in Group 4 on a small data set in the first rankings and even then I felt like it might have been too soon to put him there. Turns out it was and he fell back to being a group 3 player. He was good enough on the field but it sounds like he wasn't the best in the locker room.</div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>Braian Galvan, 2020 summer</b> - Hard to believe that Galvan has been here for 3.5 seasons. It feels like he should have more than 4 goals and 4 assists in his 53 appearances and over 2000 minutes. Plus he's shown himself to be a bit of a hot-head. So I moved him down from group 4 to Group 3.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Collen Warner, 2020 summer</b> - Somehow I missed Warner the last time around. Probably because I forgot he had 5 appearances in Denmark before signing with the Rapids, so even though he's essentially a career MLS guy he was signed from a non-U.S. team and should have been included. He was your basic replacement-level MLS player with us, provided veteran leadership, and had some time with his hometown team. Pretty much the definition of a Group 3 guy.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Andreas Maxsø, 2023 winter</b> - A lot was expected of Maxsø when he was signed as a DP, and unfortunately we didn't see much of that last season. Of course we didn't see much of anything from anyone last season so its hard to tell how much of his skill was lost in that disaster of a year. He's now been bought down to a TAM-level player, and with some more help (Vines) and hopefully better leadership we'll see more out of him this year.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Group 4: Solid contributing players worthy of the international spot (eventually):</i></div><div><b>Connor Ronan, 2023 winter </b>- One of the few bright spots last season, Ronan came in and put up 10 assists, which would be a good number for this team in good years. If he can do it again he could easily make the jump to Group 5 joining his former Wolves teammate Jack Price.</div><div><br /></div><div>So since summer of 2017 we've signed 28 players from teams outside the domestic scene. They break down like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>Group 1: 5</div><div>Group 2: 11</div><div>Group 3: 8</div><div>Group 4: 2</div><div>Group 5: 2</div><div><br /></div><div>A 40% failure rate is quite bad. 48% if remove the group 1 players since they're unknowns. Since the last time I did this list two years ago the only new players to be replacement-level or better are Maxsø and Ronan. If you want a reason the last two years have been so bad, that's a large part of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>This might be why the focus this offseason has been on players who have been successful in the past in MLS. Every one of our signings so far have either been players from other MLS teams or bringing home players who moved to Europe after successful MLS runs. This seems to have worked for us in the past, our 2010, 2016, and 2021 offseasons (our most 3 successful seasons) were very focused on players already known in U.S. soccer circles, either MLS players or Americans playing overseas. We'll see if the streak continues.</div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400528122511005165.post-65634974485930799862024-01-13T20:51:00.002-07:002024-01-13T20:51:40.351-07:00Welcome Back Sammy Dimes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/prd-league/uyghea7yf5xazwvtqpuh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_8_desktop_mobile/f_auto/prd-league/uyghea7yf5xazwvtqpuh" width="400" /></a></div><br />The biggest surprise of the preseason hit today when the Denver Post reported that the Rapids are in final negotiations to bring Sam Vines back. He's expected in town in the next day or two to take his medical and finalize the deal. Vines is reportedly in the last year of his contract and this will be a new deal (talk says 4 years). Given that he has less than 6 months left I'm assuming whatever fee we might have paid is fairly minimal. The Rapids all but confirmed the move with a tweet about "cooking up a 13 course meal". As you can see above, Sam wears #13.<div><br /></div><div>Vines left for Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021 and was a regular for them until injuries derailed his time there. e broke his leg in training the day before the 2022 World Cup squad was announced, one he had a high chance of making (since Shaq Moore made it) and missed the rest of the season. Even after recovering he's had a hard time getting regular play. He featured in the two Champions League qualifiers Antwerp played in August, but then a clerical error led to him being left off the roster for actual Champions League play. A knock had him miss the early pat of the season, but he managed to get back on the field for Antwerp's two games around Christmas before their winter break.</div><div><br /></div><div>Burgundy Wave reported the Rapids approached him about returning and he wasn't interested, further clarification today was that approach was in the summer. Its somewhat understandable that somebody who thought he would be playing in the Champions League would pass. Now that he's not on that roster and struggling to get playing time making the move back to MLS probably makes more sense.</div><div><br /></div><div>He is, obviously, a first-game starter at LB for the Rapids. While this move may not have been in the works when we traded Gutman for Navarro, having both Navarro and Vines at LB is good depth (the less said about Gersbach the better). This is a very unexpected but great move by the FO.</div><div><br /></div><div>Preseason officially started today so Vines will be a bit late arriving, but he needs the least amount of time to adapt out of all the new players. I know he rehabbed his broken leg for at least part of the time here in Denver and of course his family is still here, as is his future in-laws.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we're on the preseason subject, Colorado announced their preseason schedule and its the same as last year. Physicals and other prep work this coming week here in Colorado, then off to Mexico for a while, a quick trip back home for a few days, then off to Florida up until the weekend before the season starts when they come home to Colorado. During their times in Mexico and Florida they'll play 6 closed door friendlies. In Mexico they'll face Liga MX side Querétaro FC along with Liga de Expansión MX sides Atlético Morelia and Atlante FC. In Florida they'll play CF Montréal and Orlando City SC, along with USL Championship side Hartford Athletic </div>Jason Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01203216444033618955noreply@blogger.com1