News and Notes 1/22/19

Ok, a few news and notes from today.

Starting with the big one.  Tim Howard announced he's retiring at the end of 2019 today.  I don't think anyone was surprised by the news, but it calls the end to a great career.  From the Metrostars to Everton to the 'Secretary of Defense' to the Colorado Rapids he's been the top keeper everywhere he plays.  While age, and that injury at the end of 2016, have taken their toll his leadership on and off the field has been key.  Enjoy one last season with arguably the best keeper in American history (I'd argue Friedel was better ;) ).

Secondly if you didn't see my revision to yesterday's post, I was wrong about the international statuses.  We only have 6 slots, not 7, and Boateng got his green card last season.  So we currently have 7 internationals and that assumes Shinyashiki does have his green card.  So we still need to make a move.

On the schedule front the Rapids announced that the Wednesday July 17th home game against Minnesota will now be played on Saturday June 8th.  This will push the game into the gold Cup window so some players may be missing, but I'm all for that trade off to get another Saturday night game and remove a weeknight game.

Lastly the final rosters for the upcoming U.S. friendlies were announced and Keegan Rosenberry will be part of them.  Kellyn Acosta did not make the cut and will leave u.S. camp in California to join up with the Rapids in Florida.

Howard Suspended 3 Games

MLS has just announced that Tim Howard has been suspended for 3 games.  The Rapids have issued a statement accepting the decision.  I won't link the video here, but there is footage from the supporters section behind Howard's goal in KC of him telling a fan he had...relations...with the fan's mother.

3 games is in line with MLS's actions in the past around incidents like this.  Colin Clark, while in Houston, got 3 games for swearing at a ball boy.  Alan Gordon, while in LA, got 3 games for a homophobic slur.  I'm sure a number of fans are upset with the league for this but really the only one at fault, and the only one to be upset with, is Howard.  It was unprofessional and stupid and he's cost his team dearly.

UPDATE: Apparently MLS has unreleased footage of Tim getting into a physical altercation with a fan in the tunnel after the game.  So, yeah, really nobody to blame on this except Tim.

International Duty Report

Three Rapids were out on international duty over the break:

• Tim Howard - USA: Howard started both World Cup qualifiers for the U.S.  After not being particularly challenged in a shutout against Honduras he had more to do against Panama last night.  While he did allow one goal there wasn't much he could do about it and otherwise he put in a man of the match contending performance the rest of the way.  With the 4 points the Yanks are in 4th place in the Hex. 

• Mekeil Williams - Trinidad & Tobago:  Williams also started both qualifiers for T&T.  Reportedly he had a solid performance in both games.  With the 1-0 win over Panama and the 1-0 loss to Mexico T&T is currently in last place in the Hex.  Next up, T&T will travel to the U.S. to face the Americans in a game that is highly rumored to be held at the Dick.  Easy travel for Howard and Williams.

• Kevin Doyle - Ireland: Doyle was an unused sub in Ireland's scoreless qualifier against Wales.  He then started their friendly against Ireland where he had a good 90 minutes.  Ireland loss 1-0.

2016 Player of the Year

my 2016 Player of the Year is the Rapids Goalkeeper.  Yes, I'm splitting the award between Zac MacMath and Tim Howard.  Both played the same number of games (19 league games, including playoffs), they both led a league leading defense, and they both dealt with the tough situation of being the #1 at different times of the year.  It was the most consistent position on the team and that's largely because they are two of the more talented players on the team and handled their job with professionalism.  This could have easily "gone wrong" this year with MacMath pouting or Howard thinking he could take it easy coming back to MLS but neither one allowed the situation to get to them.

They were also named team MVP at the Rapids awards banquet, splitting the award.  I however am not copying the Rapids on this pick.  If you go back to the Voice of C38 podcast right before the playoffs I was interviewed at the tailgate and suggested that the Rapids GK should be team MVP. So the Rapids stole the idea from me, not the other way around. :D

Howard Likely Lost For Rest Of Playoffs

Tim Howard had to leave Friday's USA-Mexico World Cup Qualifier in the 40th minute with what appeared to be a groin injury.  Today U.S. Soccer announced that it was an abductor injury and Howard would be returning to Colorado rather than going with the team to Costa Rica for Tuesday's qualifier.  ESPN FC is reporting that a source has told them that it will be months, not weeks, before the Secretary of Defense is healthy, probably into the 2017 preseason before he's 100%.

Welcome back to the starting lineup Zac MacMath!  In some ways the Rapids are better suited to handle this injury than any other team as MacMath is a starting MLS keeper in his own right.  He's going to have to get back into the groove quickly though as the trip to Seattle is only 9 days away.  If Howard is in Colorado getting treatment he can still be a leader in the locker room and help the team that way.

Summer Transfer Window Preview

He's here! (Image from Denver Post)

Next Monday the summer transfer window opens.  THe big news will of course be the official signing of Tim Howard but beyond that what are the Rapids likely to be looking for (if anything)?

Here's the makeup of our current roster:

28 of 28 roster spots full (not including Greenspan)

9 of 8 international spots filled

4 of 3 Designated Player spots filled

No, those numbers aren't a type.  We have one more international and DP than we're allowed.  Namely Juan Ramirez will be returning from his loan.  for the rest of this article I'm going to assume that there's already a plan to either loan him out again or transfer him permanently to Almeria.  Otherwise most of our summer transfer window will be getting us back under the roster requirements.

So moving forward without Ramirez means that we have 1 open roster spot.  Of course that's only half of what we need.  The other part is having salary cap room.  As we saw last month Colorado is pretty much up against the cap so if we're going to fill that open spot with anything other than a developmental player we're probably going to need to make a move to clear some space.

Given that, lets look at who's possibly on the trading/sale block.  I'm going to assume that the standard starting XI plus a couple of players won't be moved barring an offer we can't refuse.  To me that means the following: Howard, Williams, Burling, Sjoberg, Miller, Burch, Cronin, Azira, Gashi, Jones,, Pappa, Solignac, and K. Doyle.

I'll add St. Ledger onto that list because his injury (combined with the circumstances that got him cut for Orlando) means there will likely be no takers.

Serna will also be on the list due to his value as a homegrown player.

The next group is players who would not free up enough space to be worth moving them.  To me that's Badji, Berner, Calvert, Castillo, C. Doyle, and Watts.

That leaves us with a small group: Froschauer, Hairston, MacMath, Pfeffer, and Powers.

Froschauer is only on this list because I don't see the Rapids carrying 4 keepers.  If they don't decide to move MacMath I assume Froschauer will be cut to free up a roster spot.  He won't help our cap issue though.

Hairston and Pfeffer are unlikey to be moved but they would free up about $100K each so if the right offer came along I could see it.

MacMath is one of the two obvious choices.  With Howard arriving there isn't really room for another MLS quality keeper.  At $140K that would free up a bit of the cap to make a move.  I'm not sure there's a team looking for a keeper though.  I just think that the Rapids will keep him around until the offseason.

That, finally, brings us to Dillon Powers.  A $300K salary sitting on the bench.  When he has played he's looked like his confidence is gone.  Ever since that PK miss in Sandy last year he hasn't been the same player but its gotten worse this season.  His role on this team would be in the spot that Cronin and Azira have locked down for a lot cheaper.  Meanwhile Philly just had a hole open up in their midfield and they're hardly the only MLS team that would take a chance on a former Rookie of the Year that needs a change of scenery.

So my bet is that the Rapids move Powers this window to free up some salary cap.  Now, how iwll we use that room?

As mentioned earlier the Orozco rumor is bouncing around.  It makes a lot of sense for the Rapids as by far their weakest area right now is center back.  It seems odd to say that given our defensive record but I don't think anyone is real happy that we're down to Jared Watts as a starter due to injuries.  Orozco is currently with Club Tijuana but there's been some talk that the club wants to unload some salary and international players.  I don't think he would take a max (or higher) salary so the real question is what he would cost in transfer fee and could we get him for under DP level.

If not Orozco I think the Rapids still look at CB.  They have pretty good coverage elsewhere so that's the real weak spot in the team. 

So my prediction for this summer transfer window.  Powers out, new CB in.

Euro and Copa Wrap-Up

Now that all the relevant Rapids teams have been eliminated from the Copa and Euros lets see how it went.

We'll start with the easy one, the Euros.  Albania was 3 and out, being the worst third placed team with one win and two losses.  Still, not bad for their first ever major tournament and their win over Romania was a major victory for them.  The whole team has been given diplomatic passports in honor of their victory (if your wondering they just get the passports, not diplomatic immunity.  Essentially they can now speed through customs and the TSA.  Not a big deal for most of the players as they play in Europe where there's a lot of free movement but I'm sure Gashi appreciates it).

Gashi only got 8 minutes in the tournament, in the opening game against the Swiss, and I'm guessing he'd kind of like to forget them.  He had a great chance 1v1 with the Swiss keeper to level the score late in the game but his shot was nothing special and the keeper made the save.  After that he watched the last two games from the bench.  Based on his twitter Gashi returned to Albania with the team for the celebrations this weekend but I'm sure he'll be heading back to Commerce City in the next couple of days.  He may fly straight to Dallas and meet up with the team there for Wednesday night's USOC match.

The Doyle-less Ireland squad finished as the 2nd best third placed team after beating Italy and drawing Sweden.  This got them into the Round of 16 where they faced France earlier today.  Despite leaving the match for over 55 minutes they were eliminated 2-1.

Now over to the Copa which was much more interesting from a Rapids POV.  After a lackluster match by the whole team (including Jones) against Colombia Jones roared back with the Yanks against Costa Rica.  After a 4-0 win JJ was named Man of the Match as the U.S. rescued their Copa chances.  Another strong match against Paraguay with a surprise win by Costa Rica put the U.S. on top of the group and in a quarterfinal against Ecuador.  Jones went the full 90 against Paraguay playing well.

The quarterfinal against Ecuador was eventful.  Shortly into the second half, with the U.S. up a goal, a double red was handed out putting both teams at 10.  JJ was the recipient of the red card and while it might have been light it wasn't unfair.  He brought his hand up and (possibly unintentionally) made contact with the face of the Ecuadorian player which is a textbook red under the new rules.  Both sides traded goal and the U.S. moved on to the semis but with 3 suspended for the match.

Missing those 3 (including Jermaine) cost them as they never looked like they were in the game against Argentina, who blew them off the field 4-0.  This sent them to the 3rd place game which was a replay against Colombia.  As it was the last game of the tournament Klinsmann gave Tim Howard a chance in the nets and he didn't disappoint.  While the Americans lost 1-0 (and improvement from the 2-0 loss to Colombia ins the group stage) but Jones and Howard played well.  An argument could be made that Jones was one of the best 3 Americans at the tournament alongside Wood and Dempsey.

Total game time:
Gashi: 8 minutes on Jne 11th plus heavy international travel
Howard: 90 minutes yesterday
Jones: 388 minutes in 5 games over 22 days which is equivalent to a busy MLS schedule but not overwhelming.

Depending on when Gashi returns he could play on Wednesday just to knock some rust off.  Jones will probably get a break to have him at full strength for the home game on the 4th of July.  Howard won't be eligible until the 4th and I'm sure he'll play.

Euro & Copa Preview

Two big tournaments kick off over the next 8 days.  Tomorrow we get the start of the Copa America Centenario here in the U.S. and then a week later Euro 2016 starts in France.  Surprisingly the Rapids have 3, but only 3, players involved in these tournaments when 5 months ago we thought we'd be lucky to have one (and sadly that one, Kevin Doyle, isn't involved).  Here's a schedule of when the teams featuring the Rapids will be playing and the TV coverage (all times MDT).

Copa America Centenario:

USA - Jermaine Jones, Tim Howard
Fri 6/3 - USA vs. Colombia - Santa Clara, CA - 7:30pm - Fox Sports 1
Tue 6/7 - USA vs. Costa Rica - Chicago, IL - 6pm - Fox Sports 1
Sat 6/11 - USA vs. Paraguay - Philadelphia, PA - 5pm - Fox Sports 1

If the U.S. wins the group (not likely):
Quarterfinal Thu 6/16 - Seattle, WA - 6:30pm - Fox Sports 1
Semifinal Tue 6/21 - Houston, TX - 7pm - Fox Sports 1

If the U.S. finishes 2nd in the group (could happen):
Quarterfinal Fri 6/17 - East Rutherford, NJ - 5pm - Fox Sports 1
Semifinal Wed 6/22 - Chicago, IL - 6pm - Fox Sports 1

3rd Place Game Sat 6/25 - Glendale, AZ - 6pm - FX
Final Sun 6/26 - East Rutherford, NJ - 6pm - FX

Euro 2016:

Albania - Shkelzen Gashi
Sat 6/11 - Albania vs. Switzerland - Lens, France - 7am - ESPN
Wed 6/15 - Albania vs. France - Marseilles, France - 1pm - ESPN
Sun 6/19 - Albania vs Romania - Lyon, France - 1pm - ESPN2

If Albania make the knockout rounds (possible but not likely) the Round of 16 matchup could be one of 3 on either June 25th or June 26th.  A quarterfinal matchup would be somewhere between June 30th and July 2nd,  a semifinal would be July 6th or 7th, and the final is July 10th.

Ireland - Kevin Doyle could be added next week if a player is injured
Mon 6/13 - Ireland vs. Sweden - Saint-Denis, France - 10am - ESPN
Sat 6/18 - Ireland vs. Belgium - Bordeaux, France - 7am - ESPN
Wed 6/22 - Ireland vs. Italy - Lille, France - 1pm- ESPN

If Ireland make the knockout rounds (not likely given their presence in the Group of Death) the Round of 16 matchup could be one of 3 between June 25th and 27th.  A quarterfinal matchup would be somewhere between June 30th and July 2nd,  a semifinal would be July 6th or 7th, and the final is July 10th.

Rapids Sign Tim Howard

The long rumored deal is finally official.  As announced live on ESPN this morning Tim Howard is a Rapid and will join the team when the summer transfer window opens.  That just happens to be on the 4th of July, which is kind of a big game for the Rapids.  One wonders if the Front Office petitioned the USSF and MLS to move it back from July 8th (last year) to July 4th.

Everton only has the FA Cup left to play for this season, they have really no chance at a European spot.  They'll play either Man U or West Ham in the semi-finals on April 23rd or 24th.  If they were to lose there might be a chance that Howard gets here before the close of the primary window in May.  If they win the final will be after the window closes and there's no chance Howard leaves before the final is played.

Its also no coincidence that we got the TransAmerica news on Friday which takes the deal through the 2019 season and ESPN is reporting today that Howard's deal iss through the 2019 season.  I'm sure the increased deal from TransAmerica covers most if not all of Howard's DP salary.

This is a win in every possible way off the field for Colorado.  Getting a live announcement on SportsCenter for the team, a new sponsorship deal, increased interest in the team, it checks all those boxes.  Well done by the FO on that front.

Howard Signing In 15 Minutes

MLS just tweeted that the Rapids will make a player announcement on Sportcenter at 9:20 this morning.

Howard Announced Tomorrow?

So say former U.S. National Team player Heath Pearce on Twitter:

Been told that @TimHowardGK signing will be announced tomorrow. If true, @ColoradoRapids getting a great leader. #WelcomeBack

 This is the Rapids only appearance on ESPN this year so it makes some sense.  Along with the TransAmerica renewal signs point to it being likely but we'll see.

Also today Dillon Serna and Eric Miller (along with Boulder's Shane O'Neill) were called up for the U.S. U-23's Olympic Qualifying games with Colombia on March 23rd and 29th.  So that's 5 players now heading out on Nats duty after tomorrow's game (Doyle, Pappa, Azira, Miller, Serna).

Roster News and Notes

Cleaning up a few rumors and news items around the roster.

• Sports Illustrated reports that the Jermaine Jones contract is 550K for 1 year

If accurate that makes me like this deal even more.  Jones is nearing the end of his career and as much as I like him I didn't want to be on the hook for him for more than a year or two.  This allows him to show what he still has for a year and clear that suspension and it allows the Rapids a PR boost in signing him and some quality minutes from a good player.  Then at the end of the year if he's shown he still has it then we, or another team, can make him a new offer.  I predict that Jones wanted a 1 year deal as well to be available to be signed for the inaugural season of LAFC.  Its well known that he wanted to be closer to his family in LA.  If I had to bet money that's where I would expect him to play in 2017.

• Stephen Keel apparently is doing media for MLS, based on this Twitter.

Guess that means he didn't make the Rapids roster.  That surprises me.

• The Post's Daniel Boniface tweets that Dennis Castillo and brad Spencer are still with the team

I still expect Castillo to be signed, surprised it hasn't happened yet.  I wouldn't read too much into Spencer still being here, given that he's John's son.  We may be interested in signing him or he may just be taking advantage of access to keep sharp while he looks for other options.

• All quiet on the Tim Howard front.

My guess is that they want to ride the PR wave of the Jones signing and opening week for a bit longer, then we'll start hearing about Howard again.

If we assume Howard and Castillo will be signed we still have one open roster spot.  There's really no rumors out there about any signing coming soon so we'll have to see what happens.

Weekly Recap

After a bout with whatever bug is going around I'm back.  Let's recap what's happened since Monday.

• We got allocation money for the rights to Maynor Figueroa

Nice job by the FO on this one.  I figured when we declined his option that he just waled away.  Getting allocation money for him means we made a real offer to bring him back and he declined it.  Unless we found out he took $125K from Dallas or something this was the right move by the FO.

• Ramirez loaned to UD Almeria for 6 months

Again another good move by the Front Office.  If Ramirez is having problems adjusting as reported then this is probably the best way to get value for him.  There's no way a team like Almeria is going to pay the reported $2 million that we paid for Ramirez right now.  This gives him 6 months to earn that kind of transfer fee from Spain and if it doesn't work then we get him back with another chance to make it work for us.

• Top Drawer Soccer hammers the Rapids offseason

Can't say this is at all unfair.  Its up to the FO to do something soon to turn it around.

• Cristian Canga not coming

That appeared to be a passing rumor.  Its since been replaced with...

• Rapids linked with T&T fullback Mikeil Williams

Well, at least we're targeting the right position, though I don't think we can rely on a guy struggling to get playing time in Central America to be a starter in 5 weeks.

• Pulido's good play in Greece making a deal less likely

There was even a tweet that Pulido himself had turned down the offer from the Rapids though that's not "in print" anywhere.  Regardless its starting to look like our third major attacking strikeout this offseason (Vela, Bedoya).

• Colorado Cup coming in July

Not strictly Rapids related but fairly interesting.  Good to see some non-EPL teams in the state.  I'd be more interested if they were playing each other or the Rapids though, I'm not real interested in seeing Liga MX teams.

• Tim Howard rumors heating up

This is of course the big news this week.  All sources (including some of my own) are pointing to Howard coming to Colorado.  As we saw in the guest post there are positives to this signing but they come with a number of "ifs" and "maybes".  I have no real faith in the Rapids pulling those contingencies off and Howard isn't going to fix anything on the field for us.  This is screaming marketing move with now game upside to me.

• Details on Marco Pappa's stabbing are released

The notable detail in this is that the stabbing occurred on Dec. 17th, two days after he was traded to the Rapids.  Its always tricky to judge some of this without the details but the reports of him being intoxicated and changing his story aren't what you want to hear from a guy who was only 4 months removed from the league's substance abuse program.  If accurate I can't imagine that will play well in the league Front Office.

• Finally (no link on this one), former Rapid Stephen Keel spotted at Rapids camp

Keel didn't have his option picked up by Dallas.  He's a local boy so it makes sense he'd come here first.  He's at best a depth signing this year.

So you'll notice the great big absence of something in all that news.  Not a single player signing.  That's a problem more than a week after the players reported, all 19 of them.

Current roster:

GK John Berner
GK Zac MacMath
D March Burch
D Bobby Burling
D Marlon Hairston
D Axel Sjoberg
D Sean St. Ledger
M Michael Azira
M Sam Cronin
M Marco Pappa
M Zach Pfeffer
M Dillon Powers
M Dillon Serna
M Marcelo Sarvas
M Jared Watts
F Dominque Badji
F Caleb Calvert
F Kevin Doyle
F Luis Solignac

Unsigned draftees:

GK Chris Froschauer
D Dennis Castillo
D Bradley Kamdem
D Javan Torre
M Emmanuel Appiah
F John Manga

Trialists:

D Stephen Keel
M Yann Ekra - Charlotte
M Brian Ownby - Richmond

Why Tim Howard?

This is a guest piece by Dave Wegner, C38 board member, Fulham fan, and generally good guy.  Its long but worth your time to read.  I'll have  more tomorrow about the various rumors floating around and the Ramirez loan.

The recent rumors about the Colorado Rapids signing American and Everton goal keeper Tim Howard have certainly evoked substantial response from the fan base. Seems a lot on the negative side fueled by the teams glaring needs.  The main criticisms of the move are that’s just a money grab and we already had a good keeper and it doesn’t solve our lack of goal scoring or make the team better.  What I contend is that those arguments are quick, understandable, but knee jerk reactions to a team that had such a rough year last campaign.  What if those reactions are wrong?

Let’s be crystal clear here, this rumor was born from a single, unnamed source. Anyone that has watched Newsroom or taken a Journalism 101 course knows that stories need to be verified and confirmed from at least two separate sources.  Right now, Walter Cronkite is paternally waving his finger at all of us on this one.  That being said, it’s the offseason, so why not hypothesize right? 

Let’s slide tackle the first piece of the less than gleeful reactions to the move: it’s a money grab.  Yes, it absolutely is. All signings, by any team, in any sport are a money grab. Professional sports teams are all business endeavors. Any money you spend is done so with the goal of providing returns. This isn’t a bad thing, not in the slightest. If a move like this provides the return on investment that it should, then it’s that much easier to get ownership to keep filling the war chest to get more players. 

So, Tim Howard comes to Denver. All of sudden our Rapids are the front of the sports page, people are talking about the club, people are coming to the games. There is a buzz that even the 2010 MLS Cup didn’t provide.  Add a couple of thousand soccer fans to DSGP and the stadium starts to gain energy. The experience goes up, people come back, and the seeds of a soccer culture and deeper fan experience are fostered.  I love the idea of signing Bedoya. He’s a fantastic, young US national that would directly impact our offensive limitations. Here’s the reality though:  ask 10 people on the street who Tim Howard is and you will get most or all knowing the name. Ask the same of Bedoya and you are lucky to get half. 

Howard is the face of US soccer. He had one of the greatest performances in goal most of will ever see against one of the best young teams in the world in the 2014 World Cup. A performance in a loss that was so stunning it warranted a call from the President of the United States.  15 total saves that allowed our Yanks to stay in and compete in a game that we’d have lost 6-1 had it not been for Tim Howard.  That gravitas has a real value to a team that is in desperate need of an identity that transcends beyond the confines of DSGP.  He puts us on a local and national stage. All of this leads to the club being able to generate more marketing and sponsorship revenue.

Filling more seats, selling more nachos, beer, jerseys and scarves means something important. It allows this team to pursue players that demand larger salaries, it allows us to give raises and keep players we already have and want, it allows additions to support staff and scouting. These are all things that can make this team better and it is an impact that is something that other rumored signings, Bedoya included, don’t carry with them.  Being better on the pitch is immensely important, but it doesn’t carry the weight of growing awareness of the team on its own.

The next issue though. Sure, Tim Howard will get people to the stadium, but if we continue to lose, don’t score goals or entertain those coming out, it won’t mean a damned thing. Exactly, this is exactly true, but it’s thinking in the single or second dimension. The reality is we’ve added some important pieces that will help us be more competitive.  Azira is a good midfielder, Pfeffer can really play and would have likely been a top 5 pick if he were in the 2016 draft, and Marco Pappa is a real player. Resigning Burling solidifies the center of our back four with St. Ledger in the middle.  There is also the addition of John Spencer on the coaching staff which adds some real, needed experience. He had an expansion team competing for the playoffs in their first season, he was on the coaching staff of the Houston Dynamo when they won back to back MLS Cups, and also was the head coach that took their reserve team to a championship.

These are solid moves, but there is more needed. We need to make sure we have the answer at left back and we still need more for the teams attack.  Assessing this move with just this information certainly still deserves a raised eyebrow, but it ignores the fact that players are still being pursued and looking to be brought in.  The MLS window hasn’t even opened yet, so a little patience is fair isn’t it?

Ok, I know what you are saying, they always promise us this and never deliver.  Sure, sure, but let’s roll back the clock a second. Gaby Torres didn’t pan out here, but they got him when anyone and everyone in the league wanted him. His form in the Gold Cup was massive and he ended up in Burgundy. Now consider this: Kevin Doyle.  The “Rapids never spend money” argument should be put deeply in the bottom of the complaint drawer. Doyle can play, although he needs support (we’ll get to that later) and ownership is paying 7 figures for him (a first for us). Until 2 years ago, the Rapids didn’t spend or try and spend money. That simply isn’t the case anymore. There is money in the coffers.  The war chest is healthy.

These points should not be white washed with all the skepticism that is out there. Sure, we’ve missed on some players, but that’s the nature of the business.  Everybody misses, ask Man United who can’t sign anyone these days and they bathe in cash.  Also, and more importantly and if we sign Howard, did anyone actually think we could ever sign him away from the Premier League?  Maybe a little benefit of the doubt is warranted if that happens. At least for a couple weeks.

Tim Howard doesn’t score goals. Well, actually, there was that one time, but I get the point. No, Tim Howard isn’t a goal scorer that we need, but that doesn’t mean that his presence doesn’t impact the offense. First off, revisit the point(s) above, the team is still looking to add those players. Secondly though, don’t ignore the symbiotic connection of the 3 lines of a starting 11. 

Tim Howard brings an ability to solidify our back line beyond what we’ve seen before at DSGP.  I, we, loved Clint Irwin. He is a really good MLS keeper and he should do well in Toronto, but I am sure even Clint would acknowledge the difference in skill between himself and Tim Howard.  Being the general in the box is so important to a team’s defensive integrity. Irwin was improving on that, but Howard brings that skill at a higher level and years of intense, international experience. 

Remember that Belgium game?  Imagine playing right, center or left back with that kind of shot stopper behind you.  The confidence that comes with that will make any back better. Irwin was a good keeper, but let’s put some things in perspective of what you get with Howard. Know that keeper in Utah that has been a huge thorn in our sides for years?  He’s the back up to the guy that back’s up Tim Howard on the national team.   Rimando is arguably the best keeper in the league and we are getting the guy that is ahead of him in the lineup two times.

All this means a better defense, but still no goals dammit. Well, not exactly. Symbiotic relationships of the 3 lines of a starting 11, remember? Let’s talk about that. A more tactically sound defense enhanced by a player like Howard reduces the sag that a midfield suffers when a defense is tactically weak. It allows the midfield to play a higher line which then allows for a much stronger transition into the final, attacking third.  With Kevin Doyle we now have a player who knows how to find the back of the net.  Another player or two is needed, we’ve discussed that, but a new acquisition like Marco Pappa and playing Powers at the #8 (which is where he going to be playing this year) will make a huge impact in this. 

Each of the three layers impact the others.  I assume we all know this. Last year, the defense was markedly improved from 2014, but it came at a cost.  Until the signings of St. Ledger and Figueroa, our defense was improved by a “team” approach. The team collapsed back to overcome some shortcomings in individual skills. This sag just destroyed our attack. Once we signed these 2 players, the offense got better, not great, but better because of their individual, tactical skill. St. Ledger is back, Figueroa went all Jerry Maguire on us and is gone, but Howard will definitely help.  Again, still need to see what happens, but Burling and St. Ledger in the middle with Howard behind them is a really, really good core.  It will help support the transition to the attack.

Boy, but he’s going to be 37 at the start of the season. Sure, he sure is. In 2 months Tim Howard will be 37.  So, for the past 10 months he has been 36 years old. All he has done at the age of 36 is win the CONCACAF player of the year award, for what that is worth. He’s also still a starter in the Premier League at his ripe old age.  At the ancient age of 35 he did that little thing in Brazil against Belgium. No one is ageless, but show me where Tim Howard is getting older. The man is in great shape. Seriously, Google some pics of the guy and tell me he looks old.  He’s 36 and one of the top goalkeepers in arguably the top league in the world.

Let’s talk about age and keepers. Keepers play into their 40’s.  Look at Gianluigi Buffon for Italy, one of the best keepers in the world (still) and is older than Howard.   Age is different for keepers. Sure, we wouldn’t have him for the next 5-10 years, but I’ll take a couple years of service any day of the week.

It’s not a perfect answer, there are still holes in this roster, but we are talking about an American soccer legend here.  Look, if nothing else, you get the chance for the next couple seasons to see Timmy Friggin Howard play in your stadium 17 times or more a season.  Strip it all down and think about it, it’s Timmy Friggin Howard, American soccer hero.  One of the best players to ever come out of this country and play on the international stage and he’d be wearing our colors and our badge.  You get the chance to stand behind him (literally in the north or south stands) and cheer him on as one of yours.  On top of that, regardless of the name we are talking about here, you are filling a position on your roster with one of the better players from the best league in the world. How often does that opportunity present itself to us in Rapid land and what team wouldn’t jump on that opportunity?  If these last two points don’t excite you, I just don’t know what else to say. 

But, again, all of this is based on some nameless person saying something that no one else has corroborated.