Three European Signings With Rapids Ties

Over the last week there have been three singings (or almost signings in the first case) with ties to the Rapids.

The big news is that the deal with Stav Lemkin has apparently fallen through.  After the report by Tom Bogert, backed up by the Post and Burgundy Wave, that the two sides were in negotiations all signs were pointing to a done deal.  Then this weekend FC Twente of the Eredivisie was linked to him and he was reportedly flying to the Netherlands to sign a deal.  Today Bogert is reporting that the deal was agreed on but Twente came in late with an offer and Lemkin is choosing to accept it. 

Twente is a top 5-6 team in the Netherlands and played in the Champions League last season and other European competitions the prior two years.  They didn't qualify for Europe next year but Lemkin has to expect they will be back in Europe soon.  Its hard to pass that opportunity up.  We have to hope that Smith and Taylor have a backup plan for that reported $1.6M they were going to use on the transfer fee, especially if Maxso leaves.

In other news my English team, Blackburn Rovers, made their first ever signing (that I know of) of a former Rapid.  And of all people its Sidnei Tavares.  After his 5 appearances here on loan in the fall of 2023 we waived him but were still on the hook for paying him until the end of the loan in the summer of 2024.  He spent last season at Portuguese side Moreirense.  Reportedly Rovers are paying 2 million for him, in either Pounds or Euros, depending on the source.  I'll will mention if he turns out to be any good in Lancashire.

Two Rovers have then plays for the Rapids, Roy Wegerle and Jermaine Jones, plus there's been some Rapids coaches who have spent time in Blackburn but this is the first time an ex-Rapid has made it to Rovers.

The final signing is a happier one for everyone I think.  Yesterday non-league side Brackley Town who were just promoted from the National League North to the National League announced the signing of Jack Price.  Great to see the ex-captain and fan favorite back on the pitch.  He'll play my Wealdstone FC in the National League, its a long-shot but I may have to travel to London for work, maybe I can arrange it for when Brackely are playing Wealdstone.

Roster Compliance Day Means Saying Goodbye

Today 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.

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.

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.

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.

After making those two moves the Rapids traded a now open international spot to the Red Bulls for $175K in GAM.

Full credit to the Rapids for doing something I've been wanting for years.  After making those moves they put out a detailed roster explanation, listing every player and every category they fill.  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.

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.

There will be a preview of the Portland game either later tonight or first thing in the morning.