Players Leave For Houston

The Rapids left this morning for their week long training stint in Houston.  Everyone in camp traveled except 4 players.  Mullan, Mwanga, and Powers stayed behind to recover from their injuries.  Matt Pickens is still excused from camp and hasn't joined the team yet.  That screams "working out a trade" to me.  The Rapids and Dynamo will scrimmage this weekend, no streaming coverage.

Oh, and Marc Burch, stay strong fellow Seahawks fan, don't go to the dark (orange) side.  Go Hawks!

Tim Hinchey AMA

Tim Hinchey had a reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) this afternoon with a number of interesting notes.  In no particular order and my reactions to the information:

Number of coaching candidates interviewed:

None thus far. Since the transition was so late, we didn't want to rush. We have a solid infastructure in our Soccer Ops group that can take us forward while we start the formal search.

Um, what?!?  Just over 6 weeks to the start of the season and we haven't even started interviewing coaches?  Ridiculous.  Somebody has to lead this team.

Asked why Pablo hasn't just been named coach:

Appreicate the Pablo comment, clearly I'm a fan, however we will be reaching out to several other candidates before we make any final decision.

When pushed as to why they're screwing around with this and not just naming Pablo since that's clearly what they're going to do:

 We will talk with other candidates, and that has begun this week. I think Pablo is great and clearly could be the most important person ever to work for this club.  

So there's really some other candidates that would be interested in taking over a team weeks before the season starts?  Really?  Consider me skeptical.

Plans for the new home kit reveal:

New kit will be home so new Burgundy and will be launched just before the opener

Good that we're staying burgundy, but I'd prefer to see it before we're a week into the season (we'll wear the Colorado flag blues for our season opener in NY).

Status of a jersey sponsor:

this continues to be my biggest challenge thus far, we've been very active and have engaged a third party firm to help us secure the shirt deal. It keeps my up at night and I'm personally disappointed I haven't delivered this yet.

Wait, haven't we heard that before in 2010...and 2011...and 2012...and 2013?  Should I just schedule this statement for January of 2015?

Status of the relationship with Arsenal:

We are actually making some decent progress here. They have a much bigger club to run with bigger challenges, etc, so we need to earn this partnership. Paul and I have had more access then ever in the last six months and I'm truly confident it will grow. Have Galindo here is a great step and he could become our first loan.

I only put this in as it confirms that Galindo would be a loan, not a signing.  The rest is what you would expect.

On what happened with Eloundou last year:

 Not more that has been reported really. To me, he was being held unfairly by clubs and some agents trying to cash in on the young man. working between federations is tough and way too political. We decided it was worth holding out for him as we think he's an amazing talent and deserves a safe enviornment to grow his craft and score a few goals for the Rapids! Thus far, he has truly impressed and is a great young man.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Eloundou can bring.  Glad to see the faith in him from the FO.

Updates on Martin Rivero and Hendry Thomas

 we will not be bringing Martin back to the club at this time. He's a great pro and we wish him nothing but success. I'm 50/50 on Hendry. He too has been brilliant here for the Rapids, but we need to find middle ground financially.

So that makes it official with Rivero, no surprise.  I don't expect Thomas back either, especially if they're pursuing Galindo.

On the split of duties between Hinchey and Bravo, and KSE's support of the team:

Paul and I work very closely together. I am responsible for all aspects of our club, however I entrust Paul to run all over our soccer operations. I invest the majority of my time on the commercial business of the club and working to get our business to a break even or better. Stan's support has been amazing during my tenure and he's very supportive of the Rapids. 

Pretty much what they've made known for the last two years.  It also fits the "coach as the cook" idea, Bravo buys the ingredients (players) and the coach makes the meal (lineups and tactics).

On the rumor that Arsenal will be making a U.S. tour this summer:

 I think Arsenal is considering a one match visit as part of a larger tournament, not here at DSGP.

That would be incredibly lame if Kroenke couldn't get his EPL team to come to Denver while they were in the States.

On friendlies in general this summer:

No friendlies planned this summer thus far. We break for World Cup and then the World LAX Championships are here at DSGP for all of July. Make's it too tough.

I can appreciate the difficulties this summer, but it is a step down from Swansea City two years ago and the WCQ last year.  They need to raise the bar again in 2015 if nothing happens this summer.

On partnering with the new USL team in the Springs:

We will not be partnering that USL team.

And when asked what they had to do with the establishment of the team:

we had zero to do what that club. 

Well, that's pretty cut and dried.  Seems odd to pass up the opportunity but the blanket statements makes it seem tehre's something about the team they don't like.  I know the owners of the new team have some question marks around them, maybe that has something to do with it?

On the often floated idea of going to a Fall-to-Spring schedule:

Hate it. we've established 18 years of this time of year. Also, did you read recently that some clubs/league overseas want to consider changing to ours?

Good.  Its a stupid idea.

So some interesting bits of knowledge there.  Disappointed in the lack of a coaching search so far though.  They need to step it up on that front.

Practice Starts!

The Rapids had their first practice today and we got the first list of trialists in camp.  We also found out that, currently, Hendry Thomas, Martin Rivero, and Anthony Wallace are not with the team.  The three trialists are:

• Joe Nasco - Goalkeeper: Made 3 appearances in the last 2 years with the Atlanta Silverbacks (Chris Klute's old team)
• Juan Guzman - Midfielder: Made 11 appearances in the last 4 years with the Charlotte Eagles
• Samuel Galindo - Midfielder: The big news of the day.  Galindo is currently with Arsenal but hasn't played a game with them since he was signed in 2010, instead being loaned out to 2nd division sides in Spain and Club Jorge Wilstermann in the top flight of Bolivia.  This looks to me that he couldn't get a UK work permit so Arsenal has been moving him around trying to get him experience.  He's also been capped twice for the Bolivian National Team and captained their U20 and U-17 teams.  He'll turn 22 in April.  Its unclear if he would join on loan or as a full signing.

Out of the 25 signed players, 16 of them participated in training today.  Mullan (right knee), Mwanga (hernia), Griffiths (shoulder), Armstrong (ACL), and Powers (tendonitis, concussion) were held up to heal up, while Klute and O'Neill were held out to let them recover from their National Team training and travels.  Deshorn Brown was also held out as he just returned from Barcelona last night.  The only player not in Commerce City today was Matt Pickens, who was on an excused absence.

Chris Bianchi tweeted today that its a matter of when, not if, Pickens is traded, so that  might have something to do with his absence.  There's also a rumor going around that Wynne is being traded.

So as we start camp, here's the camp roster:

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco - Unsigned trialist

Matt Pickens

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned draftee

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Pablo Not Quite Head Coach and Player Updates

The Rapids announced on Saturday that Pablo "will be at the head of our group of coaches" as preseason opens,  but they went out of their way to avoid calling him Head Coach, using terms like "leading" and "in charge".  I still believe its just a matter of time before he''s given the title.  Maybe after this weekend's scrimmage against Houston so he can have at least one game under his belt.

A few player updates since Thursday, with an updated list.

• I missed this in the draft announcement, but Aussie Albert Edward has a green card so if he makes the team he won't take an international spot.
• The Rapids confirmed that Grant Van De Casteele is already under contract.
• Today the Rapids re-signed Danny Mwanga.  He's just had hernia surgery so he he won't be at full strength until about when the season starts.  According to the Denver Post he took a pay cut.
• German Mera has been signed by Atletico Bucaramanga, a 2nd division side in Colombia, so he won't be returning.
• No update on Martin Rivero, but they Gabriel Torres the #10 Rivero wore the last two years, so that's probably not a good sign.
• Hendry Thomas is still in negotiations with the team.

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Matt Pickens

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

Unknown Status: Martin Rivero, Hendry Thomas, Anthony Wallace

Roster Status - Jan. 23rd

Training camp opens tomorrow in Commerce City!  Time to get serious.  Of course it would probably help if we had a coach....

Anyway, on to our current roster status.  First one special note to make:

• Grant Van De Casteele - The 2014 Transaction Report on MLSSoccer.com shows him as signed.  Presumably he's one of the handful of college seniors MLS signs to a contract prior to the Superdraft,.  He's listed in the "signed" area.

Here's the current roster, broken out by status:

Signed:

Davy Armstrong

Deshorn Brown

Edson Buddle

Marc Burch

Marvin Chavez

Charles Eloundou

Brenton Griffiths

Marion Hariston

Kamani Hill

Clint Irwin

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Nick LaBrocca

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill

Matt Pickens

Dillon Powers

Vicente Sanchez

Dillon Serna

Nathan Sturgis

Gabriel Torres

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Draftees:

John Berner

Albert Edward

Tolani Ibikunle

Jared Watts

Unsigned 2013 Team Members (those not signed elsewhere or retired):

German Mera

Danny Mwanga

Martin Rivero

Hendry Thomas

Anthony Wallace

Of the last group I don't think Mera, Rivero, Thomas, or Wallace are expected to be at camp tomorrow.  Mwanga is unknown,.

Breaking it down by position, with other roster designations noted.  The 5 unsigned 2013 team members won't be on this list until we find out they're in camp or in negotiations.  This will be the format I use going forward:

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Matt Pickens

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee, International

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts - Unsigned draftee

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International

So that's 24 players under contract out of 30, but Armstrong won't count against the total while on IR.  We have 5 internationals signed for 9 international spots.  That means there are 7 spots left for the 4 unsigned draftees, the 5 unsigned 2013 players, and any other players we are scouting or bring in as trialists.  Out of those 7, 4 of them can be internationals.

We look a bit thin at midfield, but players like Mullan, O'Neill, Chavez, and Hill could move into midfield from where their currently listed.  Still, no Thomas leaves a hole.  We're solidly stocked at forward and we have a lot of depth if not a whole lot of obvious quality in defense.  Berner is likely to be the 3rd GK unless we bring in some trialists.