Fernando ...

[GoRapids]

Hey say what you want about his tatics ... but I'm going to say this ... Fernando has done a remarkable job getting in Senior International players on the cheap!!

First it was Cookie - who I had SERIOUS doubts about when I dug deep into his past - he really looked like the starlet that never was - and never was going to be. Fernando got me on that one :)

Then it was Dedi - right of the bat he was embraced by the Fans - and for good reason.

Next it was Nico - okay - the jury is still out on him - but he's had his moments - well moments on both sides of the coin ;)

Finally, it was Karanka - when the season looked doomed due to the loss of Borchers - Fernando pulled another one out of his hat!!!

I'm throughly impressed - we've always been the team that never had more than one good international player (if that) and now we're fully loaded.

Kind of makes you think ... should we trade one for a solid American Player ... and send Fernando back shopping??? I mean MLS teams win on the merits of their American players for the most part ... what do you think? You ready to ship off Cookie for a Brian Ching???

[RapidStorm]

Hey say what you want about his tatics ... but I'm going to say this ... Fernando has done a remarkable job getting in Senior International players on the cheap!!

First it was Cookie - who I had SERIOUS doubts about when I dug deep into his past - he really looked like the starlet that never was - and never was going to be. Fernando got me on that one :)

Then it was Dedi - right of the bat he was embraced by the Fans - and for good reason.

Next it was Nico - okay - the jury is still out on him - but he's had his moments - well moments on both sides of the coin ;)

Finally, it was Karanka - when the season looked doomed due to the loss of Borchers - Fernando pulled another one out of his hat!!!

I'm throughly impressed - we've always been the team that never had more than one good international player (if that) and now we're fully loaded.

Kind of makes you think ... should we trade one for a solid American Player ... and send Fernando back shopping??? I mean MLS teams win on the merits of their American players for the most part ... what do you think? You ready to ship off Cookie for a Brian Ching???
Cookie, no. Brian Ching isn't half the player he is without Mullan's work on the wing, and I don't think Luchi or Gargan can send in a cross even close to Cooke's quality.

Dedi or Niko...I might bite.

[jimmyco]

Off the cuff, I'd offer Niko for Ching, but not Cooke or Dedi. Of course, if Niko finally caught fire, I'd probably reconsider it.

It is an intriguing, yet somehow troubling question. Probably because we finally have useful SIs do discuss this about.

[Italianfryguy]

I'll say this much about F.C.
We really give the guy a hard time and I don't think there will ever be a coach for the rapids who will have it easy with us....But at least I know when I go to a game that a Win is more probable then a tie or lose. Plus there will be goals scored!
The games are a lot more exciting to watch these days, win, loose, or tie... No more of that below one goal per game average or let’s get a tie mentality. At least when there is a tie these days, it's not a 0-0 or 1-1 tie like they use to be so often. Sure things are not perfect by far but I am at least on the edge of my seat when I watch.
I have seen a lot of growth with this team... For crying out loud, they are half way through the season and are 3rd in the division and 4th over all with two games in hand. That’s something that we haven't seen a while.
F.C. has my vote to keep making his changes and adjustments. They all don't make sense at times and sometimes don't work but as long as I am seeing progress in the long run then I will continue to support him.
Coach of the Year? No
Good enough Coach to keep around? Yes

Edit: Between Niko and Dedi.... I would trade Dedi. Niko seems to be improving and getting better. Plus I think Dedi is worth more and would be a easier trade for Ching.... and for heavens, not Cooke.. He's all ours.

[InExile]

Coach of the Year? No
Good enough Coach to keep around? Yes

Edit: Between Niko and Dedi.... I would trade Dedi. Niko seems to be improving and getting better. Plus I think Dedi is worth more and would be a easier trade for Ching.... and for heavens, not Cooke.. He's all ours.

I concur. Definitely keep Nico. I think he is going to break wide open and blow us all away. Dedi seems to be a little flat right now. I'm sure he has a lot on his mind with his Mom and all, but maybe that will dissipate now that she is coming here to be near him. He came out of the gate like a Kentucky Derby winner when we first got him and he was incredible for a short while. Then he had to go home for paperwork or something and he was maybe not coming back and now he's here to stay it looks like but when he came back he did not return in full form. He seems like he is lost on the field, like he's an incredible superstar playing with a hangover. Lots of talent. Lots of physical ability and skill. He just can't seem to put it all together at the same time and be in the right place at the right time like he did before. I think he is one of our best players but if he stays flat like he is now we would be better off trading him for a hot-shot American player and let Coach find another brilliant SI to work with. Cooke and Karanka have to stay. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[GoRapids]

Wow - I thought I'd be flamed for even the though :D

[RapidStorm]

Wow - I thought I'd be flamed for even the thought :D
Fact is, Cooke and Karanka are the only SI's we've had that have been dominating enough to make it foolish to trade. Dedi and Niko have had stellar games, but have also been inconsistent enough to where I think we could get a lot of trade value just by marketing the two of them to other teams based on the potential in those good games, maybe getting someone more consistently great in return.

[fortcollins]

The Rapids have four solid SI's and several extremely promising young players. The weakness lies elsewhere. FC seems to handle the SI's quite well, but seems a bit lost when it comes to developing our young talent. This leads me to wonder whether FC is under some pressure.

This isn't a situation where one trade for one key player could suddenly propel the Rapids to the top. Barring a spectacular late-season run (not entirely out of the question, given our history), this doesn't quite have the look of a Cup season. It seems more that the Rapids are struggling a bit between trying to stay competitive with established players now and taking the risks necessary to develop a team for the future.

Looking ahead, the Rapids already have one precious commodity in the bank: the draft picks received in the Peguero trade. Particularly with younger players, team chemistry is vital. That's why I don't see too many big trades looming this season, and especially don't see any of the SI's moving anywhere.

[Rei de Boston]

The work Fernando has done in bringing in talent has been very good, especially when we remeber where the team was talent wise when he came in. Fernando does seem to have an eye for talent, I will add Nkong to the good list and Serna and Morales (was that his name) to the questionable pile. Still a pretty impressive record.

I think a key thing will be in how this team drafts in the future. That will ultimately determine the course of the franchise. Fernando seems to have picked up some good young prospects in Peterson, Noel and possibly Wasson.

I agree there is also still some question about youth player development.