I guess we're officially out of preseason now so new thread? Two conversation topics: We are 5 days and 3 hours from kickoff...and we only have 22 signed players (since Greeenspan isn't available). This seems like an issue. Given injuries and availability there's a good chance our opening day lineup on Sunday has 6 players that were on the roster on opening day last year and a 7th (K.Doyle) who joined midseason. That's not a lot of difference from a team that needed a major overhaul after last year...
Also, just found out that the Rapids have 8 international slots with 7 signed internationals (Badji, Doyle, Gashi, St.Ledger, Sjoberg, Solignac, Williams). The one we got from LA in the trade for Sarvas last year must have just been for 2015. So if we sign Castillo then we're full, though loans to Charlotte could free up spots.
The Rapids whitewashing game is at full strength going into 2016 at least http://milehighsports.com/in-pursuit-of-pedagogy-why-pablo-mastroeni-is-still-coach-in-colorado/
I'm thinking teaching has a separate place from chalking up wins as a heads coach. The wins are much more important.
I agreed with this part: "He’s still in the process of figuring this out." And when it stated in the title "Why Pablo Mastroeni is still coach in Colorado" I thought there would be something about a file full of pictures of FO personnel or Kroenke family, or both, naked with dead girls or live boys.
Yeah, but now we have a buzzword, pedagogy, to go with our really true fans and our truer truyist truths from our Ministry of Truth.
The Rapids twitter is now tweeting pics of fans with the new kit. Not sure how that meshes with the big reveal next Thursday or if they just decided to punt on the secrecy when they accidentally released that image.
Pedantry about pedagogy when in reality we still aren't over our lactate intolerance? Get a 'real true coach' already?
It's odd way, but then on the other hand if it came with even a few more wins than losses it wouldn't even be scrutinized... save for the Jasonma updating his master excel file.
I"ve been waffling on attending the season opener.....but that team looks mostly the same. with the exception of Gashi who is hopefully an upgrade. I don't think we can win with cement shoes and corner flag playing in the center back., just not enough speed in my opinion. St. Ledger back would be a huge help, but I"m guessing he's not quite ready.....I see us struggling out of the gate.
Did anyone go to one of the season ticket packet pickup locations this week? I couldn't make it. Do I need to do anything prior to the season opener?
This is an important staring point. Without St. Ledger I too feel that the Rapids will have a difficult time preventing goals. And even with him they still need another center back with some pace rather than just size. Hopefully this on Bravo's radar screen.
On the attacking front, it looks to me like K. Doyle, Gashi and Pappa (perhaps along with Serna) need to frequently be in close contact for the attack to be more potent than last season.
I picked mine up on Monday at the stadium. Same stuff as usual lanyard and tickets. The discounted food items are the same but are $6 this season. I asked my rep about Tim Howard, his response was essentially "I cannot comment on that but the July 4th game should be a lot of fun."
Especially when people turn up to see Tim Howard and he's not playing because the July transfer window doesn't open until the second week...
Roster compliance was Tuesday, guess as @JasonMa pointed out, the Rapids are under the 28man roster limit. Does that mean the team can add 6 more players still or what?
Yes, but only one can be an international. Unless one of our current internationals gets sent to Charlotte for the year (or cut, but that gets into contract buyouts and stuff which is tricky at this point under MLS rules).
http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/03/03/colorado-rapids-release-new-primary-jersey-2016 worst kept secret is now public....
I just reviewed all the rosters on the team sites. Everyone has at least 26 players listed except for us and Chicago, both at 22 (23 for us if you include Greenspan). Kickoff is in 3 days...
Bravo (The Mouse) is obviously a fan of Robert Burns. Perhaps Spenny soothingly quotes it to him often. Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ bickerin brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle! I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion Has broken Nature’s social union, An’ justifies that ill opinion, Which makes thee startle, At me, thy poor, earth-born companion, An’ fellow-mortal! I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve; What then? poor beastie, thou maun live! A daimen-icker in a thrave ’S a sma’ request: I’ll get a blessin wi’ the lave, An’ never miss ’t! Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin! It’s silly wa’s the win’s are strewin! An’ naething, now, to big a new ane, O’ foggage green! An’ bleak December’s winds ensuin, Baith snell an’ keen! Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste, An’ weary Winter comin fast, An’ cozie here, beneath the blast, Thou thought to dwell, Till crash! the cruel coulter past Out thro’ thy cell. That wee-bit heap o’ leaves an’ stibble Has cost thee monie a weary nibble! Now thou’s turn’d out, for a’ thy trouble, But house or hald, To thole the Winter’s sleety dribble, An’ cranreuch cauld! But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me! The present only toucheth thee: But Och! I backward cast my e’e, On prospects drear! An’ forward tho’ I canna see, I guess an’ fear!