I get that every team in MLS is trying to do this but Rapids so need to find Giovinco 2.0, maybe even more than 1 of them.
#Rapids96 #MLS looking to bring Edgar Castillo from Monterrey #LigaMX @RobAbramowitz @GlennCrooks @EricGomez86 @arieljudas @JuanMapu— John E. Rojas (@jrojasa75) November 1, 2017
31 yo. All Liga MX experience I believe. Capped by US and Mexico according to the Wik. Personally don't know much about him.
His offense and ball skill is a plus at LB, his defending, what little he does, is a big minus when I last saw him
Haha. Whoops. *That* Edgar Castillo. Last played for US under JK but I can't remember how long ago. Pretty quick, and as CoMtGuy states- good with the ball at his feet. Though I've considered him to be at least competent at D. Certainly better than most the Rapids currently employed in the back. With his experience (including two MX championships) he could provide a boost to the back line technically and likely some leadership outside of TH. Yes, how much...?
He started both the Guatemala games in 2016. There was like a 3 year gap between appearances before that though.
In addition to the "how much would he cost" question, I would also hope that he would at more be given a two year contract at his age, with an option year.
Here's something to think about. Why was columbus the team that Austin was looking at? The Rapids should be a prime target to relocate. Heck, they could stink for 10 years straight and sellout every game. Kroenke s dream scenario
Actually, I don't see why the Rapids would be a prime target to relocate. Denver is a much bigger place with reasonable summers for outdoor viewing. If I had to choose between the two locations, Denver is an easy win from an ownership perspective. I blame most of the attendance woe's due to ownership (which includes investment, choosing a location, etc.). Kroenke would have an even bigger attendance issue in Austin given the choices they make. Maybe not in year 1 due to excitement, but it would wear off quickly. An owner who would do well in Austin (and many would), would absolutely clean up in Denver. Not that I am saying Austin shouldn't get a team (15 years there showed me it would be a great spot), just that Denver shouldn't be a "move" target unless the goal was to use the move to get Kroenke out of ownership by selling to someone in Austin, then expanding with new owners in Denver. rod.
The Rapids have like ten more years on their contract with Dicks I'm pretty sure. So that's strike one. Strike two is Kroenke. His family doesn't care about the Rapids. But what he does care about is real estate. And all those condos, shopping malls etc which are going up in commerce city near the stadium. KSE has a hand in the majority of those. They own over 900 acres of development out there. Honestly the Rapids are pretty irrelevant as a soccer team to KSE. It's the things around the Rapids that are making them money. They obviously have Investments in the ticketing and tv side of the team that wouldn't make too much sense to break away just the MLS team from all their other Denver operations. Then there's the non KSE factors like Denver being 17th largest tv market and Columbus being 32. 19th in metro population vs Columbus 34. If you are a fan worried about relocation I'd say RSL is the a much more likely target. Not that they are going to move but they are one of the smallest tv and population markets.
Expansion draft thoughts. assuming one is held: http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2017/11/expansion-draft-coming-maybe.html
I would straight up trade Gordon to LAFC for whatever we can get. I thought Gordon ended up being a decent pick-up but his age, cost and Rapids re-build X.0 makes me think lets get something for him if LAFC is interested.
I have heard form a bunch of sources that the entire DSGP complex is a big money maker for Kroenke sports (spring, summer and fall soccer/lacrosse/field hockey/ultimate tournaments and leagues, concerts, events etc. Now that housing is expanding right up against the stadium, it isn't going to be seen as being as "far away" as the location has been in the past.
Lopez is out. Claudio Lopez will not return to the #Rapids96 in 2018 amid a front office and roster overhaul: https://t.co/Vm36GuzAVL— Daniel Boniface (@danielboniface) November 7, 2017
Some quotes from Boniface's article: Asked what input a new coach would have on player acquisitions, Smith said that is why their exhaustive search was so important. “When you identify a coach who shares the same philosophy and vision, then you obviously put yourself in a position where the players you’re identifying are absolutely in line with everyone’s thinking,” Smith said. Smith said the Rapids have identified a number of key additions they are targeting this offseason. In the short term, Smith said he’s looking for a left wing back and an attacking midfielder. He said those players should play with intensity, urgency and boldness.
i like the idea of the overhaul of the FO but i'd like those positions filled before the start of preseason (particularly the director of player personnel).
Absolutely. There is no reason that there can't be more or less a full compliment of new FO personnel by say mid-January to the beginning of February.
Based on some recent memorable matches we may want 5 guys (4 backs + mostly stay home d-mid) rather than 3 in front of our GK?