Expansion draft detail MLS expansion draft set for Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. ET.LAFC will select 5 players total, not more than 1 from any single club.Current teams can protect 11 players, with many exemptions: https://t.co/zdq6GaLWOR— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) November 14, 2017
Tim Howard is just the Marquee player they need. And we could use an attacking/playmaker/goal scorer on par with what we could pay them w/ Tim's salary. So Tim will be protected at the top of the list
Steven GoffVerified account @SoccerInsider Colorado Rapids sign attacking midfielder Johan Blomberg, age 30, from Swedish club AIK #mls 9:02 AM - 21 Nov 2017
Officially announced by the team, here's the Denver Post story: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/11/21/johan-blomberg-signs-colorado-rapids/
Guys from the Nordic countries have worked out lately for many teams including the Crew who have a few of them. Good business if you can sell them later as well.
Johan Blomberg? I work with Swede........maybe I should ask him about this dude. I got nothing. My first thought is hmmmmmmm a 30 yr old attacking midfielder who has not played outside of Allsvenskan his entire career. That does raise the eyebrow slightly.The league isn't shabby. It's a stepping stone and the "talents" are scooped up fairly quickly around Europe. I'm skeptical especially given the fact we are manger-less.
I've watched him play at AIK. Good signing. He has a high work-rate and can play multiple positions. He has a lot of utility. For whats its worth with all of the people I've seen on social media shitting on the Swedish league, AIK would crush all but the very best MLS teams in any given year.
He will not last From Denver Post The 5-foot-10, 143-pound midfielder Our MLS ref's are what they are plus his age, consequently he will be injured most of season.
From the article: Last season, he scored three goals and added six assists in 28 league appearances. In Rapids-speak, that makes him an instant golden boot contender.
I just can't resist. "Three Swedes walked into a stadium . . ." C'mon everybody, finish the rest of this joke. it's something to do for the next six weeks while we wait for a coaching announcement.
I have never seen Blomberg play "live", but per some Swedish newspapers, he caught the interest of Rapids when Rapids representatives were in Sweden checking out AIK's coach, Rikard Norling. During the game the Rapids' representatives were watching (AIK vs Elfsborg), Blomberg scored a rocket from outside the 18.
Let's face it, on the surface the Blomberg signing is underwhelming to the hard core that read and post here and to the average fan as well. As I was walking the dog I was processing the positives, negatives as well as the questions remaining about his acquisition. + He comes on a free + He's experienced + He's been signed for two seasons, which seems appropriate at his age + He's not a DP - He takes up an international slot - He's 30 ? What role does he fill that makes the Rapids better in terms of skills compared to what currently have ? How will he work with whomever is the new coach ? Does his signing mean that the Rapids are going to sell/trade Gashi and/or Gatt When I look at the above, it's hard to get excited.
I'm neither enthused or disappointed by this signing. It appears to be a solid if unspectacular signing of somebody who should be competent enough to play a bunch of minutes and contribute to the team. A team full of Blombergs would probably be good enough to make the playoffs but not make a deep run. This isn't the signing that brings us MLS Cup but it probably saves us from seeing the likes of Gatt or Ramriez playing at below-average MLS level.
If he's part of several acquisitions, fine. You need more than one good player and it makes sense to get them in the midfield rather than starve a forward of service. We saw what could happen when Jones, Doyle and Gashi were all in the midfield moving the ball. If Blomberg can be part of that, great. If there's one thing that makes me doubt thus guy, it's who signs with a team that doesn't have a manager yet?
I've never heard of the guy and am taking it from what I read. It sounds like he has some soccer IQ. The Rapids desperately need to upgrade their on field IQ--the non-coachable feel for the game. On the negative, I read the same stat as COMntGUY. He's awfully small for this league, particularly in the middle. Pair him with Saied and you are undersized at the U18 level.
I've been told as much that the Rapids already have their new manager, and that he's been working with Smith on player acquisitions.