2017 Rapids Predictions/ Golden Boot/ Etc

Unwilling to guess the entire West, since I don't know what any of the other teams did in the offseason.

I know what the Rapids did, and it ain't enough. I don't think we'll score enough goals to stay in the top 4. We'll either just barely make the playoffs (5 or 6) or miss them (7 or 8).

Gashi for Golden Boot - I'm assuming he won't have major injury problems. I'm expecting only marginal improvement from Badji, so still a lot of missed chances and lost chances due to poor first touch. I don't see Doyle making much difference and I hope Gordon doesn't play much.

 

Man, MLS Transfers really likes what FCD, SSFC and Timbers did in the off-season.
Honestly, I'd say fighting for 6th is realistic. Missing the playoffs should results in PM being fired, but that isn't gonna happen...

Golden boot is a total mystery honestly. Badji, Doyle and Gordon could all take it. I'd like to see Gashi...maybe even Calvert....(struggled writing that without laughing)

 

I say we finish 5th in the West and win the RMC.

My golden boot will be Gashi with 13.

 

Rapidman will deliver it astride a unicorn with a double rainbow in the background?

 

• Gotta be oh-my-Goshi for the Golden Boot with more than 10. I also predict he'll add to his wonder golazo portfolio this season, but can't predict what they'll look like.

• The Rapids will drive us crazy with draws that will make it difficult for them to rise above 4th or so in the conference standings.

• The complaints about the food at the Dick on this board will be down as we've all given up on seeing an improvement in service and food quality.

• If we're lucky Smith & Co. will realize that the group can't improve it's goal scoring without at least one signing and will bring in one attacking player in an attempt to rectify the situation.

• My level of pessimism about this season will not change in the next few months.

 

• The Rapids will finish about 4th in the West with a point total around 50
• We'll win the one-off playoff game at home but lose in the conference semifinals
• Gashi will win the team Golden Boot with double-digit goals (barely)
• We win the Rocky Mountain Cup
• The Rapids make a move in the early season to add some offense, either a trade or a low-key signing
• In the summer transfer window the team makes a bigger splash with a signing, possibly DP level
• The Open Cup goes like the last couple of years where we beat a lower-league team (probably the Switchbacks) but lose when we face MLS competition
• We're going to have one lousy stretch during the year. Nothing like the end of 2014 but 4-5 games where the season appears to go south. We recover in time to save our playoff spot though

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2017/03/play-it-again-sam-2017-season-preview.html

 

Same prediction as last year:

 

- 3d place finish in the West, knocked out of the playoffs in the semis
- Knocked out early in the Open Cup
- Win the RMC
- Hairston wins the Golden Boot (just to give a crazy answer)
- Atlanta and LA in the MLS Cup Finals, FCD wins the Supporters Shield again

 

I put myself on preseason prediction probation after last year's epic miss. So I'll just predict that I won't make preseason predictions for the Rapids this year.

 

Quick predictions before league play starts tonight:

-Rapids return to playoffs, with lower seeding (maybe 5th).
-Rapids give up slightly more goals, but also score slightly more goals than last year (just 'cause I'm optimistic - I like more goals).
-Golden Boot = Badji (after a switch is made to play him up top, with Doyle underneath at the "10" spot).
-Golden Ball = Howard (assuming he plays 70% or more games).
-Best in the West will be: FC Dallas, Seattle, LA and Vancouver. Rapids middle of the pack. Portland, RSL, SKC will under-perform. Houston, San Jose, Minnesota will be bottom of the table.
-Juan Ramirez returns and provides a spark to meager attack (unlikely to happen, but cool if I get prediction right).
-Rapids sign a DP player in July, but it's a defensive player (everyone groans).