Interview with Conor Casey about the pressure when the U.S. was in Honduras during 2010 Qualifying and he scored 2 and had an unofficial assist on the 3rd: http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/...asey-goals-honduras/oqenqxatlrof1j3spuulg5mq0
Well we wont see Watts in Colorado any more this year: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017...tee-suspends-colorados-jared-watts-extra-game
It's a shame the DisCo didn't pen him for two additional matches. Then we wouldn't have to speculate on the dumbfounding play he will make in the Seattle match. Seriously, I'd advocate giving him his unconditional release the morning after the RSL game.
3 hours from kickoff of our final home game, against FSL, and we don't have a game thread yet. If that isn't the perfect reflection of this season I don't know what is.
No point in a game thread. It's a must-lose game if the Rapids want any chance at the last remaining prize, the Wooden Spoon.
Watts had shoulder surgery today, and is out for the (short) rest of the season. Per RFO: barring any further issues is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the team’s 2018 pre-season training.
". . . however, barring any further issues is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the team’s 2018 pre-season training." No. Just no. I'm all for the medical care. I'm all for wishing Watts the best in his future career. If he's even remotely near the Rapids by the 2018 preseason: It will prove that the RFO hasn't learned anything. It will confirm the very worst suspicions about the team's complete indifference to failure. It will be the last straw for me. Deal me out. I'll find another team to root for. Watts is the poster child for about everything wrong with the Rapids. He shows the failure of the draft system and scouting. He is a player without a natural position on the pitch (even deep bench is over his ability). He lacks game awareness. He seems entirely uncoachable (see "Leaf, Ryan"). He lacks multiple fundamental skills (dribbling, passing, settling, clearing, marking, reading builds). His GOTY candidate own goal epitomizes the failure that is the 2017 Rapids. No, no, no, no, and no. Tie a T-bone steak around his neck and sell him, trade him, give him away, pay somebody to take him.
Watts made $75,000 in 2017. Assuming that doesn't go up to $180,000 in 2018, the price is right. He'll be back as a backup.
The biggest problem for Watts is that Pablo is no longer the coach. He's fresh out of people that think he's a starter. At times midseason he was playing well enough to lock down his spot. As far as him being injured I am definitely hoping for the best. Rebuild come back at 150%.
I've got no problem with the team writing that. That's what you say about any player who hasn't announced his retirement or that he's leaving the team. I also don't have much of a problem with a 2018 Rapids that has Watts on the bench for $80K and he gets starts in the USOC games and a spot start or two for injury plus some late game sub minutes.
I'm not gonna completely bail on Watts until I see him under another coach. I can see how a coach would see the usefulness there. I had thought that Watts might take the step Sjoberg did from 2015 to 2016. Watts didn't, but then the state of the team was very different. Same for Badji and a few others. I think there's space to work with the team as a whole to minimize the risks that lead to errors - without it being all defense all the time. That's really what I want out of our next coach. Is that too much to ask?
Actually Sjoberg seemed at times to go in Watts' direction. To me that is a symptom related to the head of the beast not the legs.
Caught the USL quarterfinal between Rochester and Charlotte tonight. Rapids loanee Caleb Calvert started for Charlotte and did some reasonable hold up work. He generally looks more useful at this level than in MLS (not saying much). Didn't see Castillo, but couldn't recall if he was still on loan either. The Rhinos -- the Rapids' old Open Cup foes -- you might recall, have had a soccer-specific stadium (close to downtown!) since around 2006 I think, but the days of 5 digit crowds seem long since past. Spirited crowd, but maybe 2000 in attendance.