Never too early, right? Two weeks away from concluding a nightmare season might as well get a jumpstart. Actually, we are a few weeks behind. I think last year’s offseason catch-all thread opened for business around the end of September. Nonetheless, Let the discussions begin.............. Who stays? Who goes? What positions need upgrades? I know, I know, all of them. Do HG’s Cole Bassett and Sam Vines, who’s reportedly shown well on loan to Charlotte Independence, get a legit shot at making the rotation for the 1st team?
Clear out your locker, don't pass go, do not collect $200: Boli, Barnes, Boateng (if possible, don't know his contract status), Dykstra, da Fonte One cap-hit free buyout: Gashi Please take these contracts off our hands: Blomberg, Boateng (if he's not out of contract), Smith, Wilson Return from loan: Castillo, unless Monterrey is willing to come down to $1 million or less on a transfer fee After that there's more dead weight I would move if possible: Hairston, Martinez, and McBean primarily. I don't think we're going to move 11 players this offseason, but that's where I'd start.
While I believe a lot of changes need to be made. A number of players would play way better if played in a better culture/atmosphere within the coaches and club. As a coach you need to find a way to get the most out of players. Everyone improves with confidence. Too many players are set up to fail in this system which makes them frustrated and try less. I think this holds true for Howard and Ford.
We have our first player rumor, Victor Anichebe https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/co...ng-colorado-rapids-offensive-signing-targets/ And good lord if his Wikipedia entry doesn't scream "I'm the next Rapids striker signing target!" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Anichebe
oh Lord, this is getting like Apocalypse Now in here. Just change "Mission" to Forward Willard- Everyone gets everything he wants. I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one. Brought it up to me like room service. It was a real choice mission, and when it was over, I never wanted another.
Jesus. No. This better not be a Howard recommendation based off of playing together at Everton. Dude couldn’t hit the broad aside of a barn. He was so frustrating for Everton fans. I hadn’t heard his name in years. Shocked he’s only 30. We picked up a striker from China’s League One this season and look how that’s turned out. Bolli at least lit up League One. Anichebe......not so much. Pass. Hard pass.
Well, we're not going to get the good Toffees! I would love to see someone like Seamus Coleman. Is the choice only between young South Americans mediocre enough that teams will let them go without transfer fees vs players with European club experience who washed out?
Happy to name a few from the current Everton squad, from goalkeeper to forward, I just don't quite think we'll get any of them.
An interesting article in The Athletic about the rebuild. Hat-tip to @Rod1916 for pointing it out. I'll pull out some quotes for people who don't have subscriptions: https://theathletic.com/…/12/rapids-rebuild-is-just-beginn…/
Great, they've built a culture that absolutely sucks at attacking, defending, and passing the midfield.
The RFO better head out now for their annual snowboard/ski extravaganza . . . uhhhh, I mean global scouting trip. The combine is January 3-9 in Orlando and the superdraft is January 11 in Chicago. I hear the boarding/skiing opportunities aren't too great in either location.
yep all of this is just pre-season for their 2020 hope/ prayer to be competitive. Man it is tough trying to support local Pro sports teams here.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...iker-victor-anichebe-training-colorado-rapids Dodged a bullit! Anichebe is not a target and trained with the club while on a visit to the US. Personal trainings are trials despite what clubs may say. Either way, he’s signing with the Rapids.
Jason, thanks for putting the quotes together! ...What helps Hudson and Smith is they already have a core in place. Howard, 39, will head into the last year of his contract and career before retirement. Acosta, Ford, Sam Nicholson, Jack Price, Tommy Smith and Danny Wilson are part of the team’s long-term vision. That also includes 17-year-old Littleton native Cole Bassett,... That's going to be our core going forward? IMHO: Howard may or may not play next year, but he's gone after that either way. Acosta's good enough to be a core player on a top MLS team. I doubt that we'll be able to keep him unless we're a lot better next season. Nicholson is high-effort low-results. Maybe a squad player on a decent MLS team but not a core player. Price and Smith are ok. Maybe start on a .500 MLS team. Wilson doesn't seem good enough. Ford has a decent future ahead of him, but I'm still not convinced he'll be a solid MLS CB (and I don't see him becoming a FB at all). Bassett started 1 match against an awful defense where he almost cost us a goal with a bad giveaway and did some good things to help possession and move the ball forward. Way too early to know how good he'll ever be. That's our core?
'Loss of Coolant' = Cronin, Burch, etc. 'Reactor Overheats' = Aigner 'Core Materials Melt' = Gashi, Boli, Mason, Smith, Wilson "Melted Materials Breach Reactor Vessel' = 2018 Colorado Rapids
A reactor melting down seems kind of exciting; something is definitely happening and the massive energy cannot be contained. The 2018 Rapids seem more like the Tacoma Narrows bridge. They were built without a full understanding of the stresses of their environment, and under the stresses of said environment they basically shook themselves into a total wreck. Two of them, in fact.
New mascot, Gallopin' Gertie: Or Sinkin' Sally: Moral of the story, stay off the bridges in the Puget Sound and surrounding area.
I don't want to stir up the pro/rel debate again, so let's leave that aside for this question. Suppose the Rapids played in the USL. Where would they have finished this season? Consider: In a game that supposedly mattered, the USOC match at Nashville SC, the Rapids lost 2-0 on June 6. Nashville finished 8th in the USL East, just above the playoff line, with a 12-9-13 record, 49 points in 34 games (1.44 PPG and +11 goal differential). In a meaningless friendly on a neutral baseball field, the Rapids edged the Tulsa Roughnecks FC 3-2. Tulsa finished last (17th) in the USL West, with a 3-19-12 record, 21 points in 34 games (0.62 PPG and a -41 goal differential).
I'd keep Castillo and Hairston but agree with the rest. Didn't realize da Fonte was still on the roster ... please, please get rid of him.