Offseason of nothing

Discussion in 'Colorado Rapids' started by JasonMa, Jan 25, 2008.

  1. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Technically there's still an hour and a half before close of buisness in Denver, but with the league office done for the week I think this is safe to say.

    Monday moring the off-season ends as the Rapids players report for the opening of training. What have we done this off-season to improve a team that missed the playoffs last year?

    Cuts:
    Osorno
    Sanneh
    Cancela
    Thorton

    Additions:
    Burciaga
    Hilgenbrinck

    and the draft, which I'll get to.

    So we cut 3 benchwarmers and a defensive super-sub, and added two players who's primary position is left back. This on a team that was worst in MLS in scoring, while having a good, if not great, defense.

    And before everyone points out the draft I'll say two things. First we're considered to have had one of the 2 worst drafts of any of the MLs teams, and every MLS team got to draft, so our quality realative to teh rest of the league didn't change significantly.

    Now I know there are a number of rumors about players being signed or traded for in the near future, and I hope some of them turn out to be quality. But once again the Rapids are opening pre-season needing to make multiple moves in order to put together a decent MLS side, more than likely leading to a disorganized group that isn't used to playing with each other when the games start to count.
     
  2. TheDoc

    TheDoc Member

    Aug 17, 2007
    Tucson, AZ
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Heh the best thing is the only likely trades are our best players out and more defenders in.
     
  3. Bonji

    Bonji Moderator

    Feb 4, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You can't rate the draft based on the combine performance of players, which is what many of the people out there are doing. While I agree, the Rapids draft wasn't the best, they also only had one pick in the first two rounds. The teams that did "well" had many more. I give the Rapids some credit for their draft. They picked some skilled, versatile players. Face it, picking the "best" striker in the draft may not pan out but picking a solid versatile player who can play multiple positions has a better chance of working out since there are more positions they can play.

    I'm not out to trash Ives, but him giving the Rapids a flat out F is totally extreme and a sign that Ives is a better writer then player expert. O'Brien is a solid player with good experience and credentials. Let's wait until we see him play to see if he is good or not. There's a good chance he'll be able to make a career in the league. The rest of the picks have a chance to earn a reserve spot and maybe contribute to the first team. That is all you can hope for from the third round on.

    I'm positive about the Rapids draft class. Let's not all lose hope and listen to the writers just because they have a higher pulpit.
     
  4. DavidJames

    DavidJames Member+

    May 11, 2003
    Longmont
    I share your disappointment regarding picking up any offensive help. The Rapids aren't alone here though.

    Here are last years 6 lowest scoring teams listed with the every offensive player they've brought in (not counting the draft):

    Toronto
    Rapids
    RSL
    Chicago - Andy Herron
    Dallas
    Columbus

    hmmmm :)
     
  5. TheDoc

    TheDoc Member

    Aug 17, 2007
    Tucson, AZ
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hey Bonji about the draft though do you think that O'Brien would have been taken 6th or 7th if we wouldnt have taken him? Due to his talent level and ability to fill different roles.
     
  6. Bellus Ludas

    Bellus Ludas New Member

    Aug 5, 2005
    Greeality
    You would have to believe this is do or die for FC and the front office. If they cannot pull it off this season then I would hope we would see changes next season.

    I myself felt that both should have been replaced after last season, but....I don't own the team. So, heres hoping....
     
  7. askum33

    askum33 New Member

    Jun 2, 2004
    San Antonio, TX
    Do or die for FC, but not the FO.
    They are getting close(or may have achieved) to being in the black. That's a win for the FO and their owner.
    And you are seeing changes starting to take hold. They are trying to hire a technical director.
    Wanting a TD is admittance that the on field performance is not up to snuff and changes are needed.

    Not everything can be done at once.
    We can't ask for new players and chemestry from day one.
     
  8. BeTheRed

    BeTheRed Member

    May 16, 2006
    There is a part of me that is glad for the inaction. I have no confidence in the current management to get value in player moves, so I'd just as soon not see them make any more bad moves. Then once we get a new management (it has to happen some time, right??), they can take the team in a new direction without being hobbled by any more bad acquisitions / give-aways.
     
  9. denver_mugwamp

    denver_mugwamp New Member

    Feb 9, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    Yeah, and they're trying to get Pat Noonan. Oops, oh wait he's going to Norway. And they're trying to bring in some foreign players but the ones that do arrive are pretty much useless. Wanting to hire a technical director is a joke, like everything else the RFO is "trying" to do. When you have the reputation of being the worst management in MLS, you'd better make some changes and actually do something rather have some sock puppet show up on a board somewhere and make an ass of themselves promising things that are never delivered.
     
  10. jimmyco

    jimmyco Member

    Jan 17, 2003
    Aurora, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lighten up, Francis. Askum is nobody's sock.
     
  11. teddy_montoya

    teddy_montoya RapidsThugLife

    Nov 9, 2006
    Supporters Terrace
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It takes time, sure I want FC gone. As soon as 2mro. But will it happen--->no. So the best I can hope for is improvment and a team that is trying. Once/if we get the Arsenal coach/assistant maybe we will become a little better, point is we are trying.

    I don't remember anybody promising anything, if anything they/we are just giving rumors and news. Nothing more. That is one of the things that happens on this website. Rumors are reported and things may never work out. Kinda like Veron going to DC, but is now Gallardo.

    Also I don't think we are the worst managed club in the league. Have you seen Columbus latley???

    Plus-I can promise you that there may be some people who post that work for the Rapids, but non the less almost all of us want the team to suceed at any means needed...
     
  12. chilistrider

    chilistrider Together We Rise

    May 9, 2002
    Thornton, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    <minirant>
    nonetheless
    nonetheless
    nonetheless

    Teddy, this English teacher will teach you to spell one word at a time. Next week's quiz: nonetheless.






    ;)

    P.S.---Before you call me one, please note the spelling Grammar Nazi, and also note that it is your spelling, not your grammar that I'm ragging on. </minirant>
     
  13. teddy_montoya

    teddy_montoya RapidsThugLife

    Nov 9, 2006
    Supporters Terrace
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well thank you....

    <crying> Why do you always pick on me!!!!! </end crying>:D
     
  14. Bonji

    Bonji Moderator

    Feb 4, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    His GA status and skills would have him going in the top 10 no matter what, IMO. I think people have been surprised by him at #5 but at #8 it would have been more in line with expectations.
     
  15. WJMarx

    WJMarx BigSoccer Supporter

    May 5, 2003
    Boulder, CO
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Pre-draft selections and mock draft by pundits selecting O'Brien:

    Pro Player Pipeline # 19

    Ives Galarcep not included in top 16 in each of his 2 "drafts"

    3rd Degree not included in his top 14 in his mock draft

    MLS # 13

    Bonji # 7


    Actually, only Bonji included O'Brien in top dozen!

    ** NOTE! As I indicated earlier, Bonji more accurately identified players selected in the 1st round than any of the other pundits

    All of these mock picks are being made by die hard soccer devotees but with very little personal insight into the college players other than MLS combine.

    O'Brien played poorly on day 1 and very, very well on days 2 & 3 when he was dropped deep in the midfield sitting immediately above CB's. He is a good player but as with each othe GA this status pushed him up the draft!!!


    Picks taken shortly after O'Brien - Time will tell - Compare & Contrast

    5 Ciaran O'Brien California - Santa Barbara M 20 5'9 150 Tacoma WA USA
    6 Andy Iro California - Santa Barbara D 23 6'5 205 Liverpool, England England
    7 Patrick Nyarko Virginia Tech F 21 6'0 165 Kumasi, Ghana Ghana
    8 Josh Lambo U-17 National Team GK 17 6'0 206 Middleton WI USA
    9 Julius James Connecticut D 23 6'0 180 Maloney Gardens, Trinidad Trinidad
    10 Pat Phelan Wake Forest M 22 6'1 175 Enfield CT USA
     
  16. denver_mugwamp

    denver_mugwamp New Member

    Feb 9, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    Columbus is not in the Rapids league for suckiness. Two reasons:

    (1) The were willing to spend the money to hire a decent coach--Sigi Schmid. The RFO was not willing to spend the amount of money to get a coach of this caliber. Instead they got a bargain-basement clown, rumored to be the only guy who would work for the paltry sum they were offering..

    (2) Columbus was actually able to recruit and sign Schelotto, a decent quality South American. Even with Clavijo's "contacts" and ability to speak the language, the Rapids have done no better than Nicolas Hernandez.

    Regardless of results, both of these represent "action" rather than "trying".
     
  17. DavidJames

    DavidJames Member+

    May 11, 2003
    Longmont
    In this case 1 + 2 = 0.

    I don't care if a team is "willing to spend the money", nor do I care if a team is "able to recruit" and sign a player. Yeah Columbus did that, BFD, I care about results.

    Action without results is meaningless. Actually the Rapids have taken actions, maybe not the ones you (or I) would have preferred, but they have acted. The results weren't good.
     
  18. prk166

    prk166 BigSoccer Supporter

    Aug 8, 2000
    Med City
    * looks at calendar *

    Hmmmmm... January 26th. Is there a shortage of Ridilan these days..... ;)
     
  19. teddy_montoya

    teddy_montoya RapidsThugLife

    Nov 9, 2006
    Supporters Terrace
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......;)
     
  20. GoRapids

    GoRapids Member

    Sep 1, 1999
    Boulder CO
    As a point of reference ... Terry Cooke ...
    Aquired: Signed by the Rapids on March 24, 2005.
     
  21. Denvercal

    Denvercal New Member

    Feb 1, 2007
    Northglenn
    Regardless of whether you agree with all he says, Kudo's to Murph for coming out and responding and sharing some level of insight into their off-season activities. Thanks Murph. Sam Adams on me next time.
     
  22. TheDoc

    TheDoc Member

    Aug 17, 2007
    Tucson, AZ
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think Murph may be one of the few worthy people to stay within the staff. I enjoyed his article. I would like some insight on where they want to go or what kind of ball they truly want to play or why they traded/fired who they did.
     
  23. doogiemo

    doogiemo Member

    Aug 11, 2005
    ohh USA, USA USA USA
    Quote from an ESPN Soccernet article...

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=501952&root=mls&cc=5901

    "Colorado Rapids -- It has been a painfully quiet winter for Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo. Colorado added left winger Chase Hilgenbrinck, an American who spent years playing in Chile, but that move isn't keeping the Rapids from finding the Western Conference basement. There isn't a lot of reason for optimism in Denver these days."

    You reading this RFO?
     
  24. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, and as i said in the original post, the offseason ended yesterday. I didn't say a preseason of nothing. And my concern is that we're making more changes as we go into and through the preseason, instead of having our players in camp learning to play together for as long as possible.
     
  25. Ace7

    Ace7 Member

    May 1, 2006
    Based on what exactly?

    Amazing how Murphy - FC's right-hand man - always gets a free pass in here. You do realize that Murphy scouts college players, goes to the Combines, and was very instrumental in this latest Rapids draft...a draft which you and some others have been highly critical of?

    (Hey John, you didn't laugh or chat with anyone at the Combine, did you? Thats a big no-no in here. :eek:)

    Anyone reading this forum for the first time would think Murphy had nothing to do with the draft. In amongst all the draft ranting, Murphy's name is rarely mentioned anywhere.

    But since you seem to be a fan of Murphy's, how do you respond to what he says below?

    John Murphy said:
    "We certainly addressed some future needs over the past week or so. With the eight rounds of the draft ending yesterday, we came away with some players that we feel very good about. The pundits seem to think that we underachieved with our draft picks, and that is their prerogative. But with two reserve championships and former draftees playing first team soccer, I hope our fans give us the benefit of the doubt. As a staff, we cover more matches and more events than just about anyone in MLS. We do not have the benefit of being in a large metropolitan area such as the East/West coast teams or even Chicago where you can jump in a car and see numerous college matches. So much of our recruiting is done with significant travel and that requires a big commitment from the organization.

    I feel that people still tend to look at the MLS Draft as they do in football and other sports, but that is a misconception. The player pool is not deep enough to dictate that type of philosophy. They see that we have drafted players who play in a certain position and feel that we are stockpiling defenders or midfielders and that is not the case: we are stockpiling good players. Individuals who are functional, can play more than one position, and are comfortable on the ball. To keep a depth chart of strikers, midfielders and defenders is a good organizational practice, but the philosophy of choosing the best player available is often the rule of thumb.

    The internet is certainly the place for the press and fans to discuss the college player pool. I think it is great that we are starting to develop a “buzz” about certain players as the draft approaches, but even our harshest critics would be shocked if we allowed that to dictate our decision making on draft day. Bottom line is, there are many reasons why certain players are picked, and some of them the general public cannot be privy to."
     

Share This Page