How the @ColoradoRapids are using sports science to keep players healthy & on the pitch #Rapids96 https://t.co/NAjb2HXhLn pic.twitter.com/T16bSNyPOy— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) July 26, 2018
Woah!!! Hudson's quote bears more scrutiny: "Kellyn is the type of player that can play in any of the two or three systems that we want to play,” Hudson explained. Two or three systems? Try one. We've seen a spectacularly ineffective 3-5-2. We've (sarcastically) seen a 10-0-0 that occasionally morphed into an attacking 8-2-0 or 8-1-1 juggernaut. And for 68 all too brief minutes against RSL, we actually saw an effective 4-4-2 diamond. Functionally, all I've seen is Hudson desperately trying to make players adapt to his system, without regard for their strengths or the opponents' skills. The result is the worst PPG in the Rapids' dismal history and a franchise record losing streak. If Hudson can't (or won't) change, Acosta will be absorbed into the Husdonian Failure Matrix like all the rest. Frankly, the Rapids would still lose with Messi and Ronaldo on the pitch without better insight by the coaching staff. Also, I hear there's a road match coming up at Buzzard Point. I heard somewhere that our opponent went out and signed some old retired British guy who occasionally found the net way back in his era. It might be nice if Hudson actually started thinking about marking him and having some warm bodies on the back line, or the buzzards at Buzzard Point might as well prepare for a feast.
Even at a DP level salary? Interesting that another MLS side has a DP that isn't starting. Not trying to be snarky, just an observation.
Theoretically, what would the Rapids have to give up to get him in terms of players, etc. Is he a better fit for the Rapids than Christian Ramirez?
This!!! I too may be in the minority here, but I am of the firm belief that Rapids fans on most forms of social media are getting caught up in the trap of focusing too much on player caliber while discussing club woes... whether it be placing too much blame on existing players ("under-performing") and/or placing too much value on possible player acquisitions ("we just need a _____ to solve the ____"). For one, the current performance of existing players can be heavily altered or degraded by the ineffectual system Hudson is forcing upon them... whether it be attackers or defenders. Case in point: complaints are flying about Boli's lack of production when the majority of his scant minutes have been in road matches where Hudson parked the bus (when he's placed on an island as forward with the other nine more/less parked in front of Howard). Of course his production is going to be low when there's nearly zero service of any quality to him. Same could probably be said about a defender or two... because of system. Likewise, although high caliber acquisitions are always an enticing thing to consider in club growth, chasing the flash isn't gonna get us anywhere if Hudson doesn't know how to use the flash. This is a guy who STILL thinks the solution to offensive woes somehow involves Jack McBean. Anyway, whether it be Acosta, rumors about Adi, the sure-bet arrival of Edin Dzeko, or the chastising of half of the current roster, IMO it's just a lot of misplaced focus, as the drunken captain of the ship is running us aground no matter who we have or don't have on roster. [Disclaimer: By no means interpret this post as me saying all existing players are solid and all flashy acquisitions are useless.]
One challenge is that I don't think the Rapids have very many desirable "spare parts" right now. I think in this forum there's some decent consensus who our best 11-13 players are. Beyond that, I don't see a lot of players who've had meaningful performances during meaningful minutes lately. Put another way, all our "starting-quality" players start. What do you all think? Who are our most "tradable" players? MacMath for one, I guess.
I think we have several pieces other teams would want that are not utilized well here. Gashi (rapids eating some salary), macmath, maybe Hairston. These are quality players that cant make the field for some reason. Not saying we get a trade, or even should, just that there are several options our coach doesn't use as well as others might.
But I think we all know this isn't going to change for at least another season and a half. So we can either encourage the team to do nothing and suck, or hope that getting some quality players can overcome the handicap of our coach.
I anticipated this would be the response. Understandably. If we can't win BECAUSE of Hudson, at least we can try to win DESPITE him. The Rapids Way, apparently. Yea, I get that. I agree they should try to improve the roster where they can, no doubt. However, what I do NOT get is all the trash talking about many "under-performing" existing players who: (a) are being played out of the position of their strength (Hudson's square peg/round hole phenomenon); , (b) are not being played nearly enough (or at all) because of Hudson's McBeans of the world; and/or (c) are being played in a system that is too easy to attack and break down (as defenders) or too dysfunctional to assemble an offensive attack (as offensive players). Once Hudson broke his horrendous losing streak, for some reason the social media waves started to point fingers at player under-performance as the scapegoat despite the 1,800 lb. elephant-gorilla-mutant in the room. IMO, probably 80% of this roster would probably look like much better players if they had a better coach or played in a better system. If Hudson doesn't turn it around soon, he will soon be known as a career killer. What stars will want to play for that? Anyway.
Ha! I thought about those two when crafting last post. That's why I scaled it back to "80% of the existing roster would look better under a different coach... " ;-) Using McBean as the example.... Like other attackers, he too isn't knocking in goals left and right either. Yet, unlike the others, he has had a LOT of mysterious playing time in favorable non-parked-bus situations, considering his caliber and pedigree. AND, during those times he has revealed many mistakes, an excruciating lack of speed, and very little ball control (falls down upon confrontation on most occasions). So, I'd say he doesn't "under-perform", per se. He just performs at the level he is capable of...USL level. Whereas it's quite evident that Gashi, Boli, Aigner, Axel, and maybe even the Azira's have quality skills that warrant(ed) playing time, in proper situations, and in proper systems. But not under this coach. Similar for Wynne. Though despite the many mistakes, I think Wynne has potential as a project.... BUT NOT as a defender that competes as one of the highest minute tallies on the club!
I am making a motion that every Rapids fan be required to read the 100's of pages of New Zealand supporter blogs solely about Hudson before they can publicly defer to the under-performing player scapegoat. To the Kiwis, he was a master at getting the least out of his players... simply because of his stubbornness in fitting (forcing) his players to his system instead of fitting his system to the players.
You’re spot on and preaching to the choir. I’ve been saying this on Facebook for months. Honestly speaking the rapids had/have enough decent players to be a competitive side, however with Hudson in charge, it wouldn’t matter if they had Ronaldinho at the #10. All that is happening is the team moral is going out the window and players careers are at jeopardy. Simply due to not wanting to adhere to the “hudsonway” style and strategy. More players will end up like Aigner; soon I bet also.
Concur. He’s been playing a role in too many goals... all season. Yet Hudson has given Smith and Wynne more minutes than virtually all Rapids players. They’re both Kiwi too.
Smith is an odd player. Is he supposed to be a fullback? He seems like one of the better ballhandlers on the team though that doesn't help with ill-advised passes in the back.
Looks like Gashi isn’t in the 18 for DCU match. Rapids Youth Soccer just posted a pic of him talking to soccer camp kids this morning. Not in DC like the others.
Came across a comment on a twitter conversation stating that last week he was in Europe - rather than in the XVIII for the FSL match. Let the speculation begin.
Yea. He was apparently in Europe for a “family emergency” until this past Monday. Played a bit vs. Boca on Tuesday. Yes. I believe Hudson wants to purge the Deep State. Gashi’s a pal of Aigner. Can’t be having that, can we. Sidenote: I’m wagering that Gashi wants out. Wagering a lot.
Were I him with just a few potentially 'good' years left in my career the Colorado Rapids may not be the hill (mountain?) I would want to die on.