I actually think the rumors made it less likely to leave him exposed. Do we want to miss out on a possible transfer fee? I thought Rubio was the most likely to be taken, but I was just reminded that Irwin is a Charlotte native. It might be that the new club wants a hometown guy.
You make a great point on Rubio. For some reason I I keep thinking he’s out of contract 12/31 but he has another year left.
Ok, its time for me to face the music. I made a dozen predictions at the start of the season and I did not do so well with them (one of them, the USOC, was N/A). http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2021/12/expansion-draft-and-reviewing.html
If anyone's interested, I put together a brief overview/scouting report of the opponents Colorado could potentially face in the first round of the Champions League. Most qualified by way of the CONCACAF League, but there are a few interesting stories behind some teams' journeys. Notably, Haiti's Cavaly A.S. hasn't played a competitive match since their domestic league's season was abandoned in May. Additionally, a quirk of the process means that the Rapids have a slightly higher chance of drawing the sole Liga MX representative in Pot 2 compared to the other sides on the table. https://josephsamelson.com/post/670554438610616320/rapids-outlook-scouting-colorados-potential
Rapids Thanksgiving viewership numbers: https://twitter.com/grantwahl/status/1465727065320263680?s=21 Were higher than the peak viewership of the cup final: Viewership peaked between 6 and 6:15 ET (the shootout, it appears) at 1.6 million on ABC and 512,000 on UniMas.— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) December 14, 2021
There's also a slightly better chance of drawing Forge than the other non-Mexican teams (but not as good of a chance as Santos), since Forge is prevented from facing Montreal in the first round.
Colorado Rapids homegrown and US youth int'l forward Darren Yapi is training with Arsenal, per a source. Both Yapi and Rapids/USYNT teammate Dantouma 'Yaya' Toure are with the U23s.Yapi, who just turned 17, previously trained with Club Brugge while Toure was with Rangers.— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 14, 2021
Vendido pelo #Fla ao Colorado Rapids, dos EUA, Max assinará com a nova equipe no máximo até quarta. Contrato até 12/2026.Detalhes da venda:US$ 1 milhão (R$ 5,6 milhões) em duas parcelas por 80%US$ 750 mil à vistaUS$ 250 mil no meio de 2022Fla mantém 20%'@venecasagrande pic.twitter.com/uvHnvpC7rZ— DanielzinhoFla (@DanielzinhoFla) December 14, 2021 Translation: Sold by #Fla to Colorado Rapids, USA, Max will sign with the new team no later than Wednesday. Contract until 12/2026. Sale Details: US$1 million (R$5.6 million) in two installments for 80% $750,000 in cash $250,000 in mid 2022 Fla keeps 20%'
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-free-agency-eligible-player-list Here’s a list of free agents. Any one of interest for the Rapids? Just two names remotely spark my interest. Ethan Finlay & Sean Davis. Both are unlikely. Finlay is 31 and starting to have a little dip in his play. He’s a solid box-to-box midfielder though and has come up big some important matches. But seems highly unlikely with Kaye. Sean Davis is probably unlikely, too.. I’ve always felt he was one of the more underrate box-to-box players in MLS. He’s a perfect age at 28. He’s a leader and always consistent if his play, and is smart as they come on the pitch. But we again, have Kaye and both Davis’ parents are battling cancer in the NYC area. So I could see him staying close and re-signing with NYRB.
#Rapids96 have expressed interest in free agent Sean Davis. Davis was most recently the captain of the Red Bulls as is a 28 y/o defensive midfielder. Imo this only makes sense if one of Acosta or Price is leaving. #NYRB— Inside Rapids (@insiderapids) December 15, 2021
Could we actually see Acosta leave this winter? I haven’t heard any rumors and really, with his age, it’s now or never on getting that one big European contract. Acosta has expressed an interest to try his luck abroad but are their actual suitors at this point? If there’s any inkling he’s gone, I’d hope, the Rapids are having conversations with Sean Davis.
I think there'd be suitors, it's just whether they are teams that are threats to be in the Champions League or the Europa League. I think he'd absolutely be valued by a Championship side or perhaps a mid-table team in Belgium, Holland, or Scotland. I mean, look how Christian Ramirez at 30 is tearing it up in Scotland. Thing is, that kind of a move wouldn't help cement Acosta's place on the USMNT, which is what he's looking for. It'd likely be equivalent to just remaining on the Rapids, from that standpoint.
IT'S HERE 🗓️⚽️Our Full 2022 Schedule >> https://t.co/7bpKih4B1y pic.twitter.com/lsArpqcOmX— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) December 15, 2021
Also being picked in the 3rd matchup means that if the Rapids progress to the next round they will host the second leg at home in that round.
After further analysis of the draw we have to be pretty happy. We get a Guatemalan team with the second leg at home, the winner of NYCFC and Santos of Costa Rica with the second leg at home, and only then would we maybe face a Mexican team, that being Leon. But Leon has to get through two rounds to get to that point and could be upset. That's about as soft a route to the finals as we could get.
The Rapids official site has this posted currently on the schedule. Wonder if it is correct. If it is, the Rapids will begin the MLS season just five days after the second leg of the CCL opening round match up with Communicaciones. Interestingly, there are only three MLS matches scheduled for March and two in June. But there are six MLS matches on the schedule for both July and August. We don't know the US Open Cup schedule/match ups yet, correct? Regardless, if MLS allows 5 subs this season it should once again favor the Rapids.
I'm not sure the date for the opening leg in Guatemala is correct. According to CONCACAF's website, the first round should be Feb. 15-17 and hasn't officially been scheduled yet. I assume the Feb. 14 date on Colorado's website is a placeholder until everything is determined.