News: 2021-2022 Offseason Catch-All Thread

Discussion in 'Colorado Rapids' started by Quinn 33, Nov 26, 2021.

  1. Paranoid Coyote

    Paranoid Coyote Member+

    Oct 21, 2007
    Memphis, TN
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [​IMG]
     
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  2. AlbertCamus

    AlbertCamus Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    Sep 2, 2005
    Colorado, USA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    I hear the Colorado Avalanche are fielding a minor league soccer team next season. :) Actually the picture looks like they building a minor league baseball stadium at the Dicks complex.
     
  3. jspsam

    jspsam Member

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Feb 23, 2019
    Boulder, CO
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Machine translation: Colorado, MLS club, is negotiating with Flamengo to hire Max, a midfielder who is on loan to Cuiabá until the end of 2021. Talks are ongoing, and the parties are trying to reach a common denominator. Max's contract with Fla runs until December 2023.



    Transfermarkt profile: https://www.transfermarkt.com/maxtm/profil/spieler/876343

    Fbref: https://fbref.com/en/players/67c3efa4/Max
     
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  4. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Interesting....another young prospect midfielder. 20yr old left footed Brazilian.

    If his loan ends 2021 but he's still under contract with the parent club til 2023, we may be able to get him on loan/on the cheap. Kinda like what we did with Esteves.

    Definitely feels like the Rapids can start coining the phrase "Galvan Move" - bringing in an "undiscovered" young South American talent

    Highlight real I was able to find:



    I know it's a highlight reel, but the dude looks like he's got solid talent and a good bit of skill already developing. You can also see him pinging long switches and taking shots with both feet - which is nice...I also don't know if it's just a "league" thing where players are being developed and asked to play multiple roles (like Fraser seems to enjoy doing here in CO, come to think of it), but the in the highlights he ranges from a central attacking midfielder, to left wing, to right wing.
     
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  5. Maarten van 242

    Jan 20, 2012
    Club:
    Lille OSC
    Make that one of THREE remaining teams not to publicly release their roster status yet, out of the 23 eligible teams that had to report this to MLS Tuesday. Vancouver released their update earlier today. Rapids surely going for 1st place again... this time for being the LAST to share its roster decisions.
     
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  6. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Barrios signed to a one-year extension, with a club option for 2023:



    The 30 year old bagged 8g/6a for us this year, and needless to say, I'm super pumped to have him back!
     
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  7. jspsam

    jspsam Member

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Feb 23, 2019
    Boulder, CO
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am almost certain that they'll drop the release at 4:45 PM on a Friday (probably this week). Friday afternoon news dump has been standard procedure for this kind of stuff for the club in the last few years. They waited until the last possible moment to officially waive Gashi, were the last in the West to reveal the contract decisions in the last 2-3 seasons, and were one of the final teams to publish their protected lists for the previous expansion drafts.

    I have no doubt that some of their decisions this year might have been delayed due to negotiations with Barrios+others who are out of contract.
     
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  8. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As expected no Rapids made the Best XI team. Multiple Revs and Sounders made the team.

    So according to MLS the Rapids didn't succeed because of their players (no All-Stars, no Best XI, no individual player award finalists) and didn't succeed due to their coach (didn't win CotY). I'm left wondering how they did succeed. C38?
     
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  9. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  10. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
     
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  11. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #61 JasonMa, Dec 3, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2021
    So Namli, Rawls, and Vint are gone for sure. The Rapids want Ford, Kelly, and Mezquida back at lower numbers than what their options were for. I can see Ford and Kelly re-signing fairly quickly, but Mezquida is a free agent and my want to test the waters. Ford is a free agent as well, but I think has some loyalty to stay here.

    Badji, Beitashour, and Moor are all free agents. I can't see Moor re-signing anywhere else but here if he wants to play another year. Beitashour may just retire. I hope Badji wants to stay here and we can re-sign him.
     
  12. COMtnGuy

    COMtnGuy Member+

    Apr 5, 2012
    Higher than you
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can't complain about any of the roster decisions, IMO were are not losing anyone that couldn't easily be replaced or doesn't fit the current team play/ style.

    My offseason roster focus again is top CF/ striker and CB. Maybe another outside back for back-up/ 5 across -winger line-ups but think this is where currently unused Seb might fit.
     
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  13. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Acosta, Bassett, and Trusty called up for the December camp/friendly for the Nats
     
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  14. jspsam

    jspsam Member

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Feb 23, 2019
    Boulder, CO
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ford earns $160k. I understand it's a business, but optics-wise, I don't see how declining his option looks good (assuming they are trying to negotiate a lower salary for him). Maybe they want to give him the option to look elsewhere, but I can't see Ford leaving Colorado given his Mother's illness. When he was with San Antonio he was traveling back to Colorado regularly on his off days.

    Moneyball is moneyball, but taking that salary down from $160k to $120k or $100k doesn't offer much in terms of cap relief unless they can get him on an SMS contract. Maybe I'm missing something?
     
  15. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It could be they want him on a longer contract as well. And we don't know what kind of escalation is in his option for 2022.
     
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  16. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    I was thinking the exact same thing. If you can get him a longer contract while he still feels tied and connected to both the Rapids and the state brings him greater piece of mind as a person, but it's also better for the club.

    Ford's story is simply amazing and inspiring. Not only that, but he's having an absolutely killer comeback season this year.

    Not to get too into the weeds of the business side of things, but let's be honest. Solid, talented CBs are immeasurably valuable in this league. Think what Ike Opara did for KFC, or what Walker Zimmerman did for both LAFC and for Nashville. What Abubakar did for us his first year here. And so on.

    Pre-injury, that's what Ford was shaping up to be. That dominating defensive force. Pre-injury we all saw what he could be. Fast, smart, strong, an aerial threat on both sides of the ball, and young. Did he have rough edges? Sure. What young player doesn't? But pre-injury he was working those out quite nicely.

    Post injury, he seems to have brought a TON of strength to San Antonio. Based on his play in USL, he clearly could be an asset in the MLS.

    If his trajectory continues post-recovery like it did in SA, MLS teams could want this guy - not just the Rapids. If you sign Ford to a 1 year option, he may be ready to move on from CO in 2022, and by then, his contract will be expired. If his trajectory stifles, then no harm no foul. But if he continues his trajectory, then free agency is not how you want to lose this guy to another team.

    If you sign him to a 3 year deal, now you've got flexibility. If his trajectory stifles, you've got plenty of USL partnerships to loan him to. But if he keeps up his rise, now you can either play him as a regular or use him as trade material to continue to grow the roster elsewhere.


    Personally? I would love to see him grow like he has been and be the lock down regular starter next to Trusty. I see the potential there. Now it's just a matter of Ford reaching it.
     
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  17. jspsam

    jspsam Member

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Feb 23, 2019
    Boulder, CO
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One note here - because the Rapids declined his option, Ford is now technically a free agent (per MLSPA). That's why I was kind of befuddled by this move. I agree with Jason that it's likely due to the possible escalation of his salary. At the start of 2020, Ford was earning less than 100k, so it's possible his budget charge might have gone up to $200k+ if the option was triggered. If so, then the decision at least has some merit. Still feels strange that he could potentially sign elsewhere.
     
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  18. m vann

    m vann Moderator
    Staff Member

    Colorado Rapids, Celtic FC, & Louisville City
    Sep 10, 2002
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Celtic FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ford has a tough decision. I am sure plenty of talks have been had between he and the Rapids. Everyone is kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place given his family situation. I feel confident in saying all parties want what's best for him. It does appear from his Tweets that his mother's situation is dire and treatments have ceased. The focus is on her quality of life in her remaining time here. It is incredibly sad and heartbreaking. San Antonio was a great rebound for him. I am sure they would happily have him back. Hell my other team Louisville City needs a new CB and could pay him near MLS money. It's just a complicated situation. Kortne is such a good dude. My hope is that everything works out on a personal and professional level. He absolutely deserves it.
     
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  19. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Yeah exactly. You want what's best for him first, and hope that his best interests also lie in unison with that of the club.

    I know he's technically a free agent now, but I can't see any other MLS team really taking that leap on him right now that he would want to go to instead of the Rapids. Cincinnati, Chicago, Toronto, Houston, Austin.....all have serious defensive issues. But I can't see any of them going out there and trying to outbid the Rapids. These teams need someone proven/solid to shore up their back line, and in regards to Charlotte's expansion, I can't imagine them gunning for a relatively unproven MLS defender whose recovering from a multi-year injury stint while playing in the USL.

    Also, right now, Ford has such personal ties to CO that if the Rapids offer him a "comfy" longer term deal I imagine that whatever that deal looks like weighs a bit heavier for him to accept than another MLS team's bids - if there are any.

    I also couldn't see - outside of *maybe* San Antonio - a USL team's offer to Ford outweighing his options here when he's got an MLS option on the table with his hometown club. He loves CO. He loves the Rapids. If they are in talks to bring him back to the club, I think now is the best time to work out a deal.

    Everyone else - except San Antonio - would have to take a huge risk on the unknown that is Ford's knees. I just don't see - in my head at least - the list of teams that would do that to be very long, and I don't see that list containing offers that would outweigh his connection to CO.

    Fraser also seems to like to develop young players, and work with players who want to work hard. That's Ford in a nutshell.

    Again, this could all be smoke and mirrors. The Rapids could just be playing lip service when they say they are "in discussion" to bring him back - because they've already moved on but don't want it to sound as bad. Same could be said about Badji, Mezquida, etc.

    These next 4-6 weeks are going to be a very interesting time to be a Rapids fan, that's for sure.
     
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  20. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    BTW the first version of the press release (quoted above) accidentally omitted Rubio from the list of players signed for 2022. He is signed.
     
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  21. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Mark Anthony-Kaye named 2021 Canada soccer player of the year:

     
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  22. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Just realized an oopsie in that. “Nominated” not “named” :confused:
     
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  23. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    Can we petition for Arthur Blank to buy the Rapids?



    They are in separate conferences so it’s not a conflict of interests right???

    Imagine having an ownership group that’s not afraid to spend money….*sigh*
     
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  24. COMtnGuy

    COMtnGuy Member+

    Apr 5, 2012
    Higher than you
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another thing on Arthur Blank the sports team owner (have heard very negative HD stuff). With his new stadium he went with "reasonable" concession pricing from a college study that showed lower prices lead to more sales. You could get a Hot Dog for like $3.

    This was a few years ago and I never heard how their (Falcons) concession sales turned out
     
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  25. fischerw

    fischerw Member+

    Sep 15, 2004
    Joplin, MO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Raul Ruidiaz is playing hardball with Seattle. I know a couple days ago I posted that we can't assume that kind of player is gettable from within the league, but I can dream...
     
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