News: The 2010 Season Catchall Thread

The coach is not the biggest problem with this organization right now. The team is simply not getting the support they need from the management and the ownership. What really needs to happen is that Kroenke either needs to sell the team, or to actually care about how this team is doing and force changes in management.

 

Another reason could be the owner's reputation. We have our own thoughts on them here, but imagine what they are amongst the soccer business folks. Agents, former players, current players, other owners...they all talk. Quinn, I agree that there seems to be little effort, but I don't think that is the only reason. I think KSE has a bad reputation amongst soccer insiders...for good reason.

 

What position as a player did every coach in the rapids history play. including goalie coaches and asst's, etc....?

Ex: Fernando Clavijo -- defender

If they were not former players themselves, were/are they forward or defensive minded?

Have they ever hired a stricker coach?

Larentowicz quote of forward play in the all-star game i'm sure is right on.

It's a RECTANGLE and the ball goes in one place. In the GOAL. Lets Go!

I'm not understanding GS's subbing choices. Is he subbing pre-game choiced players for certain times of the match? He's pulling the wrong players.

 

Really good news...on the rapids home page, there's this interview with Jeff Plush...A) 2011, the Rapids will have a jersey sponsor! B) I guess we're getting a south american team for a friendly and C) He's in wait-and-see mode concerning a DP. Over-all, awesome news.

 

and on that note, what South American club would come here and drive ticket sales? I think that the FO missed the boat by not getting one of the big clubs that tour the US to come here. I mean, Kansas City pulled in Man United...KANSAS CITY!











...ok, full disclosure I'm from KC and they've been passed over for years on big exhibition matches...so they were due.

 

Based on this article, I would be surprised to see Casey to play on Saturday.

Good thing the team used the transfer window to sign a defensive "prospect".

Maybe Julien can play forward so the goals count for the good guys

 

well played good sir

 

The scouting report on Casey has been that he takes little injuries and uses them as an excuse to hang out in the training room as opposed to on the training pitch with the rest of the team. I'm not surprised to hear he's having sustained side effects from his concussion. Why would he put himself at risk for his team? He got his big contract in the off-season and has no reason to. His bosses don't inspire love of club or commitment to the badge. They say they do, but they don't.

 

You don't like that guy, that we know, but that's probably one of the most classless things I've read on this forum.

 

Really?

Yes, he took a big knock. Drew some blood. Got some stitches.

Ever seen the photo of Paul Ince playing in a head bandage with blood all over his kit?



This is what I'd like to see from a Rapids player.

All I'm saying is that Casey isn't known for his hard work on the training pitch. He's getting paid big time so why put himself out there. If this team starts unraveling and going down the tubes who's going to help get them together? Casey? Doubt it. He'll get in an argument with the coach and be done, ready to quit.

I'm not saying he didn't get hurt, doesn't have a concision, or whatever. I just question his passion for this team.

 

Ok, thinking about this some more. I'm sorry if I offended your and anyone else's sense of class. I certainly don't want to see him injured or see his career cut short by concussion syndromes.

What I am riled up about is what I've heard about his training work ethic. According to sources it is low. According to sources he's often seen in the trainer's room as opposed to on the training field.

At what point will the fans stop blaming KSE for their poor performance and will the players be called to the carpet? (No, I'm not saying it is 100% the player's fault nor do I think the team's issues are 100% management and ownership's fault). So often we get statements by fans about how nice a Rapids player is at the wine and cheese party. "If they chat me up and sign my sons jersey, they're great!" There is a sense of these guys being in an ivory tower. Well they're the ones actually playing the game and they're the ones actually letting us down. Sure, the coach sets the tactics and tries his best to motivate, but the players have to play the game. And they're failing us as much as Stan the Man.

So I hear that Casey has a poor work ethic and then he rounds an opposing keeper and misses a sitter to win the game. Another draw that Casey could have won. What if he had worked harder during the week? Are we in a different boat?

That is where this is coming from. Again, I'm sorry if I seemed too cold hearted for you and Jason.

 

Yawn, your sources, meh. We're talking about possible career threatening injury. Unless your source is the trainer or team physician, your sources mean dick.

That's rich coming from someone who posts maybe more crap about KSE then anyone else on this forum. I blog and post weekly on games and rate the players each time. I've always looked at the players performance first and then to the team when I believe they need to improve the players. It's you that's forever whining about Stan's lack of caring or his lack of spending money or the marketing etc. etc. Look in the mirror.

WTF does any of that have to do with accusing a player of lying about a head injury? Nothing, that's what. You don't like that guy, no problem, bitch about his performance, but taking your dislike for a player to the level you did shows a complete lack of class.

It's not cold hearted it's slanderous and borderline libelous. You want to say your sorry, I suggest you contact Casey and talk to him about it. I'm guessing you have neither the guts nor the class to do so.

 

Where did I say he's lying? I certainly didn't think that and I know I didn't write that.

Have you heard he's pissed about my comments?

Also have never said I didn't like him. I'm frustrated by him and want to see him be more of a team leader.

Time to step back and simmer down.

 

It's very impressive to read all the brave fans who posted telling us how others should define passion and how others should respond to injuries, brave Sir Robin's all.

I'll leave this portion of the thread to the dreamers and wanna be's.

Maybe when you get tired of congratulating yourselves on being the true fans of the sport you can spend some time researching the impact of concussions on peoples careers and lives. It's hilarious, you'll love it.

 

Any news on how Danny Earls is doing in Colorado? If he's getting game time, are his performances up to scratch?

Any feedback much appreciated

 

He's played the majority of the time. Started off a little raw, settled in, and recently has started to struggle. For a young player in his first season in MLS that's a bit above average.

Average seems to be: sit on the bench and get 10 minutes here and there.

 

You're really the one blowing this into some pompous macho thing. Do you think Casey has been the player the team needs this season? Do you think there is nothing in his play to criticize? We're here expressing opinions. No need to start insulting people.

Me, I'm not trying to say I'm a true fan or thump my chest. That hasn't come into the conversation off my fingers.

I'm questioning the wisdom of the team signing Casey to a big, long term deal at this point in his career because I think it has taken away his motivation to play his hardest. I'm questioning Casey's work ethic. I'm questioning Pablo's leadership. I'm questioning why the team isn't making a move this mid-season transfer window to help the offense. That's it. Read into it whatever you want.

 

I've been thinking about what kind of player the Rapids should bring in... and it's not easy.

Do we need to spend big bucks on a forward with Casey and Cummings both showing what they can do last year? The Amarikwa move was to help give depth and maybe that isn't working as well as we hoped. Lopez was a nice pickup to give 30 minutes each week and make some dangerous moves up front.

What about midfield? We're certainly good in the centermid unless we're going to push Pablo out the door and I don't think that's going to happen just because we think he's getting on in age. Jeff L has been a big pickup. I can see that the front office thinks that between Ballouchy, Thompson, Smith, and Clarke that we should have two guys there to play on the wings between them or up front a bit when we want some more offense.

That leaves defense... Wynne was a bold pickup and handle one wing, Moor is good, and that leaves Mr. Japan, Baudet, and Earls for the other spots.

Maybe that center mid spot needs some work. But that's hardly a glammar spot. Not going to spash cash on a DP to play centerback are we?

Are you guys happy with the goalkeeper? I am. Not thrilled, but not unhappy.

I think the big problem is that we're decent everywhere... to the point it's become hard to justify bringing in a player to replace a decent player without it looking like a change for the sake of change. On paper, if everyone had the year we were expecting/hoping for we'd be pretty tough. But that hasn't/isn't going to happen.

 

The Rapids need to learn about Kaizen, the Japaneses word for improvement and theory of constant improvement. As Rorysm says, "we're decent everywhere". The question then becomes is decent good enough? I don't think so, but the Rapids seem to and thus we stay with mediocrity.

I think we need improvement to make the push to the playoffs. I'd like to see a proven goal scorer/offensive creator brought in to help push Casey and Cummings to be better. Our defense is better than decent, IMO. We've got one of the lowest goals allowed totals in the league. Our midfield is good too with Pablo, JL, Smith and either Lopez or an improving Clark. We need to score more goals. We can't rely on last season's performance from Casey and Cummings. That was last season.

 

We need a 3rd forward. Having one would help ease the pressure on Casey and Cummings to have a perfect outing every night. Having one would also add a wrinkle to the attack and give opposing defenses new traffic patterns to worry about. Having one would also allow us to go 4-3-3 when necessary. Having one would introduce a higher level of hunger to score and earn minutes.

Maybe the brass is counting on Akpan's growth? Maybe Schunk is on his way to MLS starter form? We need help up top, someone who puts the ball in the back of the net, this would make a lot of our problems seem less significant.