Great signing!! Our back line looks immense. 1 signing away from being complete. My only thought......Took a look at Gashi from years gone by. He always looked like more of a forward rather than sitting behind 1 striker and his goal scoring record a Basel is pretty good. If he could get his fitness back up then he could score 10+ as a forward
This is exactly what I have been thinking about Gashi. He never seemed like a modern winger to me, no pace, no endless motor, too far from goal. I think he naturally fits in more like a striker. Get him in or near the box and let him take rips.
Well, seems like our defense should be pretty solid - some experienced acquisitions in Smith and Wilson. Throw in Sjoberg, Ford, Watts and maybe Miller (though maybe he is more wing back depth) and there is some good competition to elevate their game / practice effort and prove themselves.
It's a good signing, but the lack of forwards hangs over the squad like a storm cloud. Where the hell are the goals going to come from? One of the biggest reasons our record was so terrible last year was because we were incapable of responding to an opponent when we'd go down a goal. It doesn't matter how many good defenders the team has, we're going to still end up losing a lot of games because we have literally nobody that can score goals at a prolific rate. I maintain the this off-season is a failure if they can't bring in at least one effective goal scorer. It doesn't matter who else is on the squad.
Totally agree. Credit this RFO for doing a good job getting, what looks like, the right kind of undervalued, decent, hard working players this year. It's how a small market, team needs to run. Build a competitive team. Set a reputation for being a destination for driven, quality players. Find a few surprise standouts. Attract a big name every couple years to keep interest growing. The team's failure to capitalize on the buzz and momentum from 2016 hurt their chances at getting necessary top level talent now. Hopefully, it doesn't take another full rebuilding cycle to recover.
I'm stoked about our new signings, and, like all of you, hoping there's a striker yet to come. Anyone else struggling with keeping our new signings straight? Three beardy white Anglo guys named Danny Wilson, Jack Price, and Tommy Smith. Those three names were taken out of the "generic white dude bin." I swear I'm gonna get them all jumbled Anyway, here's hoping we really do get Claudio Keseru for striker.
I'm like most, I like what I've seen from the RFO but the last piece has to be help up front. To be honest, so far this might be the best off season I've seen ... previous ones seem like they took an extended vacation. Badji is a good second/third person on a two-man front ... especially as a late sub when he'll run teams into the ground. Gashi could be a partial answer but his fitness and attitude are a huge concerns. None of the draft picks look MLS ready. Therefore, we need one/two additions up front and maybe another CB for depth (I still like Burling as a locker room add there).
https://sptfm.ro/2018/01/29/audio-e...rbit-despre-transferurile-jucatorilor-romani/ From the audio transcript: Claudiu Keseru negotiates with Konyaspor, the team from Turkey. "We are in talks with Konyaspor for Claudiu Keseru, but it remains to be seen how much we can reach a consensus on the idea that he has six months of contract with Ludogoret and the transfer amount is not small and his contract is not very little. We will see in the coming days. In general, strikers are highly sought after because they make a difference, and a striker like Claudiu who scores an average of 30 goals per year can only be extremely interesting for many bands in the world. In Turkey there is a lot of money. The salaries there are far beyond what Romania can offer at this time, regardless of the team. For example, a 13th place in Turkey has double salaries compared to our richest team. Rimniceanu's transfer to Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe may seem surprising, but the project that the people there and the financial strength that they show in the last period give them the right to hope for the salvation from relegation this year and the year are convinced they will be a championship force or a team that will fight for the play-off.
Yes an interesting blurb. There's so much crap out there (SB Nation article about Danny Wilson going to SKC, another article about Johnny Ross going to Rapids, that new Italian coach we're getting...) I don't know what to think anymore. Not convinced Keseru deal is dead, but I'm not holding my breath.
I, like most on this board, would like to see them sign a proven striker. But on the RFO's behalf, unlike past years, I'm convinced they are trying. Scorers do not fall out of trees. I appreciate their effort this off season. I'm also thinking that if Tim Howard bounces back, they could have a real strong defense. The Rapids had a successful season two years ago playing defense and manufacturing a few hard working goals. I would thoroughly enjoy a rebound to two seasons ago.
Meaningless if they can't execute a plan to fill the biggest hole coming out of the 2017 season. Like it or not (and this was a concept Hinchey never could get his brain wrapped around) the new leadership inherited the history of the prior leadership, which is a history of over-promising in transfer windows and under-delivering, especially in the attack. Regardless of their effort or plan if they can't get a deal done they're are (rightfully) going to be seen as the same old Rapids.
I'll preface this by saying I've given up my season tickets. Until I see a product on the field worthy of my discretionary spending I'll be watching games from home. Having said that, I have to challenge this line of thinking you and others seem to subscribe to. It seems you are identifying a hole in the roster (attacker/goal scorer - which I agree with) and then saying a failure by the current RFO to fill said hole, presumably by signing a "legitimate goal-scoring forward", would "rightfully be seen as the same old Rapids." I interpret "Same Old Rapids" to mean something along the lines as failure. I read this line of thinking to basically say, "Failure To Sign Goal Scorer = Failure". To this I ask, what if they do not sign a "goal scorer" but go on to win the Supporter's Shield? Or win MLS Cup? Or both?? Or...what if they sign a "goal scorer" and said goal scorer has a good-to-great season (15+ goals, say) but they don't make the playoffs? Or they make the playoffs and are "one and done"? Would we then call this off-season a "success"? I am not blind to the history of this organization - as I said, I have given up my season tickets in large part because of said history. I also agree new leadership inherits at least some of past leadership's stigma. And, I feel as though this black and white "goal scorer or failure" line of thinking is a bit over the top. Of course, as fans, we have the right to think/feel/react to "OUR" team as we please FWIW, here's what I think. On paper this roster (including at head coach) appears stronger than last year's and for that I am pleased. Because of this, my expectations for their performance this year has increased. I appreciate the forward momentum. I also see what appears to be a missing piece at forward and am concerned our current options there are insufficient. It would make me much happier to see them bring in a Keseru-type player before the season starts. Additionally I agree in the past the rumors seem to have suggested the RFO put all their eggs in one basket, failed to compete to sign a player, and were left to rely on replacement level players to fill the void. This offseason, Ola Kamara and potentially Keseru do seem to at least resemble that history......AND....they signed Smith and Price and Wilson and Castillo and Blomberg successfully. If this current leadership can maintain a 2.5:1 ratio of Successfull Signing to Lost Out To Competition moving forward, heck, I'm prepared to call that a major improvement at 6000 Victory Way.
I agree with Soccaj. We need a goal scorer. That is one of the goals. The season isn't a complete success without solving this issue. If the issue is solved another way, I can't call the off season a failure. Enough has been done to improve the team that we can't say failure. So, signing a goal scorer or 2 makes this off season a success. Getting it done in a different way would also make it a success, but one we wouldn't recognize until later in the season. The new rfo has done enough that I can't call the off season a failure in the traditional rfo sense. Rod.
You'll notice I never used the term "failure" in my post. But to be clear I would consider failing to sign a scorer a failed offseason. You put out a couple of hypothetical, but what about them makes you think they are likely to happen? Remember, not only have we (so far) not improved our strikers we are arguably worse with the departure of Kevin Doyle. This was a team that couldn't get a shot on goal in the final game of last season when they were awarded a penalty kick in that game and played a majority of the game a man up. Why should we as fans assume that's going to change based on the moves made so far this offseason? They have yet to sign a true attacking player who's above USL quality. So yes, we could consider this offseason a failure and then end up with a 2016 season but even that offseason had Gashi signed and JJ and Marco Pappa acquired.
Jason, thanks for the comments and questions. I recognize you did not use the word failure in your post. Apologies if I came across as accusing you of doing so. I meant to suggest I interpreted your post as saying the inability to sign a goal-scorer is tantamount to "failure". While you didn't say failure, per say, to me it felt like you strongly suggested it. And to clarify, I am not suggesting the hypotheticals I offered are likely to occur. I believe they will not. I also get the sense some of us on this board want to apply a value-driven label to the Rapids' organization based entirely on player acquisitions and perceived quality of said players. To me that feels a bit absurd. They do still have to play the games, don't they?
Its a fair point. I should probably qualify "new management" as Smith and his group who's responsibility it is to build a roster. They will have failed (or not) based on the signings this offseason since their job is explicitly to build a competitive roster. Hudson would get some blame for that as well, as its partially his job, but he could also be seen as a success if the team exceeds the expectations based on the roster that was built.
Lots of talk about whether this offseason is a failure if we cannot sign a proven goalscorer. Valid points can be made for either argument. I look at it like this.....on paper we are already an improved side and our signings support that. With that said, an improved side is not necessarily a successful side. Improvement and success are not always mutually exclusive. By that I mean, with our signings and barring injuries, the chances of having a better record, more points, and defined style are highy likely thus the season being deemed an improvement. A successful season is making the playoffs. Make sense? Our chances of making the playoffs go up ten-fold by signing a proven goalscorer. More than likely, our improvement does not hinge on a goalscorer signing. That's how bad we were last season. That's how much our roster/coaching was in shambles. Our success (i.e. playoffs) hinges on a goalscorer signing. I want improvement and success. I don't want just improvement. Improvement is nothing more than a notch on the belt if playoffs are not achieved. I like what I've seen, read, and heard coming from Hudson. For the first time in ages, I am cautiously optimistic. I am not coming into the season pessimistic, bitter, and angered as I have previously.
Lets not forget that other west conference non Playoffs teams have been listed as most improved, so whereas we might have a better roster than previous year, we might also still be a bottom 3 team in west. So bring on the Zlatan signing and be done with all of this
with all the talk today about success/ failure, perhaps we should consider what a successful season would mean. Given how bad this team was last year, it is not reasonable to think we will get all the way to the top. It is possible, just not a great minimum mark. Making the playoffs seems to be a mark that might be appropriate. It is what most teams seem to think is the minimum. It is what I think is the minimum. Given the horrible condition of the team, I might be OK if we are competitive throughout the season and barely miss the playoffs as long as there is clear promise for the future. Sort of like how I felt back with the "Rapkids", it seemed like the future was bright. Maybe a poll to get consensus on what would be success.... rod.
🚨 NEW KIT ALERT 🚨📅 February 8⏰ 9:00 AM📍 @DSGPark💻 https://t.co/MMBFjIftrj📝 https://t.co/r58F3OL7GS pic.twitter.com/ZjARimcFT2— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) January 30, 2018
Now this I'm kinda pumped about - especially with it looking like a primarily black color scheme? I've been looking for a good excuse to buy a new jersey
Forgive me, but I forget if we are supposed to be getting a new home kit, new away kit, or both? I like the look of that gray. That color in combination with our burgundy could look pretty sweet-- gray with burgundy piping? Or perhaps gray and burgundy half-and-half, like the alternate kit New England had last year? Anyone remember the charcoal colored kits the USMNT briefly used? Those were pretty sweet. I'm getting that vibe from this teaser photo.
Home kit Though I'm wondering if the pictures they're posting as hints are going to turn out to be the GK kit and not the standard home kit
I thought they had "uncolored" the photo except for logo. I doubt we are changing primary colors yet again.
Meh.....a bunch of teams are going for this monochrome and/or flat black look. That kills it for me. Overkill. Not pictured but leaks of LAFC and MN Utd kits have them going that route, too.