Voting is now open!Which #Rapids96 players are on your all-time best XI list?! ⤵️— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 25, 2020 Seems appropriate to have a bit of discussion about this as there are many players to consider. Goalkeeper is gonna be a real challenge for me. Voting ends April 25.
Cannon, Moor, Balboa, Vermes, Borchers (the last choice was tough), Pablo, Valderrama, Chung, Henderson, C+C Goal Factory
Tough choices on the fringes. I don't know the early years. If you had to pick a fullback, who would it be? I would not count Moor there, even though he has started there for the Rapids. Slim pickings when looking at players who joined the club post 2010; Howard, Doyle and Gashi are choices. I can't say they really passed anyone up. Who would be the best candidates after those 3? Deshorn Brown (61 games, 20 goals, two golden boots), Dominic Badji (91 games, 24 goals), Clint Irwin, Acosta, Kamara, Price? Sjoberg was a finalist/shortlist for defender of the year but had quite a checkered career past that season. Dillon Powers must have the most games among these players, 136 games, 116 starts. All players who were the better players on bad teams, or guys on the current team who just haven't been around long enough for a list like this. As 10 year season ticket holders (plus we went to at least 10 home games in 2010), we must be weird people to have stuck with it through all that. I'm sure all time XI list during a time like this was supposed to have been a positive thing, but it really highlights how the Rapids have bungled the last decade. Surprise championship, and a big rise in US interest in pro soccer, and we were desperate for guys like Vicente Sanchez to get on the field.
Well, Moor joined the team this year. For old-time fullbacks you're looking at guys like Jason Bent, Scott Vermillion, and Jordan Harvey.
Not sure if this is the best thread for this bit of Rapids history/lore, but I found this story about Balboa and the Rapids as a new franchise interesting - Marcelo Balboa appeared on Extratime last week and shared an interesting story: Had he not agreed to come to #MLS, #Rapids96 might not exist. https://t.co/Vhh6NXO4q8 pic.twitter.com/nGpaU0xkEE— Matt Pollard (@LWOSMattPollard) May 5, 2020
Oh yeah, that's a great story. Not only would the Rapids maybe not exist, but the whole league may not, given that it was Uncle Phil who later took on the biggest portion of saving the league in 2001. Marcelo might be the most important least recognized player in league history.
I am going to have to listen to that Extra time. Meant to, after Jason linked it. That story is wild. Who knew Balboa could be even more of a hero around here.
You voted, now it's time to see who made the list.The All-Time Best XI reveal begins tomorrow❗️❗️— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 9, 2020
We’re kicking off the #Rapids96 All-Time Best XI reveal with a LEGEND.@TimHowardGK’s numbers speak for themselves 👏— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 10, 2020
Just like the Howard signing was, this "poll" is probably all about marketing and they are just going to pick the most known names for it. I expect Jermaine Jones to be on it now to.
Howard might be the third best keeper in team history, though Hahnemann could lay claim to that spot. The top two are clearly Pickens and Cannon, and there's a great debate to be had between those two on who deserves the top spot.
Cannon is the superior choice, but Pickens at least belongs in the conversation. Howard is probably forever cemented as the most overrated keeper in club history.
I'm not sure any of our other keepers "rated" coming in, so they couldn't be overrated. So he kind of gets it by default.
Definitely like this selection! The backline is strong with this one.Welcome to the #Rapids96 All-Time Best XI, @iamkosukekimura!— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 12, 2020
I'm sure it'll be Wynne on the other side. A Wynne and Kimura combo is definitely nothing to sneeze at for a wingback combo
Winning @MLS Cup? Yeah that’s one of our favorite memories too, @iamkosukekimura 😉🏆 pic.twitter.com/dtNjP5M5ZA— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 12, 2020
It’s official folks! @marcelobalboa17 has landed himself a spot on the #Rapids96 All-Time Best XI list 👏— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) June 15, 2020