Rapids All-Time Best XI

Discussion in 'Colorado Rapids' started by unkiemark, Mar 25, 2020.

  1. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder

    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.
     
  2. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cannon, Moor, Balboa, Vermes, Borchers (the last choice was tough), Pablo, Valderrama, Chung, Henderson, C+C Goal Factory
     
  3. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    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.
     
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  4. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, Moor joined the team this year. :D

    For old-time fullbacks you're looking at guys like Jason Bent, Scott Vermillion, and Jordan Harvey.
     
  5. Dom. FC

    Dom. FC Member+

    May 10, 2004
    Central US
    Is a wee Scot missing -- or maybe we just can't see him behind other players?
     
  6. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    I just voted. You can add write-in candidates in case you want to add John Spencer.
     
  7. Paranoid Coyote

    Paranoid Coyote Member+

    Oct 21, 2007
    Memphis, TN
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's on there, second from the bottom.
     
  8. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    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 -

     
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  9. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

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

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    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.
     
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  11. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
     
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  12. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
     
  13. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, this is starting poorly...
     
  14. COMtnGuy

    COMtnGuy Member+

    Apr 5, 2012
    Higher than you
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
  15. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    The unfortunate results of popularity contests....
     
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  16. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
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  17. Quinn 33

    Quinn 33 Member+

    Apr 25, 2003
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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.
     
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  18. JasonMa

    JasonMa Member+

    Mar 20, 2000
    Arvada, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    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. :D
     
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  19. Quinn 33

    Quinn 33 Member+

    Apr 25, 2003
    Denver, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Cannon was, at least in MLS terms.
     
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  20. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
  21. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
  22. Totoro

    Totoro Member+

    Dec 3, 2009
    Colorado
    I liked Kimura, but if he's the Rapids all time XI fullback...damn.
     
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  23. TheWarmBurger

    TheWarmBurger Member+

    Colorado Rapids
    United States
    Aug 7, 2018
    Arizona
    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
     
  24. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    COMtnGuy repped this.
  25. unkiemark

    unkiemark Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Boulder
    JasonMa repped this.

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