Reviews and reality aren't always the same thing. I've heard that the Rapids didn't see him that way, but expected him to be taken by one of the teams in front of them. When he fell to 3 they were happy to take him but he wasn't their original target.
My guess is that Mayaka starts the season on the Rapids 2 side in MLS Next Pro. He didn't seem to get regular playing time with the Switchbacks, and it seems that Rapids will still be loaded with veterans in the midfield. Darren Yapi, Abraham Rodriguez, Matt Hundley are the other players loaned to the Switchbacks who are likely to begin the season on the Rapids 2. Two players who were loaned to the Switchbacks I figure will get a shot to make the first team are Sebastian Anderson and Michael Edwards. I figure Anderson will give Rosenberry a bit of a challenge, plus he can play multiple roles on the right side - outside back, wingback and perhaps winger. Edwards will have a lot of players in front of him on the back line, but he too seems ready to make a challenge for first team playing time. I put Ford in this same category should he sign with the Rapids again. Two players who I am intrigued by and am not sure where they will start the season are Ollie Larraz and Dantouma Toure. Watching Larraz with the Rapids in his brief stints last season I was impressed by his ability to read the game and play positive passes. The issue with his play was physicality, he was easily ridden off the ball. Of course he too will have some serious competition - I figure him to play a similar role to Price. Toure is perhaps similar in style to Barrios. He will be able to bedevil defenders with a combination of pace and guile.
Somehow I've lost track, when does the MLS winter window begin? I know that many of the European windows begin tomorrow or Monday. With interest in perhaps as many as five Rapids players from European sides as well the tweets about of Max coming in from Brazil there should be a lot of news in the coming weeks on roster moves.
Great deal on an ASG banner! Pablo on one side, autographed, Donovan on the other. https://www.ebay.com/itm/304284177045
OOPS - I should have stated four, not five Rapids players could be transferred out this January. Acosta, Bassett, Lewis and Trusty. Obviously, Namli is already gone. I suppose Rubio could be the fifth if there is serious interest from ColoColo. And in addition to Max transferring in from Flamengo, apparently there is also Olaf Herschel from River Plate.
My offseason prediction, no more than 2 Rapids are "sold" off. Is kind of nice that Rapids finally are getting involved in the aptly named "silly season" rumors
I think this is a solid prediction. Bassett is 90%+ likely to be sold. I expect Trusty is more likely than Acosta, unless we sign B. Acosta in the next week, which might indicate real interest in K. Acosta.
Basically agree and hope that 2 is that max that are gone this window, given the success of the Rapids last season. We know about the Bassett to Benfica. I have assumed that with the Rapids going after Bryan Acosta that Kellyn Acosta is just about guaranteed gone.
I don't think Bassett goes to Benfica. Sounds like there's multiple teams interested in him and I don't think he has any interest in playing with Benfica B, which would be a step down. Unless they're going to sign him with the expectation he plays for the first team I expect him to go somewhere else.
Agree. Bassett should not settle for a B team role at this point in his career. If he has national team aspirations (not for this WC cycle, but in the future) he must get first team playing time soon with a side that will challenge him and in a league that will also help him improve his game. Same with Acosta, but even more so as he looks to make the national team squad in this WC cycle.
Yeah, Acosta isn't going anywhere in '22 unless he's an 100% sure-fire starter. Better to stay with the Rapids and play a full MLS season leading into the WC then spend time on the bench in Europe.
Inspired by a tweet from a Nottingham Forest account, here's the Rapids best XI of African players, to celebrate this month's African Cup of Nations! http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2022/01/rapids-african-xi.html
It sounds like #Rapids96 will announce multiple moves within the next 10 days. I don’t have specifics but I’d imagine this will include Max, 1/2 new contracts + potentially another deal that has been in the works.Club staff have been out of the office for the holidays.— Inside Rapids (@insiderapids) January 2, 2022
It is a real pleasure reading these posts during the off-season. In past years, it was doom and gloom, with a splash of lactose. I still need to see more though. One decent year doesn’t totally erase the Hudson years. And I wonder if the Moneyball comparison will continue. The A’s are always competitive, but they never get through the first round of the playoffs. But I wouldn’t be sad about a repeat of this year. Not at all.
Badji was officially announced as a FCC player today, he posted this message to Rapids fans: To the #Rapids96 faithful - Thank you for welcoming me with open arms. While my second time around in Burgundy was short-lived, I leave with a heart full of love for the people of Colorado who have always embraced me as one of their own ❤️ Colorado will always be home. pic.twitter.com/f8FbyZXVOo— Dominique Badji (@dbadji14) January 4, 2022 Also Mezquida is reportedly talking to San Jose.
Steven Beitashour has Re-Signed with the Colorado Rapids, the 34 year old RB had 11 caps with #Rapids96 last year. The former #LAFC, #VWFC and #Quakes74 player will continue being a leader on and off the field for a dangerous Colorado team that was #1 in the Western Conference. pic.twitter.com/FpPHq5dXwy— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) January 5, 2022
Another FWIW. But it seems that Bryan Acosta probably isn't gonna be in burgundy this year. Después del fallido fichaje por el Colorado Rapids de la MLS, el mediocampista hondureño, Bryan Acosta, podría llegar al fútbol de Turquía. La noticia fue proporcionada por el periodista deportivo... https://t.co/2TzntulZUO #BryanAcosta— Diario La Tribuna (@LaTribunahn) January 5, 2022
I don't hate not signing him, but I wonder what caused us to spend $75K of GAM to move up to get his rights if we didn't know we had a shot at him.
Wondered the same thing. That was a weird transaction. Of course, one could speculate that the RFO: (1) was fully misled on his interest/willingness to play in CO at the time of the transaction, or perhaps more likely, (2) was hedging bets on midfield needs at the time of the transaction (based on what they knew about other midfield incoming or outgoing at that time)... only to now realize they no longer have the need/interest in B. Acosta because they now know of other incoming mid(s) or a current player is no longer likely to leave. ie, maybe it was a $75K insurance payment in case they absolutely needed to fill a gap. Hell I dunno.
Abubakar and Aboubacar - should make calling the game easier if both are starting I suppose (yes, I know one is a first name and the other is a last name)! 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Welcome to the squad, @Aboubacar_11!#Rapids96— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) January 5, 2022 Welcome to Colorado, Aboubacar!
I wonder what this transaction means for Moor and Ford? Will one or both not be with the Rapids next season? Or will Keita start the season on the Rapids 2?
To acquire Keita we sent $300K GAM and potentially an additional $150K if incentives are met. With that said, I highly doubt Keita will start out with Rapids 2. I bet Keita has 30ish starts in 40ish games in his career at age 21. This has an Auston Trusy-like feel to it. Keita quite couldn’t get his footing right in Columbus after some initial high hopes displaying his talent with the USYNT. Not a bust by any stretch but change of scenery could get that top form out of him much like Trusty. Fraser did wonders for Trusty and could do the same for Keita. I like this move on paper. I really do. I also feel this some more wheeling and dealing is to be hand on our back line. Could acquiring Keita be a safety net if Trusty does head abroad.
More thoughts on the Keita deal - Is Fraser going to primarily go with a 3 man back line? If so does Keita add depth as he is left footed like Trusty? It's helpful when playing on the left to be left footed when passing out of the back. Still, I feel that this move is being done because Trusty will be transferred to a Euro side either in this transfer window or this summer. this is a classic move for Pàdraig &Co. A young player that is out of favor with his current club and has a lot of potential. We know how Trusty progressed once he came to the Rapids, so hopefully Keita will too. With the Rapids over the last few seasons you just can't predict where the moves are gonna come from. They seem to have a lot of MLS players on their radar and are prepared to make a move when the time is right.