News: 2022/2023 Off-Season Catch-All Thread

Don’t Let Your Love of Soccer Die With the World Cup—Become a Rapids Fan!
https://www.5280.com/dont-let-your-love-of-soccer-die-with-the-world-cup-become-a-rapids-fan/

 

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En route to the Sunshine State ✈️☀️#Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/8xIR5BNZDi

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 6, 2023

 

Source: A deal for Marko Illić is in advanced stages. Deal has been agreed with on a club level and personal terms are close. Illić wants a move to #Rapids96 and Kortrijk are willing to let him leave.

Interest first reported by @ManuelVeth yesterday.

— Inside Rapids (@insiderapids) February 6, 2023

 

April 14th Kortrijk plays Royal Antwerp. Probably more interest in the Rapids locker room in that one than any other league match in Belgium ever.

 

Apparently there was an hour long "media availability" with Robin Fraser last Thursday - got this from the DNVR podcast the same day. There were some interesting tidbits that were shared during the pod - (all of what is stated below is second hand and paraphrased.)

• The coaches were pissed about last season, felt they should have done better and apparently blamed it on some bad apples on the team.

• Fraser is really fired up about Yapi. Said he had the most growth of any player on the team in terms of technical/tactical ability.

• Fraser said both Cabral and Harris are very, very fast. Also, said Cabral has the right attitude coming to the Rapids.

Hopefully there will be some full reports soon from the Fraser conversation.

 

Sources! Marko Ilić from KV Kortrijk to #Rapids96 is on. As reported yesterday, will be around €600,000. Kortrijk set to receive 20% of any future transfer. 🇧🇪🔜🇺🇸 https://t.co/uO4fjd9IYi

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) February 6, 2023

 

This makes me curious. I've heard one one issue that's no longer with the team, I wonder if there's more...

 

At the very least the way the season went last year I'm betting even non-bad apples were grumbling more in the locker room than usual. Could easily make for a temporarily bad locker room but only one really bad appLE (who again, based on what I know, is no longer with us).

 

Watch/listen to the clip in this tweet for the discussion on Yapi based on Fraser's quotes -

The line for the Yapi bandwagon is long, and it starts right here.

Catch up on Pids roster talk and more from yesterday’s pod with @BrendanPloen here:

🔊https://t.co/fPhEigFWy0
📺 https://t.co/E69I4dU0Pf pic.twitter.com/27XtwoaYB5

— DNVR Rapids (@DNVR_Rapids) February 3, 2023

 

One thing we learned today. Former #WWFC players Jack Price and Connor Ronan are back-to-back for 2023 squad assignments/jersey numbers:

Price will remain in the No. 19 kit, Ronan is the new No. 20. Nico Mezquida previously had that number from 2019-'22. https://t.co/lJ3Sdl07a2

— Brendan Ploen (@BrendanPloen) February 7, 2023

 

After missing out on the 2022 MLS postseason, our Chilean king is back and looking to lead a Rapids return to the playoffs.

Rubio tied the single-season club record with 16 goals last year. pic.twitter.com/moHtvDSxIt

— DNVR Rapids (@DNVR_Rapids) February 6, 2023

 

Dam, I rather see better performance on the field then all this social media hype.

 

¿Por qué no los dos?

 

From Los Angeles to Denmark, the Colorado Rapids were focused on more than just statistics while building out their roster this offseason. pic.twitter.com/TO9f43w1a6

— DNVR Rapids (@DNVR_Rapids) February 7, 2023

 

Well I was going to start writing my bold predictions for 2023....But first, I suppose I should see how much crow I need to eat on last seasons predictions (posted Feb 22nd)

Well. I got Rubio right. I was super bullish on Rubio coming in to last year. I completely underestimated his meteoric rise from '21 to '22 though - as I'm sure many others did. Congrats again to Rubio on a stellar '22 campaign, and here's to '23!!

But, I was way out to pasture on Barrios, Lewis and Max. ONLY Lewis, Zardes, and Rubio scored 5 or more goals in 2022 for the Rapids... Barrios at least still put up 2g/8a - bringing his goal contributions to 10, whereas I predicted he would hit 12 goal contributions, and Lewis put up 5g/3a against my predicted 10 goal contributions. So I was at least close on the overall number, just in the wrong column!

Oof.

Double Oof.

Well, I was super bullish on Max last year too. That didn't quite work out.....Still think the kid has a TON of promise, and '23 will be a huge improvement. He showed the last few weeks of the season just some of what he's really capable of. Sadly, I think he was thrown into the deep end too early because of injuries and poor production elsewhere on the field. I also know the language barrier hit him pretty hard as well early on. This year will be a different story for him.

Rubio was the most fouled player on the team again, with 76 fouls suffered in 30 appearances. I know he gets flack for 'embellishing' but man, does he get knocked around a ton. He averaged 2.8 fouls suffered per 90, and that doesn't include any knocks he takes that don't get whistled. This was his by far his most fouled season in his career, having suffered 63 fouls in 2019.

In fact, Rubio was the 4th most fouled player in the league, behind only Carlos Gil, Emmanuel Reynoso, and Lucas Zelarayan in total fouls suffered.

Next highest on the Rapids? Jonathan Lewis with 39 fouls suffered (in 33 appearances), at 1.6 fouls suffered per 90

Well, I got the assists right. Lucas got 1g/3a. And is no longer on the team. Lol.

Touted as one of the "most MLS-ready" of the 2021 draft, Mayaka never broke into the Rapids 1st team. He made 18 apps for Rapids 2, scoring 3 goals, and finding his option declined at the end of the season. Another guy I was out to lunch on I guess!

Ironically, the Rapids recently acquired Calvin Harris, who was taken 2nd in that same draft class (Mayaka was 3rd).

Boy. If Toure hadn't torn up his knee so bad, I might have been on to something. He certainly seemed to be coming on strong and fighting his way onto the bench - and ultimately the field. Scored himself a goal too, and in 33 short minutes of action. Hoping he recovers quickly!

Bryan Acosta forced his way into a starter for sure as he was one of the 9 players to have started more than 20 games for the Rapids. But I think it was more due to the injury situation rather than much else. He did finish tied with Price, Esteves, and Lewis for 3rd on the team in assists though! Each of those guys put up 3 assists last season.

With Price going out injured, Bryan Acosta took up the mantle and led the team with 11 yellows, with Lalas and Rubio right on his tail with 9. For comparison, Pricey only put up 9 yellows in '21.

However, Danny Wilson did not lead the team in fouls, or red cards. Vallecilla led the team with 2 reds in 13 fouls. Vallecilla also logged 3 yellow cards. So....Vallecilla averaged a card basically 4 times for every 10 fouls. Not a great stat line for young Gus.

Bryan Acosta also stepped up in the fouls committed category, leading the team with 52. Last year, the mantle was held by Kellyn Acosta with 42.

 

New kit hint?

A New Day rises next week 🌅 #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/9oFf23Ewy9

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 8, 2023

 

Combined transfer fees for Ronan, Maxsø, and Gersbach believed to be just over $1 million ⬇️ https://t.co/wzbmDCSMEU

— Matt Pollard (@LWOSMattPollard) February 8, 2023

 

Here’s a recap of last week’s media availability with Fraser -

Ten Preseason Thoughts From Robin Fraser:

Cabral bringing the right mindset, Yapi hype, Maxsø leadership and more. https://t.co/VDaH5jsoGP pic.twitter.com/APEhXPUedc

— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) February 8, 2023

 

Great to see that Bassett came back as one of the most fit guys, and that it’s “clear he’s worked on his finishing.” I figured he would be super hungry this year given at how his Euro stint worked out

I do wonder at the line that “most” players came back fit though. Who might not have come back in fit? The Gashi PTSD is real for this fan base!