can a worms

If he can, you know, actually play this season and the money is right and it doesn't hinder the development of some of our younger defenders and he doesn't mind sitting on the bench for the majority of the season and he has no hard feelings toward the organization and he wants to return, then sure, maybe. Probably. Could happen.

I like Celo but I don't think signing him to a contract just so he can retire a Rapid is the right move. If he can contribute and doesn't mind being a bit player (I would play our young defenders ahead of him), then it might be a solid move. But I doubt Celo would do it. He probably wants 1st team soccer and probably wouldn't get it in Colorado.

If you can't tell, I'm pretty ambivalent about this.

 

So long as his knee holds up, I think he's perfectly capable of starting every game for the Rapids in the center of defense. Fitness has never been an issue for him, and whatever he may lack in speed he more than makes up for it by being able to read the ball defensively better than most anyone else in the league.

Oh yeah, and he's not likely to lose many aerial challenges if the ball comes near him -- at either end of the pitch.

Are there better central defenders in MLS? A few. But they're not available to the Rapids, and quite frankly Robin Fraser nor anyone partnered with him in the middle for the Rapids have done much to impress.

Nearly a year ago I felt I understood why the Rapids traded (released, if you will) Balboa. However the defensive shambles -- and lack of anyone that could head the ball -- that was revealed in 2002 shows that we had no adequate replacement for everything that Celo brought to the team.

I think for the Rapids it will ultimately come down to salary requirements and the attitude of Hankinson and Counce. Balboa wants first team football but he also clearly would like to be in Colorado and with his family; he's stated more than a few times that he wants to spend the rest of his life here.

Unfortunately, he's also stated on a few occasions -- including at a tailgate last year -- that there are certain issues unrelated to his abilities on the field that would hinder his return to the club.

As for picking him up "so he can retire as a Rapid," if Celo were simply interested in playing one more year then I would agree that would not be a wise move. However, Celo has made it clear that he wants to have a long career in football off the playing field. He wants to stay in Colorado and would love to be involved in the Rapids organization for years to come (with some changes), and given everything he could bring to the table I think he'd be an invaluable resource for the club.

 

Weren't there some bridges burned when he got traded? I thought I remember him not being too happy with Counce and Hankinson after the deal went down.

 

He!! yes. Assuming he's willing to fit into our salary structure. I know he may have some issues in coming back, but from the Rapids side of the table there's no good reason that the Rapids shouldn't sign him.

 

This begs the question "what players on the Rapids are you passionate about and why?"

As far as I'm concerned, bring 'celo back ASAP! I believe he will add to our lacking defense and he excites me with the attacking threat. Marcelo is a player I pay to watch (and look forward to watching week-to-week).

Who on the current roster do I feel passionate about? John Spencer! Even with his sub-par 2002 season, I can't wait to see what he can do on the attack. And how our green dwarf will beat the lumbering giants of MLS back lines.

Mark Chung. What a great player. Always thinking, moving the ball well, and knows where to be. Fun to watch (not frustrating). I can't put CV in this list because the times he gives up counter the times he cares and does something remarkable. Pablo is one of the best defensive ball handlers in MLS, but he kills us with cards. Mark gives his all the entire game and season long and does so cleanly.

Carrieri is close to making this list for me. Can't really say so for anyone else. Doesn't mean I don't want Pablo, Chris, or Scott on the team. There are some good players in addition to the above list. But, with their positives, they have a certain amount of negatives that keep them off this list for me.

Who do I pay to watch? Marcelo, Spencer, Chung, and maybe Carrieri.

 

if we bring back balboa we can REALLY have the oldest team in the league!! we could become the team for all old timers who still want to play!! Just trade all the youngsters to give them a chance to play somewhere if they aren't going to be used. I can't believe that we want him.. If balboa did not work out before why now! We have good defenders-Hankinson just won't give them time... other teams are going for youngsters not oldster.. who is next??

 

Having taken a lot of *************** in thr last year for complaining about thr salary switch of Balboa-for-CV, I think that it's too late to think that we can better our team unless we can get him at an unrealistic salary. We need to use our big CV salary (used to be Balboa's) for a LONGTERM player, not an older one or two year player. If we can get him for the equivilent of a Dawes/Titus etc. or even the older Fraser, then I'd go for him cus of Balboa's intangables, big goal scoring, and gamer' atitude.

RLH

 

What did he do for the team that he got traded to?Did he even play? Obviously they see no need for him because they are proceding forward for a new look. Why does colorado see a need to go backwards? Lets go forward with new players, young player etc.....

 

He spent all but 10 minutes of last season on the bench with a knee injury. He played the 10 minutes in the last game of the year.

 

I say bring him back. Celo was the Elway of the Rapids while he was here and is the major reason I started watching the Rapids. Even if he sits the bench the whole year, the leadership he would bring to the team would be priceless.

 

Balboa is a good player that i think should go back to the rapids as a leader and to retire there. I used to play for Balboa's father and he kept ranting about how much Celo likes it in Colorado and how pissed he (the father) was that he went to New York. I wouldn't say just for retirement, that should be a bonus, but because he can lead the younger talented defenders and show them how it's done. If you just give them minutes, they'll eventually get to their potential, you add in someone with the background and character of Celo and the young guys get there a lot faster. If he coaches anything like his father, you'd definitley want him in your system after he retires. Just hope there are no hard feelings with him and colorado.

 

I've gotta agree with some of your previous posters, that if the Rapids don't try to pick up Balboa from the Metro Stars as a free agent, or in a trade at a reduced salary, then they would be nuts to pass up on the opportunity to get him back to Denver for his last couple of years in the MLS.

Now that he is back to 100% fitness, the Rapids could use him to beef up their defensive unit based on most of the games that I saw last season. For that matter, so could a lot of other MLS teams.

When Chelo signs a new contract to play in 2003 with the Metro Stars, we'll all have a unique opportunity to see him playing along side, or maybe, in front of, one of the best defensive player's in the MLS. Eddie Pope was a young player, who Chelo previously mentored when they were both teammates on the US National Team in the mid 90's.

New York/New Jersy will have a backline/ defensive midfield made up of Eddie Pope, Steve Jolley, Chelo, Richie Williams and Ross Paulie and a couple of speedy youngsters. That's a team that could be a lot of fun to watch next season.

PS... Rumors flying around the MLS also have Matt McKeon leaving KC and rejoining one of his old team mates, who is currently a Metro Star assistant coach under Bob Bradley. Now that would be an awsome bunch of defenders (some might use the phrase "thugs"). Most of these guys know how to score goals in the air.(That's excluding Richie Williams, of course). adios