I've learned that whatever the window is for expecting Rapids news to drop, add 2-3 weeks to that. When I heard a few different Rapids podcasters say they expected to hear something the week of the 6th, I thought, "Well that settles it, we won't be hearing anything till December."
This is what you hear about the Rapids everywhere, and everyone's embarrassed except the ownership of the team.
Sources: Jack Wilshere is not a finalist for the Colorado Rapids head coaching search, possibly by choice. The club has a favorite of the four finalists. The process may be drawn out due to negotiations, reports @LWOSMattPollard. Full story⤵️https://t.co/QQHh3lzUjf pic.twitter.com/sON0slOhOx— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) November 15, 2023
Process "is drawn out" because no one wants to sign the dotted line until the other HC opportunities are closed.
Every time I read about another MLS club spending over a hundred million on training facilities I think it must getting harder to recruit a talented coach as well as players. Added to this are all the other MLS head coaching positions that may look more appealing than the Rapids and it's hard for me to believe that a quality candidate would be interested in Commerce City as the place to be.
And if I just keep validating my decision to NOT renew as a STM when I consider the above. Also, I think this is the quietest off-season on this Rapids' message board I can remember. No conversation about players salaries, the coaching search, etc. Heck, not even speculation about what the new primary kit will look like (or maybe this doesn't happen till January?).
Former Mainz and Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz is set to take over at New York Red Bulls from next year, where Jochen Schneider is currently Sporting Director, report @BILD_Sport. https://t.co/vvVqPu2sx1— Bundesliga Latest (@BL_LatestNews) November 16, 2023
BTW, bona fide offers to free agents have to be tendered by next Wednesday, and option decisions have to be made by December 1st. It looks like we won't have a coach hired for the former and unlikely by the latter.
JUST IN: Sources confirm to The Denver Post the Colorado Rapids are set to name Chris Armas as the next head coach. Formal announcement set for Friday.Armas, 51, is back in MLS after coaching at Manchester United & Leeds United. Former HC at NY Red Bulls, Toronto FC. #Rapids96— Brendan Ploen (@BrendanPloen) November 17, 2023
What a ******* joke! Absolutely ridiculous. Straight up garbage. I’m pissed. But sadly and even more infuriating, this club has done this to itself and Armas is the type of clown we can only attract. This is what we deserve when you have a club that has no interest in forward progress and is stuck in MLS 2.0 while most have moved to MLS 4.0.
My immediate reaction to the reported Armas hire. The tl;dr version, he can't win a knockout game and isn't MLS quality. After 15+ years as a season ticket holder I'm not renewing. https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2023/11/rapids-doom-themselves-hire-chris-armas.html
Sadly, until there is some sort of fundamental change in philosophy and wallet opening, he is probably the best we can hope to get short of lucking into an unknown and hitting the lottery. Who would want to come here right now? Rapids will market this as a former MLS player (who more casual fans will have heard of) with EPL experience and for most of the non-hardcore Rapids fans, they will eat that stuff up.
Would’ve even taken Phil Neville over Armas. Man this is really scraping the bottom barrel here. Man. Why is it so freaking hard to be a Rapids fan?
Oof. Can’t believe Armas got a job. If you wanted to hire an ex Redbull, you could’ve at least waited a few days and gotten Lesesne. I’m not saying he’s great or anything but at least the possibility exists that he can become a real good coach. But Armas couldn’t out coach a pet rock.
Ouch https://thepeoplesperson.com/2023/11/17/chris-armas-hired-as-new-colorado-rapids-head-coach-271869/
OFFICIAL: The Colorado Rapids have hired Chris Armas as their new head coach.Team president Pádraig Smith told me Armas stood out above a crowded field because of his leadership qualities, tactical structure and player development.Read more: https://t.co/et7W5DF4k3 #Rapids96— Brendan Ploen (@BrendanPloen) November 17, 2023
It's difficult to put into words how disappointing this is. I had a hard time sleeping last night thinking about this coaching hire and the general direction of the club. This hire is clearly not a signal the club is moving in a much needed fresh, new direction. This is a signal that no one else wanted the job and Armas was basically the only person desperate enough to take the gig. I said before that Armas has been mediocre to terrible every other place he's been. It's highly unlikely he's going to magically become a great coach at the Rapids, where he will have SIGNIFICANTLY fewer resources than any job he's had before. I know you need to give a guy a chance to prove themselves, but the prognosis is pretty bad. I don't think we should expect the Rapids to make the playoffs next year. I'm not even sure they'll manage to win 5 games. I think winning back the RMC is also not gonna happen. I honestly think is an absolutely terrible coaching hire that is doomed to failure. It's going to result in the next 1-2 years getting flushed down the drain. Right now there is absolutely no reason for me to believe the team will show any improvement from 2023...and we all know what a miserable experience 2023 was.