I was looking at the Rapids moves this off season: Out: Bouna Time, Petke, Ward, Burciaga (and apparently Colaluca) In: Pickens, Harden, draft picks (and got Pablo re-signed) As far as regular playing time we lost a GK and a central defender, and we've picked up a GK and a central defender. I don't see any significant difference between Bouna and Pickens and while Harden might be an improvement over Petke in the future, I don't think that will be the case this season. So far the Rapids have done a good job in not losing ground from last season. We've filled the two holes created by players leaving, and while lost some depth in Ward, Burciaga, and Colaluca presumably the draft picks will fill in some of that depth. What the Rapids haven't done yet is to take any steps forward. We still need a solid choice to partner with Casey. The attacking central mid position is still up in the air (Gomez? LaBrocca? a new player?). We don't have strong, reliable leadership on the back line. Gibbs has experience, but if Smith was worried enough about his health to pull him out of Nats camp, how long can we really count on him? Do Bravo and Smith still have cards up their sleeves for these issues, or are we going to go into 2009 with essentially our 2008 squad that even under Smith only managed a .500 record? If they do, when are they going to play them? There's now less than 6 weeks until the opener and whoever we get will need time to work with their teammates before the season starts.
Running to Stand Still Well said .... we need some help and the clock is ticking. Not to mention our lack of depth ... just fielding a competitive first team seems to be slipping out of reach. Maybe the Rapids are hoping Gary Smith can just coach them into being a better team .... wouldn't that be nice?
The thread title could be: "No Hope due to No Change in the off season." However from the Denver Post article that was put up here a while back Cooke and Gomez may still be on their way out and some new players from somewhere may be coming in sometime. I guess that might be change but the hope part is going to hinge on who those players are and when they come in?
The Gomez situation is the damn. If Smith doesn't do anything I will feel that it was because of the cap space taken up by Gomez and I fear that we will drift behind the curve as the rest of mls improves. I still think there are cards up Smith's sleeve though. Perhaps this lack of movement is why there is no hype at all on this board. Also did anyone else notice that our Rapids are a common consensus pick for last in MLS General: “Too early to pick contenders?” thread? Not that too much stock can be put into the mls General community but, it doesn't seem that many have any hope for us either.
Another thought I had about this......... This off-season we (BS) seem to have a ton less insiders giving us any inside rumors for us to speculate on. So the action feels dry in here.
This is one very boring off-season for the Rapids, but that is par for the course. As for the MLS in general, I'm loving the Beckham soap opera. I'm not optimistic about making the post-season this year but who knows, maybe the new coaching staff will be able to get Gomez and Mastroeni to blend well with this group and the team will do wonders. One can hope.
I agree that there hasn't been much action this offseason as far as player aquisitions are concerned... I'm optimistic (it is in the preseason anyway!) that are young guys can come together and play some decent soccer this year. With Bobby Convey (presumably) coming back to MLS, where do the Rapids stand on the aquisition list? It is widely known that San Jose is leading the charge in getting him on their roster....but is there any chance that Rapids could move up on the list?
Only with a trade, but why would we want to? Convey is damaged overpriced goods. More importantly this would get San Jose out of the way so if/when a good player becomes available we're closer to the top.
Where do we stand on the list? I think writing Convey off as damaged overprice goods is a bit short sighted... He is 25 with a wealth of experience. I could easily see him sliding inside and taking on CM role on the Rapids.....much like he will prolly do for the Earthquakes. Just curious, what NATS do you see coming back in the near future (i.e. this season) that we would be better off waiting to make a play for? Maybe DeMerit (but I doubt it as many teams in the Colaship, and Europe in general, would offer much more for a player with a relatively successful season of Premier league ball under his belt than our formidable Rapids could)?
The last unofficial list I saw put us at 4th or 5th. Houston traded for TFC's spot to get a kid that decided to go back to high school, so that would put us third or fourth. I'd rather have Beasely than Convey, but I'd pass on both of them. Allocations aren't used only for Nats, and with Smith supposedly scouting England, Italy, and Africa I'm hoping something better than Convey comes out of it.
Well aren't we close to the bottom? I can see us moving up if the Gomez to DC trade includes their allocation or something. However, it is hard to see this trade even happening anytime soon. (Cue the Gomez and where he fits into our system/ Is he still any good/ Doghouse/ No-doghouse rant) I heard Beasley is on his way back in the near future.
The good news for the Rapids is that the Western Conference has lost some serious talent this offseason...players like DeRosario, Lima, Ronnie O'Brien, etc. - and potentially players like Beckham, Donovan, and Klejstan (in the summer). This talent hasn't been replaced...yet. So, the western conference could potentially take a step backwards this season. But, if you look at our roster compared to a solid playoff contender like Houston, we come up woefully short on talent and proven performers.
I would think for these latter players you speak of that the Rapids are supposedly (hopefully!) scouting, all we would need to do is put in a discovery claim on them.... I thought that the acquisition/allocation list was specifically used for NATS or GA players (i.e. Garcia recently with Houston, McBride this summer with TFC/Fire, and presumably Convey). I think you are way off in thinking that Beasley would come back. He almost signed with Schalke in this latest European transfer window, and will surely find a new team this summer (if he doesn't figure in Rangers plans for the remainder of the season). So I ask again....who in the potential pipeline (Europe --> MLS) would be better to hold out for? Is San Jose currently sitting at the top of the list? If they are, this is kinda a moot topic...
Are you beginning to think that Gary Smith is the emperor and we are beginning to see him in his new clothes? IMO the side has improved but not nearly enough. By subtraction: Condoul, Ward, Erpen, Burciaga all gone. By addition: Pickens (definitely an improvement over an immature Condoul) and Harden. We lost on the Petke non deal. Petke was useful and will be difficult to replace. What was it we got for Petke? I can't seem to remember!!! Our most talented player seemingly remains an outcast. How do other coach/managers deal with difficult but very talented players without hurting their sides and embarrassing their player and themselves? This is a bit of personel management that the emperor needs to learn quickly. More for the emperor, he must be working his connections secretly. He better be a very good coach to get a different result from essentially the same side. At this point, he is not lighting it up as a manager! San Jose is at the top of the list. LA 2nd. They both want Convey. The winner of this tug of war will also be the loser of this tug of war! Convey lost his job 2 years ago at Reading. He can no longer get a game with a failing side. His injuries have devastated his promising career. Why are so many Rapids fans so desparate???
Judging by "this" thread, I'm not panicking yet. It just hasn't been a great offseason for all of MLS. Are all the new signings to the league typically completed by this point? I wonder if teams are also holding off to see who becomes available in order to meet the new restrictions. Or, I wonder if the economy is making it hard for agents and players to evaluate potential opportunities?
It's conditioning. It's also been the organizations M.O. Past signings... Mathis... Best days in MLS behind him Cancela... Best days in MLS behind him Gomez... Best days in MLS behind him Convey... Best days in MLS behind him? My hope is that we find and sign a player who's best days in this league won't be in the past. If that means waiting until the summer, I'm alright with that.
Well something maybe in the works. Ya never know. The Rapids have mentioned that several players are coming into the Rapids training camp near the midpoint. Does that mean bolstering the starting lineup? Who knows. I believe the Rapids are a playoff team. Gary Smith is the guy who will get this group together and get them into form. With FC it seemed like a lot of unorganized soccer, with Gary it seems like the boys are relaxed and playing to position. Who knows, Change is usually good, but in some cases like the Rapids it maybe good we kept the same team overall.
It depends on if there's any transfer fee, their salary, and if any other teams are interested in them. You need an allocation for any player that requires MLS to pay any money to get them. There may also be a upper limit to the salary a Discovery player can get, but that's a little unclear. Not to mention that an allocation can be used to reduce the salary cap hit of a high-slaried player (Which is how GBS was not a DP the last couple of years). Rumors have LA talking to him about making the move, probably a replacement "name" if Old Spice or PrimaDonnavan leave. I give you the same answer. Players that the Rapids are scouting that would require an allocation. SJ and LA are the top of the list, and then either the Rapids or a team I've forgotten then the Rapids. Not that bad, like I said so far the moves they have made have been good ones, they just haven't made enough moves yet. Marx, didn't we already have this conversation? Do you have any reason to believe Petke would have re-signed with the Rapids had they held up his move to RBNY instead of just retiring? My thoughts exactly when it comes to Convey.
Convey = poor man's J.O.B., and remind me how his return went? And I don't mean that in a bad way I mean it more in a sad one, I wish they both could stay healthy, realize the full promise they showed ... and start Wednesday. The reality isn't that though.
I am having trouble getting off the soapbox. Previously, I caved to cogent argument - probably prematurely. But, yes, I do think the Rapids could have re-signed Petke. Obviously, he was not ready to retire. IMO Petke would have been useful to the Rapids and he was certainly worth a fair offer. Either he would have worked out something with the Rapids or he would have had to do something he did not want to do - RETIRE. He definitely would have re-signed or brokered a deal whereby the Rapids would have been fairly compensated for his services.
I disagree. Numerous fans talked to him after the game and said he indicated to them he was done. Then we find out he's not done, but he wants to go home. To me that sounds like somebody that's ready to hang up the boots, but will stay on for one more year in order to play in his hometown. I think its a safe bet Petke was done playing for the Rapids. So we end up in a scenario where we need to re-sign Petke and try to trade him to RBNY, and if we don't work out an agreement we either end up with a player who doesn't want to be here, or we waive him getting us right where we went anyway. Yes, best case scenario is that we sign him and trade him, but I see the odds of that happening being pretty low. Consider this, RBNY got him in a waiver draft, a draft that's done in reverse order of finishing position. That means every team passed on Petke (except Columbus) when any one of them could have done what you're suggesting the Rapids should have done; claim him, sign him, and trade him. If nobody in MLS was willing to make that attempt that should tell you that RBNY wasn't interested enough in him to actually pay for him. Thus the Rapids could either sign a player that didn't want to be here, or waive him. I think they made the better choice.
Let's agree to disagree. The most important fact is Petke did not retire. His best option was not to retire. His action proved he really was not going to retire. Q.E.D. he did not want to retire. Therefore, Rapids or retire. I say Rapids whereas you say retire.
I would say that there is good potential for Convey's return ending up being like JOB's. Reading has released him and it looks like he will be introduced as a SJ player pretty soon. http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1547512,00.html http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/02/convey_and_gambians.html