The Rapids begin their next phase of the preseason, playing in form Mexican teams in Las Vegas and in Guadalajara. Here is some background: http://www.coloradorapids.com/site/goal.asp?cid=325 I don’t know how many players from the opposition first teams will be in those games. But it will be a different look than playing college teams and other pre season MLS teams. Here are some things I will be interested in seeing: 1. Will Maestroni and Grimandi play together at last? Will Becks continue to get a lot of playing time? 2. Are Spencer and Roberts ready for playing time at forward? 3. How will Schmidt do against heightened competition? 4. Who plays the most at left and right back? With the heightened competition, and the season approaching, Hankinson may experiment less and start testing potential lineups for these games. Does anyone know some inside info on what Hankinson is going to be looking at in these games, other than the obvious?
I wouldn't expect too much from the Mexican teams. If I were a coach and, in the middle of my regular season I was playing a friendly against a squad still in preseason, I wouldn't play much of my starting lineup. I think this is more about an opportunity to make a little extra cash for them. Of your questions, I think #3 intrigues me the most. Maybe this kid is a diamond in the rough.
I think Schmidt is going to be the break out star from the Draft, at least the later rounds of the draft. Has anyone heard what happened with the top few picks, how their camps were? I think playing anyone but yourself in preseason is good. The Mexican teams will probably play some younger guys, but they are going to be guys playing hard trying to get recognized by their manager. They will want to break into the first team and this will be a good start. I am sure that Mexican clubs are starting to feel some pressure from American clubs so they will want to perform as not to hurt their fan rep/
The key is to get Grimandi, Spencer and Roberts back healthy and into form, and for the other members of the team to stay away from serious injury. The rest is just getting the team in better shape and getting in some good comp against some strange faces. Working out in the high altitude in Mexico should only help. But the Rapids need the Frenchman, the Liberian and the Scotsman if they're really going to reach the upper echelon, so hopefully they're on the mend and can start working with their teammates so they will have meshed to a certain degree by the start of the season. I'm also looking forward to see if Schmidt can keep it up, though there's no way he'll keep up the pace he's set out of the pre-season gate. I have a feeling Carrieri may prove the league surprise of the season and leave Spencer relegated to the bench for much of the time. Either way, it'll be nice to have options!!!