No Fan Alone Colorado Rapids Supporters

We’re under two weeks away from the Charity Shield match between the Rapids and Seattle which will be our first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the latest incarnation of our favorite team.  Bonji here to help you get a grasp on who you’ll see trotting out for our ‘Pids.

First lets run down who you won’t see, who has left.  Take out the trash first, ehh?  Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs were both traded to New England in the deal that brought two from New England who we’ll meet later.  Ty Harden was traded to Toronto for a third round draft pick in 2011.  Jordan Harvey was selected by the Philadelphia Union in the expansion draf.  Lastly, Jacob Peterson was traded to Toronto for allocation money.  If you total the number of games these five played (91) and minutes played (6,396) and compare that to the total games available to be played by each player (330) and total minutes available (29,700) you realize that we’ve lost 28% of the games played and 22% of the minutes played.  That is a significant chunk of your starting eleven gone, and needing replacement.

Who is coming in to replace those games and minutes of work?  The Rapids drafted four players, listed in order of being drafted; Andre Akpan (F, Harvard), Ross LaBauex (M, Virginia), Chad Borak (D, Cal State – Northridge) & Chris Cutshaw (M/F, Bradley).  According to The Green Army Blog Akpan and LaBauex are the remaining draftees in camp.   As a side note, I recommend reading the Green Army training reports.  They’re great, something we Rapids fans have been missing over the years.

In addition to the draftees there are the tradees; Jeff Larentowicz (M, New England) & Wells Thompson (M, New England).  Then the players signed from outside MLS; Danny Earls (D, Rochester) & Oscar Murillo (D, Deportes Quindio – Columbia).   So far that means five out and four in.

The Rapids have been hosting other trialists but no further signings have been made.  Due to the MLS/Player Union Collective Bargaining Agreement issues, the roster compliance deadline originally scheduled for March 1 has been delayed.  This is giving MLS teams some extra time with trialists.  Hopefully that means better evaluation by the Rapids and fewer poor signings.  Here are some of the names that have been on trial; Devon Hodges (F, Rivoli – Jamaica), Rolan De La Cruz (M, Deportivo Cali) & Andy Lorei (M, Rochester).  Not sure if I’ve missed any.  Hodges told press in his home country that he was working towards a deal but Hodges is no longer in camp so it looks like he didn’t do enough to get a contract.

With the comings and going here are your Colorado Rapids who are jetting to London for further pre-season training at Arsenal’s grounds.  Please note, this is not an official list from the Rapids, there could be others joining.

Forwards (6); Conor Casey, Facundo Diz, Pat Noonan, Omar Cummings, Ross Schunk & Andre Akpan

Midfielders (10); Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Mehdi Ballouchy, Nick LaBrocca, Greg Dalby, Ciaran O’Brien, Colin Clark, Jamie Smith, Wells Thompson & Ross LaBauex

Defenders (8); Julien Baudet, Michael Holody, Drew Moor, Oscar Murillo, Scott Palguta, Kosuke Kimura, Danny Earls & Rob Valentino

Keepers (2); Matt Pickens & Steward Ceus

A sign that it’s the first actually nice day of 2010: the Rapids scrimmage scheduled to end at 11:30 keeps going and going and going and going and… Hey, it’s not snowing or 20 degrees, so let’s play. The “media” – we few local writers whose pay is (1) nothing or (2) a random unsold team jersey – are waiting to interview players and coaches. Lacking those, we’re left to badger the Rapids staff with questions they won’t answer: “What’s the big announcement this afternoon at South High School”. Answer: “I don’t know anything about that”. Or “What’s up with the salary negotiations”. Answer: “I don’t know anything about that”.

The Big Announcement, you may have heard, is that Conor Casey has a new 3-year contract. I guess any unpleasantness from the alleged argument with Coach Smith last fall is gone. Hopefully this year he can get that Golden Boot, by way of support from a strong midfield that keeps all its various ligaments and tendons intact.

Newcomer Ross LaBauex impressed coaches and staff at the exhibition games in Arizona. He started his soccer career very young, playing club in Chicago, and then moved on to Division 1 NCAA at Virginia. He says Virginia did an awesome job preparing him for the transition to MLS. What’s the biggest difference about MLS play for him? Speed. The play is quick and technical, compared to college. His role model? Pablo Mastroeni. Ross seems to have picked up on the speed thing already. Some of his moves in the scrimmage were very impressive.

The Rapids are off to London this week, so I asked Gary Smith how the team would benefit from the trip. Exposure to a different culture and different style of play is important. He hopes the players gain confidence as a team and improve their skills and fitness. In case you were going to be in England next week, don’t plan on watching any of these matches. The word is they’ll be closed to the public.

But you won’t be lacking for news. The Rapids have instituted a new social media campaign, resulting in an onslaught of updates by way of the team’s Facebook page, Rapids’ website, Tweets and emails. And if that’s not enough, individual players will be featured monthly in Mile High Sports Magazine throughout the season. Honestly, following all this stuff is now a full time job.

And there’s more: the players’ union and MLS have not settled their contract dispute yet, and are heading to mediation next week. The practical result of this is that the deadline for settling the roster has been pushed back indefinitely. So the Rapids still have several extra players. This could be good news for some of them, because they get more audition time, so to speak. Guys who might have been cut a few days ago, are still here and might now improve enough to get roster spots. Kind of like American Idol.

But no, that really, really blond guy on the back line isn’t one of those players. That’s Julien Baudet, newly platinum blond. How did the Social Media frenzy miss this? All I can say is, it will now be very easy to spot him on the field.

Craig brings us the first podcast of 2010. Touching on last season, the upcoming season, player movement, and much much more!!

Remember, you can also subscribe to us on iTunes or use the RSS feed (the icon is up in the top right corner).

Enjoy!

 

 Six Questions with Gary Smith [28:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As promised, there’s the link to get your tickets to the upcoming charity shield game on March 19th – this INCLUDES coming to the preseason party in the terraces before kickoff.

The game is general admission and this link gets you a ticket without all those annoying fees!!!

Remember, the game against the Seattle Sounders, the ticket sales go to victim relief in Haiti, and the preseason party is to raise money for YOUR RAPIDS SUPPORTERS season. I’ve sent an Evite out – and it looks like there will bet a minimum of 60 people at the party – don’t be left out!

Go ahead and RSVP (which isn’t necessary but will sure help us out!) by going here: Click to go to Evite

CLASS VI AND C-FIRM KICK OFF PARTY ON THE TERRACE!

Calling all supporters – feel like it’s about time to scratch that 2010 Rapids itch? We’ve got just the remedy for your off season blues.

Come join Rapids Supporters Association groups Class VI and Centennial Firm as they kickoff the 2010 season with a bang at their annual preseason bash and recruiting event!

Be the first to experience MLS’s newest and most exciting feature as the Colorado Rapids, Class VI, and C-Firm use the Supporters preseason party to unveil the exclusive new Supporters Terrace!

The party will begin at 4 PM before the “Charity Shield” match Friday, March 19th against the Seattle Sounders, featuring Freddie Ljungberg and Kasey Keller. Come join the supporters and fans on the Supporters Terrace for some great pre-match events such as:

- Free food and drinks!
- Some incredible door prizes!
- A silent auction featuring some amazing items such as team-signed equipment, player-used gear, and some amazing Rapids experiences!
- 50/50 Raffles!
- Some great camaraderie with hundreds of passionate Rapids fans!
- And who knows, perhaps some recognizable Rapids faces will make an appearance!

Match tickets start at only $10 and all proceeds go to UNICEF’s efforts to provide
relief to Haiti.

Already a supporter? Curious about the supporters groups? Just a fan looking for a fun evening? No
problem! Grab your friends and family and come down to the party. Buy a team-signed jersey in the auction. Win some cash in our 50/50 raffles. Enjoy some free dinner before the match and
come see what fun it is to be seated or standing with the Rapids best fans as we look to pack the Terraces and section 108 and cheer on the Rapids all the way to MLS Cup 2010!

For more information on Class VI and Centennial Firm go to www.nofanalone.com

For more information on the “Charity Shield” match go to http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=9ZSLPwmnBvQ==