With a moderately successful 2009 season and no major changes, the Rapids could be looking at the playoffs in 2010.
Editor’s Note:Â This season preview for the Colorado Rapids is a guest column from Tony Laroe. Tony is new to ProSportsColorado.com, and we hope to have much more Rapids analysis from him in the future. Soccer, while obviously the sports king internationally, is still trying to find its true place in an American market dominated by NFL and NBA, and to a lesser extent, the national pastime of Major League Baseball. The Rapids have built a small but ever-growing and exceedingly loyal fanbase here in Colorado, and we would be remiss as a sports news outlet if we ignored them. This piece was written before Friday’s season opener in which the Rapids beat Chivas USA 1-0 (is that ‘one-nil’?). You can read more of Tony’s work at his blog, and hopefully right here at ProSportsColorado.com in the near future. –Ed.
The Colorado Rapids open up their fifteenth season tonight against Chivas USA looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Over the past three campaigns the Rapids have seen their playoff hopes dashed at the final match by their regional rivals. Even more painful Real Salt Lake went on to win MLS Cup last season. The strength of the team is the partnership of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Together they totaled 24 goals and 13 assists. Casey is still in the mix to make the World cup squad in June and normally that would mean that he would absent from the club but thankfully the MLS has added a two week break to the schedule during the group stage.
For the fowards to shine his season it is reliant on the midfield to provide them with quality service. The face of the franchise remains in Pablo Mastroeni where he will continue to sit in front of the back four. The other starter to be held over is Colin Clark, but there are still questions if he has fully recovered from injury that cut short last season. Additions to the midfield include Jamie Smith and Jeff Larentowicz from New England.
Defense is another question mark that remains. Kosuke Kimura at right back and Julien Baudet in central defense are the two holdovers from last season, with Danny Earls at left back and Drew Moor to partner Baudet in the center are new additions. Between the sticks Matt Pickens remains the number 1.
Gary Smith enters his second full season as manager and now has had time to shape the team to his liking after taking over from Fernando Clavijo late in the 2008 season.
The big news off the pitch is that we are even starting the new season. The CBA was set to expire and it looked like the players were ready to go on strike but a new agreement was made less then a week before the first kick. The other big news that I am excited about is the there is a new television partner. Channel 2 KWGN is broadcasting 25 games this year locally, over-the-air and all in HD. I will reserve judgement because there has been no announcement of who the commentators are and that can really change my excitement level for this.
My overall feeling that the team did not receive a major overhaul and only just missed the playoffs last year. If they are able to continue their success at home and take a few more points on the road, this might be the year they can return to playoffs.
