A bit odd to see the only player who played in all 30 games for the Rapids last season to be leaving, no? Scott Palguta and Drew Moor are going to be busy at left back next season.
Press release from the Colorado Rapids:
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Wednesday, November 25, 2009) – The Colorado Rapids announced today that defender Jordan Harvey was selected by the Philadelphia Union with one of their 10 selections in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft.
Each of the League’s 15 teams was allowed to protect 11 players, leaving all others unprotected and available for selection by the Union.
Harvey was originally selected with Colorado's first pick, ninth overall, in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. In five seasons with the Rapids, he appeared in 45 games with 42 starts for 3,793 minutes and recorded four assists. Harvey is coming off a career season in 2009 where he was the only Rapids player to appear in all 30 games, while also registering a career-high three assists. His 2,613 minutes played last season were 8th most in MLS.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Rapids Announce Protected List Ahead of Draft
Press release today from the Colorado Rapids re the Philadelphia expansion draft. A few notable players not included in the protected list such as Jordan Harvey, Mehdi Ballouchy and Pat Noonan. Scott Palguta was another first team regular this season but his exclusion is more understandable given it was his rookie season. Only one player can be drafted by Philadelphia from each club.
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Monday, November 23, 2009) – The Colorado Rapids announced their list of 11 protected players for the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, which takes place this Wednesday, November 25 at 11 a.m. MT.
With the Philadelphia Union, the league’s 16th club, entering the league for next season, each team in MLS must make a certain amount of their players available for the draft.
Philadelphia may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS, and will select 10 players, meaning that five teams will not have a player taken in the Expansion Draft.
COLORADO RAPIDS PROTECTED PLAYERS
Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens
Defenders: Julien Baudet, Cory Gibbs, Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor
Midfielders: Colin Clark, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, Jamie Smith
Forwards: Conor Casey, Omar Cummings
In addition to this list, Rapids midfielder Ciaran O’Brien and defender Rob Valentino are automatically protected by the Rapids due to their Generation adidas status.
COLORADO RAPIDS PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Goalkeepers: Preston Burpo, Steward Ceus
Defenders: Ty Harden, Jordan Harvey, Scott Palguta, Michael Holody
Midfielders: Mehdi Ballouchy, Greg Dalby, Jacob Peterson
Forwards: Facundo Diz, Pat Noonan, Ross Schunk
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Monday, November 23, 2009) – The Colorado Rapids announced their list of 11 protected players for the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, which takes place this Wednesday, November 25 at 11 a.m. MT.
With the Philadelphia Union, the league’s 16th club, entering the league for next season, each team in MLS must make a certain amount of their players available for the draft.
Philadelphia may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS, and will select 10 players, meaning that five teams will not have a player taken in the Expansion Draft.
COLORADO RAPIDS PROTECTED PLAYERS
Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens
Defenders: Julien Baudet, Cory Gibbs, Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor
Midfielders: Colin Clark, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, Jamie Smith
Forwards: Conor Casey, Omar Cummings
In addition to this list, Rapids midfielder Ciaran O’Brien and defender Rob Valentino are automatically protected by the Rapids due to their Generation adidas status.
COLORADO RAPIDS PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Goalkeepers: Preston Burpo, Steward Ceus
Defenders: Ty Harden, Jordan Harvey, Scott Palguta, Michael Holody
Midfielders: Mehdi Ballouchy, Greg Dalby, Jacob Peterson
Forwards: Facundo Diz, Pat Noonan, Ross Schunk
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
RSL Owner At Least Shows Passion
On this busy day of international soccer, check out this interesting piece from Soccer America magazine on Real Salt Lake owner, Dave Checketts. I don't know anything about the man and maybe he is not Mr. Nice Guy but, according to goalkeeper Nick Rimando, at least he seems to care about his team. Can anyone imagine Mr. Kroenke coming into the Rapids' dressing room to encourage the players? Just pointing out some crucial differences in perceptions and possible coincidences with the fact that RSL are in Sunday's MLS Cup final and the Rapids are not.
http://www.socceramerica.com/blogs/mls_confidential/?p=242
http://www.socceramerica.com/blogs/mls_confidential/?p=242
Monday, November 16, 2009
Casey Named to MLS Season XI
Press release from the Rapids today. Good to see further recognition of Casey's talents. Does anybody else think that having only three defenders nominated is a bit weird?
MLS Commissioner Don Garber today announced that Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey has been named to the 2009 MLS Best XI during his annual State of the League address.
The MLS Best XI recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. The players selected to the Best XI received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
Casey garners Best XI honors for the first time in his three-year career following a stellar 2009 season, which saw him finish second in the Budweiser MLS Golden Boot race with a new Rapids single season record 16 goals. In 24 games this season, he played in 2,087 minutes and added one assist while also capturing MLS Player of the Week three times on the year and MLS Player of the Month for May. In July, Casey was also named to his first career MLS All-Star First XI.
Casey becomes the sixth Rapids player in team history to be named to the league’s year-end Best XI squad and the first since Joe Cannon in 2004.
2009 MLS Best XI:
GOALKEEPER (1): Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
FORWARDS (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
MLS Commissioner Don Garber today announced that Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey has been named to the 2009 MLS Best XI during his annual State of the League address.
The MLS Best XI recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. The players selected to the Best XI received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
Casey garners Best XI honors for the first time in his three-year career following a stellar 2009 season, which saw him finish second in the Budweiser MLS Golden Boot race with a new Rapids single season record 16 goals. In 24 games this season, he played in 2,087 minutes and added one assist while also capturing MLS Player of the Week three times on the year and MLS Player of the Month for May. In July, Casey was also named to his first career MLS All-Star First XI.
Casey becomes the sixth Rapids player in team history to be named to the league’s year-end Best XI squad and the first since Joe Cannon in 2004.
2009 MLS Best XI:
GOALKEEPER (1): Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
DEFENDERS (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)
FORWARDS (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Rapids' End of Season Woes Surface
Looks like Conor Casey's call-up to the US national team for friendlies against Slovakia and Denmark could not have come at a better time. Take a look at this article on www.mlsnet.com for some uncomfortable news on how the team has reacted to the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs again. Probably not all that surprising but quite revealing. Though what it reveals I'm not entirely sure.
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20091109&content_id=7640626&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp.
I plan to be at training later this week so maybe I'll be able to get an update on the mood in the camp. They're all probably sick of kicking a ball around and can't wait for Thanskgiving. Deeper problems than a training field bust-up remain at the club as we have all been discussing in recent weeks.
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20091109&content_id=7640626&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp.
I plan to be at training later this week so maybe I'll be able to get an update on the mood in the camp. They're all probably sick of kicking a ball around and can't wait for Thanskgiving. Deeper problems than a training field bust-up remain at the club as we have all been discussing in recent weeks.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
State of the Club - On the Abyss and Looking Down
51 responses to Jeff Plush's letter to fans on the Rapids' blog as of 10am November 5. It shows there are some passionate fans out there. Not that I ever had any doubt about that. What I do have doubts over are the very future of this club and here's why.
I have never really understood why sports trophies are given to the owners of clubs when they win championships. In England, it's always the players who lift the trophies. Anyway, that aside, I was watching the Yankees win the World Series last night and, as one of the Steinbrenner family held the trophy, he gave a sincere thanks to the fans because, as he said, there is no club without the fans. Given the response by the fans who care to the MD's letter, the same can be said of the Rapids. Without the true support of the fans who go to every game, there is no Colorado Rapids club. That is why every future action of the club has to be about keeping those hard core fans happy. I know the club has done better this year reaching out to such fans but it has a long way to go to get away from the overreliance on getting families into the stadium. There is a place for families, of course, - mine included, and many families are no doubt season ticket holders, but the club should not be concentrating on getting families for one or two games a year so they can laugh at distracting mascots at crucial moments of a game. It has to focus more on keeping the hardcore fans happy.
And how is it going to do that? I can't pretend to have the answers but I do know two things which have to improve to make the club sustainable. Investment on the field and a better profile for the club within the city of Denver.
Stan Kroenke bought this club in 2003. Without his money, there is no club. There is not enough money coming in from ticket sales to support the club significantly and there is still no club sponsorship. So, we have to largely rely on the owner for any investment in players. In truth, this doesn't work. It's his money and he can spend it how he wants but it is clear he is far more interested in Arsenal than he ever will be in the Rapids. After all, just a couple of days after the Rapids were eliminated from the playoffs, he was busy buying up more Arsenal shares. With Arsenal shares at something like $14,000 each, just think what a few hundred shares here and there could buy for the Rapids. A Designated Player perhaps? You could say the same about trimming a few zeros off Carmelo Anthony's salary as I am sure some of Kroenke's worth goes into that too but it didn't show much sensitivity to the Rapids' plight to be so active on the Arsenal front moments after the elimination from the playoffs. As I say, it is his money and it his club but it is clear where the priorities are.
Money alone will not buy a successful team. Maybe a DP is not the right answer. But it is clear from the terrible decline of the team in the last several weeks of the season that there was no strength in depth once Clark, Smith et al were injured. Gary Smith's frustration at the end of the Salt Lake game spoke volumes. The squad is not that far off from being a serious MLS challenger but it needs one or two exceptional players who will help take it to that level. Without financial investment, be it from a sponsor, or from the owner, it isn't going to happen. I guess the club could receive some significant money by selling one of its more high profile players to Europe, such as Casey or Cummings, but, even replacing one of them with a top level player, wouldn't really add to the squad per se. Gary Smith needs reassurance he can go out and buy some high level guys or, I fear, he may be off to seek greener pastures. What price he may get an offer from Toronto where his friend, Chris Cummins, has just left the managerial position?
The other priority has to be improving the club's profile within the city. Another example of insensitivity to the Rapids' plight was CBS4 news on the Monday night after the Rapids were confirmed as missing the playoffs following New England's victory over Columbus. Vic Lombardi, who claims to be a soccer fan, pontificated over how good the Denver sporting scene is right now with success for the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets and Avalanche. Granted, the Rapids may never be up there with those teams in terms of following but that doesn't really matter. The fact is there is an 18,000 seater stadium called DSG Park which can be full with the right ingredient on the pitch. That means at minimum 18,000 people the local media could cater to. There is an entrenched view on the part of the powers that be at local television companies and the Denver Post that soccer simply doesn't matter. Who are they to say that? They should not be letting their personal preferences dictate which sports are important. Soccer is important to a lot of people and it is nothing short of outrageous that nearly all of them, Lionel Bienvenu excepted, consistently relegate it to nothing. Who are they catering to? Themselves or sports fans? I think we know the answer to that one. The media coverage has to improve despite all these obstacles. And it doesn't have to be an MLS Cup winning team to improve such coverage. Are we only interested in teams if they win? I mean, would coverage of the Broncos have stopped if Josh McDaniels hadn't had such a fairytale start to the season?
This is what I see as the state of the club, which can be summed up with one word - investment, and not just financially. I am trying to be constructive because I want this franchise to succeed. I have had a great and privileged time getting to know the players and coaching staff in the past year or so and their future is very important to me. As I know it is to thousands of Denverites. Investment in this club, both financially and otherwise, is all important to its very future.
I have never really understood why sports trophies are given to the owners of clubs when they win championships. In England, it's always the players who lift the trophies. Anyway, that aside, I was watching the Yankees win the World Series last night and, as one of the Steinbrenner family held the trophy, he gave a sincere thanks to the fans because, as he said, there is no club without the fans. Given the response by the fans who care to the MD's letter, the same can be said of the Rapids. Without the true support of the fans who go to every game, there is no Colorado Rapids club. That is why every future action of the club has to be about keeping those hard core fans happy. I know the club has done better this year reaching out to such fans but it has a long way to go to get away from the overreliance on getting families into the stadium. There is a place for families, of course, - mine included, and many families are no doubt season ticket holders, but the club should not be concentrating on getting families for one or two games a year so they can laugh at distracting mascots at crucial moments of a game. It has to focus more on keeping the hardcore fans happy.
And how is it going to do that? I can't pretend to have the answers but I do know two things which have to improve to make the club sustainable. Investment on the field and a better profile for the club within the city of Denver.
Stan Kroenke bought this club in 2003. Without his money, there is no club. There is not enough money coming in from ticket sales to support the club significantly and there is still no club sponsorship. So, we have to largely rely on the owner for any investment in players. In truth, this doesn't work. It's his money and he can spend it how he wants but it is clear he is far more interested in Arsenal than he ever will be in the Rapids. After all, just a couple of days after the Rapids were eliminated from the playoffs, he was busy buying up more Arsenal shares. With Arsenal shares at something like $14,000 each, just think what a few hundred shares here and there could buy for the Rapids. A Designated Player perhaps? You could say the same about trimming a few zeros off Carmelo Anthony's salary as I am sure some of Kroenke's worth goes into that too but it didn't show much sensitivity to the Rapids' plight to be so active on the Arsenal front moments after the elimination from the playoffs. As I say, it is his money and it his club but it is clear where the priorities are.
Money alone will not buy a successful team. Maybe a DP is not the right answer. But it is clear from the terrible decline of the team in the last several weeks of the season that there was no strength in depth once Clark, Smith et al were injured. Gary Smith's frustration at the end of the Salt Lake game spoke volumes. The squad is not that far off from being a serious MLS challenger but it needs one or two exceptional players who will help take it to that level. Without financial investment, be it from a sponsor, or from the owner, it isn't going to happen. I guess the club could receive some significant money by selling one of its more high profile players to Europe, such as Casey or Cummings, but, even replacing one of them with a top level player, wouldn't really add to the squad per se. Gary Smith needs reassurance he can go out and buy some high level guys or, I fear, he may be off to seek greener pastures. What price he may get an offer from Toronto where his friend, Chris Cummins, has just left the managerial position?
The other priority has to be improving the club's profile within the city. Another example of insensitivity to the Rapids' plight was CBS4 news on the Monday night after the Rapids were confirmed as missing the playoffs following New England's victory over Columbus. Vic Lombardi, who claims to be a soccer fan, pontificated over how good the Denver sporting scene is right now with success for the Broncos, Rockies, Nuggets and Avalanche. Granted, the Rapids may never be up there with those teams in terms of following but that doesn't really matter. The fact is there is an 18,000 seater stadium called DSG Park which can be full with the right ingredient on the pitch. That means at minimum 18,000 people the local media could cater to. There is an entrenched view on the part of the powers that be at local television companies and the Denver Post that soccer simply doesn't matter. Who are they to say that? They should not be letting their personal preferences dictate which sports are important. Soccer is important to a lot of people and it is nothing short of outrageous that nearly all of them, Lionel Bienvenu excepted, consistently relegate it to nothing. Who are they catering to? Themselves or sports fans? I think we know the answer to that one. The media coverage has to improve despite all these obstacles. And it doesn't have to be an MLS Cup winning team to improve such coverage. Are we only interested in teams if they win? I mean, would coverage of the Broncos have stopped if Josh McDaniels hadn't had such a fairytale start to the season?
This is what I see as the state of the club, which can be summed up with one word - investment, and not just financially. I am trying to be constructive because I want this franchise to succeed. I have had a great and privileged time getting to know the players and coaching staff in the past year or so and their future is very important to me. As I know it is to thousands of Denverites. Investment in this club, both financially and otherwise, is all important to its very future.
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